The Dismal Side of Christmas: Why I Don't Enjoy the Season

Despite having celebrated Christmas for over 75 years, the holiday has become an overwhelmingly commercial and intrusive experience for me. What once was a time of reflection and gathering has transformed into a seemingly ceaseless onslaught of Christmas cheer. The commercialization of the holiday has reached such a level that it feels as though the festive spirit begins to permeate our lives long before Thanksgiving. Now, advertising and Christmas-related content begin to emerge even before the autumn leaves fully fall, with early October marking the unofficial start of the Christmas season.

Everywhere I turn, it seems like I'm surrounded by the holiday spirit. Music filled with Christmas carols plays on the radio, drowning out any other tunes. Television shows, and even my all-time favorites, are filled with Christmas Carol adaptations, complete with characters such as Gilligan as Scrooge. Even my daily activities are affected; almost every store and public space is filled with people shopping, driving, or engaging in holiday-related activities. On many shopping websites, I am met with Christmas holiday specials and intrusive background music playing Christmas Carols non-stop.

This pervasive and overwhelming exposure to the holiday has led me to resentment and a sense of being forced to honor and celebrate a season that I do not genuinely enjoy. I detest the complexities that come with Christmas, from its hokey and over-the-top traditions to the relentless pressure to be jolly and festive. The season starts too early, making it a constant presence in our lives long before the actual holiday. The commercialization and social pressure associated with Christmas are detrimental to my discomfort and frustration with the holiday.

Moreover, I find many aspects of Christmas to be deeply rooted in religious practices. As an atheist, the notion of a fat man living in the North Pole with his flying reindeer and leaving gifts that are predominantly purchased by parents is both humorous and absurd. The idea that many parents buy their children things they don't need or that certain religious practices are often misinformed or untrue (such as the exact date of Jesus's birth and the virgin birth) adds to my disinterest in the holiday. Despite these feelings, I do make an effort to be accommodating around my grandkids. I enjoy cooking for them, which provides a moment of relaxation and normalcy.

For me, allegations of being a 'scrooge' are just a part of the conversation. However, my feelings stem from a genuine dislike of the commercial and religious elements that have seeped into the holiday spirit. It's not just a subtle form of dislike; it's a deep-seated aversion. The hustle and bustle of gift-giving, wrapping, and preparing for the holiday season bring about a mix of stress and disappointment. The memories of my ex-husband's passive-aggressive behavior during the holiday can still evoke feelings of bitterness, adding another layer to my feelings.

While I acknowledge the complexity and varied emotions surrounding Christmas, I share my honest perspective in hopes of sparking a thoughtful discussion about the true essence of the season.

Keywords:

Christmas season commercialization religious practices