Halloween & Thanksgiving are better than Christmas.

[Dulcinea]

Halloween is about fun! Trick-or-treating for the kids, and some good friends host a big costume party every year. I have fun thinking of a good creative costume! I even like handing out candy.

Thanksgiving means a big, tasty dinner followed by watching football in sweats. What's not to love?

Christmas...relentless commercialism, idiots trampling each other to get into Walmart, crowds at the mall, decorating. Ugh. The older I get, the more I just tolerate Christmas. If I didn't have kids, I'd bag the holiday completely.

[mvd]

1. That's not what Christmas means to me

I'm not into the decoration and partying of Halloween. Too old to Trick-or-Treat. Thanksgiving is just a meal and football, though I like those things. Christmas is just magic (and is what you make of it.)

[Roon]

2. I don't care for halloween anymore but I LOVE Thanksgiving

more than Christmas. Christmas is just one big hassle for everyone. The only thing I like about Christmas is getting to spend time with family.

[mvd]

3. Again, Christmas is what you make of it

Things I love about Christmas:

- the songs/decorations/atmosphere
- the meaning of the day
- the message of peace and joy
- the memories
- family
- even the giving/receiving if you don't let it get out of hand

[charlie and algernon]

4. I agree on all points

Sure there are always people who take it too far and I avoid shopping after December 23rd if at all possible to avoid the chaos, but I think generally as a whole, people are nicer to each other over the whole Christmas week. I also love christmas music and listen to it almost non-stop for the two weeks leading to christmas. Heh, in fact last night I started to learn christmas songs on my Native American Flute, which was fun.

[mvd]

5. Who is your favorite Christmas song singer?

Mine is Bing Crosby.

Yes, there are things I don't like that have happened - the commercialism and the hassle - but personally I can put that behind me to focus on what I've always enjoyed about the holiday season. :hi:

[charlie and algernon]

7. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

by leaps and bounds over anything else. I have all three of their christmas CDs signed by the entire band. When their 4th christmas CD comes out next week, I'll be first in line to buy it and will probably see them in concert sometime in the next two months yet again to get THAT CD signed as well. After every show the whole band stays to sign autographs to anyone that wants it, no matter how long it takes. They're a real class act.

More traditionally, I'll take Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby as well.

[mvd]

10. Thanks; I'll check them out

:hi:

[charlie and algernon]

11. get their first album "Christmas Eve and Other Stories"

it is a masterpiece, every single song is incredible.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. I find all of the major holidays ar relentlessly commercialized. But yeah, Turkey day

may be less so and Xmas is probably the worst hands down.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. They're all good in their own ways...

Halloween is my favorite because of all the horror movies, decorating and costume dressing.

Thanksgiving I love because I can just sit around, eat a ton and watch stupid shit on television all day and night. Plus, it's like the first snow - it opens the Christmas season and isn't tainted by all the chaotic aspects of the lead up to Christmas.

Christmas is nice, but it's more about the build up than the day itself.

[Deep13]

9. Thanksgiving =2 days off. Xmas = 1 day off.

I get to say home on Thanksgiving's 4-day weekend. Christmas I have to go over my in-laws.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Don't forget that goddamn parade!

That Christmas parade from Atlanta (I think) kinda sucks.

[Deep13]

14. I don't think Cleveland or Akron has a parade.

The Macy's parade is pretty comical on TV.

[Drunken Irishman]

15. We don't have one here...

So it is Macy's.

Always fun.

Have you seen this:

http://www.x-entertainment.com/thanksgiving/macyparade/1991/

There are other past parades there, too!

[Patiod]

12. Thanksgiving = work

I hated it as a kid, because my mom made me help her wait on our rude relatives, who would start eating before we were even at the table. We finally convinced her to do buffet, so she (and I) were able to eat with the family.

One year I took hours at the country club where I waitressed. My mom was mad, but I said "let me see - I can wait on grateful people for $100 or I can wait on ingrateful people for free."

What's sad is that she never let me help make the food, just prep work and table service, so I never learned how to make a turkey, or decent dressing or gravy (I can, however, chop celery like a champ)

Too much work for about 20 minutes of fun, followed by indigestion. Bah, humbug.

[la_chupa]

16. I'm actually looking forward to Xmas music

I listen to a classical music station at work. During the holidays they play Xmas music. I missed it last year when they went to their regular format.

I'm not exactly a believer so people look at me strangely if I admit to liking the music.

wonder how many people are going to be trampled this year during the mad rush to get that $40 dvd player

pathetic really

I love Thanksgiving but it gets overshadowed and there is always that one person around who insists on licking the red off everyone's candy by telling everyone the REAL story of Thanksgiving.

yea yea shut up and keep chewing

Halloween is just fun. What could be better than candy and dressing up. I remember as a kid not understanding why it wasn't a school holiday though.