Ask Lemmy

I don't hate it I just don't celebrate it. I got a bit fed up of how stuffy most European holidays are.

I’m Jewish, but grew up Christian (my mom converted young). I deconverted in university… heh, going to a Christian university at that. So I gave up Christmas at that time. I kinda miss it— that is, I miss the quiet memories of decorations and sitting in the dark by the fireplace watching the blinking lights… but I definitely don’t miss the loud blaring parts. And you can’t avoid the loud blaring parts. They’re freaking everywhere.

So I get to see all the things I never really liked about Christmas all the time. And it turns out that watching the channukah candles burn down with the lights turned down scratch the itch of what I ever liked about Christmas. So what’s left?

2 reasons. Firstly I'm just extra shit at buying presents. I like to think I'm generous and thoughtful but I just don't get "presents". Like everyone works and buys the things that they want.

What the fuck is the point of a gift card? "oh I know you like buying things so here's a card which will allow you to buy a selection of things from one or more specific vendors who I assume you regularly shop at."

This has gotten a bit easier as I've gotten older and a bit more financially stable so not so restricted on price I guess. This year in August I saw these great massage guns on sale for half price so I just bought 6 of them to dish out for Christmas presents.

The other is forced social arrangements. Just today my partner said I'm going to this thing for Christmas lunch tomorrow. I said I'm not. She insisted. I didn't respond.

I don't want to be an asshole partner who doesn't go anywhere but... I feel like the only reason she wants me to go is because that's what normal people do. Like lets go to this thing full of people you hate and pretend to be happy and normal. I only have to stick it out for 2 hours so will see how that's going tomorrow.

I hate christmas because of how some people get so stressed out about it all.

The quick downvote sells it.

I feel like this could've been better as an open-ended question. I don't hate Christmas but I don't like some aspects of it, although not all of them are specific to Christmas.

I don't

Because I have this stupid condition named Avoidant Personality Disorder, which means i long for contact with people, but the more i know them, the more i start avoiding them because i do not trust the contact to be genuine. Add a dash of paranoid traits and *BANG*, you've got the perfect mixture for a complete lack of social contact even if the possibility exists.

I personally don’t.

It's just stress.

Stress I don't need.

It's a corporate holiday and it causes weeks, if not months, of stress.

And if you've worked retail during the holidays you have had whatever Christmas joy you still felt as an adult stripped from you forever.

I would absolutely love if Christmas never happened again.

I give away a lot of my money. I give gifts to people I know all throughout the year, I let them use my resources whenever I can. I even hand it out to strangers when I can.

Why am I obligated to do so on this particular day of the year? I do it every other day already.

Yikes!

My reaction while reading some of the comments under this post

Christmas can be a fun little holiday if you don't take it too seriously. Buy some token gifts for people you like, bake a shitton of baked goods and eat it yourself, watch silly movies on TV, decorate a tree or don't, like whatever man.

Here's the religious reason: It's a pagan holiday with these symbols.

• Santa Clause - Odin
• Elves - Krampus
• Yule - That's a Scandinavian holiday
• Santa's nickname of "Old Nick" - Lucifer

Non-religious reason: It's just another bank holiday, and a consumerist one at that (at least in America).

Holy shit. You guys are miserable as fuck. Having to find a gift for your company's Secret Santa or White Elephant event isn't the fault of Christmas. That's the fault of your company's and/or society's corporate culture.

If you find yourself miserable at a party, then don't fucking go to it. If it's organized by your company and you were forced to attend, then once again that's not Christmas' fault. Ask yourselves these questions:

1. Were you forced to attend (e.g. takes place during work hours)? If yes, then blame the corporate culture.
2. Does it take place after work hours? If yes, then why are you attending it? If your answer is because of pressure from your bosses and/or you fear not attending means you'll suffer professionally, then it's the corporate culture's fault.

It's the season I still hate. The Holidays sucked when I worked retail, and back then we didn't even have to work Christmas unlike many stores now! It's certainly not better these days, and the amount is stores that are open on the day is insane. We can't close it even a single day of the year to allow the workers to celebrate with their family and friends!?

I no longer work retail, but I still see the craziness. Everywhere is crowded, everyone is rushing around and stressed and grumpy and driving crazy. Everything is just bad this time of year...