Why I don't like Christmas

[Troy Spiral (13)]

When I was growing up we never celebrated christmas. My parents were jehovah's witnesses. What I remember about christmas was all the other kids, every damn year, asking me what i got for christmas. I either tried to avoid the subject or when i was feeling especially sad or moody I'd say "i did get shit." (once I learned how to swear).

I remember one year going over my friend Mike Newberry's house and he had the only two things I had wanted all year (a particular Lego set and a G.I. Joe Aircraft Carrier) part of me wanted to play with the stuff, but another part of me wanted to start crying and just smash the hell out of the stuff.

Now, being an adult. It has nothing to do with not getting any toys. But it still brings up that feeling of just being left out , and that somehow other peoples parents cared about them, and mine didn't care about me. I know that isn't true intellectually, it just sticks with me. Even if it was just a dollar certificate for a bookmark on amazon or something it would just be the thought behind it.

Plus, "what are you doing for christmas" well, I'm just feeling akward or sad or some combination every year. FUN.

[TronRP]

I have to say, thanks for sharing because I was really itching to ask. Funny you should mention the dollar certificate thing...I was feeling like you deserved something for all your hard work (though some don't really know just how hard).

Outside of family, most people I know do not celebrate Christmas for various reasons so I always feel like I'm bringing up a taboo subject when I want to be generous during the holidays.

P.S.: PM me where to send the gift certificate

[Soulrev]

That sucks man. A lot of Jehovah's witnesses don't stop and think about how not celebrating holidays can effect their kids. In fact in one book I read published by Jehovah's witnesses, they encourage parents to set aside a special time for the family to give gifts, not in celebration of holidays but more just to show one another love and affection, and that holidays aren't required to give gifts or affection. Unfortunately, not many abide by this wisdom..

I hate Christmas because it has basically become something completely different from what I feel it should be. It's been too commercialized, too "Hallmark", too much greed and materialistic lust. Very few celebrate the true meaning of Christmas anymore, and what sickens me even more is people tend to think they need to be more generous around the holidays. I know people who wouldn't give a dime to a charity any other time of year but as soon as those Salvation Army santas are out shaking their annoying bells, they cough up spare change. Maybe if people practiced charity and goodwill through out the entire year, we would come along a lot further as a civilization.

That is all.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Theoretically the story goes that you could have a "family party" at a certain time of year, and make that a tradition, not centered around a religous holiday that has no meaning for you, but it never worked out that way.

I don't begrudge people who do like it. But i do understand the annoyance some people have with the commercialization aspect.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I have to say, thanks for sharing because I was really itching to ask. Funny you should mention the dollar certificate thing...I was feeling like you deserved something for all your hard work (though some don't really know just how hard).

Outside of family, most people I know do not celebrate Christmas for various reasons so I always feel like I'm bringing up a taboo subject when I want to be generous during the holidays.

P.S.: PM me where to send the gift certificate

You being around is gift enough. Honestly.

[Soulrev]

Theoretically the story goes that you could have a "family party" at a certain time of year, and make that a tradition, not centered around a religous holiday that has no meaning for you, but it never worked out that way.

I don't begrudge people who do like it. But i do understand the annoyance some people have with the commercialization aspect.

Same here, I don't think Christmas is necessarily a bad thing by it's own accord, rather something that has been twisted into something it's not. For me it's more of a personal dislike for the Christmas season for a multitude of reasons. Reasons like:

A). People who put up Christmas lights right after Halloween, or don't take them down until Valentine's day.

B). Cold weather and snow. I've had enough of that for one lifetime.

C). The older I get the more it seems like Christmas was just last week and it's coming again next week.

D). Greed. The first thing that comes out of most people's mouths when they bring up Christmas is "Oh I can't wait to get this for Christmas or I want that.." .. - Yeah, I want a lot of things. But, you could wish in one hand, and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first.

E). Self Righteous attitudes - Unfortunately it seems more and more people have to have a reason to be charitable, and for a lot of people, that reason is themselves. People stop around Christmas and think "Well I should do this, or I should do that, because in my heart I know I've been a worthless fuck all year" Now yeah, that's a fairly brash reason to not like Christmas, and granted I'm sure there aren't THAT many people like that out there, but there's enough fake "charity" going around during Christmas time to make it noteworthy. Think Clark Griswold not getting his Christmas bonus from his boss.. It took his boss realizing it was Christmas time in order to soften his ice cold heart. Yeah, it's a movie, but there are a LOT of people like that out there. Bosses who treat their employees like shit all year and then do one nice thing for them in the name of "Christmas".. I say if you are going to be a Christian, and try to live like a Christian SHOULD, then stop being fair-weather Christians. The kind who drink and abuse their wives all week and show up at church on Sundays and put on a front like they're the perfect Christians and they do no wrong. This same attitude is what I see at Christmas time, and I hate it.

Edit to say - this even goes for family.. In my own, in several of my friend's families, etc. There's always that family member or members that act like if you can't make it to their Christmas function or whatever, that you don't care about them. Motherfucker why didn't you call me all year, now you want me to come over, just because it's Christmas? You need a holiday as an excuse to spend time with me? You had my phone number, kiss my ass.

Lol. Bah. Humbug.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Soulrev

[Anna Phylaxis]

We don't celebrate it. I hate the commercialism, and I'm not religious (I don't fault those who are). We just sit around, eat awesome food that we cooked, crack open a fruity beer or two, and play Cards Against Humanity. I win every time.