The What I Dislike Christmas Thread

[rigs32]

This thread is intended for those of us who do not enjoy the Christmas season, specifially, or the "holiday" season, generally.

Those who do enjoy/celebrate are welcome, but I would appreciate it if you did not try to change our minds or explain why "The Season" is so wonderful.

Anyone else out there saddened that christmas music is popping up all over already? Pressures to attend functions you dislike? Tired of everyone assume that everybody is Christian?

 

[mommaU4]

I'n not sure if I should be posting here because I don't "dislike Christmas" but there are things about it that I don't enjoy.
We will be celebrating Christmas and I look forward to the kids reactions to everything and spending time with family. Although the family thing can go either way.

What I hate is the pressure to spend spend spend. I hate the endless ads and commercials announcing that it's time once again for the biggest sale of the year, cause last week-ends sale was only the biggest of the season.

I hate the whole pressure to be equal in gift-giving. The co-worker you never say boo to gets you a gift so you have to run out and buy her one. Don't have a clue what to get her and are already broke but you gotta do it. Or you get SiL a $40 gift but secretly find out she spent $60 on you so now suddenly the gift you just knew she'd love, isn't good enough anymore.

I also hate the way everything is re-packaged to make us buy it and spend more. Everything is now a "gift pack". I've seen batteries thrown into a candy cane shaped holder with red ribbon around it selling for double the price of a regular pack of batteries. Oh, but it's a gift pack. Or Dove soap packages with a loofah and ribbon for ten bucks. It's a $1.99 bar of soap and a dollar store loofah people!

The worst part is I get suckered into some of the cutesy packaging every year. And I too run out to get that last minute gift. I just wish I was strong enough to not buy into that whole mentality and just remember what Christmas is truly about.

Do I dislike Christmas? Sort of. Bah Humbug and Merry Christmas to you and to all a good night.

 

[EthansMom]

What I dislike about the holidays is that it always seems to be disproportionately more work for me. I kid you not, last year DH and I made Thanksgiving for his entire family (14 people) for which I had to clean, purchase groceries, cook (DH did help quite a bit with that), and clean again. Every year, I do all of the Christmas shopping, wrapping, Christmas cards, and put up the tree (on my own). Also, last year, we had all of the in-laws over to our house for Christmas dinner -- I had to clean, shop, cook, clean. I'm pretty tired of how any holiday just means I have to work more!

Well, this year, I'm not having the in-laws over for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner -- with SIL & BIL, MIL & StepFIL, and FIL and StepMIL all living nearby, we can gather together at someone else's house this holiday season.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot I love about the holidays. But I am sick and tired of feeling like Cinderella when it comes to the family get-togethers.

 

[gigglesnort]

This year I don't like it. We had a loss, and it's going to be very weird. I just want it over.

But that's not the only reason. I stretch myself so thin cash-wise to pay for everything, it's just not enjoyable for me anymore. I spend most of the month worrying about how to pay for everything.

When my relationship isn't going well, it just makes the holidays sad.

Two of my best friends moved a while ago, and it doesn't seem the same without them.

I just haven't been getting that "happy" feeling these past couple of years that I used to always get.

My reasons have nothing to do with being Christian or not.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I do love Christmas, but I only do the things that I love and avoid what I hate. I do more decorating some years and less other years. This keeps it new and fresh, but removes all levels of stress to make it the same each year.

 

[C.Ann]

This will be a hard Christmas for me - my first without my DH - and if it weren't for my DD and her family, I probably wouldn't get all that involved in it..

There have been other years - when I truly didn't want to participate at all - but I forced myself because there were kids involved..

It's not that I don't like Christmas - or the holiday season - there's just times when I would rather not be involved.. I'd rather do something crazy - like go off on a long trip somewhere.. Maybe when my granddaughter is older I'll do just that!

 

[mommaU4]

This year I don't like it. We had a loss, and it's going to be very weird. I just want it over.

But that's not the only reason. I stretch myself so thin cash-wise to pay for everything, it's just not enjoyable for me anymore. I spend most of the month worrying about how to pay for everything.

When my relationship isn't going well, it just makes the holidays sad.

Two of my best friends moved a while ago, and it doesn't seem the same without them.

I just haven't been getting that "happy" feeling these past couple of years that I used to always get.

My reasons have nothing to do with being Christian or not.

I'm sorry for you're loss. Your post makes me sad. I wish there was something I could do to cheer you up.
I truly hope you are able to find the things that do bring you happiness and are able to do those. Maybe tell certain people on your gift list that instead of gifts why not everyone just get together and have lunch or a tree-decorating party where you bring an ornament. Or go to a local shelter and donate your time as a group.
And make it a point to call your friends Christmas Eve or that day.
I don't know. I just hope you are able to cheer up. I hate to see someone sad.

 

[rigs32]

As it looks like there's a need for space on this topic, I changed the title of the thread and will be starting a new one for my original purpose.