This season the 12 days of Christmas occur from Thursday, Dec. 25 thru Monday, Jan. 5, at the Epiphany.
There are some date discrepancies between the West and East due the the use of different calendars (Gregorian v. Julian).
We celebrate it all the way through! I've never liked the hyper-consumerism of Christmas, which does wear people out. So we ignore most of that, limiting gift giving to just a few for the kids and focusing instead on fun activities, family, and faith. So for us, instead of being stressful, the holiday season is quite enjoyable.
The holidays are a time to be endured as the trappings of it-shows, gifts, fairy tales, parties, etc-reek of forced artifice. However, I do like the time off and the fact my kids are home with me at that time. I also like the idea that people are so absorbed in their holiday hub-drub that fewer demands are made on me.
In short-I make it work for my purposes.
It's unfortunate that so many people feel they have no choice but to cope with traditions they have disdain for, or see as an imposition of some sort, instead of just being able to enjoy them for what they are.
The gradual loss of shared commonality in society is sad. I wish it weren't so.
It’s only unfortunate to someone who believes in the mythology of a tradition and wants everyone to be a sycophant of the tradition. Freedom is the choice to choose if you want to believe in said tradition. Because one doesn’t believe, doesn’t mean they are sad or depressed. It means they made a decision of their own volition and not one of go along to get along to make those who love the holidays happy. Give me a commonality of tolerance and choice than a commonality of enjoying something you do not believe in.
I do not wish ill on those who wish to celebrate it, but there is nothing to be mourned about for those who view it as just another day or who can’t wait for it to be over with.