Jingle bells

Another year, another quiet christmas.

My family has never been big on christmas, or any non chinese festival for that matter. Even for birthdays, they prefer to celebrate the lunar calendar date rather than normal calendar date, if they bother to celebrate it at all.

Hence I am not really bothered when no one notes my birthday, or when I have no one to spend christmas with. Looking back, I must have endured quite a great deal of loneliness when I was growing up, being an only child in a somewhat dysfunctional family and all, until I have grown numb to it. I certainly prefer to be around people when the occasion calls for it, but I can do without company just as easily.

It is really no big deal to spend such festivals alone. I would rather enjoy some quiet time to myself, and not waste time on trying to enjoy a festival which has no particular meaning to me. Which is not to say I think christmas has no meaning, but going out of your way to celebrate it, as though you are trying to prove a point, seems well, pointless.

In addition, the original meaning of Christmas is often lost among the rampant commercialisation and dare I say bastardisation of this by right holy and sacred date. Yes, its good for the economy and all, but the extent which this date is exploited is downright unsightly at times, even to someone who is not religious like me.

Ok perhaps I am just being cynical. Perhaps I should get out more and try harder to spend such occasions with people who celebrate them in meaningful ways.

The dulcet tones of church bells and hymns float from the church down the street from my house, reminding me that midnight has come. The joy in their voices is unmistakenable, and it warms my heart.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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50 Greatest Cartoons - Mostly very old skool cartoons, but they can still put most modern cartoons to shame. Sit back and enjoy!

Those crazy japanese and their ridiculous game shows. Mildy NSFW

Awesome expanding table.