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The 8,765 Reasons Why I Do Not Like Christmas
Yesterday in the clinic, a three year old blurted out, "Hey...you're Santa Claus."
"Yep, I answered. That's me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, this is just my day job."
"Then who's building those toys?"
"My elves, of course."
"Oh..."
"So, why am I seeing you today?"
"I gots bad diarrhea. Mom, too."
Every year, I tend to have huge arguments with my wife over various Christmas issues, from spending too much to over-decorating. She is absolutely Christmas Crazy. Our tree has hundreds of ornaments, from the expensive and bizarre, to the handmade ones by the kids. We have a ceramic pickle, a big banana, lots of Noah's ark stuff, Jesus in a manger made with a clothes pin, a broken crystal unicorn (my youngest son broke about two dozen of them in a store, so we had to buy them all!), a picture in a macaroni frame, etc. She has a ceramic Santa Village (that expensive Department 56 stuff), and every known decorative item you can imagine. In a few weeks, our house will look like Macy's.
Reason Number 27: Shopping. I do not like to go shopping; especially at Christmas. I hate crowds. I hate finding a parking space, waiting in line, and spending hard-earned money on crap that people really don't need. Over the years, I have delegated all of the Christmas shopping to my wife who has no ability to control herself. Other than watch our credit card charges on-line, I get very anxious. She is a spontaneous buyer and a generous gift-giver. While it is better to give than receive; there are some definite limits in my opinion. Since we have five adult kids and three grandchildren, we tend to focus more on the little ones. My wife did get me those Mannheim Steamroller tickets this year for an early gift. Assuming the seats are good, I am not sitting behind a tall guy with Sideshow Bob hair, or next to someone with big, seat-invasive, flabby arms, I will likely enjoy the show.
Reason Number113: Gift Receiving. I do get a few gifts; not many, but a few. While I pretend to be excited, it is rare that I get something that I really want. Last year, I got a book about Richard Nixon (I never liked him), a gift certificate to a restaurant about sixty miles away (I have yet to use it), and some obscure stuff that I don't even remember. My youngest son got me a doll that farts when you pull its finger. As you can see, he inherited some of my Scroogian holiday spirit.
Reason Number 267: Putting Stuff Together. I was asked to put together two huge, lawn reindeer and a sleigh today that she found at Costco. They were made in China. Each one has about a thousand lights and has the overall quality of a coat hanger. First, the instructions were a joke. Second, the first reindeer was broke and I had to fix it with duct tape. The legs were labeled incorrectly. If I didn't know anatomy and what deer are supposed to look like, there would be no way for me to make heads or tails out of that junk. Clearly, the Chinese are not familiar with reindeer orthopedics, or they would not have put the back legs labeled as front legs. The lights on the sleigh do not work, so that one needs to head back to Costco. She intends to decorate our yard, even though house is one mile from the nearest person that could see it. Last year, she bought our grandson a huge electronic basketball game; about the size of a family car. It sat, unassembled, in my son's garage for most of the year. It is now in our garage; assembled, of course.
Reason Number 765: Christmas Weather. While some areas of the country will have their white Christmas, Northern California usually has a wet and foggy Christmas. Sometimes, for added appeal, we will have a cold wind to go along with it. I suspect the rain will short out those well-made Chinese reindeer and the wind will blow over a few more big trees that I will have to chain saw. Today is the Christmas parade in town and we are taking the grandchildren. It is now about 39 degrees with a cold wind. I will be digging out my L.L. Bean Antarctic Down jacket for the parade.
Reason Number 1,020: Television Christmas Specials. I grew up in a home that loved Perry Como, Lawrence Welk, and Bing Crosby. All of them used to have these lame Christmas specials that I would be forced to watch on our black and white television. Why? We could only get three channels. When I had children, there was the Snoopy or Frosty the Snowman specials. Now, everyone has their own Christmas specials, including the Simpsons. The day after Thanksgiving will start the endless array of these specials. At least I have more than three channels on the satellite. Maybe there will be a Bolivian soccer game or something that I can watch.
Reason Number 2,671: Being Politically Correct. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Jewish people do not. Jehovah Witnesses do not. Muslims do not. Scrooge didn't (at first). Although it is politically correct to say, "Happy Holidays" so not to offend the non-Christmas group, it does get a little old sometimes. We have close friends, and now a family member that is Jewish, so we introduced Chanukah traditions to our grandchildren. Not only did they really get in to it, one of my granddaughter's teachers thought she was Jewish and asked us if it would be okay for her to sing Christmas carols in the school play. The teacher was trying to be sensitive and politically correct.
Reason Number 2,845: Christmas Food. Thanksgiving has turkey. Christmas likes to bring out the turkey again, but most of us are tired of it by then. Christmas has candy - way too much candy. More than Halloween, if fact. People love to give candy as gifts; booze, too. I do not drink alcohol, but it is hard to turn down those chocolate-covered caramels (although many are cleverly disguised and contain yucky fruit/nut combos). Christmas gets egg nog; I get DIET egg nog. Not as good. I wife loves fruitcake, another Christmas disaster. I once considered repairing our retaining wall with a few of them. I would never even consider eating a fruitcake. No one is really sure of the age of certain fruitcakes. Many travel from house to house during the holidays as convenient re-gifts. The last one who gets the fruitcake has to save it until next year to give it back.
As I compile my list, I would like to hear from other holiday humbuggers to see what you dislike, and to be fair, I would like to hear what you really like about the Christmas, too.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: Christmas, holidays, humbug
87 Comments:
Another great post!
Our family had similar experiences so in 1994 we abandoned most of Christmas. We attend church, put up a tree, but that's about it. No mall, no Santa, no cards, no wrapping. Nada!
Instead we spend the $$$ on a family Christmas ski trip. There is one gift for each child when we return home.
Nobody misses the Christmas insanity and all of our kids are expert skiers. Every Christmas is loaded with fun and lasting memories.
Let's not forget random gift exchanges, where everyone brings a $10 gift, places it on a table, and then one-by-one everyone grabs a present.
Without fail, everyone manages to grab a gift they don't want. There's nothing more awkward than a man having to smile and say "I love these pink oven mitts!"
Inevitably, everyone will keep "stealing" until they have the very gift they brought.
I love being with my family on Christmas. Every year we draw names and we then exchange gifts with that person in the extended family. This year my side of the family adopted animals off the endangered speices list for the ones we got. We are older now and don't need stuff so thats how I solved the gift giving for my side.
Quite a few years ago, my brother and I decided it was stupid for us to exchange gifts on Christmas. It was hard enough to tell our mom something we wanted. We are both married and have children, so every year we buy gifts for the kids and our parents. It took a few more years, but now we do that on with my husband's family. I like buying for kids and seeing them open presents. Adults are much harder to buy for.
My son is now 19 and I told him he was an adult this year, but he insists he is still a kid when it comes to Christmas. He is the oldest grandchild on both sides of the family. He wants money from everyone but his parents. Last year he got some really bad gifts from his grandma and aunt.
I like the aftermath of opening the presents, when the room is filled with wrapping paper and boxes. It never fails, someone always loses something.
I agree with nearly everything you said. Xmas has become so commercial that you're sick of it before it even gets here. Even toys have become so technical that us old folks don't know what the kids are talking about when they tell you what they want - even when they're only 7. I find that even the youngest grandchildren, now 7 and 10, prefer cash. As the 10 yr.old said (when she was 8 or 9), if you get cash you can buy what you want. That works for me! My oldest daughter wanted to buy something from Heiffer International (is that correct?) but we decided the kids would not appreciate that. Yet it seems that no matter what we buy and for who, adult or child, it's usually never seen again, either they don't use it, didn't like it, or something so I'm tired of spending my money on things people don't want or need either. I like that ski trip idea (or would if i skied)or another alternative. Like working in a soup kitchen for the holidays or something equally rewarding. But, getting the rest of the family to go along with that would be so difficult as to not even be worth it. I don't even like holiday dinners, you work all morning, sometimes even the day before too, and in 20 minutes, everyone is full and there is tons of food left over and now the crowd is dull and sluggish. I like the quiet time in the evening, AFTER the commotion has died down, a cup of coffee, turkey or ham sandwich, piece of pie, in front of the well lit tree. I like that so much that I keep an artificial tree with lights up all year 'round so I can turn them on anytime I want to be surrounded by a cheery, calm glow.
And now the food police want to make Santa slim. They've already taken away his pipe, put him in speedboats and everything else but a sleigh. The other day I saw him driving down the road in an antique convertible, top down, going to who knows what function. Why can't he be left alone?
I was a child who received birdseed from her parents as a Christmas gift. Other gifts included a 'share' of my younger brother's gifts. I dreaded coming downstairs Christmas morning and still have anxiety that starts a month prior to each Christmas. No matter how many 'good gifts' you get later, those first 'bad gifts' really scar a person. Buy your kids some 'good gifts'!!
The only thing I don't like about Christmas is the gift giving at work. I don't think gifts should be exchanged at work with coworkers or bosses. If you opt out, you look like a scrooge. Other than that, I love Christmas with my family and friends. My husband and I have Christmas Eve parties and we do Christmas Day. We love that!
I would rather give 1 or 2 small gifts, it seems like every year, everything is so expensive. I feel bad if my kids spend money on me that they do not have! I have so many things, I do not need anything more! Good wishes, a nice dinner, time with my kids & granddaughter means the most to me, even though it may sound cliche'!
At work we have a "No Gift" List, and I tell everyone I am on it, but still I receive something from well wishing co-workers!
I got so tired of giving presents that nobody wanted or needed, that this year I opted to give sheep and chickens and goats from Oxfam. This way somebody who really needs it is the beneficiary and I haven't wasted my hard earned money on stuff nobody wants. In this country, so many people have too much stuff anyway...So give to local charities and worldwide organizations like Oxfam- there are quite a few out there from which to choose.
I gave up Christmas about 15 years ago when it really started to get too commercialized and nowadays it is even worse. No one in my family seemed too upset that there was not going to be a Christmas at my house.... no tree and no gifts and no decorations. Now I am unable to work this year because of health problems and it is fine as no one expects anything from me!!! I do not cook, only send out about 10 cards and that is it. It eliminates any of the stress of the holidays and I have no money problems (of course, this year I really have no money!) and no one seems to be upset about it. More people should try it. The whole holiday season is just too commercialized and I am not going to involve myself in it anymore.
Well....Christmas this year is when my 87 year old mother comes out of physical rehabilitation and goes to an assisted living home. Enough said for this Christmas. But when the grandchildren get here, it will be just fine, I hope.
Ahhh ok now all of you stop being wet rags lol. I have always had nice christmas memories. One year when i was 10, I did spend christmas in the hospital, but even that was not bad. I make christmas a time to make people smile. I dress up almost daily at work with different silly holiday hats, I will wrap garland around me, etc. I work in a mental hospital, so the patients love it and it puts a smile on their faces. I love gift giving, and I have found that if I walk into a store with a positive calm attitude and not a rushed attitude, I enjoy it more.
I have received some interesting gifts in the past for sure. I got a jar of pickles one year....but I get a kick out of all of them. Christmas can be a magical time, a time for giving and sharing, and making little faces smile
Christmas is entirely too commercial, I will agree, but what do you do with 4 teenagers who look so forward to christmas morning and all the presents? We are so programmed to buy over and above our limit because they don't have any extended family that gives them gifts. So we feel like we must make up for what they don't recieve from them. We have even dipped into the December mortgage payment to fund the gifts! It all just stressed me out!
When your children are no longer around (in foreign countries) unless you have lots of friends, will be the emptiest times of your life. I have one in Japan with wife and grandbabies and one son in Bagdad,(2 sons and daughter in law in the Army). If I had it to do over I would take my boys to poverty stricken areas or nursing homes and let them know how it is for others. "Material things fade with time, but memories can't be taken away."
For years on Christmas day, my husband and I would drive to my parents house and his parents house. This year we are staying home and enjoying Christmas day with our son. I hate running around to everybody's houses and going to 15 different stores to try to find the "perfect" gift. It's insane.
This year I've decided to bake cookies for most of the people on my list...who doesn't like cookies. A family trip is a good idea.
Dr. Lloyd; I totally agreed with most of your 8,765 reasons. I am sure my husband would be able to even get that number higher. He absolutely hates all things about Christmas. I am not sure if it is from his "bad" childhood or what. He doesn't do good buying gifts for anyone; birthdays (esp. mine) are forgotten; and his only one gift to buy, at Christmas, is me and it is like you asked him to poop gold!!!
I seem to get a litle less happy at Christmas time. This year is going to be terribly hard. My mom died in May and my dad has now lost his will to live. I am recovering from a blood clot and broken leg (started in April), so I can't travel the 750 miles to be with him and my granddaughter. Our combined kids and grandkids are strung out all over the US and Canada, so we don't see or hear from them much. I can't drive yet, so it is Ebay, on-line buying, or money for those that I will send too.
I can't get into the mood this year. Loosing my mom did more to me that I thought it would. And, I have been fighting having all my pain issues and then my osteoporsis and fractures. So my present for me last year and this year will be the same: To have another back fracture fixed!!!! Soon, my whole back will be full of glue/cement.
SO, I will wish all Merry Christmas and I wish all good helath, a happy family, and lots of love. jbrat2
I totally agree with everything in the post. It's akward for my girlfriend and I. We're still both in college. To make things more painful, I'm Jewish and she is Christain. This causes a lot of trouble because her family is a big closed group despite the fact that we've been together for 5.5 years now. My girlfriend loves Christmas but has no money and I could do without Xmas and have no money. Every year is a pain because we end up spending Xmas apart as she goes back home and I'm stuck on campus just killing time. Luckily this year her parents told her not to buy them any presents, so she's saving some money - it's just frustrating not being able to be with her when she's in her happiest holiday spirits.
On a separate note, about being politically correct - I really like that we have slogans like "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings". I always felt akward when someone at a store or a friend (who knew me a little) would say "Merry Christmas" or something like that to me and I would just smile and say "You too" while thinking that I should say something to them like, "Hey, not everyone celebrates Christmas." I do understand people's quibble with it, but I think it's for the better. You can still say Merry Christmas to your friends and family and those are the people who matter, so no big deal.
And although I'm happy that we have some political correctness, I am always disappointed when I go to big stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer, etc...) and can't find more than one crappy and often electric menorah - another slap in the face.
By the way, I absolutely love the family trip idea - we'll have to try that.
I start getting Christmas depressed as soon as October hits. The stores start stocking up on toys and putting Christmas decor on shelves and I have to put up with this for the next three months! I have always hated Christmas. As a child our Christmases meant that by afternoon dad would be drunk and he and mom would end up fighting and the police would come before the evening was over to keep the peace. I would take whatever doll or toy I received, hide in my room and sing to it to drown out the fighting. I try really hard NOT to give my children that kind of Christmas; we attend church services, have family over for dinner, and go sleigh riding or do something together; and I always overbuy. I want to make sure they will only have good memories.
I love what I've seen of your list and agree with what I've read. The only way to break out of the insanity of what Christmas has become is to just do it. Cold Turkey (no pun intended). Just stop being sheep and doing things just b/c everyone else is doing it. I had wonderful Christmases. But in addition to the toys and gifts, I remember other memories like: my brother and I helping our Mom clean the house and prepare for sharing the holidays with family. She wanted everything to be clean as well as look good and smell good. We would sing carols along with Perry Como and others on tv while working. Only had 3 channels. It was fun! Then she would bake and cook so she wouldn't have to do that on Christmas day. And there was church. We had Christmas plays and at Sunday School, all the kids would get a brown paper bag filled with fruit, nuts and peppermints. An apple, orange, tangerine, assorted raw nuts and peppermints. All of us kids really looked forward to that every year. Then we would play games. The true meaning of Christmas was drilled into us and I've never forgotten it. We've passed it on to our kids. But now it's just way too commercialized. I don't go to the malls or do much shopping in stores at all during this time of year. I try to avoid it at all cost. Our kids are all grown and we have 5 grandkids. The adults have decided that we won't buy gifts for one another. Instead, I'm asking that our kids either doante money to a charity, volunteer with a charity and/or put that money into one of their savings/investment vehicles. And whe we have bout gifts, they've been small items and usually something that's practical. We want to plan a family trip during the holidays one of these years. That would be nice and something that we can all look forward to. One other thing I remember doing is driving around and looking at all the Christmas lights and decorations. Unfortunately, the economy hasn't allowed us to keep up with this tradition like we used to. A lot of my neighbors don't put lights and decor outside b/c of the expense and of course gas prices keep us confined to just a few blocks in the neighborhood. Riding around, singing carols and drinking hot chocolate from a plastic thermos. Yeah those were the days.
This article makes me remember why I don't and never will celebrate Christmas. Thank you very much Dr Lloyd! I have never celebrated Holiday due to my mothers religion as a Jehovah witness, however I am glad about it now. Although I have no religious preference, I choose not to celebrate because Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. I researched it myself and found that most holidays are based on Greek and Roman Gods, Or Pagan Gods. Christmas started way before Jesus was even born. In my opinion, Holidays is just a reason for people to get drunk, overeat, and get stuff that they probably won't even Like. So I decided to celebrate every single day that I am here and rejoice for the beautiful family I have every day.
Christmas was great growing up, Mom's favorite time of the year. Next week it will be twenty years since her death. My sister and I were teens, and the strongest feeling from that week is opening gifts that she bought for us, and finding gifts not yet wrapped and kind of guessing who they went to. This isn't a pity-pot post, please. Our family splintered after that and only over the last few years have started to celebrate together. It's bittersweet, the holidays, but in the end the sweet wins out, and the bitterness fades away.
Hey people, this was actually written by Dr. Moser, Dr. Loyd just left the 1st comment.
I agree-it's over the top. I'm trying to keep it more simple in my family this year.
In my extended family it's all about food and drinks and gifts. They get offended if we actually want to remember that it's a celebration of Jesus' birth, and maybe go to Christmas Eve service at church. We're not asking them to go, we just want to go and take our kids. Our beliefs interfere with their big party plans. And if we want to spend Christmas at home (2 hours away) then all hell breaks loose. I hate the expectations placed on us by my mother!!!
manheim steamroller still exists!?!?!
I really enjoyed your reasons I do not like Christmas. And I like calling it Christmas, and all this crap about what to call it, drives me nuts., Why does it have to be changed, period. It has been Christmas for at least 100 years that I know of., And I think very confusing for the masses, and also the children. I dont like Xmas, because it comes around to fast., and also because it is now out in the stores before halloween, give me a break, could we not enjoy one at a time., I dont get a chance to eat and enjoy each holiday, when they all run together or overlap. I live in rural area, and I have not seen one Xmas tree lot.,, now I dont like alot of our trees cut down anyway., nor do I like a fony tree, I do love the smell of pine, and remember lots of tinsel, which my mom would save, and then I would save, as an adult, and it takes for ever to get off the tree, and then a mess of needles from the tree are trapped in the rug., So there are many good and not so good things about Xmas, I didnt like having to write a thank you to people I had never met, who sent me a gift., But it sure taught me how to behave, and respect others and manners. And unfortunately, my mom didnt like anything I got that was not practical, i.e. socks and underwear, so she would continue to conplain while Dad and I looked at each other thinking "OH SHUTUP".. Do we have to go through this every year.??...She also never liked the french bath powder, and colone she would get every xmas from my dad., I dont know what his problem was, other than he must of liked it., I do have alot of wonderful memories, and all the cookies, my mother would make persimmon cookies, etc., and I got the Nut crushing job. (Using the Meat grinder.,) They dont do that anymore.. and I hardly ever see persimmons either, well I didnt see at Wallmart, my country STORE. But I do miss those days, and the cookies, but never make myself., and wish my mom was still here to make them., My dad loved Eggnog and so did I as a young child even., but boy, dont get Dads cup, and your own mixed up. WOW, what a difference., To this day I still love to have nuts, to crack, which make a mess, but for once I dont care., and eat a few tangerens(which cost to much now adays) and even more in Ca, because they wont take Florida fruit. hmmmmm no we would rather get it from South America.,? Go figure... do we need another FARM AID.. yes forget helping our own......... What has happened to America., Give me the 50's back anytime, I dont like America the way it is going either., even tho Im happy to live here, versa anywhere else., I know we have changed, and I know we could be much better, and I wish my Grandchildren could of seen it., They have to be careful riding there new bike or skates, or what ever, so they arnt snatched off the sidewalk. And so much traffic, and wierdos waiting to rob you, so do we enjoy shopping.??? Again there is good and bad of anything. To end this saga, I have more things I like really about Christmas, and I love to reminis, look at pictures of the past, and remember the good ol days......... Thanks
Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2008. Wow really 2008.....well better enjoy it since alot of people think the world will end in 2012...... a whole nother story........
sorry if you received more than once, I cant tell if it went through. Now the hard part, I need tech support, I cant figure out how to send my comment. Why is everything so COMPLICATED>>>>>Now I can add this to what I dont like about Xmas, everything is WAY to complicated, unless your really PC, DVD, VIDEO, CELL PHONE, I POD, literate., What happened to simplicity...... !@!)!$%)&)$^&!@#)&$%^&!)$%&!)&%!@#%*&#@$)%%%))@!&$
Most people have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. Instead of a simple tree, people spend way to much on decorations just to see who can pile the most scenery in their yards. Some yards, porchs and windows have so many decorations you can't see the house. The stores put Christmas items out before Halloween is over - forgetting Thanksgiving. People spend too much money on toys and items they "think" their children want only to be disappointed a month later to find the toys lying in a corner or bedroom - hardly played with or used. Children ask for items their friends may have or some new item they've seen on television. Afterward they are totally disappointed because it's not what they expected. By the time Christmas is here and gone, people are more stressed and depressed because of the debt they incurred going into a new year. Why is this the only holiday - besides Halloween -that people go out of their way to decorate, over spend and are only happy a couple of hours for one day? We need to celebrate the real meaning on Christmas. On this day, God gave us His only Son - Jesus to save us from our sins. It appears that people have forgotten this and the marketing industry is doing a great job of
making sure that Jesus' birth is put on the back burner. How many nativity scenes do you see in people's yard decorations?
Oh now that I figured how to send comment., I want to comment on Xmas cards., or the lack of., for years, most of my life, I have enjoyed sending "season greetings," and for years a letter about the year, and pictures., Well this year out goes the letter, I dont hear back from most people. I doubt they really give a crap, and have this feeling they also make a face when they see it fall out of the card. But, Im still sending pictures, and will until the Grandkids marry, or maybe until they have children, then maybe I'll stop. I do love getting letters, and pictures, and I guess that is just me, and I remember my Mom would write many people, and also look foward to receiving news back. People are to busy to really enjoy Christmas the was it should be enjoyed., That is the biggest "WHY I DO NOT LIKE CHRISTMAS" OF THEM ALL.... to darn Busy to ENJOY IT..... On Dasher........On Blitzen
Thank you for this opportunity Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho I feel much better now..
Hi I do enjoy christmas more so the lights and the get together with family. I don't give out gifts as I give out things all year round and I for myself too so then christmas comes I put up lights and no tree and just remember why its christmas in the first place(Jesus) and enjoy the beauty of the lights around me and thank God for another safe loving year and to come and save me. People have ruined christmas cause of greed instead of what christmas really is, for not us to glorify our needs but (Jesus)put Jesus first instead of money and we will all get the picture.LOVE, JOY and PEACE with each other and GOD.
I have really happy memories (I'm 54 years old now) of always waking up on Christmas morning to find some gifts under the tree. No matter how simple or few, my parents always had something under the tree. We always had a tree, small, always with lights and ornaments and tinsel, which I still love to this day. My friends laugh at me about the tinsel being so old fashion, but it always gets on my tree. I hope that my daughter (now 16) will remember her Christmases always as happy memories, we don't go overboard, but I would not have it any other way. She helps decorate in the house and the tree and she and I always have a "special" Christmas morning breakfast on the China with sparkly cider and Christmas music, and spend the day just enjoying our new videos or whatever and try to go somewhere nice for a dinner, simple as that, but she says she loves our "tradition". Sure everything is not perfect, but it is what you make of it. Merry Christmas to all who read this and a happy new year.
I love Christmas - it's my birthday, too. Never mind which birthday, but there have been a lot of them. I don't mind shopping for gifts, except that I don't have as much money as I'd like to have. And I still look forward to getting gifts --- most of them I like. I like the decorations, and riding around to see the displays of lights and things. There are special places I like to go.
Well, I don't like Christmas because I have to buy gifts for my ungrateful kids...
Try being in retail during the Christmas season. We are on the receiving end of alot of rudeness, inconsideration, and ignorance. Don't get me wrong, we appreciate your business. We would like a bit of patience though.
Alot of workers are new to there jobs and don't know everything. This includes management in some cases. When you started your job, did you know everything right off the bat? I didn't think so.
So lighten up a bit because we are all in this together. We have alot to do in a small amount of time.
When finances are tight which is usually every Christmas, I get depressed because I don't have the money to purchase a gift for others. I have always felt guilty receiving gifts when I haven't been able to give them. But maybe receiving is alot better to the soul than the giving...Still I would rather be the giver.
Lots of reasons I have begun to dread the Christmas season. Has not always been that way. I used to love to buy a little gift for a special someone, just because I was thinking of them or because the item reminded me of some good time we had. I still like to buy something for a needy child or senior selecting a name from an "angel tree. I also, like to buy for a "special box" to send to our troops. I even make up a basket to give to the local Animal Shelter. This is what I LIKE about Xmas...its the spirit, the color, the sharing.
What has about ruined the holiday for me is the bickering over why a relative cannot be here but must be there...trying to get across country to see someone as an obligation for the holiday. Shopping, buying and then paying BIG PRICES for shipping to send to people who do not even let you know they received the package...little lone say THANK YOU.(recall it is the thought, NOT the gift that should count!) I think a lot of it has to do with rudeness, and self involvement.
Anyway, I have bought and shipped gifts again. Got all my cards out. Maybe now I can relax a bit and just enjoy the yule cookies I baked ! AND, be grateful it only comes once a year !!
Has anyone thought about the fact that there is no evidence that Christmas was even celebrated by early Christians OR by Jesus' own disciples?.....
Or that Jesus wasn't even born in December?.....
Or that if you take a few minutes to research it, you'll find that Christmas has no roots in Christianity?!
Do you know why Jesus could not have been born in December? For those of you who have a Bible handy, read Luke 2:8-12, where Luke says that when Jesus was born, shepherds were “living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks.” And they would not have been out there in the cold, rainy month of December, when it snows in the Bethlehem area. But they could have been there with their flocks around the beginning of October, which according to the evidence is when Jesus was born. So the Bible helps us to know that he was not born in December.
That date was chosen because, as The World Book Encyclopedia says, “the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun.” So people chose to celebrate Jesus’ birthday on a date when pagans already had a holiday!
Bible scholars of all kinds of religions admit that it's pagan origin. There's a book called "Sacred Origins of Profound Things"... here's a quote from it: “For two centuries after Christ’s birth, no one knew, and few people cared, exactly when he was born.” They realized it did not have a Biblical or Christian basis. English Parliament said (in 1647) that Christmas should be a day of penance. Then it was banned a few years later! Puritans believed that the church shouldn't create traditions that didn't exist in the Bible.
Even in America, from 1659 to 1681 Christmas was banned in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. According to the law, Christmas was not to be observed in any form and violators were fined.
The early Baptist churches found no Scriptural grounds for celebrating it either. It wasn't until 1772 that the Baptist Church in Rhode Island celebrated Christmas for the first time, 130 years after the founding of the first Baptist church in New England.
Even if Jesus’ disciples had known the exact date of his birth, they would not have celebrated it, because early Christians “considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” (that's a quote from The World Book Encyclopedia)
The only birthday celebrations that were recorded in the Bible are of two rulers who were not true Christians. There were also celebrations for birthdays of pagan gods, like the goddess Diana, and the birthday of the pagan sun-god Apollo.
All throughout history birthday celebrations were connected to pagans, not Christians.
Many people know that Christmas is not the birthday of Jesus. They even know that on that day pagans had a celebration that was not pleasing to God. But many celebrate Christmas anyway. They are more concerned with having a party and getting gifts than with finding out what God really thinks about it.
Some think even tho holidays have pagan origins it's still ok to celebrate them, since it also gives families opportunities to be together. After all, most people aren't thinking about false worship when they observe holidays. That's great, because God created us to love our family, and wants us to have good relationships with our relatives. But!!.... we can do that in ways that God approves of on ANY day of the year, instead of making it the "excuse" or "reason" to celebrate a holiday with obvious pagan origin, and no Christian basis for it!
Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, I choose to please the true God, Jehovah, and NOT celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship. I'll have a great day anyway on December 25th, this year, and forever on.
Wow. What a whine.
You don't like most things about Christmas...I notice that the common theme in your list is "I don't like..."
Perhaps if you recalled that Christmas is about other people, you could enjoy it more. Focus on the joy that you could be sharing with others instead of what YOU dislike or what inconveniences YOU.
You make the holiday what YOU make it. If you look for the negatives you'll find them sure enough. Rather than look for things to complain about, why not try setting new traditions? Trying new things?
I don't like crowds, traffic, lines or overspending either. So, I shop online as much as possible using a written and detailed budget. Is it fun? No. But it removes much of the stress. Better that than just throwing my hands in the air and letting someone else shop and spend while I just worry and complain.
Finally, cherish what you do have. My mother is gone. Several of my dearest friends have died young. I wish I could share dry turkey and crappy gifts with them one more time. I cannot do that, and I will not darken my holiday by dwelling on the loss of these loved ones. I keep the traditions we shared, and expand on them for my new friends and family.
Christmas is only about what you don't like when you make it about what you don't like.
So, Merry Christmas and quit complaining.
I would have to say that the only thing I really don't like about this time of year is the political correctness shoved upon us. "Merry Chrismas" is said in department stores because most of the stuff is bought as gifts for Christmas. If I walk by a person and say merry Christmas and they don't celebrate it they can say happy Haunuka or whatever and I don't think I would really care. It's more about being with the ones you love and having a joyus time. I think every one is being a bit over the top, or to be uncorrect politically, a pansy, when they get upset over that. Grow up America.
Thank you all for your comments. I don't usually respond to things like this, but it definitely brought up so many issues with me.
I am stuck on the Christmas Merry Go Round, and I want to get off.
As the years go on, I see the craziness of it increase, the forced commercialism.
I loved it as a child, and also went through the trauma of finding out Santa was a lie - what a thing to do to a kid who believed with all her heart! But I also had a dad who was a drunk, and you never knew what would happen. I came across a picture of me around 12, of the family was around the Christmas tree, and I was scowling, as my father had just unfairly berrated me for something.
I have personal confusion around the holiday as well.
I am no longer a Christian, broke away and am now a strongly spiritual person who tries to align herself with the will of God, but...
Christmas just doesn't make sense to me either! The onus is upon the mother of the household to do most of the planning, the cleaning, the shopping, it's exhausting! It's expensive, and the stores have us where they want us! In long lines, overextending our selves, our credit, and spending out of guilt because we are expected to.
I like buying gifts for friends and family to some degree, as it feels good to give. But they expect a lot! My kids are teenaged now, 15 and 18, and I would love a way to scale back, and reduce the amt of presents. I don't feel like decorating, as you have to put it all away really soon! Sigh. I haven't put anything out yet, and I don't feel like it. It is not depression like from Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is just being tired of it.
I love the person's entry about going away skiing and everyone getting ONE GIFT! Oh, the glory! We don't ski, but I would love to come up with an alternative like that, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, but treats us to something wonderful like that, that we would like to do, that brings us together.
And that is the one of the good points of Christmas- it is supposed to bring us together.
Well, I will try to be grateful for what I do have in my life, and try to see my way through this trying to maintain my sanity, and good will towards man/womankind!
Thanks for the thought provoking topic.
Funny what we remember, like best, dislike most. In my case, I know I got plenty of toys for Xmas but what I remember the most were two things. Once year my grandmother gave me a box with a tangerine and nuts to crack...my very own box that I didn't have to share with my younger sister. Just after WWII, my Mom was laid off from her job and my Dad was still looking for work. I had just hit a growth spurt and my underwear was ripping at the seams. My aunt gave me a box of underwear for Xmas that I have thanked her for over many years before she passed away. Of the toys, roller skates were the best. We had a wobbly tree one year that kept falling over...the cat wanted to sleep under it...so we had to tie it to the corner wall. Jo T.
This article and people's comments help me feel a little better about my dislike for this commercialized holiday.
I appreciate people commenting about the actual history of the Christmas holiday. I get a little annoyed when people say "Jesus is the reason for the season," then they proceed to cut down an evergreen tree. Because Jesus had one just like it in the manger in Bethlehem?
It makes me sad to see all those trees, a month later, dead and brown and lying in the gutter waiting to get picked up by the garbage men. People should plant them in their yard!
Unfortunately, I have sad associations with Christmas. When I was 11, my father died suddenly of a heart attack right before Christmas. My mom was out that day doing her Christmas shopping. I always think about my dad this time of year. That was 18 years ago. I still miss him very much.
I really like to hear about people donating to charity this time of year. I'm glad to hear that people recognize the greed and gluttony of this holiday and that motivates them to do something good for those less fortunate.
On the surface it does seem like a time full of stress, but I think that the real underlying spirit of the season is be joyful and be generous with a kind spirit, regardless of material things. I hope more people could experience that.
I like the get away ski trip idea. My kids and I love to hit the slopes when we can, but being currently unemployed will put off the idea for another time. I like Christmas because it is a time I get to watch everyone else go crazy while I don't. I imagine the company execs grinning from ear to ear as consumers feel the need to buy things because its labled "Christmas". Yes, Christmas is a pagan holiday and Jesus was not born in December, now what??? I say with all the issues surrounding our daily lives, reach out to those less fortunate even if you can only afford $1 to the Salvation Army ringer at Wal-Mart! For me and my kids, we are celebrating Christmas with our visiting Chinese student and having her with our family while she is so far away from hers.
Christmas just doesnt seem the same as it did when my kids were young. I dont feel like decorating, everything is so expensive, so everyone gets money, which I hate to give. I use to give to animals organizations but those who got this seemed upset. No one seems to think the same as me. I dread the holidays...it must be my age...
Wow, there are so many sad stories, so many of you had to put up with some awful things, I am so sorry to read of your suffering.
I like Christmas. I enjoy buying things for my children and my husband. We like being together.
My parents always made Christmas a happy time of year. Sure, there were five kids in my family and I have no idea how my mother pulled it all off, but she did a good job.
All of her fun activities, her concern for her family and all of her love lie with her now in her grave.
I miss her so much. My dad missed her so much he died a year after she did. May they rest in peace,
they died in their 60's.
If I could I would go back in time to visit the Christmas's of my childhood. We had such fun, we were so full of joy.
The smell of a new baby doll will always mean Christmas to me.
I really enjoy knowing what my kids need and want and giving it to them on Christmas.
I enjoy looking at the pretty decorations that everyone puts up.
It is a dark time of year, the sun set early, and putting up bright lights warm the human heart and give hope to the soul.
Yes, children there is a Santa Claus, he lives in our hearts.
We must give children hope, hope that things will get better, hope that they will recieve the things they want and need, and hope that someone loves them and wants them to be happy.
Bless you all, Bless us everyone.
with hopes for your good fortune, good health and happiness.
I loved your article. I hate the shopping too,,so I used the internet to order my grandkids' presents this year...Works mighty well.
I hate the family tension at the dinner table at Christmas.....in laws, brothers and sisters who have qualms,,,etc. Christmas is a time for love and forgiveness, and I wish it were so in my family.
the thing I like about Christmas ia God's love for us that he sent His Son to save us from our sins...now that is what Christmas is all about to me...even though I think about my childhood a lot during this time of year with some sadness,,,the coming joy is wonderful.
I want to start my post with my positives, i'll be a whiny butt shortly. What i love about Christmas ironically is not being able to sleep and being the first one out of the bed. This is a big deal because my father is up everyday no later than 5:30 usually more like 4:30 or 5,that's bed time for my nightowl soul...ha ha. But Christmas morning I usually actually beat him. This seems silly since i'm 37 but it's still a highlight. I always get odd or crappy gifts, my sister goes overboard, my dad hands us all a $100 bill, and my mom just smiles like she's just been released from the valium chamber, who knows what that's all about. Another thing I love about Christmas is to stop and think of my sweet sweet grandma, i don't remember one time ever getting a christmas gift (she was very poor had 11 kids,and 19 grandkids, there was no one she could afford it) but I remember her cooking special foods for just me and that she loved me like no one ever would again. I was her favorite ( of course all of my cousins would argue that one with me).Something else i love bout Christmas is our churches angle tree, it's our small,poor, but very blessed churchs way of giving back to others, and it never fails we manage to have Christmas gifts for15-30 kids every year. And i love Christmas eve communion service because honestly that is my real family and I can't imagine anywhere else i want to be.
Now to my bahhumbugs Christmas is far too commercialized.
I can't stand the mandatory in law Christmas celebration, this isn't even the right word to use, but thats the only day we literally see hubbys two brothers and their families even though they only live an hour and half away. One year i purposely planned a cruise to escape, it backfired, we all 3 got strep, hubby and dd's was caught before and they were given shots but not me, i was given an antibiotic just in case, um they make me sick. anyway so i got my pay back for that one. then last year the party was planned on my daughters birthday, and we weren't there. anyone who knows me knows its all about the princess and well, it's her day. Woo hoo finally her December birthday paid off.
I've tried to take a step back from the Christmas hubbub but catch flack every year. I just can't do anything right it seems.I didn't put up a tree or an single decoration this year. We do however have a tree downstairs, thats because it didn't get taken down from last year, it's black with shiny purple & silver disco ball ornaments its funky and very US. we caught flack for it too. My mother said "you can't have a black tree, it's sacreligious" and i said "um and your pink one isn't? Trees have nothing to do with the birth of our Savior anyway" they may have been the ONLY fight i've ever won in my entire life with her.
i like what Linda said in an earlier post, i wanna live with her or at least hang out with her :)
Ever notice how the stores keep the temp at 89degrees? even when out side it's 75! Here's tip for you stores..hot stores drive people out! Macys on 34th st is the worst.And Old Navy on Main St in Flushing is another..turn it down.Make it comfortable for people to come in and look around.
And Christmas music blasting so loud you can hear it in the street..not for me.I shop Wal-Mart on line,they deliver to my daughter for the kids and my visit is hands free.Thank you Wal-Mart..lol Most of all Christmas doesn't mean today what it did 40-50,60 years ago,that's what I miss.I was a kid of the 60's and we had a ball.Well,Happy Holiday everybody and God Bless us everyone.
Bobbi
LOVED THIS BLOG ENTRY!!!!! SPOT ON.
I hope everyone will spend what they can afford, decorate as they wish, enjoy family if they one (if not, join in a group that helps the underprivileged at this time of year), but don't be depressed whatever you do!! I don't believe God wants us to celebrate Christ's birth of this day but to remember his death, burial and resurrection every day of the year. Sundays are a great time to worship, take the Lord's Supper and honor Christ.
I do keep the secular day as a celebration and have all kinds of gaudy decorations which I love to set out. Hey, I am getting old and won't be able to much longer. Remember to be kind and if someone wishes you Merry Christmas and you don't believe, wish them a Happy Holiday in return. They aren't doing it to be mean!!
Anonymous Christian
I'm old enough (69) to know that Christmas, like most others things, is what you make it. Let it become a pressure situation and you're probably stressed out. Fight with your family and it will be no fun. Do what works for you and those most important to you- friends or family. Decorate if you feel like it, or don't.Three weeks ago the refrigerator sprang a leak overnight and flooded everything. Carpet, tile etc. all torn out, everything out of place, we won't do much decorating. But it's still Christmas. My husband is still here, 30+ years after his first heart attack, having had 2 triple by-passes, 5 stents, congestive heart failure, throat cancer, skin cancer and diabetes. Our 13 rescued dogs love us dearly and life is as good as we make it. Do the same- show those you love how much, enjoy the things you like and don't be pushed into anything else. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and on behapf of my great grandfather- Happy Hannukah too.
We're a Buddhist family living in Taiwan now, but we have only been back her for one year, and our kids (still in school) were born in the US and lived there until they were 10 years old. In the US, we were surrounded by Santa images, decorations, and Christmas music, and our kids couldn't resist the gift giving and the decorations, so Santa always comes to our Buddhist household, and we had a small tree for the kids to decorate! I like Christmas music played on an acoustic guitar, decorated trees with twinkly lights, and kids opening small presents from Santa, and pulling fruit, nuts, shiny coins, and small stuff like yo-yo's and pencils out of their stockings! There isn't much Christmas stuff here in our small town in Taiwan, but in the US, I didn't like to see people getting December crazy with food and endless gift buying. It is a very commercial holiday, and I am glad to be away from the endless mall Santas with their photographers. This year, Santa is bringing each of our children a couple of books they will really like, and each child is getting a DVD they will love (think Transformers and Pirates). In addition, they are getting water pistols and those bubble blowing contraptions. We have a small tree with twinkly lights, and a poinsetta plant, and I have sent a few Christmas cards to the US. it's enough to make a pleasant time for our family, but Christmas is not a holiday here, and my husband will have work that day, and the kids will have school and will get homework as usual. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy Hannukah!
I am in complete agreement with what grtcrwd said. One more thing tho'.. as witnesses we all work with or live next door to those who are NOT witnesses. When someone wishes us happy holidays, we view it as if they are wishing that we have a nice day etc. we try to look for the good in those who we come into contact with and show appreciation for their sincere heartfelt wishes for us. We may not say happy holidays back to them but this doesn't mean we dont appreciate what they mean when they greet us in a courteous friendly manner
Why don't Christians give gifts on the one day they're suppose to celebrate, His Resurrection? Instead we have our kids hunt for eggs that the Easter Bunny hid!?!?!
And what's the point of giving gifts to everyone to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Do you buy gifts for everyone when Washington's birthday rolls around?
Celebrating Christmas is a time for giving and being with friends and family. A time for giving, not a hectic rat race through the mall to find that $500.00 Wii your kid wants, but giving to those who can't, those who don't have anything to give, those who do not have anything period. Sharing, being together, even if it's only for one day....enjoying what you have and who you have.
If you're not a Christian and you put up a tree and give gifts, what exactly are you celebrating?
Gifts should be given on birthdays and weddings.
Short and sweet reply - very funny and well written article. And I agree with your points. As an architect I particularly like the idea of using fruitcake to repair a retaining wall.
christmas has become another consumer day. i avoid it at all costs. my girlfriend and i stray away from the malls, grocery stores, and all other forms of idiot gatherings.
the way that people become more unaware of everything is ridiculous. i remember coming to work at the hospital last year, and almost being hit in the parking lot by these dolts who are on their cell phones, rambling about how stressed they are that the holidays are here, etc.
also...why do so many people turn into 5150 cases during the holidays? i enjoy shopping (just not during holidays), but to drive yourself to that kind of madness, you have a serious issue.
all in all, holidays are pointless. we no longer celebrate their true meanings...we go out and blow paychecks on useless heaps of junk that people could care less about.
The holidays have new meaning for me as I grow older (39 + ) ...
This year I will not receive one "material" gift ...
I will receive "joy" ...
Joy in knowing that a child received a gift that I purchased / donated for them to open on Christmas day ...
Joy in knowing that I helped others less fortunate than myself ...
I choose to give my time to raise funds for our local humane society ...
This is what the holidays mean to me.
An opportunity to give ... as I do each an every day throughout the year.
Christmas has gotten too commercialized and people really do forget the meaning of it. My husband and I got what we called "goofy" thoughtless gifts for years from his sister and now we don't speak to his family for various other reasons. I receive more thoughtful and useful gifts from my coworkers. I am always glad when it is over because people always say "be nice it's Christmas." However, they forget to be nice the rest of the year!
I think everyone of you who posted a comment have forgotten the real reason of Christmas. It's not about money, gifts or things to buy. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ.
What I hate about this time of year everone want to make me feel bad because I say MERRY CHRISTMAS. I know the world say it is political correct to say Happy Holidays. BUT IT IS MY RIGHT (Freedom of Speech) TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & HAPPY NEW YEAR
Our Christmas seasons have changed over the years. Instead of letting myself getting wrapped up in the insanity and avoiding any awkward moments, I bake whatever comes to mind right around Thanksgiving time and take a little time to visit the older folks in the family right into the Christmas holidays.I get to do some light shopping and beat the crouds. They really like having us over. My mom is 87 and her sisters are in their 70's. I have 3 teen boys now who have picked up a couple of extra guitars this year so we drop by, and they strum away while I warm up food and talk and laugh and sing along. The visits leave pleasant memories and it opens their Christmas Day up to spend with their adult children. It's nice to let them know that they are remembered and if they're up to it, we'll go out for a few hours. It works for me.
I hate the fact that I have to pay $1000+ to fly home for Christmas and stay with my inlaws. I hate that every Christmas my mother in law tries to start fights, dictates every minute of our time, and blames me for stealing her son away from her. (He's in the military. He would have moved anyway.) The worst part though, are the gifts. She feels the need to shower everyone with lots of presents and makes us feel bad because we can only afford around $50/person. Isn't flying across the country to be with them good enough?
You are the coolest. I will start compiling my list of specifics rather than milling around in a fog of distaste.
On both sides of my family, for many years we have drawn names for a gift exchange. I don't want or need any more "stuff" and have asked that they instead make a contribution to Angel Flight, where that money will be multiplied several times over and do something to help out a person or family that really needs it. If you have not heard of this great organization, check them out on their website, angelflightamerica.org .
That was absolutely wonderful.I could not agree more.The entire holiday season has become so commercialized.
Christmas has become a huge hassle that we all hate, dread as it nears, no one signed up for it and yet here we are, once again drowning in the to-do lists, presants and food. Planning meals and events while biting our nails as our bank accounts diminish and our debt piles around us. What is it going to take to not have to do this every year? If I decide it's ridiculous, and I'm not going to do it, then I will be an official jerk.
Not even I want that...
Christmas makes me sad. I lost my mom a few years ago to cancer just before Christmas. We always had Christmas at her place. I'm just not into it anymore. I don't decorate or put up a tree. I'll say Merry Christmas, I buy gifts for the nieces and nephews. I participate in the "secret Santa" gift exchange at work and I attend the Christmas luncheon. Today our new director asked me why I hadn't baked cookies for the cookie exchange and recipe swap and why I hadn't decorated my office. When I told her I don't do Christmas she looked at me like I had two heads. Then she wouldn't leave until I told her exactly why! At this point I'm uncomfortable and so is she.
Maybe if I had children, Christmas would be different...
When I was 17 My grandma died on Christmas eve, I never got over it. Christmas has always been hard on my huband and I because we have always been broke and could not afford to buy things for our kids. We have been lucky though the grandparents have always come through for the kids. This year will be the first year that we can aford to spend money on our kids and I have already spent too much. I hate money....and having to spend it. This year would be a happy year but my husbands grandma just died on December 10th from injuries suffered from a fall two days after Thanksgiving so now I guess Thanksgiving will be messed up for him for now on.
The thing I hate the most about Christmas is that people get so rude. How can you be so rude? I just don't get it.
THE THINGS I LIKE......
The smell of the Christmas tree
Spending time with family
How pretty the world looks with all the lights and decorations
Getting all the christmas cards in the mail.
Marry Christmas to all
The charity thing is a great idea. Does anyone else know of any other charity websites besides the angel one? Please share!
Alley Cat Allies, American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, ASPCA, The Wilderness Society, Care2, CARE, Sierra Club, Coalition Against Misery, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense, Greenpeace, Humane Society of the United States, ihelppets.com, NRDC Action Fund, The Animal Rescue Site, UNICEF USA ...
What I hate about christmas is the stress. Everyone is ruching around, trying to get things done and it becomes hard to enjoy the few days you do have off with your friends and family becuase you are so exahausted by the time the day comes. i remember the best thing about christmas was being able to sliieep till noon - it speaks to what is really the purpose of the holiday. but bny the day comes its anticlimatic.
I have a couple antidotes for the "dislikes":
--Give gifts of time or handmade gifts (if you're talented that way).
--Last year, I didn't have a lot of money, but I did have Christmas week off from work, so I pledged to do community service in honor of my family members. They loved it, and I enjoyed getting out of myself, if only for a few hours.
--Make a donation to a charity in someone's name. That's what I do for my grandparents, who are in their 80s and really don't need a lot of "stuff."
--If you have kids, encourage them to pick a new toy to donate to Toys for Tots or a similar organization (or for that matter, to donate their gently used toys and clothes to a shelter or such). My mom and dad told my brother and me that Santa required this before leaving us any presents.
--Put love into everything that you do for the season, and if you can't, don't do it.
--Make a habit of taking time for whatever the deeper meaning of the season is for you, whether it's religious/spiritual, family-oriented, community-oriented, or some combination of the above.
Personally, I think work gift exchanges are a hoot! It's a challenge to try to find something for $5 or less. This goes double if you pick a guy's name (I am female). I'm in a small office of 4 this year, so I sort of miss the exchanges.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
What is a constant source of wonder to me is, if so many people hate shopping so much, hate spending so much, then WHY do they do it? Who exactly ties a lead ball to their ankles and won't release them until the money is spent? Who is chained to the inside of a big mall or store until all the money is spent? I just don't get it. If you want Christmas to reflect the real reason.. then MAKE it so. Who is going to make things the way you want if YOU don't do it? If you're all so tired of being "sheep".. then why not stop it? If everyone faces unhappy, ungrateful, criticizing relatives anyway.. then what difference does it make if they complain that you've done your own thing this year, or if they complain about the clothes you wore at that all supposedly obligatory dinner? If they're going to complain no matter what.. then what do you have to lose? It makes no sense to me. Start being your own person, start doing your own thing. There is no one dragging you by the nose to the store, no guns to your heads to buy buy buy. There really isn't! Trust me. I don't buy much and I'm still breathin'. I LOVE Christmas. I love the colour, I love the decorations, (although I have precious few of them, I see them in the stores when I arrive and I wave goodbye to them as I leave!!), I love the food (although no one here eats too much because I focus more on health than I do gorging), but most of all.. I LOVE being my own person. If I don't feel like visiting family, I don't. If I don't have a lot of money, then not much gets bought. I have 2 teenage boys that have lived this way all their lives and they do not complain. They know the value of family time and I learned long ago.. back when I did the same stressing as most of you are doing now, that the kids really really don't care about the size of presents or the amount. They actually do care about value and truly do appreciate getting things they really want. That's why kids started asking for money. That way their parents and other family members will stop buying things they don't want and the kids can go out and get the things they really do want. Who woulda thunk our kids are wiser and more frugal than us? Don't buy so much food, think health instead. If no one really needs it throughout the year, you can be guaranteed, they really don't need it at Christmas .. and maybe.. just maybe .. someone in your world will actually appreciate it.. they will not feel obligated to eat because they think it is making YOU happy. It is a cycle, you know. They do it cause you do it and you do it cause they do it. So stop. Just do what YOU want to. Spend just what you want. Give the money you feel is appropriate and let others kick in the rest. Kids don't mind, they really don't. Since this is actually a blog about hating Christmas, I will add what I "hate" about Christmas. I "hate" hearing how stressed people force themselves to be, without realizing they can break free. I "hate" seeing people with little or no money feeling forced to spend what they don't have. I "hate" seeing people not realizing they can break free of the madness and life will truly go on. Seriously folks.. make Christmas what you want it to be. Your friends and family might just appreciate it far more than you realize right now and if not, they'll learn to. May everyone enjoy this season in whichever way truly makes their hearts happy.
Wow... Amazing what people will write about if given the opportunity to vent their opinions. I'll keep my point simple.
-Peace on Earth and goodwill to all regardless of religion or ethnicity.
To those that "have", be thankful and aid those who "have-not."
This viewpoint may seem odd for someone who is 30.
I have had a real reality check when it comes to Christmas because before I met my husband, I was homeless for a time. I grew up in a poor area, and I have seen poverty at some of its worst.
My husband and I decided this year that we would not put up a tree, decorate, or overspend. We have no children (by choice) and see no sense in hauling out a bunch of stuff for just the two of us. Neither one of us really needs anything, and if we do, we go out and buy it ourselves. We set a budget of $20 on each of the other family members, and have bought one gift each payday for the last 8 paydays. I have done 50% of my holiday shopping online and the other 50% at local small buisnesses, because there is absolutely no way anyone can convince me to enter the malls and the big box stores at this time of the year. I hate the crowds, the commercialism, and the put-yourself-in-deeper-debt-for-the-next-five-months mentality that has overtaken the holiday. I dislike watching screaming, greedy children grab and whine "I want...I want...I want..." I hate seeing parents wrestle for every over-priced, mass produced, mind-numbing piece of junk that will be forgotten by the child 5 minutes after the wrapping paper is torn off but remembered by the parents for several credit card bills to come. You can provide a very happy Christmas without all the tags, bags, bills, and pills. We are looking forward to having a nice quiet Christmas dinner at my parents' house this year (we alternate every year) with good food, the woodstove going, and a nice relaxing day to spend some time with them, which is all too infrequent considering today's busy schedules. Oh, he and I will probably come up with some $10 token gift to exchange at my parents, but the bonus Christmas money that is coming to us will be promptly converted into two checks - one to the local homeless shelter and one to the local food pantry. You can bet that a hungry family will remember a square meal or a homeless person a warm place to sleep longer than a child who has just unwrapped a $500 video game system that will be obsolete before the credit card bills are paid off.
The number one reason why I don't like Christmas is simply two words: Family Drama.
Even the most devout Christians can't seem to keep themselves together enough to avoid the selfish Christmas arguments. Can't we all just get along?
christmas is only fun when you are a child as you get older you realize how much of a hassle it is. getting gifts for everyone and not even receving the gifts you want. isn't christmas supposed to be about just being together with your friends and family and haveing a good time? i mean correct me if i'm wrong
It really amazes me how many of the posts here reflect what Scrooges you all are! I personally love Christmas, I'm a huge fan of Black Friday, and I love everything about the Christmas season. I have never once gone into debt by buying loved ones gifts, and I enjoy the reaction when I give someone something they truly like. My daughter is almost 2 and my DH and I have bought her a small number of relatively inexpensive gifts that I know she will love.
As a child, I always had a fabulous Christmas. My parents didn't have a lot of money, but always managed to give us a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to doing that with my own family.
I wish you would all take things into perspective and look at how fortunate you are. I'm working Christmas Day (today) as a nurse at a large neonatal intensive care unit where we care for some very, very sick babies whose parents have constant fear and worry. I'm doing my very best to enjoy the day here with coworkers and my patients and to give the babies and families a wonderful Christmas they can enjoy despite the situation they are in. So far yesterday and today have been wonderful, and the parents of the babies I'm caring for have been very grateful for all we have done for them.
Last night I read my daughter the passage from the Bible in Luke chapter 2 about Jesus' birth and am teaching her that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth. Jesus did not live in a time where birthdays were celebrated, and never received birthday gifts himself. Yet most of us expect a party, gathering, or gifts for our own birthdays, but look how insignificant we are compared to the man who granted us eternal salvation.
So to all you sticks in the mud, I hope your Christmas is full of peace, joy, and love and you make of it whatever you want. I like to think that the people who enjoy Christmas are out having a good time while those of you who hate it are sitting at home, lonely and on the Internet complaining about it.
AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!
Interesting post, I am sorry you do not like the holiday's. For my family they are always a wonderful time. But we are pagans, and we are not trying to cram a made up holiday on top of our real one.
Now I am NOT saying there was not a Jesus Christ, but as you said in your own post, he was not born on December 26th.
We know that Santa Claus is our Norse god Oden, giving us the gift of knowledge. We know the green fur tree we bring into our home and decorate, once with candles, and now with electric lights, is the promise from the goddess to bring back the sun each winter. After all, December 26 was the day we celebrated the return of our god Saturnalia. (the guy Saturday is named after)
I don't mind sharing my holiday with you, or with anyone else. But, it is not any ones birthday. Well except my husbands, and he gets a card and a cake every year.
Have a cool Yule, and remember, as promised the sun will start showing up longer and longer each day. Blessed be. A very happy witch, who expects to either not see this comment posted, or to get masses of hate mail.
I hate getting together with my in-laws. There is no family left on my side, so it has gotten so one-sided. There is no relationship with a good number of them during the year, and it is awful having to dine with them, with nothing to say. They harken back to their former days together, and it is almost impossible to join in and relate. The "matriarch" of the family unleashes totally ignorant comments, and everyone puts up with it. She's gotten out of control, but no one calls her on it, which leads to her being more out of control...but they do talk behind her back, that's for sure. And I spent good money to travel for this. I know many of them would not reciprocate. It seems with my husband, there is no balancing the scales...I've suggested doing something charitable on Christmas Day, but he wants no part of it.
To everyone that wrote in saying that they like Christmas, it's only because you can afford gifts!!! Most people cannot. That is where the stress comes from!
Previous poster:
Yes, because Christmas is only about money. Please.
Why don't you use your talents and make gifts or offer up services like housecleaning, shoveling snow, or dog walking. I'm sure anyone would love to have someone come in and clean their house for them. Why don't you just try being a little more creative and a little less Scrooge?
I take a trip for Christmas... My husband and I got tired of our families all together... (extended family)so it has been 2 years since we skip the family reunion and take a trip...my 7 year old loves the idea...he still gets a gift from santa (he is still a child) but other than buying him and my husband a gift we decided to spend that money on US.. we work so hard all year that we deserve the vacation... the firs time we did this we went to CANCUN the best decesion the second was to WALT DISNEY WORLD a 7 year olds dream...this year NEW YORK..its great...
How stupid is this? why would you want to point out the many reasons why you don't like Christmas? During the Holiday time sure it gets pretty busy and loud and everyones going crazy, but you have to love getting together for that great family dinner. So what if its the second time we have turkey, its the time we have ham. How could you not love the holiday weather? The fact that you get to bundle up and stay warm is a thrill to me. Shopping.. I think its absolutely exciting! Sure theres alot of people, alot of crowds, alot of sales, but doesn't the holiday air just fill you with joy? To me when I hear the word Christmas all I think about it gift-giving and gift-receiving the joy and thoughts running through my mind on what things to put on my list. Christmas trees fill me with glee, oh the fun of picking them out and the scent just relieves me. All the holiday specials, they're absolutely entertaining. One of my most favorite things during the holidays is to sit back and watch Jack Frost or some other animated version of a holiday special. How could you point out the things you don't like about Christmas? And 8,765 to be exact. Maybe you just don't have the heart to realize.
Anonymous 13yrs old.
Wow.. I do agree with the previous commenter. How could you not like Christmas. It's the time when Christ was born. The joy of giving. The spirit that fills you. How can you possibly find so many things to be ungrateful for?
I noticed that the previous commenter was also a young person. Doesn't that show you that even from the mouth of babes you shouldn't be able to find that many things you don't like about Christmas. Your such a scrooge.
Christmas time is the best time to spend time with your family. Of course there will be a few family members that aren't on your buddy list but your going to have to live with that. That's no reason at all for you to not like a good old get-together.
SHOPPING: there WILL be sales WILL be crowds , and WILL be lines out the door. But that shoes hoe humble people are that they would stand in a line to buy a gift for a special person.
I'm sure you can find more than 10,000 things that you absolutely LOVE about Christmas. But only if you look deep inside your heart. Look on the bright side. At least your alive every year to see it.
I really hope that you put some thought into this.. Charlie Baker FL
I dont like having to be around my mother who is a drug addict and refuses treatment, but my grandmother invites her and then my mother makes smart comments about how I dont care about her. How can you care about someone that doesnt care about themselves?
I love watching my 9 year old open gifts and how he gets so excited.
I dont like people in general around the holidays. people are supposed to be nice but they are really really rude.
I am studying to become a Doctor and the free time I have I dont want to spend it standing in line to buy things that most people dont like or apprieciate.
I decorate but I dont over do it!!! but I know alot of people that do!!
During the holidays I say do what makes you happy and if the people that you gave gifts to dont like it Oh well. everyone gets too stressed out during christmas
The biggest thing I don't like about Christmas is the overkill aspect. Too much decorating, too many gifts, etc. The house get so cluttered I can't relax. My kids get so many gifts from my wife's parents that they cannot possibly play with them all, not to mention the fact that due to the sheer quantity, some of the toys are redundant and do virtually the same things. We have to store them away and take some out from time to time. All it does is create a mess and there are toys they don't even get to open. It would be OK if not for the extreme overkill.
CHRISTMAS IS THE BEST!
You create your own life, and you are responsible for your own happiness. If you do not like Xmas (and you are in very good company if you do not, though many people are in the closet about it, and simply suffer through it), you really don't HAVE to celebrate it.
I know that it isn't always simple. Just know that there are people who do it differently.
There IS a lot of pressure, but in a sense it is a good assertiveness training opportunity (plenty of us can use positive assertiveness training to become more happy and in control of our lives overall).
Xmas seems a bit sappy in ways. I'm willing to celebrate most things in some way when I'm in the right mood, but sometimes I'm not, and Xmas I'm usually not. I personally love nature, and since there are few days during the year that I'm not working or otherwise busy, this is an opportunity because it is a time when the world slows down - if not for several days, then at least for one day. Walking through the Cedar trees in virgin snow when there isn't a soul around except any chosen person or other animal who you might take with you - it is an incredible and very beautiful experience.
One year I flew to Australia and New Zealand, and because of the timing of the flight spent about one hour on Xmas day. There was no big fuss in that hemisphere on Xmas, and it was, of course summer. The memories are with me forever, as opposed to whatever holiday thing would have faded away by now.
One year I spent a splendid day at the ocean on the N California coast. The beaches in California are outstandingly natural and beautiful, and there aren't crowds to clog the scenery. My dog greatly appreciated the special time with us.
There are hundreds of things like that to choose from. Make your own special holiday, and choose your own people, or no people, to spend it with. If anyone is disappointed, they'll get over it. You will suffer with your decision for a long time, but they will think about it for a few minutes and will move on to thinking about other things. The cost benefit ratio doesn't cut it! (continued in next post)
Lepton
(continued from previous post)
Gifts don't excite me much, so I don't do them. I can buy whatever I need myself, and when I buy it myself I get it right. I don't have to be grateful and there are no awkward moments when getting something that I really don't have room for or would rather give back.
I absolutely hate to wait to give someone something when I DO want to get a present for someone, so it works both ways. No way am I waiting for some artificially prescribed day to give my three teenaged children something that I know they really want and need. They don't care about Xmas either. It hasn't been programmed into them. They aren't materialistic. Hoever, they get whatever whenever it is necessary. No pressure - just fun, and spontaneous fun at that. Who made up this stuff that it has to like so... We make our own rules, or should. We all should strive to make our own at least...
For those who put forth religious reasons for the holiday, do what you need to do. However, we should all be aware that this really is not a religious holiday. Festivities around the winter solstice have been had since time immemorial; it was all about the return of the sun. It took 3-4 days from the actual day of Solstice to recognize that the days had, in fact, gotten a few minutes longer, so Dec 25th was a natural date to celebrate that great occasion (the return of the sun).
Fair enough enough if you want to do things for religious reasos; we've tried to change history before to fit our own wants and needs. If one needs to carry on for such reasons, so be it. Just make sure that you are happy.
We should, however, be aware also that the entire world is not on the same page in that department. There are over 4000 religions practiced on the planet today, and what particular religion one is is greatly determined by what spot on the planet they were born on and to what particular set of parents. All the different sects of Christianity make up merely 1/3 of the world's religions, and not everyone celebrates the holiday by any means. Whenever one is in an international environment (like a major university with people from around the world), it will become very clear that only a portion of the people give much thought to this holiday in the first place. It is good to keep things like that in perspective, because we tend to think of our world as the only world, and somehow we end up at the center of that world. The way we live our particular lives is just one small possibility out of thousands.
Be safe, be happy, do whatever you can to not be stressed and unhappy. We have only this one life, and if it isn't a joyous one, most days, it isn't worth being here.
Lepton
I don't mind the overkill aspect really, except for the lights b/c of all the electricity used. What gets me is my family, who are gossipy and act entitled. Every single year (even though I've always had money troubles) i get the snarky comments about my small presents. My mother gives me lists of things she wants and then gives me things like industrial-sized jars of Vaseline. NOT kidding. What the hell does ANYONE do with two pounds of Vaseline.
Nevermind, I don't want to know.
I just started disliking Christmas when i couldn't find a job. This recession hit us hard and I would prefer to not have to deal with my family being ungrateful for what i could afford to give them.
I addition, I am not a Christian which causes a lot of strife with my family, who are all Catholics from Long Island, NY. They are true stereotypical New Yorkers. Brash, loud, and abrasive. Critical comments, rude remarks, entitled attitudes...I'm tempted to just not show up this year.
It wouldn't bother me if people just knew what they were celebrating. I'm okay with the big parties and gift-giving, as long as the pressure is lessened. Makes me feel much better that others dislike Christmas as much as I do though.
Hope everyone makes it through okay, and that 2010 is a better year for everyone.
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