Presents.

Christmas is fast approaching with only 28 days until the big man comes down your chimney (pause). The high streets are packed with people buying gifts for loved ones and websites are seeing higher 'foot fall'. Pounding the pavements of Oxford Street yesterday afternoon with the same idea as everyone else, to 'start early this year', I started to wonder what Christmas means to different people ... different nationalities, different family backgrounds, different religions ... After all it is an international festivity, whether you like it or not.

Its one of those things are make you feel guilty. It's the 'oh but it's Christmas' excuse. It's acceptable to binge drink, binge eat, and binge spend and announce 'oh but it's Christmas' after. It's the only time of year that people crack open a bottle of champagne and 9am and start knocking it back - and this is acceptable. I am not saying I don't do that myself, but given the choice I would do that on any other day. This is proceeded by the 'I bought you; you bought me' present giving. 

Now this is the part that really frustrates me about Christmas to the point that now I only buy for family and the odd friend. Because what is the point. So, this is how it works ... You ask said person what they want for Christmas, they say 'oh I'm not fussed, you don't have to get me something', knowing full well that they are going to buy you something so if you don't buy them something you look like a right twat. You go out of your way searching high and low for the perfect gift, that you hope they will like, with an ounce of uniqueness to it (note: A FCUK toiletry set in Boot's 3 for 2 offer is not personal nor acceptable and is likely to be thrown in the bin in the fear of getting a skin rash from the cheap shower gel). The gift is then lovingly wrapped, with a bow and a card (all last minute) to them be put under the tree ready for the 'exchange'. Now, by all means correct me if you believe I am wrong but where is the point in the whole situation when you could just go out and buy yourself something. Why waste the tree on the wrapping paper or the stress and strain of Oxford Street on a Saturday afternoon. FYI, all I bought on my trip there was stuff for myself. 

What this boils down to is that the Jewish have got it totally right. Christmas is cancelled.

Destiny's Child - 8 days of Christmas (supposedly feeling like Christmas because their men buy them a present of each day of Christmas).