Don't have a valentine?

You better get me flowers in the future though you know!!

 

I've never heard anyone talk about Christmas like that. I have been telling my family and friends that for a long time. They don't understand why I hate Christmas so much. "Is it because your dad died?" "No. He died in October. And he wasn't that much into Christmas either." "Is it because you have to work every Christmas Eve?" "No I work 5 days out of every week. Why should that week be any different?" The only thing that I like about the "holiday season" is that by default, almost everyone gets time off of work. So they have an effortless way to spend time together. But I hate the whole, "I wonder if so and so is buying me a gift??" and, "I hope I didn't spend less money on so and so than they spent on me!!" It's so dumb. You're right, it SHOULD be every day. I like to do the random surprise gift thing. You shouldn't have to go out LOOKING for things to give your friends, famiilies, significant others. If you're wandering through a book store and you see that book you know they've wanted forever, why buy it and hide it till Christmas?? Just give it to them now when they aren't expecting it. And what's up with LISTS???? Okay I don't know what to get you cause I don't pay attention to your interests. So I'm gonna need a shopping list of all the things you didn't buy for yourself yet. Is it just me or would you guys rather spend TIME with your friends as a gift?? Take a trip with your family?? Seems like a much wiser way to spend your time and money rather than loading them up with material crap they don't have room for anyway. Even if they THINK they want it.

All right. Now THAT my friends, is a rant! And I'm done.

 

Yep, exactly right, Silly Angel.

It's just a way for people to not feel bad about themselves by giving gifts.

 

Hurrah for Silly Angel! I agree wholeheartedly.

I hate hate hate the obligations around xmas. I don't want anyone to get me a gift because they HAVE to. Screw that, don't even bother- getting me a gift because of society's inane traditions is a pretty empty gesture, I think. I want a gift because someone was thinking of me and wanted to express something genuine and sincere.

Birthdays are a different matter, since that's a day that has personal meaning for someone, and usually only close friends and family are expected to worry about it.

 

I agree a little bit, with the Christmas thing.... but, I'm not sure about your families, but mine sure as hell doesn't care if I don't give them something. Not only do they know that I'm low on money, but they just don't expect it. I always do random things for my parents and loved ones throughout the year, and they appreciate that the way it is. Not to mention, usually if I do do something for them on Christmas, I make the stuff that I give them. It just means more. And my loved ones ALSO know that I do not believe in god, or practice religion so the holiday really means pretty much ZIP to me.

But, I can't help but LOVE the time that I get to spend with my family. Our relatives and such don't get together often, because I come from a HUGE family with tons of kids, and workaholics...lol. So, everyone is always busy...but during the holidays I get to see them again, and I like that a lot. Being with my relatives, was something that I used to DISlike about the holidays, back when I was an angsty anti-social teenager lol.... but I've grown up, and I really cherish the time I get to spend with them.

I think if the people around you, really give a hoot that you didn't get them something, then they might not be as true as you thought they were.

Also, I think that Christmas more or less is just fun for kids... and I enjoy watching the kids in our family at Christmas. lol KIDS would be LOST without Christmas, and it IS all about presents for them, because they don't know any better yet.... but what is better than seeing a little kid smile from ear to ear like that?

I don't even like kids that much and I think it's a beautiful thing

I don't know. I'm not disagreeing with any of this, but... I think it's also a little wrong to be so negative about it too. [Christmas that is...] Because, where I come from Christmas is MORE about spending time with each other than anything.... and its really just the kids that care about the presents.

but *shrugs* I dont know maybe you guys have different traditions and stuff.

Also edit to say: And I know some people think that Christmas shouldn't be the only reason to do things with each other, but you have to understand that in the world we live today, things are very busy and fast-paced and its hard to find time to get the whole family together for a LOT of people in the world.

 

when I get gifts for my family, its because I want to see them smile, not because I want to "make myself feel better" ----I'm sure a lot of people DO do that for the reason you said, but....not everyone is like that, remember.

 

Yeah, naturally. There are good things about Christmas, I didn't say it was a bad holiday. I said it was the most thoughtless holiday.

The fact is, everyone loves presents and (for most people) spending time with relatives can be nice.

 

Yah it's not all bad, it's just so sad that for most people, it's a way to condense all of their goodness into a week or two. And in general, it IS very thoughtless. The thing about kids loving presents is the part that makes me the saddest. So many parents teach kids that it's ok to make ridiculously long lists and beg for gifts and use it as a way to get their kids to behave. If you don't behave, no presents. It's a horrible way to raise good-hearted children, which is probably why there are so few good-hearted adults. It's also a fantastic way to spoil your children and turn them into materialistic people. Working in retail, I see people piling their carts with toys, according to the two-page list their 6-year old has dictated to them. They drop hundreds , sometimes thousands of dollars each year during a single month simply to see this shallow happiness in their child's face. It's terrible that it's come to be this way, and on the whole, it's not going to change. It just sucks that it's gotten to this point.

 

If/when I have kids, I'll teach them to celebrate National Philanthropic Religious Tolerance Day (25 Dec), and I'll give them a chance to earn something. I wonder how well that would work.

 

See, this here is why I don't like holidays anymore. Christmas was never supposed to be a "gimme" day. In my home, we fight commercialism with everything we can come up with. My kids do not believe in Santa Claus. Christmas is a religious holiday for us. We try hard to emphasize the GIVING of gifts to others. It's tough with kids, but I think they're catching on.

We do celebrate St. Nicholas Day. And no, we're not Catholic. But I find that many of the saints make good role-models to emulate. On St. Nicholas Day we do as he did, and give to others. We go to a soup kitchen & help those less fortunate than ourselves. Then the kids take part of their allowance money & choose something to bring to Toys for Tots. Then we go down to our Humane Society & help clean cages & walk the dogs for awhile. We finish the day with stockings for the kids that "someone in the spirit of St. Nick" has left for them. It's funny... we've done this since they were born & I was starting to think we were fooling ourselves into thinking it was doing any good, but this year my son asked if he could spend twice what we'd said to get a "Cool" gift. He insisted that if he were only getting one gift he would want it to be better than what he'd originally chosen. And they actually FORGOT about the stockings!!!

Yeah, I don't like what the commercial industry has done to holidays either. I'm groaning right now at all of the lime green bunny rabbits & chocolate chicks at Target for Easter. I know that rabbits are a fertility symbol... but GREEN ones??? And what does a 6 year old need a fertility symbol for anyway???
love,
mom

 

I'll get you tons of flowers I just don't want some stupid day to tell me when to love you