Does anyone else not like Christmas/Yule?

[TornadoAli]

I'm not sure if it's because it was shoved down my throat too much growing up or what, but I really can't stand the holiday season. Something about HAVING to buy presents for people because you're expected to just gets my goat. I'd much prefer to buy gifts thru the year as you see something special that reminds you of someone, you know?

And I realize Yule is different than Christmas, but honestly it's my least favourite Sabbat of them all. I wish I could just hibernate thru December :-P

[nomadicdragon]

*raises hand*

oo. me me.. I dislike the holiday season immensely. Too commercial.. too much just meh.. lol.. i dislike it.. wish it would go away..

[FaeFollower]

The holiday is one of my favorite times of the year, but I can really see how it gets frustrating to feel like you have to buy gifts from someone...I like the idea of getting people things when you see something special that reminds you of them (and I do that with my immediate family and friends sometimes), but mostly that just makes people uncomfortable because then they feel like they have to get you something in return...I wish spontaneous niceness was more socially acceptable.

Anyway, that was kind of OT, sorry...

[Unorthodox]

I'm not particularly fond of it either. I hate anything that you "have to" do in general. I like buying gifts for people (and getting gifts too)-but the Christmas mania gets on my nerves.

[Theres]

yes, i love them both!

Yule is my religious holiday, where i spend time thinking about the Winter and making plans for the coming year.

Christmas is my seasonal party... time off work, time with friends, lots of food... who couldn't love that?

i think of what you guys are referring to as Obligation Day, and i don't participate in that at all.
i refuse to be a 'good little consumer' and drive myself into three months worth of debt just to purchase an endless string of unappreciated gifts given without any thought or meaning at all. so the madness that comes with that whole scene is no longer a part of my holiday season, and i've never been happier!

it's easy really, just boycott that which you find objectionable and celebrate that which you find worthy of your energies.

in fact i'd go as far as to say boycott ALL of the "Hallmark Holidays".

[piglet]

This is gonna sound bad... but I stopped enjoying Xmas with my family after my neices were born. *cringe* isn't it supposed to be the opposite? lol

Since then (about 5 years ago) xmas has turned into this big, stressful buying spree. and there are so many presents that we don't even take our time over it anymore. I enjoy sitting around the living room with my family and watching each person open the present, then smile and thank the person who gave it to them. Now it has turned into this event where we all open our presents at the same time, the kids get way too many toys AND when i get them something small (because they DONT need any more toys) they get mad. a generally unpleasant experience.

Yule onthe other hand :) like theres, i will be making plans for next year. I will be peaceful and contemplative and probably alone! (the way i like it).

-piglet

[Lady Jade]

I hate it mostly because money is always the tightest this time of year. I work a seasonal job and from November to January, I am laid off. The expectations are too great...even if I was working this time of the year, I could not afford to buy gifts for everyone that expects them from me.

Commercialism is a big part of the holiday season. It sickens me to know our society can be so fake and caring this time of year. So what if the poor starve on say March 2nd as long as they have something to eat on Christmas!!

Expectations are my biggest problems, as I seem to push against whatever is 'expected' of me anyway.

[LacyRoze]

I have a hard time with Christmas but for a very different reason. I lost my father on Christmas day 7 yrs ago. I know he's in a better place and pain free but that doesn't make it any easier. It's just not the same without him...:ggrief:

[skilly-nilly]

i think of what you guys are referring to as Obligation Day, and i don't participate in that at all.
i refuse to be a 'good little consumer' and drive myself into three months worth of debt just to purchase an endless string of unappreciated gifts given without any thought or meaning at all. so the madness that comes with that whole scene is no longer a part of my holiday season, and i've never been happier!

it's easy really, just boycott that which you find objectionable and celebrate that which you find worthy of your energies.

in fact i'd go as far as to say boycott ALL of the "Hallmark Holidays".

I call that mid-Winter holiday 'Greed'. Society cheapens all of the holidays it touches:
the Holiday of Greed from Children,
the Holiday of Excessive Drinking by Nominal Adults,
the Holiday of Prove your Love through Expensive Gifts,
Offensive Green Beer Consumption by Non-Irish,
Chocolate Bunnies,
Annual Take your Mother to Lunch,
Flag-Waving Bar-be-ques,
Gorging on Turkey,
and Begging for Candy from Strangers.
We have one that is celebrated just in Canada which is
Drink Beer in Honor of Queen Victoria(May 24), and the solely Quebec one that is
Party on for StJean Baptiste (on the Summer Solstice)

One of the problems with Xmass, imo, is that all of the unwilling participants are angry and grudging about the gifts they are forced to buy, desperately worried about how to afford to pander to their loved ones' greed, and troubled at how far from ideal and loving their extended families are. Since I am an empath, I too have to be aware of their underlying attitude. If it was just one or a few people I could block but when you're in a mall and every stinkin' one there is muttering under their unconscious breath like a psycho all you can do is leave...


:yikess: , skilly-nilly

[DragonsChest]

Commercialism is a big part of the holiday season. It sickens me to know our society can be so fake and caring this time of year. So what if the poor starve on say March 2nd as long as they have something to eat on Christmas!!

That's a good point, and it's the reason I give to United Way and other organizations all year round. I make it part of my Christmas tradition to always, always, always put something in the Salvation Army pot every single time I go by one. Even if it's only a quarter, it all helps. My kids do this, too, now..... when Mom is there to remind them!

I personally love the holiday season, and I like to give home baked goodies to friends and neighbors, instead of bought things. I do a really yummy pecan brittle! My workmates are already bugging me to start bringing it in.

[Verthandi]

I'm not sure if it's because it was shoved down my throat too much growing up or what, but I really can't stand the holiday season. Something about HAVING to buy presents for people because you're expected to just gets my goat. I'd much prefer to buy gifts thru the year as you see something special that reminds you of someone, you know?

And I realize Yule is different than Christmas, but honestly it's my least favourite Sabbat of them all. I wish I could just hibernate thru December :-P
My friends do that--buy gifts for each other throughout the year that is. Christmas is very commercialized, but then again, virtually all mainstream holidays are (don't even get me started on Valentine's and Sweetest Day). I do, however, like the music, especially the more traditional carols and, of course, the Trans-Siberian Ochestra.

[Semele]

Weenjoy the holiday seasonbecause it holds the memorieswegrew up with. My husband and I both came from Christian backgrounds where the manger scene was the centerpiece of the decor. We both have many great traditional memories that we want to pass on to our kids. We also want to add new ones.

This year we are adding some Jewish traditions as well as Kwanza symbolism. This is a nice way for us to experience a bit of other cultures.

[Karma Chameleon]

I'm not sure if it's because it was shoved down my throat too much growing up or what, but I really can't stand the holiday season. Something about HAVING to buy presents for people because you're expected to just gets my goat. I'd much prefer to buy gifts thru the year as you see something special that reminds you of someone, you know?

And I realize Yule is different than Christmas, but honestly it's my least favourite Sabbat of them all. I wish I could just hibernate thru December :-P


Yeah that's why I don't celebrate Christmas. People expect me to buy them presents and the heck of it is that they never return the favor! :fishsmack

[Laurelei]

Oooh yes, it's a mixed blessing. The problem with Christmas/Yule is that it's either all about the commercialism, or the 'time for family'. I hate commercialism, and I tend to stress out about wether I bought the right gift for someone a lot. As for my family, aside from my puppy dawg and a couple of guardian dragons I consider as 'family' in the true sense, I can't STAND my family.

Every now and again I get lovely glimpses of the traditional Christmas spirit complete with sugarplum faeries and dancing across frost on the grass in bare feet, but apart from that.... down with Christmas!

[Calen]

I've never found that buying presents during the holiday season stressed me out too much. I generally buy a gift for each member of my immediate family, and something for my closest friends. I do my best not to let the commercialism that is inflicted upon the season by the media to bother me too much. I can see why it might ruin the season for some people, though, especially those with lots of kiddies to buy for.

[wakywitch]

I don't like the commercialism(sp) of christmas.
Does get frantic and hectic, your supposed to enjoy yourself.
Not get all crazy with shopping and all.
Also don't like that "you have" buy gifts for people. ICK

I do like Yule tho!

[blueiris]

I hate the commercialization of Christmas as well...I can't stand going to the mall after Halloween because all they do is play Christmas carols and have discounts for Christmas time...it is just really annoying and irritating. I do like both holidays though, even though I don't personally celebrate Christmas, because we always get together with family, which is nice.

[Ninjakitten]

I hate Christmas. First off, it isn't the time of year Jesus was born anyway (can't remember the passages off hand about the birth that indicated the time of year, but most likely it was Springtime). Second... well, mostly, it is way too commercialized. I hated it even while I was a fundamentalist Christian because people forget the point of celebrating Christ's birth except for the few seconds where my "fiancee's" family (fiancee in quotes because we aren't officially engaged) says a prayer at dinner, or when we get shoved over to church. Now that I moved away for school, I was hoping to not go visit for Christmas, but it looks like my fiancee's friend is going to pay our way, so I can't avoid it. Now I have to put up with people who smoke around me and my stuff, contaminating us with that evil, enslaving substance, watching non-smokers slowly becoming smokers, feeling guilty because I'm a poor college student that can't buy presents (that one isn't their fault), and dealing with my first Christmas as a Christian witch (hell, yeah I'm staying in the closet!). But I'm not bitter... really :ugh: :ahhhh: :blech:

[Phae Talon]

I'm not sure if it's because it was shoved down my throat too much growing up or what, but I really can't stand the holiday season. Something about HAVING to buy presents for people because you're expected to just gets my goat. I'd much prefer to buy gifts thru the year as you see something special that reminds you of someone, you know?

And I realize Yule is different than Christmas, but honestly it's my least favourite Sabbat of them all. I wish I could just hibernate thru December :-P


Well, I do like the Christmas/Yule season ... I like it best when I am alone (I rarely do the big family get together thing), but, if it makes you feel any better, I hate Christmas carols :thumbsdow :lol:

--Phae

ps - and since I haven't finished reading this thread, it may have been mentioned already ... one way to make your holiday a little less commercial would be to donate to a charity in your friends/family memeber's names. I am pretty sure that most of them have gift cards for this time of year ... send a little reminder that it isn't about the presents. ;)

[Mouse]

I hate chritsmas.. everyone seems to fight with everyone this time of year (at least in my small corner of the world) i like giveing pressies.. but its the drunken fights that make me dread the whole month..

[wakywitch]

... one way to make your holiday a little less commercial would be to donate to a charity in your friends/family memeber's names. I am pretty sure that most of them have gift cards for this time of year ... send a little reminder that it isn't about the presents. ;)


That is also a good idea. :flowers:

[HolographicJoe]

Right there with you. Specifically, I hate Christmas. it's personal, i have some particulalrt wretched memoires from the holiday, and i have always hated it.

I like hanukah, the presents are nice and add a specialness to it that it wouldn't otherwise have. Becasue we don't get the days off or anything, it seems so much nicer, more special. You don't have to clean, no big cooking involved, nothing to distract from the true essence of the holiday: family. It 's possibly my favourite holiday. Even when we had noithing, it was always fun. And I like mid-winter. I celebrate it alone; no emotional baggage, no drama, just me and the resurected sun.

Oh, Christmas, how I loathe thee. Murdered trees (honstely, the chopped down trees make me ill. I work across the street from Rockefeller Centre, and they have the tree up. What a fantastic tree! tall, full, beautiful! And now it's dead. So akin to dancing bears, golf courses, and chihuahuas, I can't stand it), bloated corporations, mindless greed, gluttony, and a chipped plaster Jesus someone forgot to take out of the box.

Sorry about that. Christmas rant. :-) _wiz_

[DragonsChest]

So akin to dancing bears, golf courses, and chuahuas, I can't stand it)


Hey! I love chihuahuas. :hehehehe: I mean, really, how can you not love a 2 pound dog that truly believes it can take on a German Shepherd and win!?! With time to spare for a taco? :thumbsup:

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

I like Crimmo and Yule. I give presents to my Witchy friends on Yule, and on Annual Commercial Gift Day I give presents to those people whom I can find something decent that I know they'll like. Most of my shopping is done at dollar stores or discount stores. I like giving presents. Why? Because if you get something just right, you show you care about that person and who they are. It's a pleasant little ego boost.
Getting things is fun, too, although I very much dislike the embarassment of riches thing, where you are given more than you need, could use, or even want. I don't like it when someone hands you something and then everybody stares at you as you open it (ditto for birthdays, although the thing I hate most about birthdays is the damn birthday song). I don't like it when I recieve something I have no use for.Whenever someone asks why we should give presents for Yule, I say 'Because it's fun." Not for any deep spiritual meaning, or any of that crap.

[FlyingBear]

I like Yule, but I'm biased since Seabhac and I were handfasted on that holiday. As for Giftmas, eh. We don't buy gifts for most of the people we know, and tend to do secret santa with the rest. Not that big a deal.

[Ron]

*raises hand*

oo. me me.. I dislike the holiday season immensely. I thought I WAS THE ONLY ONE! The commerical aspect and stupidity of it aside, I had NO IDEA of it's imporantance (celebration of the birth of Jesus) until my 13th year of this life. I could never tell if it was when Jesus died or was born. And YES I did go to church, I just could never understand what the Sunday School teachers were saying... Merry that, I am 14 now and I can be one of those Sunday School teacher... why tis a shame.

[Ron]

As for Giftmas, eh.

LOL GIFTMAS!!!

[XxAuroraxX]

i love yule. it's fab!

[Ninjakitten]

Hey! I love chihuahuas. :hehehehe: I mean, really, how can you not love a 2 pound dog that truly believes it can take on a German Shepherd and win!?! With time to spare for a taco? :thumbsup:


Because some of us who are cat freaks and have a kitty that will do the same thing, even though she has no claws! Then again, you can tell by my nickname that I'm biased, too.
_catroll_ Anyone else think this "smiley" looks more like a rolling hamster?

[DragonsChest]

I love kitties, too, and haven't met one yet that isn't convinced it's the King/Queen of the Universe, and they probably are!!!

[Lanikai]

[I] I am new to this forum, but i just wanted add my voice. =)
I also dislike the commercialization of the holidays. I can truly understand people disgust with them.
Personally, i enjoy the holidays immensely. Money becomes tight for me as well. But, I try to overlook how "money" driven everything is and use this time to remind me of the beautiful things in life. How beautiful snow looks when it falls...or how peaceful the ocean and palm trees look (now that im in a warmer climate! hehe). I'm reminded how much i love my husband, as well as my dad and brother and how lucky i am to be here. I lost my mother last year to cancer...she was my best friend and i miss her greatly. But when Yule comes around...Im reminded of all those times we were together for the holidays and how much fun we had. And thats what the holidays are to me. =)

I like the term Obligation Day. =) Very appropriate!

[ObsidianSunrise]

I like the term Obligation Day. =) Very appropriate!


I agree whole heartedly! I had already decided that all my presents to give this year were going to be homemade by yours truly. :thumbsup: My kids, 21 and 18, are old enough to appreciate the thought and work that goes into something like that. My husband just regained visitation with his two girls, 12 and 8, for the first time in 7 years. They have been raised that money is the root of all happiness and the more spent the better. If it doesn't come from a store they don't think it worth having. The last two months have been spent listening to "I want this or that" or "Daddy, Mommy said you would get me such and such for Christmas!" AARRGGHH!!! :atantrum: (I won't get into why this woman makes me want to hurt her badly, except to say she has done an extreme injustice to these girls by raising them this way!) So it looks like I am going to have to brave the trauma of venturing into the retail stores after all. Oh the agony of it :wah2:

Other than the 'obligation' to spend absurd amounts of money part of it, I do enjoy the holidays though. Usually it is the one time of the year my entire family can get together without fighting over something entirely stupid.

[Theres]

Hey! I love chihuahuas. :hehehehe: I mean, really, how can you not love a 2 pound dog that truly believes it can take on a German Shepherd and win!?! With time to spare for a taco? :thumbsup:
yeah, and they make a great breakfast for real dogs!

[DragonsChest]

*snork*