Does anyone else hate Christmas?

[bbhaag]

The music is the worst part for me.

I read your post and this song made me think of you.

 

[BoomerD]

Nonsense...this is perfect to get you into the mood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZAwoip5aY

For the scrooges out there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfZUX5svCg

 

[Puffnstuff]

Kids are only allowed to smile and have fun during Christmass in USA? How horrible!

When I was a kid I used to get excited over Halloween and the freedom to roam the neighborhood in search of a confectionery treat.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Easter sucks. It gets a big buildup like it's gonna be fun, but ends up lame. It's also a harbinger of heat and shitty weather.

We usually still have snow on the ground by then, I always joke we should just throw regular white eggs outside and have the kids go look for them.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Nonsense...this is perfect to get you into the mood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZAwoip5aY

I love those old classics.

 

[bbhaag]

Nonsense...this is perfect to get you into the mood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZAwoip5aY

For the scrooges out there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfZUX5svCg

Wonderful. It did get me in the mood. I feel obligated to reciprocate.

 

[BoomerD]

Wonderful. It did get me in the mood. I feel obligated to reciprocate.

Did NOT click...I despise Cowboy Hootie.

 

[bbhaag]

It is unfortunate that you would allow your prejudice to hinder yourself from enjoying this wonderful rendition of White Christmas. You are well into your senior years so it is understandable but not excusable.

 

[BoomerD]

It is unfortunate that you would allow your prejudice to hinder yourself from enjoying this wonderful rendition of White Christmas. You are well into your senior years so it is understandable.

I wasn't a fan when he was a rocker...and find it dishonest of him to switch to country music because his r&r career had stalled. It's one thing to have a crossover hit...it's completely different to just switch walk away and switch completely. BUT, if you're a fan, you won't get my point.

(and I'm not a fan of "new country" anyway...for me, country music more-or-less died 30 years ago when Hank Williams Jr. started pushing "young country" which is basically just rock and roll with a twang...

 

[bbhaag]

Hey old man river the song isn't country. Its more of a jazz rendition than anything.

 

[BoomerD]

Hey old man river the song isn't country. Its more of a jazz rendition than anything.

What? Against my better judgement, I clicked on it...while it's not the worst thing I've ever heard, it's definitely got a country vibe going on...and he still can't sing.

 

[highland145]

lots of people don't like Christmas. We call them Al Qaeda or Communists. Sowhich is it, Sho' Nuff? Are you a terr'ist or a filthy Rooskie?

He's a lawyer.

 

[Exterous]

So ignore all the crap you don't like and make the holiday as you would like it to be.

Yep. We do most of our shopping online or early on so the music playing, crowded stores are basically non-existent for us. And the spending money you don't have seems to be a more of a daily aspect than just over Christmas. Just focus on the things important to you and your family (and gently guide kids towards a healthy outlook on the holidays)

 

[tynopik]

how can you hate something that gives us such wonderful gifts?

 

[nakedfrog]

I read your post and this song made me think of you.

That one is mostly terrible because it's her.

This is more like it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'm not a fan of a bunch of Christmas songs that get overplayed. I'm a huge fan of the 1950's songs the most...they tend to be more laid back.

Otherwise, I like Christmas because my kids are still young. It's fun getting them excited about it and making holiday traditions. I've made a point the past 6 years to invite my parents, sister/niece, cousin and his family over on Christmas Eve for Turkey/Ham and a full meal...then we sit around the fire and let our kids open a few small gifts. These gatherings aren't about anything but building more stability in our family and bringing us closer together.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Did NOT click...I despise Cowboy Hootie.

Cowboy Hootie isn't any worse than Original Hootie. They suck equally.

 

[BoomerD]

Cowboy Hootie isn't any worse than Original Hootie. They suck equally.

Agreed.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I ne'er got burned out on Christmas music. I didn't play it around the house, and only heard it in stores or church. Thanks to Loreena McKennit's A Midwinter's Night Dream and Blackmore Night's Winter Carols, I discovered a realm of earlier Old World Christmas music, the pre-schmaltz era. I'd never gone beyond Jingle Bells or Away in a Manger, so I kind of reveled in being transported back into 1600-1800s. Now, 4 years since my discovery, I have amassed a solid collection of 655 tracks to I can hit shuffle and not repeat. Last season I spent $250 on Christmas music, a personal record. I will savor it for years to come.

I'm not enjoying much these days, with my chronic lack of sleep, but I can still enjoy music. It works to set the atmosphere/mood.

 

[Geekbabe]

Thanks for the thoughts. I was really just venting as I have been feeling extra moody this year (to the point I might be heading to a doctor - I feel like I'm emotionally on edge all the time lately) and I won't dump this stuff on my wife out of respect for her.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head when you said that #6 is the root cause of my dislike for the season. My parents were decent folks, but my mother and father have/had a lot of issues and they all seemed to manifest themselves at holidays. Over the years I have come to learn that my mother was pretty much emotionally abused by my grandfather her whole childhood. He basically destroyed her self confidence- to the point that her only reaction to anyone doing anything except what she said was to either cry or scream at the top of her lungs. That turned all holidays into "do what mom wants days," so everyone in our house tip toed on eggshells on all major holidays so as to try not to upset my mom. My dad wasn't any help with this. Long before I was born he decided that he didn't want to fight with my mom, and his reaction to her temper tantrums was to leave the house. And let me tell you, its awesome when your mom gets pissed at 7AM Xmas morning and your dad leaves the house and doesn't come home until dinner. Then dinner comes, someone starts to complain about some little thing, and mom is off to the bedroom crying. Not to mention it was "fun" to watch my divorced grandparents (who only ever got together at Christmas) sit at opposite ends of the table giving each other the evil eye. etc. Wash rinse repeat for 20 odd years.

Then shortly after xmas when I am 23 my dad tells me the he and my mother are getting divorced and he is moving back to eastern Europe. His rationale? My brother and I are grown up now and "don't need him," and his income wasn't enough to let him live the way he wanted in the U.S. After he left, only my brother, my mother, and my aunt were remaining in the U.S. My mom comes up to visit a couple times a year to see the grandkids, but its clear that we are second fiddle to her church schedule. She doesn't even call me on my birthday or our anniversary (I'm starting to wonder if she knows on which date either event is). I only hear from my brother when he needs something (maybe once or twice a year). I speak to my dad somewhat often, but its getting hard because he is seemingly going out of his way to make every effort to hurt my brother and I, though I suspect he doesn't realize it. So yeah - my "family" is pretty much completely dysfunctional.

To the contrary, my wife's family is about as close as a family can get. There are a couple of iffy people, but its clear that everyone in her family loves each other and would do anything for one another. As a result, the holiday season for them is filled with happy events spent together, laughing, etc. I really wish I could get into that spirit and just feed off of it . . . and for a time I could. But as I have gotten older my reaction to those events has become increasingly dark. To the point that I want almost nothing to do with them. All those events do is remind me of how my experiences growing up were not that way, and how my own family is opposite to my wife's family. I know the way I feel is rooted in selfishness and I should be able to just get over it. But (frustratingly) I just can't seem to move past it. Now I am just trying to insulate my kids from my own feelings so that they don't grow up to feel the same way. I'd rather they think I was happy and grow up normal, than know I am not happy and feel like it was somehow their fault or their responsibility to fix it.

Anyway - sorry to drone on and on. I'm not looking for sympathy or even empathy. I just need some kind of outlet so that I don't lay all this crap down on my family and ruin their experiences.

You need to see someone you can talk over your issues with, it helps, really it does!

Number 2, you can choose the people you love, it’s clear you love your wife, why not also bond with some of her family? What about your friends? Coworkers you actually like, why not get to know these people better? Create your own family!

Also, you speak about giving being important, give your wife the gift of telling her a couple of things you need or would use as gifts...also give her the gift of sitting down with her & telling her what you just told us. I’m betting she would be as supportive as all get out.

Btw, I have a 12 year old three foot fiber optic tree. bills up the arse, stage IV cancer & Christmas is still so very special to me because it means hope. My wish to you is that you cling to hope & that your new year will be brighter.

 

[MrSquished]

Easter sucks. It gets a big buildup like it's gonna be fun, but ends up lame. It's also a harbinger of heat and shitty weather.

Easter is great with my Greek-Cypriot family. It's like Thanksgiving, just about food and conversation and spending time with people you don't get to see too often. It also means spring, the coming of great weather and outdoor activities here in the Northeast. Love Easter.