Christmas-safe zones in Stroud Green?

Arkady

I'm genuinely very happy for those who enjoy Christmas. I hope this one is lovely for them too.

I do think that it's a bit dubious, though, to dismiss those who don't as 'professional miserablists'. My miserablism is amateur and very specific. There has been a winter festival of lights among most cultures of northern latitudes as far back as records go. It might be worth a moment's reflection as to why an occasion meant to cheer and unite people during the darker days of the year has instead become a period of intense alienation for so many of us. I can only speak for myself, but the intense commercialisation and hollow ritual of the occasion makes me very depressed indeed.

That said, the roast is the king of meals, and the Christmas lunch is the king of roasts.

rikki

@miss annie depends how you define 'religion'.
perhaps a belief in something that is manifestly untrue?
happy solstice to y'all.

krappyrubsnif

Good news. I think I have discovered the reason for my severe mood swings at Christmas - Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) And I have concluded that I must have suffered this at this time of year all my life, without knowing. I looked into it this week and it fits. What's more, there seems to be a treatment - light therapy. I've been experimenting with this all week (an hour each morning under a bright daylight bulb) and my mood has been totally transformed and lifted: all a question of Vitamin D and serotonin production.

I'm not guaranteeing I'll never be a grumpy old git again, but at least I now feel I can *cope* with whatever the Christmas period throws at me. Indeed, I have even just put up some decorations. And I'll be out harvesting every morsel of sunshine for the next few weeks - the days start getting longer after Friday.

I'm just posting this in case it's of use to anyone else out there; they say around 5% of the population suffers from S.A.D.

Al

How about music. Do you still get Christmas singles like in the olden days?

Scruffy

Well, like Arkady, I wouldn't consider myself a 'professional' miserablist (sic) either, although should such an association ever be founded, I might apply to become registered as a friend. In fact, there are elements of the season that quite I enjoy, but I'll be damned if I pretend, just because it's this time of the year, that all forms of crass arseholery—whether deemed traditional or not—are wonderful and should be encouraged and perpetuated.