Am I the only one who hates Christmas time? (The Holidays in general)

[Softhearted]

For years, I have disliked Christmas and that time of the year. It is always a source of stress and frustrations... I was never able to get into the "spirit of the holidays" and actually, I have never put any decorations up for the moment I've left home...

Am I that much of a Scrooge? Am I the only one feeling this way?

Soft

[DapperButch]

This is the first year that I am not looking forward to it. I know it will be tough due to losing my father and maternal grandmother this year.

I am in the process of trying to figure out how to change things up this year for mom, starting a new tradition, or something. We are such a ritual type family...same meal on Christmas Eve, same Christmas breakfast every year, same rituals of opening gifts, singing Christmas Caroles in front of the video camera like a bunch of dorks, etc, for as long as I can remember. So, this year it will be sad and kind of sucky. Especially b/c my sister and her family won't be here.

There are a lot of people who struggle with the Holidays for one reason or another....or just simply get annoyed by the whole thing.... So no, you are not alone!

[katsarecool]

You are not alone!!! It is frustrating especially if a person is financially strapped for money or not a Christian. I never remember happy holidays as a child. And when I was a young mother I would start worrying about buying for my kids in Sept. They on the other hand remember Christmas as a very happy time.

I now do what I can for my grandkids and hope for the best.

[MysticOceansFL]

I don't like or dislike christmas it's just another day to me but if I were in a relationship I would give gift's to my partner.

[Soon]

You're not the only one.

I have managed to avoid immediate *family* gatherings for years thanks to people with whom I would rather spend my time.

[AtLast]

I don't hate the holiday "season" per se, but, it isn't all that happy of a time for me. Since the deaths of key family, it just has a sad edge to it for me. Although, I do enjoy getting together with the family I have left and especially the kid and his kids!

I don't have a Christian-based take on Christmas, really anymore (have a hodgepodge of personal spiritual beliefs). That left me long ago. I do have some spiritual feelings and rituals around it (I do decorate but, view this from a more Pagan interpretation), however, but not Christian. Although, I will attend midnight Mass with family members that this has meaning for, especially elders. It isn't about me, it is about them.

I know people that have horrible and painful family of origin issues that the holidays make even harder for them. This makes me sad (and angry) and also more aware of how much I have to be grateful for in the family I do have.

Our community probably has many members that don't have a great time with the cluster of mainly Christian holidays this time of year.

[Rockinonahigh]

I really dont dislike the hollidays,I do celebrate them with my son,my chosen family ect.But,for some reason I feel a bit like the kid looking from outside wishing he was inside.Many key family have passed over he years so the family isnt all that big anymore,we use to have some fun times before.I do decorate but am more pegan than christian,I have ceramic christmas trees mom and my aunt made that light up..they are put on the top of the intertainment center with other christmas decos,cards and stockings.This year im planting a blue spruce in the yard in memorie of my lost family.at the moment its in a huge pot till my son can dig a hole for it.Then I will plant it,pray over it for blessing for a new year with better health and happyness for everyone.

[Glenn]

No temporary holiday really taught me to love , worship, and adore, my God, The Holy Mother, and Jesus like I do. They only taught me about temporary appearances, materialism, and traditions of men. I've always tried to hide from them, but I do not hate them. I like to see folks enjoying themselves... I did too when I was a stupid kid...

[diamondrose]

This time of year is myfavorite time of year. From Halloween thru New years. I just love the cooler weather, the leaves changing, and the smell of burning wood in fireplaces.

[Ebon]

I don't like most Christian holidays because they were stolen from Pagans and Christianized (if that's a word lol). I don't like the pressure to buy people stuff, it all seems like people are tricked into this "spirit of giving" and companies profit from it. This spirit of giving should be all of the time. I do like the time that people get to spend together and hang out with their families. Even though the Native people on this continent got screwed after Thanksgiving I prefer it over Christmas any day.

i don't celebrate xmas or any other christian holiday,since i am not christian. i was raised pagan and am now buddhist/taoist, like my my femme sis, Lady Wu. all of my friends know this and do not ask me to any xmas or other christian functions. i will join others in their celebrations of pagan, heathen, jewish, buddhist, taoist holidays, essentially i will join in the holiday of any faith that is not exclusive. unfortunately, most christian denominations are exclusive: they believe that unless you are christian, you are going to hell, a concept that i do not subscribe to.
i really dislike being subjected to xmasxmasxmas from just about the end of all hallow's eve til the beginning of the new year. xmas carols on every station, xmas decorations in every shop window, xmas charity requests in every batch of mail....enough to make a normally even-tempered grrl want to scream! of course, i accept that this is price i must pay for living in a nominally christian country. and i do mean PRICE and PAY! i often wonder how truly religiously observant christians feel about the buybuybuy, spendspendspend commertialization of the date (really in the spring, this date was atake-over of the God Saturn) of the birth of their founder? do the number of the faithful to Jesus equal the number of the faithful in church on xmas eve/xmas equal the number of the faithful to money in the malls beforehand?
i was married to someone who really went all out for xmas and every other christian holidayfor many years, even though hy knew i was not christian. (hy had kept this hidden from me til AFTER we married and moved in together.) and guess who had to do all the decorating, xmas shopping, cooking, etc? right-me, the wife! hy even insisted that i decorate the LOBBY of the apt building where we lived! aaaargh! i don't mind CHRISTANS celebrating xmas, but why must hy inflict it upon me? if i never wrap another door in red, green, white and hang a wreath (a pagan/heathen custom, btw), it will not be too soon for me!
so, ravfem, i agree with your posts!
pres

[bigbutchmistie]

Growing up Christmas wasnt celebrated with me, so when I met my biological mom we used to go all out with presents, spending time together, baking etc. When she died, well its back to being alone. I help charities but its still not the same, I HATE Christmas

[Apocalipstic]

I am traumatized at the very thought

[Cowboi]

The holidays just haven't been the same since my Momma died 17 years ago. I love the fall, the changing leaves, cool crisp days and nights, bonfires.
I have been on call Thanksgiving day just about every year since 1993 so that others with families can spend time together.
My BFF is on in house call today, I am going to meet her for lunch @ the hospital.

Hospitals make you hate the holidays also. I worked till 8:30 last night. We will be slammed through the 1st of the year.

Happy Holidays everyone...

[princessbelle]

I would certainly agree that the holidays can bring pain as well as happiness.

My family keeps getting smaller...my dad dying 12 years ago and now my brother just a few weeks ago. It is a reminder that things are not the same. It is a reminder that place settings at the table are missing and the voices and laughter of years past are now just memories. This is hard to face and this is hard to swollow.

But, it is memories that get me through it. I believe there is also a lot of good things to see this time of year.

Even though charities are "open for buisness" all year, they are way more apparent around this time. "Coats for the cold" for example have hit a record high this season so far for the amount of coats being donated. The "Salvation Army" who i totally support get most of their donations from now until Christmas that keeps them going all year.

People have different reasons for dreading, disliking holidays. Just thought I'd share what makes them painful for *me* and to also share what I believe to be a wonderful reason to also be "thankful" they are around.

Hugz to all those who have a difficult time with all the holidays for whatever reason there is.....

[Miss Scarlett]

I dread the holidays more than hate them.

For the last 20+ years I have worked in family law. Nearly every holiday, summer vacation and weekend bring escalated conflict over children.

It's always about power and control. The party behaving badly is either blind to the effect on the children or they just don't care - sometimes both. They decide that their interpretation of the Court's order is gospel. Never mind that the order reads "The minor children will spend the name your holiday with Parent A in even numbered years and with Parent B in odd numbered years." It's 2010 (obviously and EVEN numbered year) and Parent B declares the children will be with them and Parent A will just have to get over it.