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For the holidays, work more if you can like another poster said.
Another idea you could consider is look for a place to volunteer and look for (organized) gatherings where people don't have a home to go to and participate/help out in those. Such as, if there is an xmas dinner for the homeless and you have the capacity to do so. That can make the holidays more interesting as you're helping others who really need it!
I grew up in the 40's and 50's, and Xmas was used then though usually the word was spelled out - but even on some cards and in notes on cards from religious relatives I saw Xmas used. I can only remember one person who objected and that was an extremely religiously observant R.C. sister of my father.
It wasn't until years later that I heard large numbers of people object to Xmas.
In the Eighties I saw the term "Xians" used by people on Usenet who thought Christians were a bigot lot, and were clearly hitting back.
I grew up in the 60's but went to Catholic schools, so that may be the difference.
I actually miss the Christmases of my past with all the "hassle".
Now, it is really just my husband and I, with very few gifts to buy (and most of those bought on-line) for relatives who live far from us; and instead of having to making three different stops and making dozens of different kinds of Christmas cookies, I just make one kind and one batch, and instead of "major" decorating, we have just a Christmas tree. I also have not sent Christmas cards for decades (no one to send them to who would appreciate them). Actually, the most Christmas fun we have now is shopping for toys to give anonymously to underprivileged kids -- although we do enjoy Christmas dinner and Christmas movies and music, too.
To each his or her own -- of course! -- but (to repeat), I would actually prefer to have more Christmas "hassle".
Is there a reason you do not put up more decorations? Is it physically harder to do?
I hate doing all that stuff but enjoy seeing it. My roommate started decorating last night. Lots of wreaths with lights - big and small on the house.
I don't want to be out there because we always get into a fight -
So i told him to hire someone to do it. He won't do that either, even if i foot the bill. He is weird like that.
But he will be 75 next year and if we are still here and still living in the same place - will consider hiring a service.
Is there a reason you do not put up more decorations? Is it physically harder to do?
I hate doing all that stuff but enjoy seeing it. My roommate started decorating last night. Lots of wreaths with lights - big and small on the house.
I don't want to be out there because we always get into a fight -
So i told him to hire someone to do it. He won't do that either, even if i foot the bill. He is weird like that.
But he will be 75 next year and if we are still here and still living in the same place - will consider hiring a service.
We are older, but it comes down to cost vs. benefit.
We live in a middle-class suburban neighborhood where there is very little, if any, socialization. We moved here seven years ago, and in an effort to meet our neighbors, we had a "Holiday Open House" and invited everyone within one block of our home (so about 20 invitations went out), which I just taped to their front doors. (I handwrote "To Our Neighbors" on the front.) I understand that many people do not want to associate with their neighbors for many different and valid reasons, but notonesingleperson came, so after that, we decided that we just would no longer put forth any effort that would benefit our neighbors more than us. (Although we still take care of our front lawn!)
We are older, but it comes down to cost vs. benefit.
We live in a middle-class suburban neighborhood where there is very little, if any, socialization. We moved here seven years ago, and in an effort to meet our neighbors, we had a "Holiday Open House" and invited everyone within one block of our home (so about 20 invitations went out), which I just taped to their front doors. (I handwrote "To Our Neighbors" on the front.) I understand that many people do not want to associate with their neighbors for many different and valid reasons, but notonesingleperson came, so after that, we decided that we just would no longer put forth any effort that would benefit our neighbors more than us. (Although we still take care of our front lawn!)
That is very strange. Even when I lived in middle-class suburban neighborhoods too busy to socialize with neighbors, an invitation taped to the house doors would have gotten a few takers out of 20.
Maybe they assumed it was a sales pitch, like the kind that you find tucked under a car windshield wiper or rolled up on the doorstep. Which again shows how much crass commercial junk people get blitzed by during the holiday sellfest.
I'm not usually into the holidays much either. But as I also hate things like baby showers and weddings where conspicuous consumption is on display it makes sense that this time of year is not my thing. On this forum of stodgy "conform or die" advice gives you won't get much sympathy. You will be told to change your ways. So I will say good for you to know who you are. The holiday season will pass. No one says you have to like what everyone else does. Spend your gift budget on some good books and wait for Jan 2.
I'm not usually into the holidays much either. But as I also hate things like baby showers and weddings where conspicuous consumption is on display it makes sense that this time of year is not my thing. On this forum of stodgy "conform or die" advice gives you won't get much sympathy. You will be told to change your ways. So I will say good for you to know who you are. The holiday season will pass. No one says you have to like what everyone else does. Spend your gift budget on some good books and wait for Jan 2.
I love the holidays my way, with NO commitments, sans any pushy family who likes to over-plan and structure each holiday with an itinerary like it's a seminar.
That is very strange. Even when I lived in middle-class suburban neighborhoods too busy to socialize with neighbors, an invitation taped to the house doors would have gotten a few takers out of 20.
Maybe they assumed it was a sales pitch, like the kind that you find tucked under a car windshield wiper or rolled up on the doorstep. Which again shows how much crass commercial junk people get blitzed by during the holiday sellfest.
Naw! Our neighbourhood is like that. People are not rude but they are not friendly here. On the other hand the last state we lived in the complete opposite.
The push to buy buy buy is present all year.
It's ceaseless.
And always irritating.
True. There are many bad things one has to endure but the commercialism of the season is not major. I basically ignore most of it. Retailers are forced to push it, as good holiday sales can make or break their year.
I grow weary of the time demands of the season, more than anything. But I enjoy the family time I get. For me it is a trade off.
I will be at Christmas Eve service this year. I like doing that. Then I’ll be with family. Part of me wants it all to be over, and part of me wants it to hurry and arrive. Women do most of the holiday prep and planning. I feel that how things go, well or badly, is put on us mainly. Men often dictate budgets and then simply show up. I realize this is a generalization. But the onus is usually on the women in the family to “do” Christmas.
If you don’t celebrate with family, and have no pull to keep Christmas, then I guess you are in company with Ebenezer Scrooge, before the ghosts visited him. That is a good read, even today, by the way. And, if you are in good company with him, you can realize that the bad feelings about the holiday are not unique to you or to this time.
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