Anyway, it is that time of year and I feel like I must address my continued dislike and perhaps even hatred of Christmas.
I have been getting greetings from around the world wishing me the "warmest wishes" and promises of "holiday cheer. While I won’t reply in a hostile or confrontational manner I still don’t do Christmas.
Everyone wants to know why….am I Jewish?… Did someone die on Christmas?….do I have some deep seeded psychologial issues that keep me from the festive mood?…..No. It’s plain and simple. I’m not religious. I am not Christian.
Christmas IS a religious holiday for all of you who forgot. It is about Jesus and his birthday. I have no reason to celebrate that because I simply am not part of that. I don’t celebrate Haunakka or Kwanza, or any other holiday that does not relate directly to me.
Sure, I could ditch the real origin of Christmas like everybody else – exchange presents, have gatherings and parties. But why? To cause stress upon myself and force myself to do shopping and run around the entire month of December like a chicken with my head cut off?? Of course Christmas is about family and friends. That’s great. But, I don’t need a holiday to hang out with my friends and fam. I don’t need a holiday to buy them presents either. I really never understood that.
I’m going to go shopping and look all day, sometimes several days for that perfect gift for someone, instead of being shopping and happen to see the perfect gift for one of my peeps. So who cares it Wednesday Sept 22? Happy Wednesday!! My friends and family get gifts all year round. I am definitly not going to stress over finding presents for everyone "on my list" before 12/25. I don’t want my friends to go through it on my behalf either. It’s real dumb.
As far as quality time together, I make time, all the time, because these are the people that make my life rich and worth living. I do understand the pressures that society puts on us to celebrate this BS. Many people say "it’s for the children…."
That one really gets me. So you are going to continue the tradition of lying to kids about Santa, reinforcing society’s materialistic tendencies on them? And this is supposed to benefit them how?
In this time of "economic downturn" are these really the values that we want to instill in children? So you don’t like the commercial side of Christmas, then don’t contribute to it! Even my friends, who completely agree with me are sucked into the vortex of Christmas. I refuse. You can’t make me.
On 12/25 I will be doing the same thing I do every year, the only thing that is open…..the movies.