Okay. Here it is. I officially HATE Christmas. Seriously.

I don't hate winter. And I actually like people.

Why, I'm what you might call a "people person."

And as a general rule, I like giving and receiving gifts.

But I am not religious. And even if I were, the commercialization of the season, the forced American "obligation" of giving gifts and the associated stress, I really really really hate. And I have ever since becoming an adult.

That is all.

I hate Christmas too and it is precisely the "commercialization of the season, the forced American obligation of giving gifts and the associated stress" that you mention in your post above. Bingo you have summed it up quite nicely for me too. I also hate winter though but it may be related to Christmas too.

You just hear more and more crap about how bizarre this whole ritual is getting too. You now have the religious wing nuts insisting that retail clerks should say "Merry Christmas" and not "happy holidays". And nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll. Christmas has just become the right wing melding with corporate greed. It is nauseating.

Bah hum bug.

On a lighter note last week's South Park was hilarious. "Woodland Critter Christmas". You should watch it if they repeat it, it will cheer you up about Christmas.

Sonia

my sig line sums up my feelings about the Holiday.

ritual of spending as a celebration of His life and death. We are only giving to family and close friends and only homemade candies.

I have not yet been requested to say Merry Xmas. If I do, I plan on ranting that what we've turned Christ's day into is at best sinful.

About the money changers in the temple.

...holiday. OTOH, it gives me the chance to do fill-ins at my college radio station so the DJs with families can spend the holiday with them. As a result, I've never felt *completely* rotten on Christmas! :eyes:

One thing I've started to hate, too, are retailers who lambast those of us who choose not to go deep into debt buying people who only sort of like us presents they will probably hate.

ok, got off track. focus.

Is it OUR (consumers) fault that they (retailers) plan their yearly budgets around the sales they hope to make near Christmas? Poor planning, IMO.

My entire family is on a no-gift-over-$10 rule. And I mean the whole extended family. And I'm Catholic Italian. So we're talking thousands of dollars not spent. I have to say that this is the proudest I've ever been to be a part of my family...

We've moved into a "Christmas is about the kids" mindset. As an adult, I just look forward to a few days of leftover nummies and some Christmas fudge. However, because special gifts are always well thought out, rather than expensive, I think that your price limiting idea is a great one. :)

...and it's been working well. I didn't mention that the $10 gift limit is in the context of a gift exchange. So for the 40-50 people in my family, each person only buys one gift for the exchange. $500 max from my family for christmas. We all love it because it means a cheap and easy christmas, and you can tell in the faces of my mom, aunts, grandmothers, etc-- in the past they'd (yes, I have to admit, women's lib passed right by the older generations in my family...) have to buy lots of gifts for the whole clan. Much less stress.

And much less cash in the mouth of the beast...

even if I don't quite understand it.

People make their own Christmas. Stores can't make you buy. Churches can't make you join in their rituals. You can totally ignore it, but "hate" it, I do not understand.

eileen from OH

My parents went out of their way to be cruel. When I had my son I was able to live Christmas through his eyes every year and I got a lot of joy. We spent time icing cookies and making gingerbread houses. Decorating the tree was fun because we made a lot of our own ornaments. I was still leaning a little bit Christian back then but I think we were celebrating the winter solstice (sp?) in our own way. Now that he's older and could care less about all that I find myself sinking back into the old memories.

Dad would get tanked, Mom would cry. As a result my sister hates the holiday, but I kinda went the other way. Christmas really began for me when I had my own kids - and they're still into it, from a spirit standpoint. Silly little traditions, etc. But we have some good friends, who don't have children, who always volunteer at a food bank that day, then go off and have a nice meal, and cap it off by going to the movies.

That's kinda what I meant - it doesn't have to be religious, or even a "family" day - you make of it what you want, even if that's means doing nothing special. You can't change your memories, but you can change what you do on that day and make the day special, despite what others try to do to it.

eileen from OH

you can change what you do on that day and make the day special, despite what others try to do to it.

Why do we have to "make the day special" at all, if we don't want to? It's another day. Who gives a crap, jesus.

make the holiday your own. For me, it's more of an extension of Thanksgiving....with lights.

the commercialization is unreal - the idea that anyone would feel obligated to buy me a gift is absolutely appalling. But, I do like Christmas cards and Christmas lights.

The other day before our vacation began, I told some of my students that I neither give nor accept presents at this time. They were stunned! One student told me that I was being "sinful". When I inquired as to how this was and just why people were supposed to give presents for Christmas, the response was: "Because the wise men brought presents to the baby Jesus."

I'm not saying "Bah Humbug" just that I, too, am non-religious.

Peace

:P

Is there a gift receipt on that?

It's sinful not to give or take presents? What kind of religious belief is that? How old is this student?

I was stunned by this statement.

I have no idea of this student's religious beliefs.

Most of the students were of the "what, no presents (i.e. materialism)" perspective. There were even some students who were openly supportive of my opinion. Rarely, do I share my opinions with the students; and when I did this time, this was the reaction I received.

men brought gifts to the Baby Jesus?"

Not the crowd to troll for Westinghouse champs (or whatever they're calling it these days) or National Merit Semifinalists?

and try to make it appear as if they are under attack by the 'godless liberals'. Since I am openly 'liberal' in a very conservative community (the former location of Jim and Tammy Faye's PTL Club con operation), I do take a lot of flack from others. On many occasions students, and even teachers, will try to bait me into 'discussions' where they can make me look foolish or downright wrong (typical ad hominem approach); and, this event, I believe, was one of them.

To give some background on this event, in class we were ahead of schedule and were talking about the upcoming vacation. One student asked me what I was giving my family for Christmas. I told them that I disagree with the crass materialism into which this holiday has degenerated (just my opinion folks). Therefore, I neither give nor accept presents during this time; the only exception is for my father whose birthday is 24 December. The majority of my students gave the typical, materialistic response of 'what, no presents!' type of reaction. But, there was this one student who said that I was being 'sinful'. When I asked how that was, the reply was that the wise men brought presents to the baby Jesus, so we should do the same.

I do not ask my students what their religious beliefs are, that would be against school policy, and mine (I might add). On the other hand, I do not advertise my beliefs either. If asked, I will say something neutral and try to get off the topic. Another thing for which I am criticized is that I do not force my students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. When I am asked why, my response is that if one is forced to recite the pledge, then it takes all the meaning out of it. If one chooses to do it voluntarily, then it has meaning. Personally, being non-religious, I do not recite the Pledge and I am in front of the class. Once a student of openly conservative opinions called me 'unpatriotic' for being this way. The next day I brought my old Marine Corps uniform to class, complete with ribbons, and asked him to call me 'unpatriotic' again; he said nothing.

Why do I keep this job? Well, sometimes I actually make it through to some students and get them to see other perspectives; that is my one true reward. However, there are those who choose (or do not know any better) to live in an enclosed bubble where everything is just the way they want it and people like me are to be ridiculed.

If you have any more questions I will try to answer them as best I can.

2004 passed 2001 as the worst year in American history, well maybe worst in history may be too much. 2004 replaces 2001 as the worst year of the 21st century. :shrug:

I feel neutral about that, no differently than towards other religious holidays.

It's the whole commercial/shopping/gift institution thing. And the fact that it's been made a sort of obligation in American society.

I remember, what was it, 1 or 2 years ago, shrubbie even pimping the idea that it was our patriotic duty to go buy a bunch of crap to prop up the retail industry and economy during Christmas. Gaak. Not that they don't at least indirectly suggest this every year in some way.

I actually like the getting together with family and friends part, I'm fine with any arbitrarily chosen occasion that promotes that whether or not associated with a religious day.

Interesting, my Jewish neighbors told me that the whole institution of Chanukah has been completely pimped up as a side effect of the American Christmas phenomenon. That Chanukah is not really one of the more prominent Jewish holidays. Sad that I grew up with and went to school with so many Jews and am so unfamiliar with the basis and significance of their various holidays.

in which people who can't stand each other spend money they can't afford to give each other gifts that get returned.

Fuck Chri$tma$.

:freak:
dbt

And I spread Christmas cheer wherever I go.

WHAT? WHAT? WHAAAAAT?

people going to all of the stores to buy all of the junk that no one wants or needs. I hate it!

Guess the smilie.

:P

Until I picked up a scrawny Christmas tree. There was a really beautiful dog at the tree lot. (He was a German short-haired pointer--really smart and very funny.) I commented on him to the woman who was selling the trees. She was so glad I had asked about that dog, and she launched into all kinds of stories about him. Then she said:

"You know, there's a lady I used to work with who couldn't believe anyone could love a dog. Can you imagine that? She didn't understand how anyone could love a dog."


I've been playing Santa for 23 years, and if anyone should be tired of the Christmas routine, I should be. And I get tired--I can't lie.

But that woman cheered me up so much yesterday. I mean why love anybody? Why indeed. :toast:

and never more glad of it than this time of year. I'm going into retreat on 12/24 and not coming out until after the New Year! Gonna avoid the whole dreadful overhyped spectacle...

:puke:

ON EDIT: Damn shame about what the holiday became, really. That Prince of Peace stuff was all right with me!

The commercialism for starters. CNN was reporting the other day that "Retailers say you're not spending enough this year." Like there's something wrong with me if I don't go up and rack up a crapload of credit card debt on shit I don't need. Well, our President does it, so why the hell not?

But people say Christmas has lost its meaning. Seems to me like Christmas represents perfectly traditional American values: Greed, consumerism, waste. Sounds pretty American to me.

And the whole holiday cheer thing: people are complete dicks to each other the other eleven months out of the year, and all of a sudden its all this peace and goodwill crap. Hmmmm, aren't we bombing the shit out of Iraqis as we speak? All the cute Christmas tree sweaters and eggnog-induced smiles aren't going to cover that up. Peace and goodwill indeed.

That and the Peanuts Christmas Special is the most depressing piece of cinema I think I've ever seen. Really, think about it. Damn you Charles Shultz for warping me as a child!

On a positive note, I do like all the Christmas lights.
Rant over, I needed that.

season the way I want to, not the way popular culture or a church tells me I have to. It has resulted in some rather touching and sometimes incredibly bizarre traditions. I'm raising some very confused children. LOL!

I just view it as a great time to be around the people whom I get love & support from and throw it right back in their faces in the best ways possible.

I get to eat and drink mass quantities. Nobody makes me worship anything.