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Folks In This Online Group Share 30 Things They Are Repelled By During The Christmas Season
Christmas became the biggest holiday of the year a long time ago and it seems like everyone looks forward to it with great anticipation. Often you see Christmas decorations being sold in stores even before Halloween, people are buying Christmas gifts months in advance and are planning where they are going to celebrate it with the people they care about.
But it’s not all just excitement and anticipation. There is also anxiety, exhaustion and loneliness. People without families or who aren’t close to their relatives feel lonelier than ever because Christmas is considered a family holiday. Also, there is the whole hassle of finding gifts and it’s scary how commercialized it is, leading people to buy things nobody needs and becoming even more wasteful.
There are more things that the bright Christmas lights don’t allow us to see that are not than fun about this holiday season and redditors are sharing what are the things they dislike about it in an r/AskReddit thread where perfectnegligence asked “what do you hate about Christmas?”
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The fact that it now begins in October.
Try working in retail, Christmas starts as soon as the Back to School stuff comes off the shelves in early September
Elf on the Shelf. I have an irrational hatred for that creepy little bastard.
Me too!! There's a special place in hell for that elf and for the idiot that came up with it!
How commercialized it is. It has essentially become a big marketing event for companies that guilt you into buying things you normally wouldn't .
The expectation to still give gifts to friends or family who are very aware that you are struggling financially (ie behind on utilities and getting food from pantries). ESPECIALLY hate the mandatory employee contribution to gifts for the boss
I have never expected gifts from people. One of the loveliest gifts I ever received from somebody who actually had no money at all, was a beautiful, perfectly ripe mango freshly picked from the tree (we lived in Africa), wrapped in a page of yesterday's newspaper. It is always, always the thought that counts.
Mandatory for boss? That should be illegal. I'm a manager and I would be appalled if anyone were guilted into doing that! So gross and unprofessional. Usually being a manager works better if you are a functioning adult.
If someone I know is struggling actually gifts me things, of course I'm grateful but at the same time - angry. Not at the person that gifted them, nor at myself (though of course, I did not expect a gift, and I tell them as such that they "shouldn't have got me anything") but at society for the idea that gifts are a must have, it easily becomes too much for many people - I know people go into debt just for christmas!
Is the Employees buying the boss a gift an American thing, or do other people do it too? I've never heard about it before a Bored Panda post a couple of weeks ago
I’m from the US and it’s only happened at one of my jobs. Coworkers would pitch in upwards of $100 for our millionaire bosses gifts. It never made sense to me, and I always thought the bosses should have told everyone to stop getting them something. It’s not happened anywhere I’ve worked since thankfully. Why would they pay me so I can just turn around and give them their money back?
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One year, I was laid off and my unemployment was about to run out, and I was desperately hoping my well-to-do parents would send me enough money to keep going for a while longer. They sent me a Christmas ornament, and I don't even decorate for Christmas, and now they wonder why I don't want to spend holidays with them (no, that's not the only reason).
I would make cards and gifts, like draw or paint a picture. You can get stuff at the Dollar Store.
Really really really hate that envelope that a person brings around and they cross your name off after you've contributed. And why would anyone be expected to give money to buy a gift for someone who probably makes twice what you make!
You're not expected to. The etiquette for workplace is to gift DOWN. Your boss gets a gift from their boss. They gift to the people who report to them. You gift to anyone who reports to you. If you do gift up, it should only be a token, and only for a supervisor you work very closely with.
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My family noticed this a long time ago. We stated - ONLY handmade gifts. Then when we noticed our family getting larger. ONLY buy for your immediate family - if you can't - no worries. The important thing is family time spent together.
I started a new job this fall at a restaurant. They told me we have a 25 budget for the secret Santa. I figure you can either have a junky cheap bought gift or something thrifted, upcycled and handmade. My library has a cricut with some materials to learn with. I made an awesome pun iron on. Found a t-shirt for 2 bucks at Sally Ann. And voila :) I am full expecting them to ask me to make one for everyone
Handmade is always good. I just painted some peg dolls for a friend's daughter, with one that looks like her, her mum and her dad. They loved them and I felt so happy it was like it was a gift for me too.
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In my family, we have decided to gift presents secret Santa style. Everyone makes a wishlist of stuff they want and you pick a wishlist at random. Maximum budget is 50 euros (less than 60 USD). Everyone only has to buy presents for one other person. Less spending, everyone still geravot open something and thanks to the list, it’s actually something you’d want. Only exception is kids. They’re all 6 or under and get something reasonable from everyone. Parents try to control it a bit.
This is very similar to what my family does. Less stress, less $$, and more thoughtful gifts because you're not frantically trying to buy for everyone.
Load More Replies... The Boss can buy his own god damn gifts. Flat out NO on this one.
Stupid enough that commercials in TV tell you to go for perfect gift which means expensive toys for children which break next day or newest iPhone, etc. Ridiculous. There are also nice commercials like more fortunate families sharing Christmas with less fortunate single mom and her child or older neighbor who is alone, that's how it should be and if anything I'd wish children only saw that in TV...
What you do is try to come up with things that are affordable to you, and creative. You have all year to prep, you don't have to buy everything all at once. If they want something specific they can get it from someone who can afford it.
Gifts for the boss is definitely a USA thing. If we in the UK buy a gift it is because we wish to.
I never encountered this tradition, and I'm born and raised in the U.S.A. Some years I would make something for my coworkers, or I REALLY like gifting socks. Bosses were actually excluded from this tradition because no one likes a kiss up.
Load More Replies... There is no such thing as a mandatory employee contribution to gifts for the boss. Just say no.
THIS. The in-laws expect it. Hey parasites! You live in the back house on our block. You get free rent all year so bugger off
The waste. Buying and receiving presents no one will use. All the wrapping paper and boxes going into landfills.
that 99.9% of Christians don’t know the real origins of all the traditions.
Yep, Jesus was born in September, not December, Christmas is a holiday stolen from the pagans. :')
That some people don’t understand that being able to give and receive gifts is a privilege and shouldn’t be expected
My parents and all my relatives have passed away, so no Xmas shopping, parties, and dinners. No cards. No calls. No gifts. Just getting through the whole month of December, as they ram happy family entertainment into your senses 24/7.
There must be many people in the same boat. If you don't know anyone, you could host a post-Xmas party, where everybody brings leftovers, and you can do one of those gift exchanges where everyone brings a gift they didn't want, and you do a mystery gift swap. That would cost you one dish, one gift and you could have a lovely time.
Grandparents loading my kids with toys. It sounds really nice, but when you have multiple grandparents just going crazy, they end up with a lot of cheap Chinese c**p. Like seriously, don’t get 7 or 8 $5-$10 toys, get one nicer toy. Or throw some books in there. If it has pictures, they’ll like it, I promise. Or clothes. Ask me their sizes, and get a shirt or something. But PLEASE no more cheap toys that aren’t age appropriate or aren’t their interests or that break as soon as they use it. It’s so wasteful and it turns Christmas into an endurance run just to satisfy your own ego because you never actually visit.
The music. Having worked retail for 5.5 years I despise all Christmas music.
I've worked retail, so I get it. But I still love Christmas music. Except "Last Christmas". That song just sucks.
How the lesson of tolerance in "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is flawed: he is treated with respect only after showing his practical value. This has bothered me for as long as I can remember. Largely because of how very popular the song is.
The blatant disregard for all the other holidays that happen this season. I’m pagan, I say happy holidays and the amount of people who get pissed is astounding.
It gets worse when my reply to their tantrum is “I don’t celebrate Christmas”
When people are faking they love each other on Christmas, but the rest of the year they hate each other.
That it seems to get bigger every year. When I was a child Elf on the Shelf wasn’t a thing. Advent calendars? Like why? Special Christmas Eve gifts? It’s not enough to just buy presents anymore, it’s never ending.
Advent calendars used to be more religion-based, focusing on Baby Jesus. Now it's secular and all about the trinkets or candy inside
Having to go to 4 other houses to make sure family does not get upset that we didn't come see them on Christmas.
When certain radio stations play nothing but Christmas music when you just want to listen to some Alt Rock on the way to work.
Secret-f**king Santa
Every time I did it, the a**-hat that would pick my name would not get me anything, because they “forgot”. Now any time that person in the office would come around asking if I want to sign up, I tell them my feelings about the practice. Luckily this year we’re all wfh this year, so I don’t have to deal with getting asked this year.
I once got a used sharpie and an empty duct roll tube. I was 9. Never doing secret santa again.
trying to be fake happy over a gift you don’t really like
It’s the end of the year and a cold, harsh reminder that another year has gone by and I haven’t done a f**king thing that was at all meaningful
As someone who spent the last two years working in an ICU during a f*****g pandemic, I ask you please, you are living a peaceful life, take a moment to appreciate what you have! That's what a good life is really all about, loving whomever or whatever you love, doing work that is valuable if it isn't appreciated by everyone, living a life that is hopefully high on peace and low on crisis and tragedy. Life doesn't have to be full of accomplishments to be valuable, existence is a miracle whether it's glamorous or humble, and believe me it can be too easily lost. Please, everyone, protect yourselves and everyone around you, and appreciate the miracle of life, your own beautiful life.
The guilt from receiving nice things
I get this. I feel much more comfortable giving gifts than I do receiving them.
Opening gifts in front of family members. It’s extremely awkward.
Christmas movies
Putting the lights on and taking them off the Christmas tree.
I LOVE Christmas trees and I LOVE sparkly lights, so when I do my lights I do them right. Every singe branch is wrapped, from the trunk out, and the entire truck is wrapped too. I like the sparkle to come from within. No for needle is spared.
For example, I did my moms tree a couple years ago when she was sick and couldn’t do it herself. I put 6000 lights on a 12ft tree. She said everyone who saw it was like holy s**t, it’s so bright! My mom thinks I should do it professionally, but I hate putting the lights on and taking them off. It’s soooo time consuming, but the pay off is worth it.
We do the same thing. Not just stringing around the perimeter, but throughout the entirety of the tree so the whole thing sparkles. Totally worth it.
Peppermint Mocha and Mint Chocolate flavoured foods and beverages
There's some proper little grinches here! I know the holidays are difficult for people for different reasons, but it's possible to celebrate the way you want to celebrate, or not celebrate at all, and still manage to be happy and positive.
You can decide to not celebrate but if you won't put up a sign saying so everyone will assume you're a Xmas enthusiast and will pester you about your plans, presents etc. You can't avoid Christmas being shoved down your throat try as you may. Maybe we could start asking acquaintances (i assume we know the opinions of our friends and family) if they celebrate Xmas or anything else before jumping straight into jolly "attack".
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A lot of these seem to be from people who just like to find things to make them unhappy. I dont care how anyone celebrates the holiday its there house, there money. It annoys me more when people make up rules about when and how you can and should celebrate. I personally love the holidays. All of these complaints can be avoided by not overspending or buying stuff you cannot afford, change the channel if you dont like the movie or song. Stop making plans with family you dont want to be around even for the holidays. Really stop doing things just because its the holidays you dont want to do or its going to make you miserable. You dont like tree shaped cookies, walk the hell away from the plate but stop blaming others because your miserable.
Don't like the music? Don't listen to it. Don't wanna put up a tree or any decorations? Don't put up a tree a decorations. Don't like Christmas movies? Don't watch them. It's that simple folks lol I am a single mom of 4 with no family left and am struggling financially and can't stand most people just in general but I still do what I can to keep traditions and make as many memories as possible. Everything is a choice. If you don't wanna do something, don't do it. But at the same time, don't take that joy away from others. Plus, it's only a couple months maybe out of the whole year. Happy Holidays everyone
Happy holidays to you too. And well said. Im sorry your struggling but keep your head up. It gets better *hugs*
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Mine is the looks my husband and I get when someone mentions our son who died. Stop looking at us like we are trolls from a cursed bridge. 🤬 he is dead. But his spirt isn't. So let's talk about those wonderful few memories and enjoy the holidays.
Do people really do that? That sucks, of course you can talk about your son. They just don't like it because they are uncomfortable, but I don't see why if you aren't. I often talk about my two brothers who died. Usually it's just a little memory or something and it is no big deal, the conversation continues or someone asks me about which is also good.
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My only gripe about xmas is the repetitive music in stores. The rest I can deal with. Even as an atheist. Let people enjoy what they want to enjoy. The gripe I have with the music is that we don't blare Islamic music over the loudspeakers during Eid or Ramadan, nor Jewish music in Hannuka, Yom Kippur, etc etc. So why we have to be subjected specifically to christian music in a multicultural society just annoys me. The rest is fine. Don't mind the decor, food etc. Just the repetitive music.
The only thing I hate about Chrtistmas(or any other holiday) is that it evokes a bunch of grumpy bitter cranks who feel an irresistible need to s**t on every little thing that makes other people happy. Seriously, they complain abouit everything: movies, songs, family dnner, presents, Christmas lights being too bright, Christnas trees leaving too many needles, and the fact they can't get their hair cut on Christmas night.
I agree with the consumerism focused aspect. People don't know how to be grateful and put too much value in expensive gifts, forgetting homemade gifts are just as good.
In my extended family only the kids get gifts. For 2-3 generations already. That helps save pockets... and avoid so much stress. If we want to give a gift to an adult, we either wait for their birthday or we give it just because (anytime during the year). I love that.
We have the same thing with my dad's siblings. They send a card with $5 or whatever until you turn 18 and that's it. Also with my step sister, we get her boys a gift, and only occasionally her and her husband.
Load More Replies... Hallmark Christmas movies need to be added to this list. They start running them before Halloween and they have three “ new” movies every weekend. My dad loves these movies so they will play all the time for months.
Well I see we have found the scruges and grinches of the bunch. :)
Speaking of that Mariah Carey song, the whole "I don't want a lot for Christmas", followed by "All I want for Christmas is you" is sort of an insult.
I'm a bit of a scrooge but holy s**t, this is some real hatred of anything to do with it, like who the f**k has issue with tree cookies, they're delicious.
Alright Scrooge - reign it in and stop ruining folks fun. No one is forcing anyone to like Xmas, no need to suck the joy out of it for those who do enjoy it. Everyone should celebrate, or not, in whatever way they want to. I love seeing my kids excited and happy, I like cooking big family meals and I like my family and being in their company. I'm lucky to have that and it's sad that some people don't but that doesn't make it ok to piss all over the way others celebrate
A lot of these feel more like expectations from family and society. For me, I used to love Christmas, going to my grandparents house for the holidays meant everything to me. But now I'm older, I married into a family that doesn't celebrate any holidays. My sister's current attitude is why I will be on vacation next year. She's thrown a month long fit because nobody wants to make Christmas nice for her son yet has refused to have it at her place and doesn't want to cook. My house is too small, my mom doesn't have good health this year and with my new lovely leg brace I'll be in the kitchen at her house cooking while sister doesn't do anything. Because Covid and holiday travel is a nightmare, our older relatives won't be joining us and she threw a fit about that. I'm looking forward to telling her that I won't be there next year.
So, I am going to mention something that most Christmas celebrators probably do not know about. But for hundreds of years, throughout Europe (it was known as Christendom at the time), Christmas day was a popular time to go out and do mass violence against local Jewish communities. This was a practice that began during the crusades and continued up into the early 20th century with pogroms in Ukraine that killed over a million people at the time. These actions were known to and encouraged by church leaders, as is evidenced in the writings of numerous popes, men such as Martin Luther, and others. . . . This long history of antisemitism is, in fact, why some Jewish people may find it difficult to respond with cheer to someone who wishes them a merry Christmas.
I did not know that but it's about time people stopped wishing each other "happy Christmas". There are so many holidays to be celebrated at this time, why not just say "happy Holidays"?
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The weather. Hard to be cheerful when its cold and dark. I don't suppose they'll change it to June though.
That is what the holiday is about - the longest time has been, the days will lengthen again. That is why all the lights - to brighten the darkness.
Load More Replies... There's some proper little grinches here! I know the holidays are difficult for people for different reasons, but it's possible to celebrate the way you want to celebrate, or not celebrate at all, and still manage to be happy and positive.
You can decide to not celebrate but if you won't put up a sign saying so everyone will assume you're a Xmas enthusiast and will pester you about your plans, presents etc. You can't avoid Christmas being shoved down your throat try as you may. Maybe we could start asking acquaintances (i assume we know the opinions of our friends and family) if they celebrate Xmas or anything else before jumping straight into jolly "attack".
Load More Replies... A lot of these seem to be from people who just like to find things to make them unhappy. I dont care how anyone celebrates the holiday its there house, there money. It annoys me more when people make up rules about when and how you can and should celebrate. I personally love the holidays. All of these complaints can be avoided by not overspending or buying stuff you cannot afford, change the channel if you dont like the movie or song. Stop making plans with family you dont want to be around even for the holidays. Really stop doing things just because its the holidays you dont want to do or its going to make you miserable. You dont like tree shaped cookies, walk the hell away from the plate but stop blaming others because your miserable.
Don't like the music? Don't listen to it. Don't wanna put up a tree or any decorations? Don't put up a tree a decorations. Don't like Christmas movies? Don't watch them. It's that simple folks lol I am a single mom of 4 with no family left and am struggling financially and can't stand most people just in general but I still do what I can to keep traditions and make as many memories as possible. Everything is a choice. If you don't wanna do something, don't do it. But at the same time, don't take that joy away from others. Plus, it's only a couple months maybe out of the whole year. Happy Holidays everyone
Happy holidays to you too. And well said. Im sorry your struggling but keep your head up. It gets better *hugs*
Load More Replies... Mine is the looks my husband and I get when someone mentions our son who died. Stop looking at us like we are trolls from a cursed bridge. 🤬 he is dead. But his spirt isn't. So let's talk about those wonderful few memories and enjoy the holidays.
Do people really do that? That sucks, of course you can talk about your son. They just don't like it because they are uncomfortable, but I don't see why if you aren't. I often talk about my two brothers who died. Usually it's just a little memory or something and it is no big deal, the conversation continues or someone asks me about which is also good.
Load More Replies... My only gripe about xmas is the repetitive music in stores. The rest I can deal with. Even as an atheist. Let people enjoy what they want to enjoy. The gripe I have with the music is that we don't blare Islamic music over the loudspeakers during Eid or Ramadan, nor Jewish music in Hannuka, Yom Kippur, etc etc. So why we have to be subjected specifically to christian music in a multicultural society just annoys me. The rest is fine. Don't mind the decor, food etc. Just the repetitive music.
The only thing I hate about Chrtistmas(or any other holiday) is that it evokes a bunch of grumpy bitter cranks who feel an irresistible need to s**t on every little thing that makes other people happy. Seriously, they complain abouit everything: movies, songs, family dnner, presents, Christmas lights being too bright, Christnas trees leaving too many needles, and the fact they can't get their hair cut on Christmas night.
I agree with the consumerism focused aspect. People don't know how to be grateful and put too much value in expensive gifts, forgetting homemade gifts are just as good.
In my extended family only the kids get gifts. For 2-3 generations already. That helps save pockets... and avoid so much stress. If we want to give a gift to an adult, we either wait for their birthday or we give it just because (anytime during the year). I love that.
We have the same thing with my dad's siblings. They send a card with $5 or whatever until you turn 18 and that's it. Also with my step sister, we get her boys a gift, and only occasionally her and her husband.
Load More Replies... Hallmark Christmas movies need to be added to this list. They start running them before Halloween and they have three “ new” movies every weekend. My dad loves these movies so they will play all the time for months.
Well I see we have found the scruges and grinches of the bunch. :)
Speaking of that Mariah Carey song, the whole "I don't want a lot for Christmas", followed by "All I want for Christmas is you" is sort of an insult.
I'm a bit of a scrooge but holy s**t, this is some real hatred of anything to do with it, like who the f**k has issue with tree cookies, they're delicious.
Alright Scrooge - reign it in and stop ruining folks fun. No one is forcing anyone to like Xmas, no need to suck the joy out of it for those who do enjoy it. Everyone should celebrate, or not, in whatever way they want to. I love seeing my kids excited and happy, I like cooking big family meals and I like my family and being in their company. I'm lucky to have that and it's sad that some people don't but that doesn't make it ok to piss all over the way others celebrate
A lot of these feel more like expectations from family and society. For me, I used to love Christmas, going to my grandparents house for the holidays meant everything to me. But now I'm older, I married into a family that doesn't celebrate any holidays. My sister's current attitude is why I will be on vacation next year. She's thrown a month long fit because nobody wants to make Christmas nice for her son yet has refused to have it at her place and doesn't want to cook. My house is too small, my mom doesn't have good health this year and with my new lovely leg brace I'll be in the kitchen at her house cooking while sister doesn't do anything. Because Covid and holiday travel is a nightmare, our older relatives won't be joining us and she threw a fit about that. I'm looking forward to telling her that I won't be there next year.
So, I am going to mention something that most Christmas celebrators probably do not know about. But for hundreds of years, throughout Europe (it was known as Christendom at the time), Christmas day was a popular time to go out and do mass violence against local Jewish communities. This was a practice that began during the crusades and continued up into the early 20th century with pogroms in Ukraine that killed over a million people at the time. These actions were known to and encouraged by church leaders, as is evidenced in the writings of numerous popes, men such as Martin Luther, and others. . . . This long history of antisemitism is, in fact, why some Jewish people may find it difficult to respond with cheer to someone who wishes them a merry Christmas.
I did not know that but it's about time people stopped wishing each other "happy Christmas". There are so many holidays to be celebrated at this time, why not just say "happy Holidays"?
Load More Replies... The weather. Hard to be cheerful when its cold and dark. I don't suppose they'll change it to June though.
That is what the holiday is about - the longest time has been, the days will lengthen again. That is why all the lights - to brighten the darkness.
Load More Replies...