Some fair comments.

But I take issue with Item 4. of the List, that is "Christmas movies are the worst."

There is a glowing exception and that is "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

which nails all the "joys" of Hosting Christmas, houseguests and all.

Here's a Trailer http://youtu.be/NBTTipJX-h4?t=25s

Yes it's not a merry month in our household. Family far away, those that are left, but we do have fond memories and hopefully will meet again. No bubbly at Hogmanay, but a couple of vb stubbies will go down well and a wee drambuie. Do enjoy the Christmas trees but miss the pine fragrance and fireside.

I agree. Christmas is for young families and children.Shame about the corporations and the commercial value of Christmas. Money Money Money.

Oh Brendan, you are such a Grinch! Christmas in our secular world is a celebration of family and an affirmation of family values. And the price of petrol went down in Sydney for Christmas this year.

Just the one mention of 'how commercial' Christmas is. All bulldust of course. The Magi celebrated the birth of Christ with gifts. A bumper Christmas for shops has been reported. At least some sectors made some money to offset the mess the federal and state governments have made of the economy with their on again, off again lockdowns and restrictions, which have had little effect on the China virus.

My very favorite Christmas movie is the hilariously funny The Ref starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey.

It is a good time when telling your children that Santa Clause does not exist. To also mention that God does not exist.

TOUCHING NEW YEAR’s CAROL

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred,_Lord_Tennyson Britain’s Poet Laureate (1850-1892) wrote more than "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854).

Prolific Tennyson also wrote an earlier poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Out,_Wild_Bells (published 1850). Now days it rings out the old year and rings in the new, on New Year's Eve.

The words http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Out,_Wild_Bells#The_poem have deep meaning.

Also bringing the poem to life is a sad and moving musical version by Canadian singer Alana Levandoski http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alana_Levandoski.

Alana sings it here http://youtu.be/dbnsIydaYYg .

The sad tone has special poignancy for a year of bushfires here and COVID everywhere.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

First Verse/Chorus

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

First Verse/Chorus

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

First Verse/Chorus
______________________________

Have a much happier 2021 everyone.

Pete

Dear Atheist,

Indeed, God does not exist.

Existence is within God, not God within existence.
Had God existed, then He would neither be worthy of worship, nor of being called 'God', for whatever exists is limited.

Well childish notions have their time and place, they serve some human need, even Santa, but now is a time to grow up and shake that childish notion as if God was part of His own creation.

Yuyutsu,

Are you still a citizen of Taiwain?