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[fortunatetoaster]

Christmas here is way different from Christmas back home. Or like, what I heard Christmas back home was like. Christmas Eve is a big deal because it's all about couples, like Valentines Day jr or something.

And I was thinking about that and it got me wondering about what other places do for Christmas, and the places that don't have Christmas since there must be tons of worlds where all the stuff that made Christmas happen just didn't happen there.

So I've got a question, kinda.

What's Christmas like for everyone back home, if it's different from this place? And if you're from a place that hasn't got Christmas, do you do anything like it?

Just wondering.

Comments

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[stitchedupbodyguard]

Christmas back home is basically the same as it is for you. It's more like valentines then anything.

Also, there's more chicken.

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[fortunatetoaster]

man what IS it with the chicken

i don't get it

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[stitchedupbodyguard]

Hell if I know. It's some sort of tradition around that time.

It's not in other parts of the world though. Weird.

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[fortunatetoaster]

i mean it's not just that everyone eats a ton of chicken, it's because it's gotta be KFC chicken
that's the weird part

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[stitchedupbodyguard]

I think that's because it's a big restaurant in that area. I don't get it, though, it's way too greasy. And the biscuits aren't good.

[twinsanity]

I never really celebrated it very much, even if it definitely exists, where I'm from.

It was a bit different when I was a young child; we didn't really celebrate it then, either - not in the way that people here seem to - but my father always did something extravagant with my sister and I for Christmas. He always seemed to know exactly what we wanted, even if I was certain we hadn't told him, and he would provide it for us regardless of how outlandish it was; he generally spent time with us then as well, moreso than usual, when he was usually preoccupied with his work.

But all of that was a long time ago; over 17 years by now. At this point it's just another day for me, really, since I've been on my own all that time and I don't have any religious attachment to the holiday, either, so it's not like there's much point in observing it.

[fortunatetoaster]

[ ... oh this is a lot sadder than she was expecting... ]

That sounds real fun. Must be nice being able to spend a special day with your pops and your sister.

What kinda stuff did you do? Apart from like, gifts I guess.

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[awesmazings]

Yaknow it's kinda weird, but...I remember Christmas, but I don't think we ever celebrated it back home. I never really asked anyone why that was cause I figured it wasn't that big of a deal. We never did anything like what's been done here, at least.

[fortunatetoaster]

that is kinda weird. what kinda christmas do you remember? was it like it is here with just swapping gifts on the right day?

[awesmazings]

I....think so? Like...I remember Christmas, and I remember it being really cold and snowing a lot like it has here. But the specifics are kinda fuzzy.

[fortunatetoaster]

huh. i guess it's different for everyone's family? like if it wasn't a big deal for you, that's why you didn't celebrate it. or your country, i guess, since christmas aint that big all over.

[awesmazings]

Well y'see, uh...I don't really have a family? I mean it's just me, Cerbee, and my friends...so maybe that's why it was different.

[in_praetego]

Back home, we'd end up celebrating Christmas after mass with the rest of the priests. Dad would get a cake and my brother would cook something special... they always made a big deal out of Christmas because it was so close to my brother's and my birthday.

[ Guess who got hit by the nostalgia train all of a sudden? ]

[fortunatetoaster]

this is gonna sound really stupid since i guess i should probably know this but what's mass? like i'm guessing it's something to do with christmas stuff but ive never heard of it

[in_praetego]

It doesn't really have anything to do with Christmas per se but you'd probably be right to think they're connected. You see, my brother and I were raised in a church so ever since we were kids, father raised us Catholic and part of that would involve attending Mass every Sunday. It's a time for prayer and reflecting on God's word but it probably wouldn't mean much for non-Catholics. Christianity still isn't very popular in Japan, if you come from there too.

In some countries, Christmas is also considered a religious holiday because according to our beliefs, it's the day God's son was born on Earth.

[fortunatetoaster]

oh! so it's like a big religious meeting thing? what's that like?

[in_praetego]

That's probably the best description for it. As for what it's like, it depends really. Most people find going to Church and attending Mass a time for them to talk to God so they find comfort in it. Other people find it boring because they can't sit still and listen to the lectures so I guess it's all up to you.

[armoredsoul]

We don't have Christmas back in my world. We do have a tradition of a small family gathering and feast on the winter solstice, but it's really casual and my family only ever celebrated that with my friend's family that we've always been very close to.

[fortunatetoaster]

Winter solstice... is that like, the day that's right in the middle of winter or something? Or is there something else that's special about it?

[armoredsoul]

Pretty much! It's also the longest night of the year, which might be why the feast began. Sort of a vigil from way back when to keep together during the cold.

[fortunatetoaster]

that's pretty cool!
uh
no pun intended
so instead of freezing their butts out in the dark and the cold, everyone bundles together to eat and keep warm. that's kinda nice to think about.

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[majorcrotchgrab]

We don't celebrate Christmas in my country. New Years would be considered the closest thing we have to it.

But it's much better.

[fortunatetoaster]

what's your new years like, then?

[majorcrotchgrab]

Like I said, it's basically Christmas.

Except better because Soviets know how to have more fun with their holidays.

[Which translates to: I'm just biased.]

[fortunatetoaster]

okay humor me for a sec and pretend i'm really dumb
fill me in on what a soviet is?