How do you remember Christmas to be now compared to the 80s?
I've looked at a number of blogs online about it, and some of the points resonated with me. One of the most prevalent point is how Christmas holiday season really kicked off when it was December and didn't really overlap in November or just after Halloween. That point stuck out the most.
My personal situation is rather extreme as I don't have a wife, children, or any connection to younger generations, and my folks are of the "Silent Generation" and were born during the advent and near end of WW2. A time, I remind myself, that my folks were babies and very young children when all that action was happening in Europe. But that's aside the point:
I remember the 80s Christmas fondly. It was a time I cared about writing Christmas card to everyone in my family or everybody that I knew. I'd put up a Christmas tree, decorations, with a star on top, and sometimes lights outside the house. Then I'd wrap various gifts in presents and sent them off and hand deliver them before Christmas day and collect mine in same. We also collected various gifts of different types and always had that anticipation to wait until Dec 25th in the morning to open them. I'd visit family on both my father and mother's side.
Fast foward to today. I might buy a bunch of teas that have Christmas-like flavours on them and look forward to time off work. Perhaps watch a bunch of Christmas movies that bring me into the holiday mood. Of course, some of them will be really focusing on Jesus, His birth, and focusing on Jesus the reason of the season. But totally divorced from social dimensions and it's just a festive occassion until the next year. However, I don't think it's just me. I think there are lots of things that make 80s different, take these music videos for example:
If you look at this video -- it makes it feel very 80s in reflection, one because I heard it allot during my childhood and even today it brings out the more caring, or generous mood that may have been more prevalent on that decade. For one, people are better off than today and you don't have crazy inflation and potential food-shortages coming the next year. There was a better society with more social cohesion than today in general and it all spills over to a better quality of the holidays.
I'm sure everyone here might have their own take on it, but how do you find Christmas today vs the 80s? Is there anything you experienced as a kid, that you feel your kids missed out on and it's not the same thing? If you are single how are you coping during the holidays?
I've looked at a number of blogs online about it, and some of the points resonated with me. One of the most prevalent point is how Christmas holiday season really kicked off when it was December and didn't really overlap in November or just after Halloween. That point stuck out the most.
My personal situation is rather extreme as I don't have a wife, children, or any connection to younger generations, and my folks are of the "Silent Generation" and were born during the advent and near end of WW2. A time, I remind myself, that my folks were babies and very young children when all that action was happening in Europe. But that's aside the point:
I remember the 80s Christmas fondly. It was a time I cared about writing Christmas card to everyone in my family or everybody that I knew. I'd put up a Christmas tree, decorations, with a star on top, and sometimes lights outside the house. Then I'd wrap various gifts in presents and sent them off and hand deliver them before Christmas day and collect mine in same. We also collected various gifts of different types and always had that anticipation to wait until Dec 25th in the morning to open them. I'd visit family on both my father and mother's side.
Fast foward to today. I might buy a bunch of teas that have Christmas-like flavours on them and look forward to time off work. Perhaps watch a bunch of Christmas movies that bring me into the holiday mood. Of course, some of them will be really focusing on Jesus, His birth, and focusing on Jesus the reason of the season. But totally divorced from social dimensions and it's just a festive occassion until the next year. However, I don't think it's just me. I think there are lots of things that make 80s different, take these music videos for example:
If you look at this video -- it makes it feel very 80s in reflection, one because I heard it allot during my childhood and even today it brings out the more caring, or generous mood that may have been more prevalent on that decade. For one, people are better off than today and you don't have crazy inflation and potential food-shortages coming the next year. There was a better society with more social cohesion than today in general and it all spills over to a better quality of the holidays.
I'm sure everyone here might have their own take on it, but how do you find Christmas today vs the 80s? Is there anything you experienced as a kid, that you feel your kids missed out on and it's not the same thing? If you are single how are you coping during the holidays?