something about christmas time

[Há algo em mim que parece que já deu e ainda dá, numa pequena parte, um valor ao Natal como diz a seguinte estrofe da música de Bryan Adams. Mas a outra parte de mim, há já alguns anos bastante voluptuosa, vê o Natal com maior cepticismo, não só na questão do consumismo e prendas (que deixou de me fascinar e passou a irritar - hipocrisia e blah, blah) mas também noutras questões. A família é um aglomerado de pessoas complicado e, na minha em particular, parece existir factores como afastamento e ressentimentos antigos que complicam muitas situações. Custa ver isso no Natal, mas que é complicado, lá isso é. Continuo a ser o primeiro a "lutar" para que a minha familia se junte! Feliz dia 24 e 25 - e os outros também, pelo menos em momentos!]

Letra
There's something about Christmas time
something about Christmas time
that makes you wish it was Christmas every day
Christmas Time, Bryan Adams

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Os problemas do Natal
The new Scrooges of Christmas present
How did Christmas come to be seen as more of a hazard than a holiday, something to be survived rather than celebrated?
You used to know the festive season was on its way when fake snow started appearing in shop windows and supermarkets blasted out Muzak versions of "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree".
Now we know it's Christmas time when various experts come out of the woodwork to issue warnings about the alleged perils "lurking behind the holiday facade..."
This Yuletide we've been warned about everything from the turkey dinner (can cause festive family feuds), to decorations (are a fire hazard and can kill your pets), to pantomimes (can scare children witless).

Poisoned
What's with these killjoys? Is Christmas really so bad for us? I reckon we should be more relaxed. We a need new Christmas slogan: not so much "Good will to all men" as "All men, chill out!"
Earlier this month, scientists claimed the traditional Christmas lunch - once seen as a rare opportunity for familial togetherness in our otherwise hectic lives (and for stuffing ourselves senseless) - can cause "bickering and belligerence" and even violence.
The overload of turkey, spuds, puddings and booze apparently leads to "repeated changes in blood sugar levels", which can make us irritable and tense.
Need to be well cooked "There are tremendous psychosocial pressures at Christmas", said Paul Clayton of the Royal Society of Medicine. "And on top of that you have your blood sugar levels all over the place, and that is not a good recipe for a calm, relaxing day."
(...)
Complaints
Christmas cards are now more likely to be seen as spreading destruction rather than joy. Apparently our penchant for posting cards to loved ones (between us, we send about a billion a year) is damaging the environment.

At least the kids still enjoy Christmas, right? Not so fast. A government-funded education website caused a stink this month when it offered patronising advice to parents about the perils of pantomimes and Santa Claus.
"For very young children, Father Christmas can be terrifying," it warned. "If you are planning a visit from Santa, you'll need to make sure that fearful children are near an exit.¿"

How did Christmas go from being about "mistletoe and wine" to miserabilism and whining, where what were once seen as simple, pleasant activities - eating with family, tacking up tinsel, dressing like Santa - are now viewed as potentially harmful?
I say "Bah, humbug!" to the Christmas killjoys. Christmas isn't bad for you; it's good for you. Having a week or two off work can be relaxing and reinvigorating; seeing family and friends is nice for most of us; and sending and receiving gifts and cards can be uplifting rather than wasteful or destructive.
And what is wrong with pigging out on meat, spuds, selection boxes and even a drop of the fizzy stuff for one day of the year? Indeed, Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, tells me that over-eating and drinking is part of the Christmas tradition.

VER ARTIGO COMPLETO in BBC

But in many ways, excess is the point of Christmas. It's a big blast at the coldest darkest part of the year
Richard Holloway
Former Bishop of Edinburgh