Humbug 4 Life
by Scott Hardie on December 14, 2006
This isn't a very popular opinion these days, but it's from the heart: I'm getting terribly fed up with Christmas all around me, and being wished a merry Christmas dozens of different ways every day both verbal and non-verbal. Normally I think political correctness is a joke and the word "offended" is a thoroughly dead horse of a cliché, but I have no other word for how I feel than offended. I'm not Christian and want nothing to do with the holiday of Christmas. The sheer revolting ubiquity of holiday decorations around every corner makes me feel claustrophobic. I smile and nod like a second-class citizen who knows his place, but being begged to come and watch carolers because no one else showed up (maybe that tells you something) and having my inboxes beseiged by animated reindeer puts me in one seriously grouchy mood. Christians generally celebrate Easter in privacy at home; how I long for Christmas to be treated the same way. It's maddening.
Five Replies to Humbug 4 Life
Aaron Shurtleff | December 14, 2006
Well, there is a pretty high-profile Easter egg hunt at the White House, but I see your point. ;) And I'm probably equally as guilty about doing it (to you and many others). Not to make excuses, but the spirit (that's lower case, so it's not religious!) sometimes fills us and we have to let it flow! It's a wonderful time of the year for us! Think of it as a lot of pomp for the winter solstice! Go pagan! :)
Jackie Mason | December 17, 2006
[hidden by author request]
Anna Gregoline | December 19, 2006
I agree with you - I'm sick to death of Christmas.
I'm sick of the terrible decorations, the fake enthusiasm, the fact that my company has not one, but THREE holiday parties, the last of which is MANDATORY (on the 22nd, no one is allowed to leave until the office closes at 2 p.m., but there is no work done that day, just drinking and eating. Hey, fine, but it's totally weird that the party is non-negotiable).
And as a pagan, I get really irritated by all this Christian claiming of Christmas anyway - it's not your holiday! Christians co-opted the winter solstice long ago.
I don't begrudge gifts for my family but it's one more thing to worry about. I'd rather the focus be on togetherness instead of presents, and yes, I'd be fine with getting nothing for Christmas.
Commericalism sucks and it doesn't seem like most people are having that much fun these days with Christmas anyway.
Otherwise people wouldn't be so relieved when it's over, would they?
Scott Hardie | December 23, 2006
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I don't object to early Christmas celebration any more than Christmas celebration in general, and I don't object to the commercialization of Christmas beyond its general obnoxiousness. What bugs me is the inescapable ubiquity of Christmas at this time of year. This is me being a cranky old man at 28, but I really just want Christmas to get out of my face already. Togetherness is great and I have fond feelings for friends and loved ones like everyone else, but stop blinding me with holiday decorations around every corner and assaulting my ears with jingles and peppering the news headlines with ridiculous holiday fluff. Let people who want to celebrate the day do so, but give the rest of us some peace on Earth. And I won't even comment on mandatory Christmas parties because I don't think I can hold my temper. :-)
I do appreciate the Christmas cards and wishes sent to me by friends, because that's a personal greeting with meaning beyond the holiday. Thank you all for that.
Logical Operator
The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »
More Free-Fallin'
A skydiver's chutes won't open, he falls 12,000 feet and survives with minor injuries, and the whole thing is captured on his helmet camera. (link) You have to click on the speaker to activate the sound. Go »Twit
Have you heard of Twitter? It's this great new web site where you report to your friends exactly what you're doing at that moment in time. Neat stuff! Go »Christmas 2016
After a hectic househunt and move, it was nice to have a family vacation to take a break from everything. The whole visit had already been planned back in the summer, and we had spent six months saving up plenty of money to pay for it, so all we had to do was relax and enjoy it. Kelly's father Russ and brother Andy, and Andy's boyfriend Joe flew in for a week. Go »The Money Pit
Nobody's falling off of staircases or dropping bathtubs through the floor, but this month, our house has had a lot of things go wrong at once. It feels like every day brings another visit from a contractor. Here's our list so far: Mold remediation: A patch of black mold in the primary bathroom meant having the shower tiles stripped out and the infected drywall removed. Go »Grousing About the Mouse
Kelly and I still have our annual passes to Disney World, but we've had more trouble going recently because of disabilities that slow us down. A friend suggested joining a busy Facebook group for Disney World fans like us who struggle with disabilities and share advice with each other. I clicked the button to join, and up popped a 4-question form asking questions that are required for membership. Go »
Denise Sawicki | December 14, 2006
I've probably been guilty of telling you merry Christmas before and I'm a lifelong atheist. I just like presents! Oh well...