Holiday rants

[aby914]

I don't like playing the game at parties where you bring a white elephant gift/ornament/etc. and then there is trading and stealing. I've heard it called Dirty Santa, a name which I dislike as much as the game, ha. Something uncomfortable always seems to happen when I'm involved in one of these. For example, other players make a side deal to steal your gift and trade among themselves. Another one I was involved in, one couple misunderstood and brought white elephant while everyone else brought something nice. A family member brought the same gift for all 4 of her immediate family members, so that was awkward. I know I take it too seriously! It's probably just my introverted nature and the feeling of being a spectacle during my turn.

 

[LilyWDW]

People who get upset when I wish them Happy Holidays. Like, get over it that I didn't say Merry Christmas. Christmas is included in my statement as well as MULTIPLE other celebrations. It's not just Christmas in December! Being inclusive is SO SO SO much better then excluding people. Personally, I celebrate Yule as a religious celebration and I celebrate Christmas as a family celebration because that is what they follow. It's just good to remember there are different religions and beliefs out there and they deserve the same respect that you expect.

 

[easyas123]

I hate that song.

I agree...but as much as I cringe when I hear it, I cringe MORE when I hear about the Christmas Shoes. Makes.No.Sense!

 

[tcufrog]

I really am not interested in how clever you are with your Elf on the Shelf.

DS9 wanted me to do Elf on a Shelf and I told him that I have too much to do during December as it is without adding the elf to the list.

Holiday car commercials are crazy. Who buys their spouse a car for Christmas?

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart! I got you a car payment!"

One year when I was a kid, my mom desperately needed to replace her car. My dad got a great deal on one in December and even got the dealership to surprise my mom by delivering it to us with a giant bow on top like in the ads. It was one of the first 8 minivans ever in our city. My mom kept it spotless because strangers kept stopping us to see what she was driving. So many people decided to buy one after seeing the inside and outside of my mom's that they should have given it to her for free.

This is where I am - we have a 5 year old niece and we want to get her lots of fun things but her parents house is OVERLOADED with crap. We tried to get her lessons/experiences this year - ice skating or dance, but currently the studios are closed. Next year that is what she is getting, this year - more stuff.

What about magazine subscriptions or cool arts and craft supplies? Those are some of my go-to gifts for kids that age. There are lots of great magazine options such as the Cricket magazines, Highlights, or Ranger Rick as well as lots of fun craft kits and art supplies.

Here's my rant. I'm watching the Rockafeller tree lighting and many of the backup dancer outfits are flat out tacky and/or trashy. WHat were they thinking?

 

[1GoldenSun]

Mary did you know, that your baaaaab......
YES, I DID KNOW. I KNEW MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. YES. AS HARD AS IT IS TO BELIEVE I WAS IN ON THE PLAN AND WAS TOLD MORE THAN ANY OF THE MENFOLK IN CHARGE!!! I EVEN SANG A SONG ABOUT IT. A FAR BETTER SONG THAN YOURS THAT MANY MAGNIFICENT COMPOSERS HAVE REWRITTEN. NOW STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS!!!!!!
Sincerely, Mary.

I hate that song.

I also hate this song.

I agree...but as much as I cringe when I hear it, I cringe MORE when I hear about the Christmas Shoes. Makes.No.Sense!

I hate this song too.

I also hate John Lennon/Yoko Ono's "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" as a Christmas song. It doesn't seem Christmasy at all. And how in the world did "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music get to be classified as a Christmas song? That drives me up a wall. I also dislike "woke" Christmas songs like "Do They Know It's Christmas" and "Someday at Christmas." Just give me some Bing Crosby or The Carpenters. Even the slightly creepy and currently politically incorrect "Baby It's Cold Outside" is better than that other drivel (I suppose I should be ashamed but I actually like that song).

And don't get me started on "Hippopotamus for Christmas" or "Dominic the Donkey." I'd rather switch the radio station to NPR and listen to non-stop talk about the Covid vaccine.

Huh. I didn't even know I had a Christmas rant in me.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

People complaining about having to buy gifts for certain people. If it isn't from the heart, don't even bother!

OK. Your gift is going back. I was complaining and didn't have my heart in it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

People complaining about having to buy gifts for certain people. If it isn't from the heart, don't even bother!

I was the one complaining about buying gifts for 2 reasons. #1 is I absolutely hate to shop. I'd rather do without something than shop for myself. #2 is we have over 40 people in our family to buy for & the nieces & nephews are still having kids. We added 3 kids & a girlfriend/now wife last year. This is the first year we haven't added a child or adult to our family in 15 years & that is because my nephew was already living with his now wife last Christmas. It doesn't help that my nuclear family lives in a different state from the rest of our family. Some years we only see them at Christmas, so I have no idea what most of them like. No, I don't like to buy gifts. I do, because I love them & that's what my older sisters want to do. I would prefer we all meet up for a large family vacation, but I can't convince my sisters to break from tradition. The nieces & nephews are all for it, because they know the aunts & uncles would be footing most of the bill.

 

[okeydokey]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo. If I say "Merry Christmas" and it offends someone, they can just ignore me. December 25th is Christmas Day, not Holiday.

If someone says Happy Holidays , you can just ignore them.

There are many Holidays this month. Should each person say all of them?

 

[ronandannette]

I was the one complaining about buying gifts for 2 reasons. #1 is I absolutely hate to shop. I'd rather do without something than shop for myself. #2 is we have over 40 people in our family to buy for & the nieces & nephews are still having kids. We added 3 kids & a girlfriend/now wife last year. This is the first year we haven't added a child or adult to our family in 15 years & that is because my nephew was already living with his now wife last Christmas. It doesn't help that my nuclear family lives in a different state from the rest of our family. Some years we only see them at Christmas, so I have no idea what most of them like. No, I don't like to buy gifts. I do, because I love them & that's what my older sisters want to do. I would prefer we all meet up for a large family vacation, but I can't convince them to break from tradition. The nieces & nephews are all for it, because they know the aunts & uncles would be footing most of the bill.

How exactly does that work? Does everybody buy for everybody? The idea of receiving 40 gifts every Christmas seems unthinkable and I'm pretty sure you mentioned personally spending in the 4-digits. How is that possible for every member of your family, especially the just-married's and the young families?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

How exactly does that work? Does everybody buy for everybody? The idea of receiving 40 gifts every Christmas seems unthinkable and I'm pretty sure you mentioned personally spending in the 4-digits. How is that possible for every member of your family, especially the just-married's and the young families?

The aunts & uncles (DH & me) buy for everyone, which includes our generation down to my sisters' grandchildren. We don't receive over 40 gifts. We just buy that many. (Out of my parents 6 daughters, I'm the only one that doesn't have grandchildren. I also have the only child that isn't married. That makes for a big family.) Our price range is $25 to $30 per person. We spend more on our sister's gifts. The nieces & nephews buy for their aunts, first cousins & their first cousin's spouses with a $10 price range. A few of them, including my DS, buy for their uncles too. Obviously, their children don't buy for anyone.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I was the one complaining about buying gifts for 2 reasons. #1 is I absolutely hate to shop. I'd rather do without something than shop for myself. #2 is we have over 40 people in our family to buy for & the nieces & nephews are still having kids. We added 3 kids & a girlfriend/now wife last year. This is the first year we haven't added a child or adult to our family in 15 years & that is because my nephew was already living with his now wife last Christmas. It doesn't help that my nuclear family lives in a different state from the rest of our family. Some years we only see them at Christmas, so I have no idea what most of them like. No, I don't like to buy gifts. I do, because I love them & that's what my older sisters want to do. I would prefer we all meet up for a large family vacation, but I can't convince them to break from tradition. The nieces & nephews are all for it, because they know the aunts & uncles would be footing most of the bill.

No, just no. Our extended family was up to 7 before I was like, “This is out of control! Someone put a stop to this purchasing madness!!”

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My city becomes very tourist-focused at Christmas. This is due to the city's history (founded by missionaries, named on Christmas Eve). One of the attractions is a horse drawn carriage ride. But instead of doing this in a park, they do it in the middle of downtown. Along Main St, which is...ya know...the main street. And Main St is one lane each way.

So there I am stuck behind a horse and buggy going 10 mph while I have to drop my son off at work in 7 minutes.


Lovely carriage, pretty horses. I have done the ride myself. Very romantic... But GET OUT OF THE WAY!

 

[maxiesmom]

They have stopped now, but the company I work for used to play the worst Christmas song ever. It went something like "Snow! I want to wash my hair my hands my face in snow!!!" I mean, who loves the snow that much???

I'll take Mariah Carey over that crappy song any day!!!

 

[Donald13]

I always return the cart, BUT........ when my grandson was a baby and I took him ou tof the cart, once I had him in the car seat I refused to "walk away" to return a cart. So I do understand there can be reasonable reasons for not doing so.

How dare you admit to not leaving a small child unattended while you return a shopping cart! Arrest her! (Kidding but man is this such a problem for some people)

 

[AndreaDM]

My city becomes very tourist-focused at Christmas. This is due to the city's history (founded by missionaries, named on Christmas Eve). One of the attractions is a horse drawn carriage ride. But instead of doing this in a park, they do it in the middle of downtown. Along Main St, which is...ya know...the main street. And Main St is one lane each way.

So there I am stuck behind a horse and buggy going 10 mph while I have to drop my son off at work in 7 minutes.


Love carriage, pretty horses. I have done the ride myself. Very romantic... But GET OUT OF THE WAY!

I grew up in Amish country, this was an every day occurrence!

As for Christmas songs, nothing beats this gem!

 

[1GoldenSun]

As for Christmas songs, nothing beats this gem!

[/QUOTE]

I forgot about this one! This is the true "ugly sweater" award winner of Christmas songs!

And also the "Snow" song that @maxiesmom mentioned; what were they thinking?! This woman needs psychiatric help and they just let her go on and on.

I love Christmas music in general but there are some truly bad songs out there. I think if you're an aspiring musician the smart thing to do would be to record a Christmas album. The genre is so small that radio stations and businesses will latch on to anything rather than play endless loops of "White Christmas" and "All I Want For Christmas is You."

 

[aby914]

The "Snow" song is from the movie "White Christmas." They sing it on the train as they are headed to Vermont, so it does make a little more sense in that context. I mean, as much as musicals ever make sense. I love musicals, but I do admit they aren't generally realistic. Ha.

 

[Feralpeg]

I was the one complaining about buying gifts for 2 reasons. #1 is I absolutely hate to shop. I'd rather do without something than shop for myself. #2 is we have over 40 people in our family to buy for & the nieces & nephews are still having kids. We added 3 kids & a girlfriend/now wife last year. This is the first year we haven't added a child or adult to our family in 15 years & that is because my nephew was already living with his now wife last Christmas. It doesn't help that my nuclear family lives in a different state from the rest of our family. Some years we only see them at Christmas, so I have no idea what most of them like. No, I don't like to buy gifts. I do, because I love them & that's what my older sisters want to do. I would prefer we all meet up for a large family vacation, but I can't convince my sisters to break from tradition. The nieces & nephews are all for it, because they know the aunts & uncles would be footing most of the bill.

To be honest, I hadn't even read your post when I posted. I can understand it being difficult to buy for a lot of people. My comment was more of a reaction to people who just don't want to be bothered to think about what to get for someone. I have the same problem with people who complain about buying wedding presents and baby shower gifts. They want to be included, but don't want to have to bother with a gift.

 

[Wendy1985]

Just googled my favorite things so it talks about packages and snow falling that was the cliff notes version of why its a Christmas song

 

[LilyWDW]

Being expected to work just because I don't have kids. Note: most of the time if people asked politely, I would work the holiday. Extra money is nice. But it was the ones who just expected it and were rude about it. They would act like I didn't have family I would like to spend time with. Normally they would just go to the manager and whine about how I should work for them instead of asking me. Never worked.

Luckily not something I have to worry about anymore. We have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as paid holidays. I took the week of off because of Yule being on that Monday. My manager is taking the week after. It all works out!