# Pitting Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 25, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230 "2003-11-25T18:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/41 "2003-11-27T23:16:25Z")
**Sugar** - some people object to the comercialization of a Christian holiday. Given my totally secular upbringing, I am not one of them. Let the spending begin!! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/42 "2003-11-27T23:35:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Burnt Sugar \* > \*\*I really donā€™t understand why people get upset when christmas stuff comes out early - it just makes me happy because Iā€™m reminded of the really fun process of shopping, decorating, baking, giving and having fun with my family. > > Why make it into a negative thing? \*\* Unbelievable. You must realize that others have different experiences than you and may not have the same associations. The holiday season makes my life much, much more inconvenient. Itā€™s a nation wide fuck off and I canā€™t get business done. I realize and appreciate that thatā€™s when people in the retail business make the majority of their money but that doesnā€™t mean I have to like it. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/43 "2003-11-27T23:36:28Z")
We have to start playing Christmas music at my store on Monday. I know thatā€™s pretty good and late for retail, but it still makes my skin crawl. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/44 "2003-11-28T00:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*I can deal with Burl Ives singing ā€œSilver and Goldā€ and Bing Crosby asking ā€œDo You Hear What I Hear?ā€, but spare me the 42,837th repetition of ā€œGenie in a Bottleā€. \*\* Yeah, but youā€™re not going to hear ā€œGenie in a Bottleā€ next Christmas. And the Christmas after that. And well, pretty much two months out of every year for the rest of your life. Canā€™t say the same for those Christmas songs. When someone some really bad entertainer comes along and gets inexplicably popular and you hear them everywhere, you can take some comfort in knowing that theyā€™ll probably fade away someday. But the Christmas music stays. Theā€¦sameā€¦fuckingā€¦songs. By the same artists. Two months a year for the last FIFTY years or so, and with no end in sight. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/45 "2003-11-28T06:04:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*Well, OK. > > But it seems sort of odd to say youā€™re not going to celebrate, but then be pissed off about it. > > My SIL is a bhuddist and she still celebrates with the rest of the family - you can still have turkey and stuffing, visit friends and family without worshiping Christ. I get my muslim friends Ramadan gifts and Iā€™m not muslim - I donā€™t think that makes me a hypocrit, I think it makes me sensitive to other peoples realities. > > I realize youā€™ve been living in exile, but it seems like a self-imposed one. \*\* In part it is, but in part it is not. I usually ask around, see what people are doing. Everyone is busy with family. My family is unavailable to me. Christmas just becomes a damn lonely day where I get jelous of others who have people to celebrate with in love. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/46 "2003-11-28T06:40:26Z")
ā˜¹ Well thatā€™s an all together different story. ---
**Author:** ![KP235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@KP235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP235)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/47 "2003-11-28T06:53:32Z")
\*Deck the malls with Christmas shoppingā€¦ Fa La La La La, La La, La La Spend your money without stopingā€¦ Fa La La La La, La La, La La Push your credit to the limitā€¦ Fa La La, Fa La La, Fa La La Your bank account has nothing in itā€¦ Fa La La La La, La La, La La\* ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/48 "2003-11-28T08:19:52Z")
Iā€™m a postman and I was delivering Christmas shopping catalogues in JULY. Deck my balls with boughs of holly \* Tra la la la la \* ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/49 "2003-11-28T08:38:24Z")
Yup. Time for another fun game of ā€œLetā€™s dodge Midnight Mass and Bible readings because Iā€™m a fucking witch already, and I did my religious stuff four days ago, okay?ā€ This year itā€™s the Genus Edition because Iā€™ll be at my auntā€™s place as well. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/50 "2003-11-28T09:22:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*Yeah, but youā€™re not going to hear ā€œGenie in a Bottleā€ next Christmas. And the Christmas after that. And well, pretty much two months out of every year for the rest of your life. Canā€™t say the same for those Christmas songs. > > When someone some really bad entertainer comes along and gets inexplicably popular and you hear them everywhere, you can take some comfort in knowing that theyā€™ll probably fade away someday. But the Christmas music stays. Theā€¦sameā€¦fuckingā€¦songs. By the same artists. Two months a year for the last FIFTY years or so, and with no end in sight. > \*\* Yeah, but I can live with that. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/51 "2003-11-28T10:40:59Z")
I think the thing I hate most about Christmas is that on the actual 25th, RADIO STATIONS PLAY NOTHING BUT FUCKING CAROLS. Okay, Iā€™m sorry, but once itā€™s like three in the afternoon, and the presents are opened and the turkeyā€™s been eaten, etc., etc., I donā€™t want to listen to that crap anymore! I wanna hear normal stuff! Christmas for me is SO OVER by the time the actual day comes around that I donā€™t want to feel warm and fuzzy anymore. I just want it all to go awayā€¦and trying to find a normal song on the radio is probably, for whatever reason, my biggest pet peeve. That, and freaky people like my best friend, who keep their tree up til New Yearā€™s. MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY, I say. Kiss Christmas goodbye on the freakinā€™ 25th! Itā€™s gone! Itā€™s over! MAKE IT STOP! [sub]_runs away screaming_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/52 "2003-11-28T11:29:38Z")
ā€¦And that, folks, is a very good demonstration of why it bugs _me_ that the retail industry pushes Christmas in November and even October. When Christmas actually rolls around, most people are sick to death of it. It takes the specialness off the day, and it completely kills the festivities that used to come _after_ the packages were ripped open. But who can blame people for being tired of something thatā€™s been pushed down their throats for ten weeks? Here in Norge, Christmas still lasts until the New Year. But Iā€™m wondering how many more years that can last, when retailers no longer honor the old tradition that the Christmas Spending Machine should not be revved up until Advent. Nothing like seeing Christmas delicacies at the supermarket with ā€œbest beforeā€ dates in _November_ā€¦:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/53 "2003-11-28T15:29:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*Unbelievable. You must realize that others have different experiences than you and may not have the same associations. The holiday season makes my life much, much more inconvenient. Itā€™s a nation wide fuck off and I canā€™t get business done. I realize and appreciate that thatā€™s when people in the retail business make the majority of their money but that doesnā€™t mean I have to like it. > > Haj \*\* Just out of curiosity, what business canā€™t you conduct because of Christmas? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/54 "2003-11-28T16:55:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balle\_M \* > \*\*Just out of curiosity, what business canā€™t you conduct because of Christmas? \*\* I am an engineer. All of my US based clients (and prior to when I went into consulting, co-workers) are too busy with pot lucks and shopping to do any meaningful work. Productivity goes to zero in late December for us folks not in retail. Before anyone flames me, just because I personally donā€™t like it, doesnā€™t mean that I want to prevent others from enjoying it. I just gave the reasons why _I_ donā€™t like it. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/55 "2003-12-02T12:12:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\ ***Sugar** - some people object to the comercialization of a Christian holiday. \*\* Iā€™m sure they would object much more if people ignored Christmas! šŸ˜ƒ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*Unbelievable. You must realize that others have different experiences than you and may not have the same associations. \*\* What?! There are people _different_ from me? NO! You kid! Were not most of the posters complaining about Christmas things coming out too early (and it being too commercial), rather than any significant effects christmas has on them? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \*The holiday season makes my life much, much more inconvenient. Itā€™s a nation wide fuck off and I canā€™t get business done. I realize and appreciate that thatā€™s when people in the retail business make the majority of their money but that doesnā€™t mean I have to like it. \*\* I was responding to the people who were complaining about Christmas starting too early, that possibly there is a bright side to it all, if they think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/56 "2003-12-02T12:16:18Z")
Pressed submit too early. \*_haj_, obviously Christmas is a sore spot for you. My post was merely intended for those who like Christmas in general but dislike the way it is dealt with. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/57 "2003-12-02T12:17:23Z")
And then forgot to preview. Time for bed I think. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/58 "2003-12-02T18:10:47Z")
I like Christmas, but I agree it is way over-hyped. I got **three** Christmas cards in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. Sheesh. Who plans ahead that much? I prefer to send mine out much closer to Christmas. The day after Thanksgiving? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/59 "2003-12-02T19:20:02Z")
My girlfriend loooooves Christmas. The songs, the decorations, everything. Iā€™m sure sheā€™d love it if it were all freaking year. Before Thanksgiving she asked when (not IF) I was putting up decorations in my condo. I was all ā€œHuh? Whu? We just had Halloween!ā€ So this weekend we put up Christmas lights. Iā€™m the ONLY ONE in the development with lights! I even have a fucking wreath on my door! The hell I need with a wreath? Oh well. It makes her happy so thatā€™s good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230/60 "2003-12-02T19:56:51Z")
I have an easy solution to the pre-December Christmas stuff: I ignore it. I avert my eyes, I pretend I didnā€™t see it. I avoid the malls and shopping centers so that I donā€™t see any decorations or hear any Muzaked carols. I concentrate wholly and solely on Thanksgiving in November, and I only begin to pay attention to Christmas on December 1. The tree goes up on the 10th, and I enjoy a 2-week Christmas season that has not been rendered stale or boring through overuse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-christmas/215230.md?page=4)