Last post today, I swear

[oakenguy]

We saw Love, Actually, which I really liked--it was sappy, but there was a deftness to it, too. And if it was unbelievable in parts, I can call them attempts at English Magical Realism, and everything's alright.

There was one odd thing about it. Several of the characters, before blurting out huge embarrassing statements, say something like, "I shouldn't say this, but it's Christmas, so I've gotta be honest and let you know how I feel."

This was just jolting. I mean, you ask me, Christmas is the time when, more than at any other point in the year, it's alright to lie! Little lies about how much you like that scarf, big lies about fat men in the arctic who have a fondness for children he's never met, lies of all shapes and sizes.

Has anyone else ever heard of this strange "Christmas = a time for the TRUTH" tradition? Was it made up for the movie?

Comments

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

i would ask about bill nighy but i have a feeling you might not be able to tell if he was nice to look at or not. (yes, i know he wears leather pants in the movie. that gets my money...)

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

He was nice to look at in a "this person is really thin and trying to look wasted" kind of way.

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

i see.

[empheliath.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's a British thing? Christmas is a time of Family Togetherness. And sometimes, for that to work, you need to tell some little white lies. (Or else sit quietly and hope that the current family bru-ha-ha passes you over.)
I really want to see Love, Actually, but I haven't had a chance to yet...

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

No, I have this feeling that I've seen this Large Fiction in other movies and books and shit. Like you, I find this Really Unlikely. This is, after all, a Time to Get Along With Family. And that invariably involves lies. ("Uh, sure, I go to church every Sunday.")

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

I think they're smoking crack.
Christmas is all about the mistruths
"Yes, Jesus was born in December!"
"Yes, Santa is one of our traditions..."

Or maybe I'm just a bitter pagan ;)