Does anyone else get humbuggish during the Holiday season? I do

[BlueStorm]

I'm not a very succint writer so I will do my best to convey my words.

Every time around this year I get moody and depressed. I know I am not alone in this as I have met others who feel the same. So I am going to say it: I hate Christmas. It's all fake to me, the decorations, the songs, the commercialization, the greed, etc. etc.

And then there's the charity thing. Now don't get me wrong, charity is real good, very good. But why does it have to be concentrated to one period out of the year. Why is it when Christmas time comes around all of a sudden everyone cares for the poor, the needy and homeless. During the year, one could care less about these people saying "To hell with them, if they could get a job they wouldn't be in the situation they are in now." They ignore them and act as if they are invisible, they cut programs to help these people and send them off to fend for themselves. But when the holiday season comes it's all warmth and smiles and talk of "helping the needy during this season."
Don't get me wrong, there are charities that do work all year long, but they pretty much get ignored. It just seems so hypocritical of me that most people would spout "Christian" values during the year, yet ignore this one facet that is so prominent in their holy text, except for when the holidays roll around.


The commercialization and the greed is what gets to me the most. Children bugging their parents with "I want this, I want that. I need the coolest thing." Even adults do it. People don't appreciate what they already have: those that are closest to them and their lives. No, they got to worry about the latest and greatest things, the "must haves" and the "need to haves." Christmas to me has become very corporated. I can't enjoy it anymore without being bombarded by constant advertising and jingoism.

Now don't get me wrong. Just because I don't like this holiday season doesn't mean that I hate everything about it. Despite it being tainted and twisted by religious zealots and corporate bigwigs, there is an ancient resonance within the celebration that I feel. I value the ancient teachings of Yule, the harmonious symbolism of nature and caring for those around us. I like the value of togetherness that it brings and the teaching that peace should always be on our foremind. (If that's even a word, I'm pulling things out of the air right now.)

I do hope that you understand what I am trying to say. I am trying to let my mind flow and speak what I really feel. I am not in any way, shape or form trying to start an arguement or flamewar. I have the deepest respect for those that do chose to celebrate the holiday season however they wish to do so.

And I am not really sure if GD is the best place to post this topic, but oh wells the mods can always move it.

So as to leave it at that, my wishes of Peace upon you and Happy Holidays DU.

Blue

[cynatnite]

1. Yep, I really hate it this year...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2864011&mesg_id=2864011

I'm now the official buzzkill, grinch and scrooge of DU. :evilgrin:

[BlueStorm]

4. Wow, I didn't even see that post

And here I thought I was going to get reprimanded here on DU for something. What it is, I don't know but I was afraid to post this because I thought that some would yell at me.

Yes, Christmas is a crook, just another way for the Corporate World to hustle us out of our money. All the fakeiness and sugary sweet...just ugh!!! It's all fake. Once all of this subsides everything goes back to normal. So what's the point?

I'm going to go to bed now.

Blue

[Stardust]

2. I detest Christmas and yearn to go to a Christmas-free zone so I

don't bum anyone out.

[Matariki]

3. yep. i want to SCREAM every time i go into a store and hear xmas carols

and i'm not a christian and sort of get a little offended at people wishing me a 'merry christmas' as if EVERYONE just must be a christian. okay, i understand that it's just friendly - i don't get that offended. just a little...

[GreenZoneLT]

5. Not me, I love it.

Christmas for my people (the Britons that the Romans and Anglo-Saxons subjugated) was originally a big pagan boozeup, with wassailing as a Halloween-style extortion scheme, and gift-giving as a payoff to the lower classes of servants and children. In America, the bluenoses killed it off, but it came back in the mid-19th century as a madeup, fun holiday that revolved around buying and giving gifts that hit the stores ONLY in order to be bought and exchanged (originally, it was storybooks). I like both sides of that equation.

More mistletoe! More presents! More showings of the animated Grinch (screw that Jim Carrey ripoff)! Go'bless Vince Guaraldi! Go'bless Tiny Tim, that mealy-mouthed, consumptive little Polyanna. Go'bless us, every one.

[REP]

6. Goddamn but We Need A Party This Time Of Year

It's cold, it's dark and everything's dead - we NEED a party with booze, food, lights and presents to celebrate the lengthening of the days, even if we celebrate it a few days late. Could be my Welsh genes, but I understand perfectly why just about every society has has some sort of celebration around the winter Solstice, and dammit, and I plan to partake in as many of them as I can. Plus my birthday is the 26th!

[ClintonTyree]

7. Yep, I can't stand it either....

Like you say, it all seems so phony and WAY too consumer driven. Since I'm not a believer in god or christ it would be quite silly of me to celebrate the season. I'm not into pagan celebrations either. I treat each day the same no matter what ridiculous sentiment humans attempt to attach to it.

In the words of Mr. Scrooge, "every fool that goes about with "Merry Christmas' upon his lips should be boiled in his own pudding and have a stake of holly driven through his heart". :evilgrin:

My sentiments exactly. :)

[KarenS]

8. I cry for six weeks every year,,,,,

From mid-November until January 2,,,,

This entire season shakes me to the core.

I make Christmas cards ~ that say "Peace on Earth" ~ I mail things to Kids/GrandKids/Charities,,, My Husband & I buy gifts for each other, but we do not decorate our living space.

I'm just waiting for January here.

[peanutbrittle]

9. Christmas will be a little frustrating for me this year......

I enjoy this season, the lights, the decorations, etc. Unfortunately the downside will be the frustration in not doing what I wanted to for my two sons, my wife and her family, my brother and sister and their families, my uncles and aunts (no other family than that). I have lowered my expectations from the golf clubs and digital camera type gifts I had originally intended for my sons to maybe going to barnes and noble and buying books for everyone. I'm hoping, I can even afford that. It will probably be reduced to buying only for my immediate family and just cards for the others. I will beat myself up about this a little and feel like the loser but other financial issues will take precedents (sp?). Rent, car payment, utilities, a couple small credit card payments, groceries and other domestic needs, fuel, daily/weekly operating cash, tax time ahead. Yes, unfortunately it's all about finances with me that will serve to darken my mood. Human nature I guess. Continue to feed the beast and none left over to do the things I would like to do in the giving area for others or create any savings of substance.

The blue collar Christmas blues.


What will give me hope is looking to January as I know, without fail, I will have gone though this period reflecting upon what I can do differently this coming new year to better things for myself and family. I've been through the successes, but am now at the point in my life whereas the stressors of what it took to achieve the financial successes have worn thin and the downside to the health issues in doing so are starting to take it's toll. It was my decision to enter the occupation I endeavor so I just do the best I can with the energy I have left to work with, which I see waining.

Maybe, I can find something to do for someone less fortunate than I to help to brighten their holiday as well. This would be the ultimate and help to brighten my Christmas as well.

Off to work now in order to feed the beasts

[ms liberty]

10. Yes, yes, yes....it begins on Thanksgiving Day, and goes right thru Xmas...

I erased most of the message I had here. Twice.

Suffice it to say my early experiences at Xmas were not the kind of memories I enjoy revisiting.

My mother was depressed at Xmas, because her mother died right before Xmas when she was a kid. She hid it when I was a kid, but I picked it up somehow, and along with everything else it stuck.

Then, my mother died one week after Thanksgiving 13 years ago (Monday was the anniversary). Close enough to Xmas to just make it worse. She was my best friend, and her absence is a wound whose scab is still and perpetually fresh and tender.

Of course, this year we're not gift-giving, because we just can't afford it. We don't have any kids, and the kids in the extended family are grown, so that eases the pressure a little. I hate the commerciality that this season has become. I hate that Xmas decorations are up in stores right after Halloween. I hate cold weather, too.

I love Christmas music. I love to sing Christmas music. I love the Hallelujah Chorus, and For Unto Us, and In the Glory of the Lord from the Messiah. The music is the only thing I really enjoy, and I only like it when I can sing it. I don't want to hear it on the effing radio all day every day for 6 weeks.

I love one Xmas movie: The Ref, with Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Dennis Leary. It's a great movie, sarcastic and funny. It's perfect for those of us who think Xmas sucks.

I would like to leave home at Thanksgiving, and come home on New Years Day, and spend the time away on a warm Caribbean beach.

Happy Holidays, all.

[BarenakedLady]

11. Yup

I'm the Grinch this year. I wonder if my heart is just three sizes too small. :shrug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

12. I know where you're coming from.

I suffered terrible holiday depression for many years. After my mother died and my oldest brother stopped speaking to me, I was finally liberated from being pressured into buying gifts for people who barely acknowledge my existence the rest of the year, and receiving junk that would also double as a birthday gift (my birthday is January 2).

I do like to decorate the house with lights and greenery. I enjoy tasteful Christmas music (either instrumental or sung by singers who can actually sing).

My mother-in-law will put some gentle pressure on us to drive 3 hours to celebrate the holiday "as a family." I told my husband that I spent many years pleasing other people on the holidays, and I just don't have it in me anymore, but if he wanted to spending the day with his parents, sister, and her kids, I had no problem spending the day alone. But he doesn't want to do that, either.

I know many people love the crush of Black Friday, the excitement of the maul (misspelling intentional), and spending lots of money on gifts, but I want no part of that. I just want to sit back and reflect in peace.

[MissMillie]

13. Not humbuggish, but I do get burnout

It would help if they could hold off on the Christmas music until 12/15.

And it would help if we had an extra paycheck in the month of December (some years I do but this is not one of them).

[cwydro]

14. I kind of like the season

with the decorations and lights and (hopefully) good will. But I hear what you're saying, Blue.

My predicament this year is do I want to buy any decorations. Lost all mine in Hurricane Wilma's storm surge last year and skipped it last December altogether.

I kind of would like to have a little tree...but the thought of buying stuff all over again is daunting, plus I don't have all my childhood sentimental ornaments anymore. Sigh.

OK. Done whining now.