Even the christians hate christmas.

And they have for years, as everybody recognizes it for what it really is... a mechandising opportunity, a stressful headache of never ending obligations, and nothing but relief when it's over. You don't have a Grinch cartoon unless people think that the holiday is losing meaning, so I put it at about fifty years ago minimum.

Why do they NOW pretend that someone failing to say "merry christmas" is the Grinch? Why pretend like ANYTHING christmas outside of church and home is anything but a contrived piece of crap meant to sell you something? And to complete the ridiculousness, they threaten to boycott retailers unless they comply, just to make sure that nobody does anything outside the spirit of profit.

You can say "Merry Christmas" WHEN you go to church (which I'm sure these fundies do). Out in the public square, you can wish your CHRISTIAN friends "Merry Christmas" but to strangers, you (and retailers) can use something more generic so as not to IMPOSE your faith on them.

How would these fundies feel if their Jewish brethren started wishing them "Happy Rosh Hashanah" or "Happy Yom Kippur" during High Holy Days? I'll bet the response would be something like "My, isn't THAT presumptuous ... "

and I always wish my Jewish friends Happy (insert Jewish holiday) and they return the sentiment or wish me Merry Christmas. Sheesshhh - are we all going nuts? And yes, I hate Christmas, except for handmade gifts that I make for and receive from those I love, and Christmas eve choirs and church. That's Christmas. The rest is so much garbage. Bah, Humbug.

There was a while back there when Xmas was just a giant pain in the butt. Both my parents were in nursing homes, I had teenagers with EXPECTATIONS. I had church (choir) responsibiltiies.

I have since learned to just say no. I buy most of my presents online. I go to maybe two, possibly three special parties and only ones I enjoy. If I don't get cards out, no biggie.

Did I mention prozac and ativan?

Don't say Merry Christmas to me just so I'll buy your crap.

You should showcase this in a thread of its own.

*blush*

I will think of Bill O'Reilly and Pat Robertson and their "War on Christmas."

They have made me hate those words.

"Merry Christmas" is no longer a warm greeting-- they have turned it into a weapon.

Fuck them and fuck "Christmas."

It's the one time of year I get to see all of my extended family. It's a cozy, stress-free experience. The lights and decorations provide a festive atmosphere which is much needed at a time of year the damn sun goes down at 4:30 in the afternoon. Furthermore nothing is better than seeing the magic of it all through the eyes of my 3 year old.

Both the cynics on the Left and the obsessive crusaders on the Right can bite my ass. Happy Holidays, everybody!

as an agnostic bordering on atheism (spare me the definitions - please), technically Jewish(mother), I adore Christmas! I just love tradition and in our family, which is as irreligious as you can find, Christmas was always a big deal.

I still do it just as when I was a child. No tree or decorations until the weekend before the day. Home made mince pies and sausage rolls. Down the pub for a couple and then off to "Midnight Mass' to belt out Good King Wenceslas, We Three Kings etc then home to drink Santa's milk and eat the Cookies. Stockings at the bottom of the childen's beds. The morning spent assembling toys or madly looking for the (not included batteries). Christmas Dinner with Christmas Crackers and paper crowns and Christmas pudding and Brandy Sauce.

All sitting around the tree in the evening from 9 months to 90, the youngest that can walk handing out the presents one at a time and everyone waiting for that one to be opened and oohed over before moving on to the next.

Playing cards or board games after the tree is 'picked' and the kids are in bed.


I don't do 'Thanksgiving'. Say 'Happy Thanksgiving' to me and my eyes glaze over. The Fourth of July is just a day off work. But I'll scratch out the eyes of anyone who tries to spoil my Christmas.

It's the tradition, it's the continuity. It's what you make it. I'm sorry you spoiled yours, but you and 'they' are not going to spoil mine.

weren't so merry when all the buying stopped at the mall...

Cindy Loo Who then asked,
"how come no presents this year"
"well honey", said daddy
the spirit of profit did stop it,
we'll just have food and good cheer,
Cindy Loo, ready to explode,
finally blew....
"Is this because someone didn't say
Merry Christmas to you"!!!!

..you suck dad.


Inland, your words "spirit of profit" got me going on this one thanks, lol :)

PS: I love Christmas too! :))

edit: added last line

and my friends and their family does. are we tired when we are dont with a month of christmas, you betcha. but..... it is sucha good tired.

christmas is what each individual makes of it. it is clear what you make of the holiday, go for it, and you have every right to particpate in christmas as you chose. but to decide how EVERYONE particpates in christmas and decide it is a truth, is simply lying to yourself, and a projection from your own interpretation of christmas

the right plays their game with christams that is ttally opposite of christ word. i hear people say, when they put christ back into christmas, then i will...... well whatever. i dont need to wait for these right loud mouths to put christ, love, lite, joy back in christmas. i can do it all by myself, as those around do the same.

I'm a little skeptical. I did put in my OP that outside church and home is where christmas fails, but if I polled your family and friends, I bet I would find more than a few exasperated moments. I find christmas low stress too, but that's because my wife does the shopping and we're skipping the six hour trip over icy highways to my folks in order to go to Hawaii.

But that's more like bailing than participating, because, well, there's a shitload to hate. Bailing it is.