I am started to loathe Christmas

[edhopper]

I see nothing but rampant, greedy commercialism. I am not a person of faith, but I don't see anyone exercising good will toward people.
And the pressure to buy presents or give some gift or gratuity to anyone and everyone is becoming insane. The list grows each year.
I mean it's nice for kids, but we're adults for Christ's sake (pun intended) stop with the gifts. I don't need any gifts. I can buy myself most of the things I want or need, and those things I can't (a trip to France or a flat screen) are to pricey for anyone else to buy for me.
And don't get me started with the facata Christmas lights.
Enough already.

[Moondog]

1. So start observing the

Winter Solstice, which is a great excuse for a party. Or, if you are of a more classical bent, and have somewhat deeper pockets, go whole hog and throw a Saturnalia. Or, if you are more Germanic in outlook, have a slightly early start to Fasching.

I don't have children so I am not tied to any of these; it is more a matter of what my mood is at the time. Personally, at various times I have done all three, as well as a more British style observation of the Twelve Days with a soiree every night (which does run into a few bucks).

I tried ignoring it all, and it just doesn't work. All of the above work, or have worked, for me, depending upon my point of view and where I lived at that particular time.

This year, for me, it will probably be a cross between the Winter Solstice and the Twelve Days of Christmas.

FWIW. Just trying to help, and suggest alternatives ....

[underpants]

2. Oh come on- have fun with it. Go to the mall and check hot chicks, get out and enjoy it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9569940

BTW- New Years Eve is the single man's paradise. They all ....well you know

[edhopper]

3. I don't mind not celebrating

Xmas or Hanukah or Winter Solstice. But everyone around me is getting in the Holiday mood. And by that I mean the frenetic, compulsive, feeling of mandatory celebration. Mostly consisting of buying crap.
I am am getting repulsed by it all.
And black Friday makes me want to vomit.

[Lucian]

4. I was sick of it in October.

Most retail outlets started getting Christmas shit on the beginning of October, and I was sick of it by 10/15. I'm way beyond tired of it now. Every time I turn on my car radio, there's a fucking Christmas song playing. :wtf: :banghead:

[Initech]

7. And it seems to get earlier every year doesn't it?

[Arugula Latte]

23. Me too. I get sick of it earlier every year.

[lukasahero]

5. You can only control how you celebrate the season

Do what's meaningful to you - keep Christmas (or Chanukah or Kwanza or Solstice) in your own way.

[Skittles]

6. no one is forcing you to do it, so OPT OUT

do what I do - refuse any gifts and give gifts only to needy children.....I exercise "good will" as a way of life, not as a seasonal thing

[blueamy66]

8. Crazy, mean drivers too...

fighting for that closer space and not letting anyone out into traffic from a driveway.

Why do drivers get so crazy this time of year?

[marzipanni]

9. We opted out a few years ago.

Our son already got something he has wanted for a while; his cousins are now young adults and their babies don't need any more stuff and are too young to know they're getting anything anyway.

This is a good article, not as long as it appears- it repeats halfway down the page after it says, "first published in The Agonist"
<snip>

It is also very typical for these reporters to remind us of the importance of Christmas. Christmas sales often account for 50% of a retailer’s annual business. Consumers generate nearly three-quarters of all economic growth in the US, so you can obviously see how important Christmas is to the economy overall. Millions of part time jobs are created in November and December, and not just in the retail industry (think how FedEx and UPS benefit from package shipments).

Will it be a good Christmas or a bad Christmas? Meaning, of course, will shoppers open their wallets to provide retailers a profitable December. These have become all-important questions for reporters, and not just those working on Wall Street. It is as if American families cannot have an enjoyable Christmas if retail sales are disappointing. Just as the birth of Jesus has been all but forgotten during Christmas, the mystery of Santa Claus has been relegated to a minor feature of the holiday. It isn’t even important whether you or your family have a Merry or a Happy Christmas – the only important thing is whether corporations have a profitable Christmas. This is the true meaning of Christmas.

http://economicpopulist.org/content/consumerist-christmas-can-it-survive

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. I hear ya!

Kick

[OrwellwasRight]

11. Festivus, a holiday for the rest of us.

No, but seriously. I have always loved Christmas carols, snowmen, and "peace on earth, good will toward men." But I got over Christmas presents years ago. I don't even go home for Christmas anymore. It is the best way to avoid a bunch a presents that I don;t want or need, and a bunch of families members who aren;t grateful for the things I got them.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. I loathe a lot of the commercial aspect of this season and the forced and contrived

social scene that it produces.

[edhopper]

13. I've put up with it

and "made the best of it' for years. I just feel fed up this year.

[MiddleFingerMom]

14. kopykatkick

[Taitertots]

15. I've just started thinking it is funny

The hilarious symbolism based on old Pagan traditions.
The hilarious cult like chanting.
The hilarious corporatism and conspicuous consumption.

[kentauros]

16. I only loathe Raymond.

:P

[dimbear]

17. Here's what I'm sending as far as possible: a contribution in your

name has been made to ........... however I have given them a false name and address so they can't send you any begging letters.

And I actually asked them point blank what their favorite charity was.

That didn't go over so well in one case.

Oh well.

[Roon]

18. I wouldn't celebrate christmas at all except for my mother

She would be crushed if I wasn't with her at christmas,so I go.

[jobycom]

19. Alright, everybody send me edhopper's gifts, since he doesn't want them.

[edhopper]

20. I don't want people to buy the gifts in the first place

and i don't want to obligation to come up with a gift for all the people who do.

Unless they are giving me chocolate!:D

[blueamy66]

21. We buy living trees every year...that can be planted afterward.

Soemone on FB called it a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Kinda pissed me off. But my sister-in-law commented that "You are soo green. That is cool". That made me feel better.

[Crystal Clarity]

22. This Holiday, or ANY holiday

is what you make of it.

If you don't want to participate in it, then don't. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do. Everyone needs to learn to respect other people's choices and if they are incapable of doing that, then you may want to re-assess whether you want them in your life.

I've had to do the same thing myself ever since I quit drinking over a year ago. Most people accept it with no further questions when I say "no thank you" to an alcoholic beverage, but there are the occasional few who push the issue. It's in those cases that I may think twice about being in their company again if it appears as though it may be an ongoing issue.

-just my 2 cents... fwiw

Whoops. Hit 'Edit' by accident instead of 'Top'... :eyes:

[edhopper]

29. It is difficult

when one's whole family is celebrating. Telling them you are not joining in can create very bad feelings. And with In-Laws, it can be worse.
It is very different from not drinking. I am also a teetotaler. And this is not the same.

[edhopper]

30. *dupe*

[Arugula Latte]

24. To this I say: "STARTING to?"

What took ya so long? :rofl:

[Dappleganger]

25. The insistence upon excess gets worse each year.

Excessive spending, excessive lights and decorations (my God, I don't think that the town in A Christmas Carol had THAT many buildings and carriages!), excessive eating, excessive expectations. When we went to the mall this weekend to shop for our kid's birthday, I couldn't believe the signage which focused on how others would perceive you if you gave them the "perfect gift."

Just what is the "perfect gift" and why does it need to be given on Christmas? My perfect gift is my family and friends, and they cannot possibly top that (other than having babies, lol!).

[Deep13]

26. I've hated it for years. nt

[Monique1]

27. Do whatever makes you happy!

There are some things I do not change and there are somethings I change.

[Deep13]

28. Well, that's tthe problem.

At Christmas, nothing makes me happy. My father really made the holiday for me. He died in 1999. My (divorced) mother is crazy. So the holiday is just a reminder of loss no matter what I do.

[KG]

31. i just ignore it.

[InvisibleTouch]

32. Speak for yourself. I love gifts. Yes, even as an adult. :) n/t