Soapy I agree with you totally.. Christmas (and Birthdays) to me aren't about giving presents and such but being around friends and family getting wasted and eating until you can't no more.
I've been like this since I was a teenager and it's taken my family until now to realise this. This said I live with my brother, and yeah we get each other stuff all year round... so Christmas and Birthday present giving has extra little meaning in that sense.
I know that my mom and dad both despite neither being Christian are really in to Christmas, but then they just love getting presents they like that you've spent a bit on. It's the whole surprise aspect as well cause they hate knowing what you got them.
About a month ago I bought an XBOX 360 for my mom and step-dad cause both kept coming over to mine and hogging ours.. but told them when I gave them it, not to expect anything for Christmas itself. It seems stupid cause if we were at the start of the year, they would've asked why, but cause we're so close to Christmas they accept that as an excuse why I don't wanna spend anything on them over Christmas itself unless it's >35%
I hate the whole commercial aspect of Christmas, but think of it this way Soapy. You remember what 5-6years ago prior to the advertising law changes, when they were starting to hype Christmas around August time. Atleast now they legally can't start more than 60days before Christmas itself. Still kinda bad cause you're right Halloween (another holiday I truely hate) and Guy Fawkes night (that to my disappointment seems to have been greatly ignored this year) and Christmas adverts start just before these.
Good point mind though, seriously what the hell happened with Guy Fawkes night this year? It was almost non-existant and practically no one is talking about parties they're doing this year. Hell it's so bad even Watford Council aren't funding the annual fireworks display in Casio Park
It's still going ahead but it's like much shorter and smaller this year. Really gets to you when traditional English holidays are getting wiped out for those primarily from other counteries. (::coughHalloweencough: