Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

1. Can American women understand how unattractive it is to see them in a Christmas cardigan (straight after the organge pumpkin ones). they are pathetic.. Something you might wear if you were two years old and it was knitted by Granny... Ladies - unattractive is an understatement - DON'T wear them..... :scared:

2. Please STOP sending me christmas cards disguised as photographs of your entire family. What is that all about? :eek:

3. Americans who turn up for the Christmas party / dinner party in a jumper, jeans or less than even Friday casual wear (or said cardigans). You can tell the Europeans because we all make an effort and it's nice and the women look great.... :confused:

I LOVE Christmas but these things make me cringe. Bah humbug . :beer:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

You've got a point...

But what I find wierd is the fact that they don't see a need to take a break. Off on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day they're back at work. :rolleyes:

I finally got around to sending out my Christmas e-mails to my clients in the UK. Got back 2 dozen Auto-Replies... "I'm out of the office now until ... 3 January ... 9 January ... " ;) And today is only the 22nd!! ;)

That's the way to do it! :D

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Oy, leave my Christmas jumpers alone.

After all, it isn't just an American Tradition. Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones wore them didn't they? :D

Coming from a nation that has absolutely zero Christmas spirit (just way too many spirits hic) I love the way that people celebrate over here.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

I agree.

Plus then feel some very small guilt, about throwing those photo cards away. Very small. I have noticed this year, we have several, mom, dad & children cards. Previous, were just children photos.
Reg. Frank R.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Arn'e you forgetting the Christmas (xerox) Family Newsletters? I hate those (and I'm American!!)...

...And after we were appointed UN Chief council.... we got back from treking the great wall of China and saving panda bears.... and little Susie has graduated Suma Cum Laude from Harvard..... little Joeseph has been promoted to CEO of "Save the Squirrels".... and of course Johnny is still in the Amazons saving rainforests.


Give me a freaking break..we all know Susie is a cock sucking ass kisser, Joe is a poop pusher in a San Francisco Spa and Johnny never has been able to kick the cocaine adiction.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

I like the effort they put into their celebrations, the number of Christmas lights on my street is far higher than the number for the entire Southeast of England.

That being said, I don't like some of their attitude towards Christmas, its very commercialised.

I was going to give out Christmas cards to everyone in the office - something we always did in the UK - but someone said there was no point in doing it unless I gave them something with it :mad: so I bought a cheap bag of candy and let them all take a piece as I gave out the cards. :mad::mad:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Valentine's Day is also different over here. At home it used to be a time to give a card to your secret admirer (or in later years to your wife!) Here I am encouraged (by HR) to give multiple cards to multiple co-workers, kind of like saying thank you.

Just not the same

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Christmas is a stressing time though. I recall one of my closest friends coming over on holiday a few years after we arrived, and asking to meet some of our local friends, having a bbq or something. It is difficult enough juggling one the rest of the year, but in December? No such luck. He wasn't impressed ;)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Loads of Americans (at least in the north east US) leave the Christmas lights up on their houses for months after Christmas - is that a tradition or just apathy?

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Nope - its just trashy

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

LOL! :D :D

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Too cold to take them down? :confused: Or just trashy, as BritGuy said. :D

We're a non-starter, hubby refuses to put them up. :rolleyes: He says they all look tacky to him.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Hell... down here one of the guys actually had to cut the xmas lights wire out of the bark on his tree...as they had been up so long the bark had grown around the wire.

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Is it just me who has noticed a distinct lack of Christmassy food in the supermarkets? You know the kind of thing - party foods, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, Lebkuchen, cream with different liqueurs, brandy butter etc etc

I find it all distinctly unfestive :(

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

I'd love to find some decent cream with different liqueurs! Also, miss the little mince pies from Sainsburys and the German Stollen cake. :(

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

..and zero babycham!

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

What's up with boxes for Xmas gifts -how difficult is it to wrap a sweater without first putting it in a box?


(Watching grown women throw tantrums, after the department stores run out of gift boxes -priceless!)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

And how come you can't buy single sheets of gift wrap? I don't want to have to buy a whole roll just to wrap up one child's present. It's a pain in the ass.

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

you can buy Stollen and lots of other goodies at World Market.. :)

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

I'd love to find some decent cream :mad:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

:D I don't find the items on your list too cringeworthy - maybe worth a grin or two, though.

Most Americans in this neck of the woods put lots of effort into decorating the outsides of their homes - there are a few in the "posh" part of town that would put Blackpool to shame! It seems to be their priority, dressing up to the nines is not on their "to do" list. Works for me!

Something I did find cringeworthy though was a float in the town's Christmas parade this year. A depiction of the crucifiction, with a young fellow hanging on a cross, and attendant Roman soldiers etc. (Real people from a local church!)
That was bad enough, in a parade supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ, even more astounding was that it won the award for Best Float!!!!
Cringe, cringe!!
And in the park where there is a very nice Christmas lights display, there's a section dedicated to the crucifiction. :confused:

It's also fairly cringeworthy to go to a Christmas gathering and find no alcohol. :scared:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

that's what gift bags are for deary ;) :D

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

But it's cheaper to buy a roll of wrapping paper!

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Going to resist the obvious joke that I think you already did ;)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

No booze?? And people dressed in their everyday jeans and sweaters? OMG! :eek:

But then I see you are in Oklahoma... :scared: :D

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

yeah me too...Eskimo is watching....I'm a good girl I am :)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

you're in california go to one of those 99c only stores...they are fab...giftbags large and small two for 99c .... :D

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

And how cam most americans say that thanksgiving is the best holiday..
its just christmas without the pressies!.............................

actually i think i can see where they are coming from.... no crappy sweaters, no homer simpson boxers, no pine needles stuck in your fricking feet, no EGNOG :scared: no overdraft from all the shite you have had to buy everyone, no huge electricity bill for the light (kyoto anyone????)


ok, thanksgiving is now my favourite holiday!

roll out the sweet potatos!

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

No one has to buy anything for anyone.

I stopped years ago. In due course they'll stop buying you stuff too.

Believe me it works! ;)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

but how else can you show someone you love them?????? ;)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

The weird UK tradition of spelling weird as wierd. Get's my goat every time.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Dont you remember...... i before e except after c..

bit of a wierd saying i know but it usually works :p

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Doesn't that have the same stigma attached to it as going to Poundstretcher in the UK? :eek:

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

Unfortunately it has its exceptions.

Weird being one of them. Weird, huh?

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

If you check out post #14, you'll notice that I did try to quietly and subtly point that out....

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

But remembering the eceptions.. thats a biatch!
in fact, i just tell people im dyslexic cos im so crap at spelling!

and why is dyslexic so hard to spell?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Re: Weird US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

ooo get you! ;)

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

You can get these is most Hallmark shops I've been into.

Re: Wierd US traditions drive me bonkers..
 

what's going on? are there two spellings or was CB taking the piss?? i thought it was wierd?

I'll go back to sleep :p