What don't you like about Christmas?

[sidious618]

I hate having to see extended relatives but I don't see them anymore so it's all good. The only other thing I dislike is FOX News' "War on Christmas" but it also makes me laugh so I guess that's a fair trade off.

I'd say I dislike the religious aspect but that barely plays into it anymore and certainly didn't play into the original purpose of winter solstice celebrations. Back with the Pagans it was all about partying to make the fact that it's cold and dark seem less depressing. Now THAT I can get behind.

 

[Amaris]

I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. The only thing that bugs me are the "There would be no Christmas without Christ!" people. It's as if they don't understand the origins of Christmas as we know it. I encountered one of them at the grocery store the other day, standing there, talking about how Christ is the reason behind Christmas. I told him "of course without Christ there'd be no Christmas, because 'Christ' is in the name. If there were no Christ, though, we'd just call it Saturnalia, and nothing else of significance would change."

 

[Paradon]

It's a religeous holiday if you believe in Christ, but if you don't, it's just another holiday to celebrate and have fun. Either way people should focus on having fun and maybe helping others if you have some to give.

 

[Amaris]

It's a religeous holiday if you believe in Christ, but if you don't, it's just another holiday to celebrate and have fun. Either way people should focus on having fun and maybe helping others if you have some to give.

It's only a Christian holiday in the sense that they picked December 25th because Saturnalia and Winter Solstice, two pagan holidays, occur around that time. It's completely arbitrary in terms of it's "sacred" origin.

That said, I have no problem with people seeing it as a Christian holiday, I just have a problem with them demanding I see it as a purely Christian holiday.

 

[Paradon]

I wouldn't be too harsh on those religeous people. I think some genuinely wants to help you and wants you to be happy the way Christianity take them on a spiritual path to enlightenment.

 

[Amaris]

I wouldn't be too harsh on those religeous people. I think some genuinely wants to help you and wants you to be happy the way Christianity take them on a spiritual path to enlightenment.

I have been there, I was there, I have was been there. I'm not harsh on folks who are Christians and enjoy the holiday, doesn't bother me at all. It's the ones pointing fingers, telling me I'm unwelcome to "their" holiday, that's what bothers me. Those people aren't "enlightened", they're just assholes.

 

[ed629]

I also hate how each year it seems that stores start pulling out the Xmas crap earlier and earlier. This year, some stores had Xmas out the day after thanksgiving. This year, and for several years I've only gotten a few people Xmas gifts. And those were gifts that I took time to choose specifically for them. For example, for my sister I got her a necklace with a pendant that has a photo from her wedding etched onto it.

 

[Warped9]

...

Overt commercialism - This has been part-and-parcel of modern Christmas for two hundred years so there is no real escaping it.

The commercialization really puts me off, too, but "two hundred years"? I think an argument could made for eighty years without much difficulty at all, or for any of a number of shorter periods, but to which two-hundred-years-ago milestone do you think you'd point?

The "two hundred years" is an approximation. Things really started to change around the 1820s-1840s in America when the upper classes and the growing middle class began to change how Christmas was celebrated from being more of a public carnival to a more family centric ritual. And this went hand-in-hand with a society becoming more industrialized and commercialized and less based on an agrarian lifestyle (and its seasonal cycles). A lot of people, especially those in the growing cities, wanted to get the revellers off the streets and make it safer and more convenient for everyone else to go about their business. It's easier to "party" when you can't farm and whatever else because of the cold weather and you've got free time on your hands. And it's harder to "party" when you don't have much free time because the factories and shops can still be in operation no matter what the weather. It also changed the nature of gift-giving where you became more focused on getting gifts almost exclusively for just your family rather than also servants and employees. And this is where the overt commercialism began to come into play. these things didn't happen overnight but started around the turn of the 19th century---hence my two hundred year approximation.

The generation of people living in the 1820s-'40s are the ones who could legitimately say that "Christmas isn't what it used to be" because how the holiday was observed had changed greatly in the past few decades and was still changing. But the differences between the mid to late 19th century and today are mostly a matter of degree.

And Santa Claus was instrumental in helping effect that change to a more private and family centred holiday. Old stories and legends about St. Nicholas and others were "associated" with Santa and helped foster the idea that Santa had been around for a very long time. This family centred Christmas was an idea that took hold and a lot of people helped foster and encourage it. But it didn't take long for business to start using Santa as a marketing tool to help attract customers. This is why Santa has something of a dual personality: a benevolent gift-bringer and a shill for commercial interest. It really depends on the individual as to how Santa is perceived.

 

[-Brett-]

What don't you like about Christmas?

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

 

[RandyS]

Heavy commercialism and the fact that it's advertised in October.

I can beat this one. At my pharmacy, they start selling the Star Trek and Star Wars ornaments (as well as others) in JULY.

Actually, I don't really hate that, but I do find it strange.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

What don't you like about Christmas?

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

Gay soldiers are taking Christmas away from our children!

(At least according to Rick Perry.)

 

[RoJoHen]

Gay soldiers are taking Christmas away from our children!

Gay soldiers need Christmas more than our children do. Kids get toys all year round.

 

[Warped9]

What don't you like about Christmas?

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

I'd hesitate to call it a war, but there have long been some people who have something against Christmas and how its celebrated. And it isn't enough for some to merely not observe it themselves, but to try belittling or minimizing it in some way. And, yes, there are some who do try to enforce others from saying "Merry Christmas," for example employers who berate or criticize staff for not using the politically correct phrase of "Happy Holidays." I've actually seen this done. The whole "not wanting to offend" is also a bogus argument since the only ones offended are the ones who dislike the holiday in the first place.

I don't care and can even respect if someone doesn't want to observe Christmas, but why do they have to go out of their way to piss on it for others? A rhetorical question since I don't really expect an answer and this isn't the subject of this thread.

 

[Amaris]

What don't you like about Christmas?

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

I'd hesitate to call it a war, but there have long been some people who have something against Christmas and how its celebrated. And it isn't enough for some to merely not observe it themselves, but to try belittling or minimizing it in some way. And, yes, there are some who do try to enforce others from saying "Merry Christmas," for example employers who berate or criticize staff for not using the politically correct phrase of "Happy Holidays." I've actually seen this done. The whole "not wanting to offend" is also a bogus argument since the only ones offended are the ones who dislike the holiday in the first place.

I don't care and can even respect if someone doesn't want to observe Christmas, but why do they have to go out of their way to piss on it for others? A rhetorical question since I don't really expect an answer and this isn't the subject of this thread.

There's no war on Christmas. There's no skirmish on Christmas. There's no slapfight on Christmas. There's a few people who bitch about everything, including Christmas, and a few people who get offended about everything, including Christmas. That's all there is to it.

 

[sidious618]

What don't you like about Christmas?

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

I'd hesitate to call it a war, but there have long been some people who have something against Christmas and how its celebrated. And it isn't enough for some to merely not observe it themselves, but to try belittling or minimizing it in some way. And, yes, there are some who do try to enforce others from saying "Merry Christmas," for example employers who berate or criticize staff for not using the politically correct phrase of "Happy Holidays." I've actually seen this done. The whole "not wanting to offend" is also a bogus argument since the only ones offended are the ones who dislike the holiday in the first place.

I don't care and can even respect if someone doesn't want to observe Christmas, but why do they have to go out of their way to piss on it for others? A rhetorical question since I don't really expect an answer and this isn't the subject of this thread.

In retail you say Happy Holidays because not everyone celebrates Christmas and it's wrong to assume that they do. It's no different than when you write to someone you don't know and you say "Dear Sir or Ma'am" instead of saying "Dear Sir" and automatically assuming you're addressing a man.

 

[Warped9]

In retail you say Happy Holidays because not everyone celebrates Christmas and it's wrong to assume that they do. It's no different than when you write to someone you don't know and you say "Dear Sir or Ma'am" instead of saying "Dear Sir" and automatically assuming you're addressing a man.

Whatever.

 

[Amaris]

In retail you say Happy Holidays because not everyone celebrates Christmas and it's wrong to assume that they do. It's no different than when you write to someone you don't know and you say "Dear Sir or Ma'am" instead of saying "Dear Sir" and automatically assuming you're addressing a man.

Whatever.

Whatever what? He's right. It's being polite, and giving respect to someone's POV without offending anyone else. Those who get offended are likely easy to offend anyway, and nothing you do or say, apart from what they want you to do and say, will change that.

 

[M'Sharak]

...

Overt commercialism - This has been part-and-parcel of modern Christmas for two hundred years so there is no real escaping it.

The commercialization really puts me off, too, but "two hundred years"? I think an argument could made for eighty years without much difficulty at all, or for any of a number of shorter periods, but to which two-hundred-years-ago milestone do you think you'd point?

The "two hundred years" is an approximation. Things really started to change around the 1820s-1840s in America when... <snip>

I liked Holdfast's answer better.

The legions of morons ranting about some imagined "War on Christmas". They usually begin their rant with some variant of "They won't let me say 'Merry Christmas'" and ends with a "defiant" "Merry Christmas". Whoever "they" are that prohibit the phrase apparently don't do much to enforce their edict.

I'd hesitate to call it a war, but there have long been some people who have something against Christmas and how its celebrated. And it isn't enough for some to merely not observe it themselves, but to try belittling or minimizing it in some way. And, yes, there are some who do try to enforce others from saying "Merry Christmas," for example employers who berate or criticize staff for not using the politically correct phrase of "Happy Holidays." I've actually seen this done. The whole "not wanting to offend" is also a bogus argument since the only ones offended are the ones who dislike the holiday in the first place.

I don't care and can even respect if someone doesn't want to observe Christmas, but why do they have to go out of their way to piss on it for others? A rhetorical question since I don't really expect an answer and this isn't the subject of this thread.

There's no war on Christmas. There's no skirmish on Christmas. There's no slapfight on Christmas. There's a few people who bitch about everything, including Christmas, and a few people who get offended about everything, including Christmas. That's all there is to it.

Ding!

...

Whatever.

Only 50-some posts to the rolleyes - hardly a record, but neither has it dragged on too long.

 

[Warped9]

We don't say "Happy Holidays" to those celebrating Hannukah or Kwanza or Ukrainian or Chinese New Year or whatever it may be. The holiday is named. And there's no reason Christmas shouldn't be spoken. People don't say "Happy Holidays" in reference to Easter or Thanksgiving or Valentine's or New Year's or whatever else. It has nothing to do with being polite. It's nothing more than politically correct bullshit that does nothing to salve supposedly offended sensibilities, but does offend many who do observe the holiday. If you want to say "Happy Holidays" then fine, but it shouldn't be insisted that others say it or that they shouldn't say "Merry Christmas."

I wouldn't insist someone greet me with "Merry Christmas," and in kind it shouldn't be insisted that I greet them with a PC greeting.

 

[Kestra]

We don't say "Happy Holidays" to those celebrating Hannukah or Kwanza or Ukrainian or Chinese New Year or whatever it may be. The holiday is named. And there's no reason Christmas shouldn't be spoken. People don't say "Happy Holidays" in reference to Easter or Thanksgiving or Valentine's or New Year's or whatever else. It has nothing to do with being polite. It's nothing more than politically correct bullshit that does nothing to salve supposedly offended sensibilities, but does offend many who do observe the holiday. If you want to say "Happy Holidays" then fine, but it shouldn't be insisted that others say it or that they shouldn't say "Merry Christmas."

I wouldn't insist someone greet me with "Merry Christmas," and in kind it shouldn't be insisted that I greet them with a PC greeting.

If people know each other and the holidays they celebrate, they're more likely to name the holiday. In a retail setting you have only a cursory exchange with the customer so it makes sense to use something more general.