Does anyone care about Christmas anymore?

[Warped9]

I know this may be an overstatement, but it can feel like hardly anyone cares about Christmas anymore.

Our society has gotten more diverse in its demographic with seemingly half not really caring a shit about Christmas and much of the other half looking at it as a tedious ritual. It can be more than a bit disheartening.

I made a really nice homemade original Santa suit (I've gotten lots of compliments) and have put in a few appearances. Perhaps it's also the dreary wet weather with little snow, but many folks just seem to have a glazed and drawn out look to them with very little enthusiasm. And there aren't even any crowds.

This Santa is feeling a little down at the moment.

 

[rtc61]

I felt the same way a few years ago. The 'Christmas present feeding frenzy' was over, I was staring at a pile of stuff I didn't need, and I said, "I hate this. This isn't right. This isn't what it's about." And I vowed the next year would be different.

The following Christmas, my wife and I decided we would not buy any gifts for each other. Instead, we worked with a local charity to 'adopt' a family in need. We've done this the last three years. We contact the assigned family, find out their specific needs, and deliver the gifts (already wrapped) so they can enjoy Christmas morning.

And you know what? It's completely 'rebooted' my feelings about Christmas. I genuinely look forward to the honor of sharing the holiday with others in this way. I don't miss the piles of gifts for myself at all. And I'm reminded each year that this holiday really is about giving and sacrifice, going back to the original Christmas and what it means for humanity.

 

[WillsBabe]

I'm sad to say that I don't care about Christmas any longer. Any delight in it seems to have really petered out this year. Usually I really, really love putting up the Christmas tree, deciding what decorations I'm going to have, wrapping the gifts, that kind of thing. This year I can't be bothered doing any of it. I'm half bored by it, half jaded by it. I've been writing my Christmas cards today and found it to be one big, tedious chore. It could be that there is other stuff happening in my life that is distracting me, or that the credit crunch and the economy are kind of putting a dampener on it.

 

[John Picard]

Christmas is for little children who believe in Santy Claus. Me? I hate it -- specifically, the whole "it's Christmas be good to your fellow man blah, blah, blah, blah". Why not do that year round?

 

[Data Holmes]

Working three years on the front lines in retail... I hate this time of year.

If I could do it, I'd get a cabin out in the middle of nowhere where I'd sprint off to from November 1 till January 5.

 

[SeerSGB]

Christmas is for little children who believe in Santy Claus. Me? I hate it -- specifically, the whole "it's Christmas be good to your fellow man blah, blah, blah, blah". Why not do that year round?

That's my feelings in general. Were it not for our son, we wouldn't be celebrating this year.

My thing with Christmas isn't the religion or the whole commercialization (I heard one more x-mas song, I'm going to snap....one more toy commercial...~loads rifle~), it's the hypocrisy and the out and out two faced nature of it.

People you can't stand, and who can't stand you, all of the sudden thinking "hey it's Christmas, we have to be friendly".

 

[blablover5]

It just doesn't feel like it should be Christmas at all. I've had to talk myself into doing all the usual things I get excited about. Some of it I thought was the whole wedding really messing up and warping the calendar (having one day you spend a year working on really confuses my poor little brain).

But it seems like a lot of people are going through it. Maybe it's because Thanksgiving was so late this year.

 

[Captain X]

I like having the day off. What I don't like about the season is how stupid people act in their rush to buy shit. That and all the covers of Christmas songs that the radio plays over and over again. I don't much care for snow and cold either, but there isn't much to be done about that, unfortunately.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I love Christmas! But I do think that having kids in the family is a big help. I have three little sisters (the youngest 11) and I still go to my parents' place to spend the night Christmas Eve and wake up in the morning to unwrap gifts...not much about it has changed since I was a little kid myself.

I also love Christmas for other reasons though. I LOVE Christmas music, I have been listening to it every day. And I really love great food! Thanksgiving was yummy, and yesterday my family got together to have a second Thanksgiving for those who weren't there the first time. Such good food that no one ever bothers with during the rest of the year. I love seeing Christmas lights on houses and pretty lit up Christmas trees! I love buying gifts for people, it is so fun to pick out things they would like. I really love watching all of the yearly Christmas specials and movies. I love the fact that I get a break from school during this time. And I am going to go ice skating soon!

I love Christmas. The best place to be for Christmas is Disneyland...the decorations are just so gorgeous. Disneyland is my favorite place in the world, so mixing that with the Christmas season is like double magic!

So yes, I still care!

 

[SeerSGB]

It just doesn't feel like it should be Christmas at all. I've had to talk myself into doing all the usual things I get excited about. Some of it I thought was the whole wedding really messing up and warping the calendar (having one day you spend a year working on really confuses my poor little brain).

But it seems like a lot of people are going through it. Maybe it's because Thanksgiving was so late this year.

I think a lot of it, at least in the US, is the economy. It's hard to get worked up about spending hundreds of dollars on presents, decorations, and the various trappings of the time of year when you're looking down the barrel of a foreclosure or you're just waiting for the call that says you've been laid off. Even if it isn't you, it's hard to keep spirits up when you see family, friends, neighbors losing jobs, homes, etc.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Is it Christmas?

 

[Maestro]

I try to be good to my fellow person year round. I'm not always successful, and I certainly don't do good for the sake of getting noticed, but I do try to make it a year round thing.

I'm really enjoying this Christmas season because I have a three year old. It's fun again.

However, I don't like the over commercialization, the hype, the shenanigans.

I miss the days of Midnight Mass with my family, a large party following, and opening gifts on Christmas Morning.

It is what you make of it, though, and I'm looking forward to us starting our own traditions.

 

[Warped9]

It's more than just the economy I think. Indeed I'd think the tougher times could actually serve to help people see the more important things.

I like the lights and decorations. I like the fresh snowfall and the music. I like playing Santa for the little ones and seniors and other folks I can elicit a smile from.

I don't care about the presents and refuse to buy into the commercial aspects (which is tough working in retail). It's why I made a "classical" looking Santa suit as opposed to the cheesy shopping mall version, and I refuse to shill for stores. I'll visit restaurants (where I know the management) to bring greetings to the patrons and staff, I'm planning on visiting a veterans Legions and also a seniors retirement home. I just want to share a feeling with some people and let them know that there's still some genuine feeling and compasion in the world and that it's not all corporate controlled or oriented.

 

[Data Holmes]

I think that everyone's getting sick of "commercialized" bs like what the holidays have become.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ And how our economy will suffer devastation and harm it we all don't buy junk until we are all broke.

For me, the holidays have been and will always be about family. My mother's family is quiet large and we are all scattered to the four corners of the globe. But at Christmas, we all drop what we are doing, pack our cars, make the trek back to the my grandmother's hometown and gorge ourselves on each other for the week of Christmas. And I am not talking about a ten or twelve here. My mother's family numbers into the sixties at this point. All but one of my grandmother's four siblings are still alive. Then they have kids and their kids have kids and some of them have kids. Imagine four generations piled into a tiny three bedroom house for most of Christmas Day! My grandmother marvels at the amazing construction of her house. With that many people milling around, giggling and acting a fool, it is a miracle the foundation hasn't turned to powder. But here is the weird part... we actually like each other and look forward to this all year. Christmas is like a great huge week long party for us.

As for the presents and other crap, it has never meant a thing to me. I send out my Christmas cards, listen to Christmas music, bake or cook until I have filled three tables full of food, decorate the house and trim my tree, do a little charity work and look forward to the family. The rest I ignore. I also do my shopping well in advance. I usually start buying things in August so the rush of gift purchasing doesn't even phase me. I have two gifts left to buy this year and I will most likely get those tomorrow.

 

[Holdfast]

I'm sad to say that I don't care about Christmas any longer. Any delight in it seems to have really petered out this year. Usually I really, really love putting up the Christmas tree, deciding what decorations I'm going to have, wrapping the gifts, that kind of thing. This year I can't be bothered doing any of it. I'm half bored by it, half jaded by it. I've been writing my Christmas cards today and found it to be one big, tedious chore. It could be that there is other stuff happening in my life that is distracting me, or that the credit crunch and the economy are kind of putting a dampener on it.

It just doesn't feel like it should be Christmas at all. I've had to talk myself into doing all the usual things I get excited about.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I just can't be arsed with it this year for some reason. I've bought a few gifts (more out of necessity than any real joy), but I still haven't put up a tree (planned on doing it today, but I can't be bothered) and definitely haven't felt festive yet.

Strange in a way, because I have over three whole weeks off work from Friday, which is way more time off than I've had around the festive period for, well, years and years. Normally I have a few days, if that. Last year I worked over Christmas and still felt more festive.

But I'm just not psyched up about Christmas at all at the moment. I think it's just the general economic climate, to be honest. No-one's going to be feeling full of joy & goodwill.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Christmas is for little children who believe in Santy Claus.

I've heard people say this before. In a way, little children get the most enjoyment getting presents from their families and opening them up on Christmas morning. When I was in my teens, I felt like I was losing my "Christmas spirit," though that feeling has fluctuated over the years, and now I guess I'm "okay" with it. I certainly don't hate the holidays, but there are things that I dislike as well.

 

[auntiehill]

I love Christmas, and we don't have kids. I have a tree up and lights in the yard. I've done all my shopping already love to listen to Christmas music.

My family always made Christmas special for me when I was a kid, even though we are all atheists. It's just a joyous time, a time to bring color and generosity into the dark, dreary time of the year. I love it.

But not many people I know seem to enjoy it the way I do, and they just complain about things instead of just having fun. I've spent way too many years being depressed and unhappy. Life is just too short, so I choose to enjoy it. Does it bum me out that no one is coming to our Christmas party this year? Yes--very much so. But I'll be with my family on Christmas Day, having a great time. I love giving gifts and looking at the tree and being with my Mom.

I still love Christmas and always will.

 

[Amaris]

I love Christmas. As a fellow Santa Claus, Warped9, I know how you feel. I see it fading away. This doesn't mean into obscurity, but Christmas is when I recharge, it's when I feel the spirit of love from people that I don't feel at other times of the year. That too, is fading. I do put some of that blame on the commercialism of Christmas, but folks, if you don't want it to be so commercial, vote with your wallet. That's all you can do.

I have had too many wonderful experiences at Christmas to be jaded, even though I have also had some devastating things happen around that time as well. I keep it's spirit in my heart, and I'm good to my fellow man all year round, not because I have to be, but because I want to be. I love Christmas.

J.

 

[tomalak301]

This year feels really weird for Christmas. Other years I put up decorations and the tree, but this year I really don't feel like doing it. People in my family are either on trips or sick and it's hard to really get excited about it since I don't think we're doing any christmas shopping. We haven't made plans for christmas, other than going to Mass, which is a given, and I feel more like looking forward to the new year rather than christmas.

All the commercialism doesn't help either. I'm already getting tired of the commercials.