@quixotic_life hahahahahha Gift givers UNITE!!!! My love language isn't even gifts but I LOVE the "I saw this and was thinking about you" WHO NEEDS TO SAVE IT FOR CHRISTMAS TIME?????
So I know some of you might be sad that its fall and the kids will come trick or treating..... I just had an idea from a friend for a costume for AN ADULT!!! That makes things a little more interesting I think. Plus then we don't have to stay home and watch all of those little intruders asking for candy and not being thankful enough when we don't give them the big huge candy bars!! (That always makes me want to take it back!!) Maybe this will be what I am for an evening of silliness!!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lvJYtqqKcJg
I'm two years late for this topic, but I cannot stand the holidays, I love Halloween and costumes, but I've noticed the last three years there hasn't been many trick or treaters walking around which is sad, I'm talking about before Covid happened too, 2017, 2018 and 2019 had maybe only a very small amount of trick or treating going on. 2018 I only saw five trick or treaters tops and they were all toddlers with their parents. 2016 was probably the last Halloween I remember being busy with costumes and trick or treating, I hope the Halloween tradition doesn't die out. As for Thanks Giving and the other stuff I don't even pay attention to it since I don't have a family and have been estranged from all my relatives since age 12.
My dysfunctional family that has completely fallen apart over the years making family gatherings extremely challenging, and not having a family of my own, along with multiple military trauma anniversaries from Sept 11 through March makes that whole stretch my least favorite time of year.
I have a lot of trouble keeping a straight face with any byproduct of mystical thinking.
I do, however, raise a toast to fellow mathematicians on Differential Equation Day.
OK, that isn’t a thing, which explains a lot about why this “culture” is so utterly ignorant and terrible…
@CharlesThePoet diff eq day was a great memory in my childhood. We'd start the day with my dad deriving the tractrix curve and the catenary curve.while my siblings watched, enraptured!
My holiday tree has an eye on you. 🎄🤣
@sameyeam what a fun username! And of course WELCOME TO THE SITE!!! I agree with you and @TheMidnightOwl that family dysfunction makes the holiday season a bit more challenging.... I do love that it gives me a great excuse to go out with friends instead of the BIG ridiculous turkey feast and pretending to like each other because there is a giftwrapped pair of heated ice scrapers for everyone over the age of 18. I have created so many fun NEW traditions and renewed my love for dress up and costumes with friends and adult shenanigans. WE even have a Denver tradition called the Santa Crawl and there are about 3000 people raising money for Children's Hospital that walk around downtown wearing Santa Suits and Onesies (some of course are a little more tipsy than others..... BUT....... its a beautiful diversion from the traditional ick of proper attitudes and attire and fakery)
Omgosh!!!! @CharlesThePoet and @JoyfulHeart Differential Equation Day. I LOVE IT!!!!!! and @MissAdventurous that is so fun!!!! I can imagine with SOME of the trolls around this place that tree might need to be a PERMANENT FIXTURE!!!! You all are making me laugh so hard this morning that I am spitting out my delicious NOT PUMPKIN SPICE coffee!!! 🤣😂😁 Goodness sakes.... Thank you for YOU!
The holidays are a good time to release tension.
@sillysassy thank you! I loved Dr. Seuss as a kid, but I would never eat green eggs and ham because something has to be wrong with them to be green! I totally agree about holidays, and just because people are related to each other by blood doesn't mean they are family.
@MissAdventurous I love that tree! I think I'll need to make a similar tree and keep it even long after Halloween passes.
@FunCartel It really is, Black Friday especially, half of the Black Friday shoppers are greedy while the other half release tension by beating up someone in the chaos. Others are just both. Everyone's true colors come out at those chaotic black Friday sales.
I just had to revive this.... there's so much beauty in being aware of the frustrations of the season instead of being a ridiculous "Doesn't EVERYONE love the holidays?" point of view that I may have once been associated with....
What's the WORST part of the holiday season in your perspective??
The worst part are these Christmas songs, in this order:
But I do find immense pleasure in Wham's "Last Christmas" and appropriating the lyrics to be...
"...last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you said you were gay..."
For me it's the ptsd and the isolation.
I grew up Jewish in a small town. And even after that, it always seemed to be a grave sin to not like Christmas. And it's unavoidable. You can not go to any store without hearing the crappy insipid music that never changes from year to year. You can't step outside your house or watch tv without being reminded that you're an outsider.
I've been going through trauma therapy, so this year, for the first time in I don't know how long, the mere fact that it's December doesn't send me into a downward spiral. It's honestly a strange feeling.
@Sideon - I believe it was Bob Rivers who did the Feliz Navidad parody. He was another guy who parodied songs.
Thanks for correcting me, @Mike403 - I was not sure if it was Weird Al or not, and I was feeling lazy when I posted or I would have looked it up and verified.
@sideon - I like his parody of Ironman by Black Sabbath.
@Mike403 Twisted Sister has a christmas album.
I don’t celebrate any of these fake “holy-days.” They all have some unholy back-story that has nothing to do with the outward facing intent. Just look at Valentine’s Day and what actually happened to poor Valentine on that day. Or unscramble the word Santa. Thanksgiving? Lol. What a day to celebrate.
@PrettyLuv you sound like such a joy to be around.
@TxTom says the blobfish
It feels superficial. I don’t like how national holidays are one of the few occasions people will be compassionate towards one another and I find festive behavior to be oddly cringe. I can tell for normal people, it brings value to lives and something to look forward to— getting to express their affection, and not have to overthink it. There’s times when it’s genuine and I appreciate having them, but the emphasis and romanticism stems from capitalists trying to get you to spend more money. I prefer mundane weekdays/ends because it’s pretty blissful and rewarding stumbling across joy without effort.
People like the holidays because it gives them a reason to come together. On the other hand, it’s a pain point of those who don’t get to have that experience. I just metaphorically vomit from the weird tone change and pep in their step people get lol. No hate. Just internalizing my judgeyness.
@PrettyLuv
says the blobfish
That was pretty good.
@bananapuddin I agree that Christmas is waaaayyy over commercialized. I, too, am turned off by all that.
I'm not necessarily Christian (I think), but even I find it to be a much more pleasant and meaningful time to focus more on faith, family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers... rather than all the shiny plastic junk in the store windows.
Thanks @sillysassy for bringing this up. For me, Christmas has become a reminder of many losses.
While I'm grateful for the good things I have, and try to focus on them, the balance tilts to the stressful and emotional side.
This year has been harder than the last few for some reason.
@JoyfulHeart SENDING SNOWY HUGS my friend!
@PrettyLuv hahahhaha 😁🤣😂
Hopefully we will see you in NY at the Meet & Greet!!
Welcome to the site! I love how in your profile you said....
I believe in moments, and experiencing something beautiful and healing and escaping from the things that are often shaped by rules and unfettered things.
I feel like there is something that changes in people just a tiny bit. I can't put my finger on it.... Maybe BECAUSE of all the holiday glitter, there are more people hopeful for REAL connections. All of the commercialism makes me a bit crazy, but wow.... when someone goes out of their way to do something personal it feels extra special.
I do hate that there are certain "responsibilities" placed on us because of guilt or shame. If you don't have a desire to see them, spend time with them, or give them a special thing throughout the year.... why should that change because of a date on a calendar?
I was thinking that its almost the COLD SEASON that makes me excited as opposed to the holiday. The cold (at least here in CO instead of in Australia where @respectful is!!) makes me want to -----slow down------ and spend time chatting in front of big picture window with a close friend. I wonder if I would hate this time of the year if there wasn't any snow?
I have mixed feelings regarding the holidays. I have a very close family that gathers during the holidays and I enjoy their company. However, I am also single, so I do feel a bit lonely during certain holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine's Day.
I hate that people save up all year long to say "I love you" and they do it around the holiday season expecting to create in you some sense of urgency in healing relationships.
I hate that stores focus so much on the bottom line and it reinforces the story we've been told all of our lives that money is the way to be happy and make people happy.
I am irked.
but I just read @Sideon and his post... How did I miss this the first time around??? 😂🤣😁
But I do find immense pleasure in Wham's "Last Christmas" and appropriating the lyrics to be... "...last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you said you were gay..."
@sillysassy As is often the case, I agree with you. 🥰
All the going’s on if every holiday irritate me. No hate, y’all do y’all but as for me i choose to abstain. But be good, enjoy and be merry or whatever you are suppose to do.
Starting back in 2019, I adopted a tradition of not making any purchases except for essentials like food, gas, etc. starting the day after Thanksgiving until the day after new years. It's just been my personal act of protest against the rampant commercialization associated with the holiday. As far as gifts, I stick to non-material things as much as possible - I do not consent to be given "stuff" and also don't prefer to buy and gift "stuff" unless specifically asked for. My gifts consist of food, travel experiences, or stuff that I build or do myself. I did put up a Christmas tree and decorations - I don't hate the holiday - I just don't like the commercial junk associated with it.