Things I don't like about this time of year, and some of the things I do like.

[Dragonsreach]

Yeah Ok I openly and often admit that I am a complete BAH HUMBUG person about this silly season as I despise certain aspects about it.
Fran and I have a young friend, Naeema, and yesterday we were discussing bits and pieces about the christmas season with her. My dislikes she understands, growing up in a culture which doesn't celebrate it.

So my dislikes:
The false Bonhomie we are supposed to adopt because "Its Christmas". -
No. If I don't like or can't get on with someone 11 months out of the year it ain't gonna change because of "the season of goodwill".

The sudden increase in Charity Collections. -
I support a number of charities both local and worldwide, paying a monthly donation to each. That's My Choice. If people want or don't want to support a charity that's their choice. I dislike the attempted to 'blackmail' peoples concience because its "this time of year".

Canned Christmas songs in shops:-
This is something I really feel sorry for the shop assistants about. I can walk out of the shop, these poor souls are stuck there. And the re-hashing of 60's, 70's and 80's christmas songs...give me a break. Oh and the Christmas No.1.......help support Simon Cowell's retirement fund!!!!!

Christmas Kitch:-
The Christmas Gifts that appear in shops, packaged for Him & Her. Such as A Bottle of Beer with a Novelty Glass, A Spice Rack, Jars of Chillies in Olive Oil, Mugs with "Stay Calm its Christmas" on them. I consider these to be the kind of stuff which actually says "I had to buy you a present, but I care so little about you I bought this Sh*te".

TV Christmas Specials:-
Especially Nigella Lawson & Heston Blumenthal how to make the perfect Christmas dinner......Bluuuuuurgh! (Oh and %%%%ing Eastenders!!!!!!)

The Christmas Rush:-
Shopping is a pain anytime, add in the christmas "Panic Mentality" and Oh Boy sometimes do I want a Baseball bat or even a Katana.

Christmas Presents:-
Yep this is my real dislike. I've grown to dislike receiving presents because I don't WANT anything. I just wish people wouldn't bother on my account.


My Likes are Simple
Christmas Day:-
I like the ability to get up and go for a walk in peace and quiet. We used to love to get up get dressed and take the dog out for a hike round Rivington Pike when there were few people around. No cars, No mountain bikes, the occasional Deer, Squirrel and Birds..Peace!
My House:-
People who come to my house are welcome to just turn up, kick your shoes off, make yourself comfortable, chill, chat and laugh.
Family, Friends and Neighbours:-
Chatting to them, dropping in or just bumping into them.

 

[A Luna]

 

[me_in_japan]

I kinda miss Christmas and kinda don't. All the stuff DR mentioned I can totally live without, and in fact my life is better off without em. I do miss family, Christmas trees, and proper christmas dinners. It's one time of year when I feel particularly isolated and foreign here. F'r example, I asked my wife what she'd like to do on Christmas, and she replied that she was taking my son to the local clinic for his ten-month check up. She (and I quote) "had forgotten that the 25th was Christmas."

Sometimes I just feel so...gaijin...

 

[KruleBear]

Dislikes: I would add business related Christmas parties: work, vendor, and customer parties. I would much rather spend time after work with my family than with others "pretending" we are buddies.

I think all the dislikes can be summarrized as commercialism an past years guilt over compensation.

That being said, I absolutely love the joy the young nieces and nephews get from all the additional attention they recieved on Christmas.

 

[finn17]

I'm a traditionalist...I do the same things every year.

Nail the front door shut and take the phone off the hook....

 

[uglybug]

I thought I loved Christmas untill I read your post and realized I agree with everything you said. Thanks for ruining Christmas :crying:

I use to have more dread for Christmas, I use to sell Christmas trees at our garden center and we would offer setup and delivery which was a great way to make some extra cash from tips. The one problem for me is I am allergic to evergreen sap and when you are constantly handling the trees or underneath them setting them up every little needle that falls has a tiny bit of sap and after 1 week into sales my eyes are puffy, my ears and neck are covered in a flaky itchy rash and I become asmatic. And if I get a break from the trees I would still be stuck working with the greens because I was the only one that had the skill/strength to make to big 5 to 6 foot wreaths.

I do however love having a tree in my house with all the cool ornaments I have collected over the years and the old style colored lights.
Christmas also marks the end of my work year, so I get 2 or 3 months off unless I have to plow for a snow storm.
So Christmas day is when I get to sit back and take a deep breath and relax.

 

[In Chigh P.I.]

For me its just another pointless day off, and sadly for many years now an unpaid day off

 

[freakinacage]

Christmas is a time for family imo. My family has mostly whittled down to me and my parents so don't overly enjoy it (always working it doesn't help). I think things would change if I had a family of my own

 

[Wyrmypops]

Chrimbo for me pretty much means there might actually be something decent on the telly for a change.

 

[Talion]

I love Christmas, I had such great ones as a kid i,I've taken those memories into adult hood, and I get the same buzz now.

It's my first Christmas with a son......he's 11 months now, and when we put the decorations up, the look on his face made it. To me that's what Christmas is about, absorbing the excitement that builds up in little ones.......I dont believe or take part in the Christmas rush, seeing people I dislike, all the things mentioned above.......me, my family, my close friends and the magic that Christmas brings.

But I've never grown up nor want too, Halloween, guy Fawkes night, Christmas all still make me smile. The day I lose that feeling is the day to give up.

 

[Bloodhowl]

It's my first Christmas with a son......he's 11 months now, and when we put the decorations up, the look on his face made it. To me that's what Christmas is about, absorbing the excitement that builds up in little ones.......I dont believe or take part in the Christmas rush, seeing people I dislike, all the things mentioned above.......me, my family, my close friends and the magic that Christmas brings.

+1 This! It's amazing seeing the excitement and anticipation on both of my daughters faces the whole season.

My only really hate during this time are those M#%^}* F{]!!! Icicle lights. Fortunately, I have ever only ever been asked once to put them up and take them down.

I can't really say I despise the office christmas party, as I despise all work related mandatory fun, year round.

 

[cfwheeler58]

Likes:
Eggnog
My wife's awesome ham dinner
Amoretto Pumpkin Cheesecake
Midnight Mass
Hobby time without guilt
My wife dressed up for events
My sons coming home for this and my birthday ( 27th )
The wrap up of the NFL season and the college bowl games
Snow at Christmas

Dislikes:
Commercials where people give each other cars for Christmas
The traffic
The crowds at my favorite restaurants
The crowds everywhere else too

HATES
People who are assholes all year suddenly ( and temporarily ) being human

 

[SkelettetS]

this kind of says it all

still a great evening to meet up family i only see once a year and all the lights utside make cold old sweden a happier place in winter time!

 

[RuneBrush]

I completely agree with the fact that many people/companies/industries see it as an opportunity to pressurise the public into things that isn't acceptable but is glossed over with the phrase "but it's Christmas".

One thing that nobody has mentioned is various employers insistence to open during the Christmas period. I really, really don't see why places need to be open Christmas Day or Boxing Day - give everybody a break for once, please! I'm lucky in that everywhere I've worked has shut down between Christmas and New Year and although I've had to go in for odd server related items, have on the whole been home, but feel really sorry for anybody who is made to go in over the festive period.

The one thing that I really struggle with (other than the fact that many people turn into asshats when they go shopping) is that the things you can normally buy have been displaced with Christmas tat. Heaven help anybody who needs to buy a birthday card in a card shop (my other halves birthday is on the 22nd) because the range of birthday cards has been reduced to a pitiful number and mostly horrifically awful.

That said, I do like the Christmas period. It actually "forces" you to spend quality time with your friends, family and loved ones which (disgustingly) often gets overlooked with people's busy lives. The telly this year seems to be quite reasonable so I'm looking forward to sitting down with some popcorn and a paint station and spending a bit of time relaxing.

 

[airhead]

Boy, you guys need a holly stake driven through your frozen egg-nogs....

I watched my grandaughter in the church Christmas play - also known as the annual follies. The kids did great and the baby goat (real kid) stole the show.

I've got three different Christmas stations playing on my Pandora at my work station.

We've got the house all decorated.
My youngest is coming to spend Christmas with us from Chicago.
My grandkids will spend the night Christmas eve and we'll get to watch the magic of Santa with them on Christmas morning (hopefully after coffee).

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[QuietiManes]

I'm a big time hater of all things holiday and celebratory, almost everything horrible in my life happens on a holiday. Quite literally, the list is very long and extensive, filled with things much worse than misplacing my pen or stubbing my toe. Not to mention all the other things mentioned in the thread.

I'd like Christmas day better if the stores and restaurants were open more. I mean, sometimes I want some take out! Give me take out! I love the holiday dinners but there's no way I'm spending several hours slaving away over a hot stove for a meal. Just, NO.

Am I the only one who hates all the "Jesus religion" types who get all aggressive and loud at this time of year? Like Christmas means it's alright to be intolerant and ignorant and just plain, down right prejudiced? With all their "it's not happy holidays, it's merry Christmas" bull. I'm your "typical" guy, raised celebrating Christmas and on occasion, enjoy the odd sexist and/or racist joke I.E. I'm not overly sensitive about offending people nor am I being oppressed by it...but I really find that offensive. Especially when I know they "sin" far more than I do...but this is a whole other debate we probably shouldn't get into too much, I guess.

Having said all that, I do like the kids being all happy and hyper. Having a son made me like kids a whole lot more than I used to, now I even like them when they're being sugar crazy and psychotic.

I think the charities are shooting themselves in the foot with their big push during the holiday season. Sure, people are more susceptible to their manipulation and guilt trips, but, most people are far less able to donate at that time as well. I don't know many people that have much, if any, disposable income left over, even the well off and responsible, plan ahead types seem to run quite low. I'd think if they put more of that advertising money into the rest of the year, it would pay off much better.

OMG!!! I ALMOST FORGOT!!!

What I hate most about this holiday season, The Walking Dead takes a mid-season break! BAH m'f'in HUMBUG on that! Humbug I said and humbug I mean...

 

[Zilo]

The thing I dont like about Christmas is snow. And black ice. And -50 temperatures with the wind chill. And record snow falls, repeatedly. And no snow days, EVER.

 

[wiccanpony]

Boy, you guys need a holly stake driven through your frozen egg-nogs....

I watched my grandaughter in the church Christmas play - also known as the annual follies. The kids did great and the baby goat (real kid) stole the show.

I've got three different Christmas stations playing on my Pandora at my work station.

We've got the house all decorated.
My youngest is coming to spend Christmas with us from Chicago.
My grandkids will spend the night Christmas eve and we'll get to watch the magic of Santa with them on Christmas morning (hopefully after coffee).

Merry Christmas to all.

LOL …holding high my candy cane in solidarity with Kevin


as a Pagan I combine Yule/Christmas and keep those customs I like


the tree
lights
food
smells like pine, baking
being warm and watching out the window on a cold crisp day

smile Mike
View attachment 17645

 

[airhead]

The thing I dont like about Christmas is snow. And black ice. And -50 temperatures with the wind chill. And record snow falls, repeatedly. And no snow days, EVER.

Do what I did. Move.
It's 78 here today.
Gotta go home and mow the lawn around the decorations - nothing like running overy your extension cord with a mower.

 

[Kretcher]

this kind of says it all


still a great evening to meet up family i only see once a year and all the lights utside make cold old sweden a happier place in winter time!

Yeah the light is a life saver, as is the snow since it also brings light
Agree with the family part.

/Kretcher