Deckard said:
Sorry guys - just dont feel anything...
In my defense i grew up in socalist country with both parents atheists, plus in my home town it snows maybe once a year every 3-4 years. Indeed Xmas tree was put up in my home but only after xmas would pass - to celebrate NY. Even then I wasnt allowed to get excited about it and participate in decorations which was something I always wanted but my father would say real men dont do such things and decorating trees is for cissies.
Well, we didn't have Christmas either. It was a New Year celebration with a decorated tree and everything (and I loved decorating it, while breaking some in the process...hehe). Painfully nostalgic for someone who didn't see snow for 17 years :) (damn desert :P)
Instead of Santa there was Father Frost with his young and blond Snow Maiden. And when I was a child, I remember every time saying that this year I will wait till 24:00 to see how Father Frost put the present for me under the tree. And obviously I always fell asleep. The best present that I remember getting during this period was Rubik’s cube.
This period can be a great opportunity for a symbolic new beginning. There is a Russian superstition that the way you spend your time during New Year eve will effect your next year. So even if you won't spend it at some mad party (who want his life as a mad party all the time anyway), do something good for yourself.