I'm boycotting Christmas............

[the Princess]

I'm Pagan - I get depressed this time of year - and I just HATE the commercialization of it all. Money money money spend spend spend. AAARRRGH!

Who's with me????????

[loveable liberal]

1. me.

but i got kids and they really like it. I love watching them open gifts. Love the xmas tree too, xians really hate it when you point out its a pagan symbol...

[One_Life_To_Give]

8. Thought it was Lutheran

Wan't it Martin Luther that walked into a evergreen tree on a dark night. And as he lay there on the ground looking up at the tree he had just walked into. Noticed how the stars shown thru the leaves and thought. "Hey, there ought to be lights on these things."

;^)

[JVS]

13. Maybe it was lightning striking a tree in the storm where he promised...

to become a monk.

[flamingyouth]

2. me

This holiday season is already shaping up to be filled with judgment, rage and general malaise. Hooray!

[politicaholic]

3. Me too...

I'd much rather celebrate the day they invented toilet paper or pizza or, you know, something that actually exists and is relevant to all our lives.

[the Princess]

4. Ooooooooooo good idea

I'd much rather celebrate the day they invented toilet paper

We could use a small bush and decorate it with toilet paper! LOL

[CO Liberal]

22. "A Small Bush Decorated With Toilet Paper...."

No, I won't go there.....

:-)

[joshdawg]

5. Count me in, also.

I've been boycotting xmas for the last 40 yrs or more.

[RebelYell]

6. I've boycotted Xmas for a long time

I'm an atheist. We are obligated to have dinner with my Mom, but we don't exchange gifts. It's a quick dinner and back home.

It especially depresses me because most of my family is dead. We don't have children.

We usually spend Xmas eve and day watching movies.

[flamingyouth]

7. This year will be hard for me

My first holiday season without my husband. Thanksgiving will be the worst. We both loved to cook, and we always made a delectable spread. But such is life.

[eyesroll]

12. (((Lisa)))

:hug:

[flamingyouth]

15. Thanks, love

For Christmas, my mom and I are starting a new tradition. She bought a tagine from Sur la Table, and we're having Moroccan food. We love the fact that eating Moroccan food on Christmas Eve makes no sense whatsoever. :D

:hug:

[eyesroll]

16. That sounds just lovely.

And I am sure plenty of Moroccans eat tagine on Christmas.
;-)

[CO Liberal]

26. More Hugs for Lisa

My father died in October of 1991. Thanksgiving and Christmas were rough that year, but they got better with time.

And we're all here for you.

[flamingyouth]

32. Thank you

...for everything. :hug:

[CO Liberal]

33. We're In This Together, Lisa

When one of us is hurting, we're all hurting.

[flamingyouth]

37. Thank you again

You're very sweet. I've gotten so much support here, it's overwhelming. And wonderful. :pals:

[RebelYell]

48. That's anothe reason I don't "do" holidays

I don't know you, but sending a hug your way. Been there, done that.

[Modem Butterfly]

10. We don't celebrate xmas either

But it's a fun day for us. There's a big "feed the hungry" dinner in Atlanta, and we make a point of volunteering. We make a point of mentioning that we're atheists when religion comes up. Then, we head to a big dinner with some like-minded friends. We get each other gifts for the house in the after-xmas sales. Since both our birthdays are near the holiday, we celebrate half-birthdays in the summer (both of us got screwed over for presents when we were kids).

Oh yeah, and we make a point of having holly-jolly sex. Sometimes with Santa caps.

[RebelYell]

49. LOL!! n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

52. Hey, Modem Butterfly!

I haven't seen you around in a while!

:hi:

[Modem Butterfly]

56. Hi you!

Yeah, I was away from DU for waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy too long. But I'm home now. YAY!

:hi:

[Lizzie Borden]

51. My family is dead too...

and I can't bring myself to acknowledge the holiday in any way. People don't understand this.

[the Princess]

9. You know what I hate the most?

The whole bullshit about how it's *supposed to be* Ya know "Father knows Best" family shit. It aint that way for most families. Mine try to kill each other at Holiday get togethers. My parents get on my last nerve and they are toxic people - so the Mr. and I have decided to eat out by ourselves for Thanksgiving and to just be alone and Spaghetti and Meatballs for Christmas and for New Years - well we'll be in Texas! YeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaw! LOL

[Voltaire99]

25. Good idea!

Holidays, ironically, can be the cruelest times.

I know plenty of people who don't stand on custom at the holidays. Why bother, when it's awful? Screw convention. Follow your bliss.

[TX-RAT]

27. The great state of Texas would be proud to have y'all.

[CO Liberal]

28. The Worst Thing About Thanksgiving is the Leftovers

In fact, I think I saw the carcass from last year's Thanksgiving turkey in the back of our freezer the other day.....

:-)

A problem we will solve this year by going out for dinner that day.

[Alleycat]

11. Just Xmas

Do you boycott other Holidays too?

[the Princess]

38. Just Christmas

The Easter Bunny I can handle! LOL

[Alleycat]

42. What about Rudolph and Frosty?

Don't let them down!!

[Hand]

14. I'm buddhist!!!

And do I ever enjoy ignoring the whole materialistic overhyped mess every year! It's grounds for conversion on that basis alone!!!!

:hi:

[arwalden]

17. I'm Atheist And I Love All The Trappings Of The Season!!!

Santa, trees, lights, parades, gifts, family, friends, food, city sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not going to let someone else's commercialization of it ruin MY festivities and fun!

Happy Solstice!!

-- Allen

[queerart]

44. I Just Love You Arwalden!

LOL!!!

You love the lights, parades, and dressing up!

Me too I have to admit.... I think it "feeds" my inner Drag Queen! ;-)

[arwalden]

45. ;-)

:hi:

[cheezus]

18. I love xmas, what could be more pagan?

pine trees indoors! how very christian!

[Lady Effingbroke]

19. me.

Screw Christmas. Just another excuse for the family to gather around the 'ol yule log (metaphorically speaking) for a festive day of drinking and fighting. Happy Holidaze! *hic!*

Besides, I live in Houston. It'll probably be 80 frickin' degrees (as opposed to 80 Fahrenheit degrees) Christmas day.

[Bunny]

20. I won't boycott it, but I'll be happy to downsize it once my kids are

more grown. It used to be my favorite holiday, but not anymore.

I'm not opposed to celebrating it, but I don't want to have to be caught up in the ratrace. Gifts, food, running around, decorations, etc. I'm a little tired of it. Right now it's still kinda mandatory, but in a few years I'll be able to downshift and actually enjoy the season.

I'll be happy when I can just give my kids some cash, take them shopping, and they can get their own stuff! A little fake tree on the side table, pasta for dinner, and the day is complete!

God, I've become Scrooge. ;(

[Dzimbowicz]

21. I'm agnostic

and I cannot handle the crass commercialization of this 'holiday'. I'm totally with you on this.

[donheld]

23. I'm with you there

Christmas is the most insane time of the year, and they drag it out for so long it can make anybody crazy. It's not a celebration of anybodies birth, it's a celebration of greed.

[CO Liberal]

31. They've Already Got Xmas Stuff In The Stores!!!!

:shrug:

[politicat]

24. Oh, Yeah! Every year.

We're atheist. The baby niece, brother and sister are pagan; the toddler nephew and sister and brother are apathetic agnostic. The kidlets get stuff year round so they don't have an association of "midwinter" with presents.

I hate Xmas. I got sick every Christmas growing up - combination of the stress of being cooped up with badly matched parents for a week or more and the fact that I'm allergic to pine trees and hell, no! Dad couldn't put his own needs for a "real" dying tree ahead of his daughter's health. (Bitter? Who? Me?)

We'll go grocery shopping the week before Thanksgiving and subsist on what we can buy then and what we can get delivered until about the middle of January. Thank entropy apples, squash(es?) and carrots last well under cold storage!

Pcat (:hi: from up north, by the way!)

[sbj405]

29. I've boycotted Christmas for the last 3 years

Christmas in America has become truly disgusting.

[Terran]

30. Ok, you're pagan, but

you get depressed "this time of year"? Don't you celebrate Samhain or the Solstice? I don't get it. Or is it just winter depression? If so, see your doctor.

[the Princess]

40. Yes - I get depressed

Along with millions of others this time of year. Part of it is Christmas - and there are far too many other reasons and too personal reasons to go into here.

But thanks for the Doctor suggestion I never would have thought of that. :eyes:

[Phillycat]

34. Oh, I love Christmas.

I love driving around looking at Christmas lights, I love the hustle and bustle, and I love the food, family, and friends around and spending time together! We're all so busy, sometimes the holiday season is the only time we have together.

But I don't like spending all the money on gifts. For years now, I've tried to do all homemade. I am crafty, so I can usually get away with this for almost everyone. Really helps with the bills afterward! :)

[Habibi]

35. Actually, this year I'm celebrating Christmas

in spite of not being a Christian and not down with the whole money money money spend spend spend thing. My mom died last Christmas, and she loved the holiday. So this year I'm going to get a tree and decorate it in her memory.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. It's actually not the Christians who are commercializing the holiday

According to the church calendar, Christmas doesn't even start till Christmas Eve, and if you're doing it according to tradition, the four weeks before are Advent, which is a penitential season.

My December will consist of an intense choir schedule: Advent Evensong on the first Sunday of Advent, Lessons and Carols on the fourth Sunday of Advent, 11PM service on Christmas Eve, and 10AM service on Christmas Day. Then the extended family will gather for dinner and presents for the kids.

I love Christmas in moderation--but I hate it when the decorations go up immediately after Halloween. That's not the work of Christians--it's the work of bottom line business types who want to milk every gift-giving occasion for all it's worth.

Also, and this makes me a heretic in some circles, I hate "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger."

[JVS]

47. So what hymns do you like?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

53. Anything that's not done to death and played on department store

Muzak systems in cheezy arrangements. :-)

[JVS]

54. So how about these?

Now the Green Blade Rises

A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

Who Is This Host Arrayed in White

All Glory, Laud, and Honor

Of the Father's Love Begotten

Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!

Never heard a cheezy muzak version of them

[arwalden]

39. I Imagine That It Must Be A Bit Overwhelming There In Colorado...

and that you get your fill of everything that the season has to offer (and then some!)

-- Allen

[mvd]

41. I love Christmas - favorite time of year

I agree with flamingyouth that carols this time of year is too much, though. I start to think about Christmas in September, but I don't get into it much until the day after Halloween. Otherwise, the Season wouldn't be special.

[queerart]

43. I Never Buy Gifts For Anyone.......

I ask people to instead show me kindness through out the year! An unexpected card, plate of cookies.... something to show that they think of me (and I of them) more than just one day a year! :-)

[Downtown Hound]

46. I used to think like you

but then one night I was visited by three spirits who taught me the true meaning of Christmas. And now, CHRISTMAS? GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!

[AlFrankenFan]

50. HERE HERE!!!

I'm an atheist/Jew (by heritage), right on! I'm with you :yourock:

[LWolf]

55. I boycott some of it.

More or less, depending on my mood and energy level.

I love trees, but don't have the time and energy to bother some years; living by myself makes a difference. I used to do a lot of crafting; homemade ornaments and gifts. I used to do a lot of cooking and baking and decorating. If I do a tree, it usually doesn't come in the house until xmas eve, and it's out on the 26th.

These days, I don't decorate much, although I'll use some candles and a few holiday things around the house. I still hang the stockings, although I don't fill them anymore. I listen to music, light candles, cook things I'm allowed to eat, which severely restricts the menu, and buy one gift each for my mom, my 2 sons, and my grandson. I send cards to a few friends, and sometimes give token gifts, too. I sometimes meet with friends the week before and do caroling on main street. I might get caught watching "A wonderful life" or some other old favorite; I don't do the newer stuff. I will wear my holiday stuff and accessories, etc., to work. At some point, on the eve or the day, my boys will come by and we'll spend a few hours together. Sometimes we travel out of state to see my mom, or she comes to us. Whatever; we'll make sure we spend some low-key time together. That means that we eat. My oldest son will play my guitar; if his girlfriend is along, they'll sing, too. He'll play chess with his brother, who will be looking for sporting events on tv. They may decide on a movie to watch together. We might break out the tripoli game and play. My sons, age 25 and 27, will fight over dividing all of the candy my students gave me that I'm not supposed to eat. This year we may have my grandson for the very first time; if so, we'll decorate more and bake cookies, make gingerbread houses, etc. with him, and do kid games/songs/movies instead of adult fare. When we're all filled up with the holiday, everybody will begin to say goodbye and drift home. By the 26th, everything will be cleaned up, packed away, and back to normal.

What I absolutely will NOT do:

I will not bless the mall with my presence, for any reason. I probably will not go shopping at all; most of the 4 gifts I buy will be bought online. I bought cards and wrapping paper in our school fundraiser. I don't need to shop for anything.

[Lost147]

57. BAH HUMBUG!

boycotting Christmas? thats kind of extreme at least do something fun. My family normally goes on vacation over Christmas since there are no kids just teenagers and 20+

[Dukkha]

58. I LOATHE Christmas!

Everything about it just plain SUCKS

It's forced upon us earlier every year(we're talking about it before Halloween)
It's horribly commercialized
It's now horribly Politicized! It's your patriotic duty to spend.
Non-believers are forced in to it by over zealots.
The great evil empire Wal Mart reaps profits while all other merchants had poor sales last year.
people like us are depressed and left alone.
The poor are forced to spend and participate whether they can afford to or not.