The Xmas Spirit?

Before for I begin my anti-Christmas rant let me start by apologising to a few of my friends. During this holiday period (hehe I said period) I have been quite the scrooge, so for that I’m sorry, just because I don’t enjoy Christmas doesn’t mean I have to bring you down either. Now that the apologies are over let me begin.

Christmas for many is seen as a happy time of year, a time to be festive and to help you fellow man (or woman). One time during the year people are expected to be happy and show good will towards each other and of course to celebrate *trying not to laugh* our “lord and saviours” birth. For me Christmas doesn’t bring me happiness, all it generally brings me is anger and great frustration. The older (and some may say wiser) I get the clearer it becomes that Christmas has lost its touch and it really is very commercial. As cliché as that may sound, it’s very true.

This time of year people go crazy with their shopping, the shops are packed, there’s people and traffic everywhere. Granted people may enjoy buying gifts for others but I find it quite pointless and can’t understand why people rush around in the state of mind where they must get presents for others. The fact that some people expect presents because it’s Christmas is one of the things that really pisses me off the most, especially when the presents aren’t needed and people buy them because it’s expected at this time of year, to me it’s meaningless. In my mind I think it would truly be better if you just surprised people throughout the year with gifts that they need/want. Plus it would be a lot less straining on ones financial situation. You buy the odd gift here and there throughout the year spreading your financial flow rather than spend hundreds of dollars at one time.

Aside from me being angry at the commercial aspects of Christmas may I remind you that it is actually a religious holiday. I’m not a religious person, as a matter of fact I don’t really believe in any sort of higher power, therefore why should I celebrate Christmas? I’m not forced to celebrate any other religious holidays such as Hanukkah, so why should I celebrate Christmas if I don’t believe in Jesus (or god or anything even remotely religious etc…) as that is why we have Christmas, to celebrate the birth of Christ. I’m the same with Easter, I don’t detest Easter anywhere near as much as I do Christmas but I would rather not be forced to celebrate it. The fact that it’s forced upon people through things like advertising and shopping centres is what confuses me most. When was the last time you saw Hanukkah decorations in a store? Are we going to be forced to celebrate the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard? No! So why the birth of Jesus? I’d much rather celebrate the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard over the birthday of a person who may never have existed. I’m sure Scientologists believe just as strongly as Christians do about their religion.

Christmas means nothing to me therefore it being forced on me makes me extremely angry. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been as angry as I have been over the last week or two and it’s all because of Christmas. If you love Christmas that’s fine by me, have fun, be merry and show your good will but don’t expect everyone else to love it as much as you do.