The Official "Not Celebrating Christmas" Thread

[rubecube]

Come all ye Grinches, gather round the Festivus pole. Let us laugh at the crowded malls and their obnoxious music, spend our excess cash on lavish spirits, drowse merrily past 8 bells on Christmas morning in our childless houses, ne'er fret over gift receipts and ungrateful spouses, rejoice in our absences from awkward family dinners and the dreadful conversations they spawn, and mock the panicked devout for their annual "War on Christmas," narrative. For this year is about us celebrating our total lack of responsibilities and obligations. So kick back, enjoy an extra ounce of rum in your Egg Nog, and gaze with satisfaction while you watch your neighbour engage in the Sisyphean task of arranging outdoor Christmas lights in -20C weather!

BAH HUMBUG INDEED!

[rubecube]

I'm doing it right this year. I'm in Copenhagen on exchange, so it was incredibly easy to blow everyone off without the annual guilt trip.

[calumniate]

Ooh, the holiday can of worms! The majority of my family is practically atheist but we've always fallen in line at least somewhat. Headed to Montreal for the holidays, where education is abound but they still love the tradition of some time off and bevies. It is what you make of it:-)

Interesting tidbit but a friend of mine from jersey is always amazed how Canadians normally say 'merry Christmas' still? He claims that the US has been more progressive and have moved more towards happy holidays. Canadians are apologetically lackadaisical in this regard. I still use lbs for weight

[Eastern Girl]

I've hated Christmas ever since my parents split up. Not because they split up, but because this now means I have to travel that much more around the holidays. I now have to go to my Dads and then moms. And then suddenly, my brothers decided they weren't going to travel. So, I have about four or five Christmases to attend.

This year, I decided that if no one else is traveling, neither am I. I want to see everyone, but why is all the traveling put on me? I'm already getting the guilt trips. Don't care. I am staying in this year. I am going to relax, probably binge watch some shows I've got on DVD and just chill with my boyfriend and pup. I am really excited about it. The first time I've been excited about the Christmas holidays in years. I guess that's not anti Christmas...

[habernac]

Christmas has never been about religion for my family, it's about family, huge meals, all that stuff. Having kids makes it more fun as well, seeing their eyes light up as they open gifts.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by habernac

Christmas has never been about religion for my family, it's about family, huge meals, all that stuff. Having kids makes it more fun as well, seeing their eyes light up as they open gifts.

I think you're in the wrong thread.

I can't stand most of my family and in the past I've been subjected to an excessive amount of hours spent at whoever I'm dating at the time's families, who I generally have liked better than my own family, but still not enough to spend a ridiculous 12 hours with while sober. Also every year I'm around kids I'm just appalled at how much their parents spoil them. Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see why an eleven year-old needs or deserves an iPad. Yet most of these kids still end up bitching that they didn't get enough or exactly what they wanted.

I'd much rather spend the time having some drinks and watching Die Hard with one of my buddies.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I can't stand most of my family and in the past I've been subjected to an excessive amount of hours spent at whoever I'm dating at the time's families, who I generally have liked better than my own family, but still not enough to spend a ridiculous 12 hours with while sober.

Sober?! You're doing Christmas wrong

[burn_this_city]

We skipped the whole ordeal last year and the only thing I missed was the turkey dinner. Having my folks living in Mexico for the winter helps the guilt trip aspect.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

I've hated Christmas ever since my parents split up. Not because they split up, but because this now means I have to travel that much more around the holidays. I now have to go to my Dads and then moms. And then suddenly, my brothers decided they weren't going to travel. So, I have about four or five Christmases to attend.

This year, I decided that if no one else is traveling, neither am I. I want to see everyone, but why is all the traveling put on me? I'm already getting the guilt trips. Don't care. I am staying in this year. I am going to relax, probably binge watch some shows I've got on DVD and just chill with my boyfriend and pup. I am really excited about it. The first time I've been excited about the Christmas holidays in years. I guess that's not anti Christmas...

The secret is to declare that you are hosting Christmas and will welcome anyone who wants to come. This way you avoid the guilt trip. (you're screwed if they show up)

I like christmas though so shouldn't be in this thread.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Nyah

Sober?! You're doing Christmas wrong

Again it's the guilt trip. If I showed up to my mom's house even slightly buzzed, I'd get the "I'm really disappointed" talk. If I show up to my girlfriend's family's house slightly buzzed, I'd get the "Why do you have to drink when you know we're going for dinner" speech. It's a real bummer.

[Thor]

The gift giving is just for kids in our family, we have a nice dinner, visit close friends and family and try to relax.

We try to make it as relaxing and low stress as possible, we do a pretty good job.

HAPPY YULE EVERYONE!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Again it's the guilt trip. If I showed up to my mom's house even slightly buzzed, I'd get the "I'm really disappointed" talk. If I show up to my girlfriend's family's house slightly buzzed, I'd get the "Why do you have to drink when you know we're going for dinner" speech. It's a real bummer.

your life sounds like a miserable hell

[rubecube]

Also, let's post hilarious videos of Christians freaking the hell out over the "War on Christmas" in this thread.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/1...n_6264254.html

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by nik-

your life sounds like a miserable hell

No, no, just my family. Fortunately, they play a very minor part of it.

[Thor]

The fake war on christmas is my favorite time of year, Thank you Bill!

Soon there will be the "Its not Xmas, its CHRISTmas" which is ironic because Xmas is a term meaning Christmas drummed up by American Christians..

Let the good times begin!

[rubecube]

I think we should all launch a pagan campaign to end the appropriation of our solstice festival by white Christians.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by GGG

The secret is to declare that you are hosting Christmas and will welcome anyone who wants to come. This way you avoid the guilt trip. (you're screwed if they show up)

I like christmas though so shouldn't be in this thread.

I could say that, and I know that my family wouldn't show up because they would have to travel to me. I just would rather be honest with them, that's more my style. No one else wants to travel and I never complained. I always went to them.

Now, I am deciding that it's unfair for me to have to drive miles upon miles in crappy, snowy conditions to pretend I like my dad's new wife or my mom's new husband or my brother or his wife, when everyone else just gets to lounge around in their own homes, in their jammies. Why can't I? Why is that selfish? I am 33 and I have never actually not traveled on Christmas. And my family lives in Toronto, so it's back and forth around Toronto and the GTA from Ottawa. It's stressful and annoying. Enough is enough.

So, down with Christmas... or up with Christmas? I can never remember if being down with something is good or bad.

[Ashasx]

If you feel guilt tripped when you have even a little bit to drink, and thus don't like Christmas, why don't you just not drink and see where that takes you?

To me, it doesn't seem like the issue is Christmas at all.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If you feel guilt tripped when you have even a little bit to drink, and thus don't like Christmas, why don't you just not drink and see where that takes you?

To me, it doesn't seem like the issue is Christmas at all.

Say, friend, let's give reading comprehension another shot and try again, okay?

EDIT: Just busting your balls. I've done Christmas dinners and family occasions sober on a multitude of occasions. These experiences are what's provided me with the realization that they're just awful and booze is the only thing that makes them slightly bearable.

[FlamesAddiction]

I wouldn't say I celebrate Christmas. When most of your family is dead or inaccessible, Christmas actually becomes pretty depressing. I tend to work through most of it, but because I have in-laws, I do have to try to and not be a Grinch.