I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that they are pushing xmas before Halloween is over, the gaudy decorations and music, the crowds, the traffic, the general xmastime pain in the ass, or that damned Salvation Army guy standing in front of the grocery store and the ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding that I’m forced to endure and can be heard through the entire store.
Beginning of January? I know the start of the “season” is getting earlier and earlier, but I don’t think I’ve seen Christmas decorations in stores past Christmas itself - they’ve been taken down for New Year’s Bonanza Blowouts and then Valentine’s Day decor. Or something.
Since we gave some stuff to the Salvation Army earlier this year, I have no problem with walking by the guys with the bell. I’ll do it again in a while, since I have to make a short shopping trip (NOT Christmas shopping, amazing as that might be to retailers); it’s today, or wait until Monday, what with Thanksgiving. No thanks.
In some western Christian traditions, Christmas lasts from December 25 (or 24, depending on how you count) through the Epiphany, January 6. Not to mention Orthodox Christians, for whom Christmas is in January. I wouldn’t mind seeing the commercial Christmas “extended” until after the New Year to match this, actually - even though I’m a gawdless heathen - but apparently there’s no money in it.
A college buddy of mine, who is Russian Orthodox, used to say that this was fine by him - by the time Christmas rolled around for him, everything was 75% off
Around here, the Christmas decorations start hitting the shelves at the end of August. In Walmart, at least. Nothing like stocking up on school supplies for the new school year and buying Christmas lights at the same time.
What I hate is NEW Christmas music. I love the classics, but I have the urge to smash the radio whenever I hear a “new” Christmas classic. And by “new” Christmas classic, I mean an old song that was perfectly fine the way it was, being mangled by some crappy pop star.
For example, Clay Aiken. I haven’t heard a Clay Aiken Christmas song yet but I am sure it’s just a matter of time. I saw a commercial the other day advertising some American Idol special and unless I was imagining things, Clay Aiken was singing “Little Drummer Boy” with what sounded like Bing Crosby a la the bizarre 70’s duet between Bing and David Bowie.
Gah.
Okay, I’ll pit for a slightly different reason. I’ve never celebrated xmas. Never. It’s made me an outsider at school and in many social circles. The most painful part is literally spending xmas trying to find -something- not holiday-related worth watching on TV, as there isn’t anyone who’s going to want to socialize, and hearing how stressful but wonderful it is to be with family and get lovely gifts. Yes, thanks, I’m very glad to be reminded that I don’t have a family to turn to for that holiday. The worst part is, these people see it as a joke when I get upset about it. I tell them flat out, I don’t celebrate xmas, I don’t like xmas. People look at me like I’m playing scrooge in some play, and that it’s not really that bad for folks like me. It fucking is. I hate how everyone I know, and hell, half the people I don’t know (at least) are suddenly obsessed with a day that I’m pretty much gonna always be an outsider for. It is a big deal. Yes, I hate the malls, I hate the commercialism- but for those that celebrate and have family who do, you at least get the prize. After all the stress and moaning, you have a family or loved ones that you can be with on the holiday, and they’ll usually at least give a nod to making it special for you. Me? Last year I spent xmas in a truck stop with a woman I really hated. The three years before that I spent looking out a window at snow, wondering just what my friends were up to. The year before that I spent in the company of a friend who died two weeks ago. Yay xmas.
My Pennsylvannia-Dutch grandmother would indulge my Serbian-Orthodox grandfather by also celebrating both Dec. 25 and Jan. 6 when the “polish priest”(her words) would come over and bless the house. Unfortunately, could never get them to double up on gifts by showing for the blesssing.
But it seems sort of odd to say you’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 I’m not muslim - I don’t think that makes me a hypocrit, I think it makes me sensitive to other peoples realities.
I realize you’ve been living in exile, but it seems like a self-imposed one.
I’m so glad others are fed up with the hype. Sad to say, the overload has pretty well killed any joy I ever took in the holiday. I’m not a Christian or religious but I used to at least appreciate the idea of generosity, kindness, celebration.
I started getting corporate Christmas cards (so meaningful) before Halloween. One pop radio station has been playing all Christmas carols for a week now, filling the endless playlist with dire canned stuff like Herman’s Hermits’ Frosty the Snowman.
I’m glutted and numbed by the crap. I swear, I understand why people go to Vegas over Christmas, preferring honest greed to the relentless onslaught of piously packaged stuff.
This has almost taken the joy out of giving.
I figure you can put stuff up as early as after Thanksgiving, which is generally right before the beginning of Advent. Then you should have it all down by a day or two after the start of Epiphany.
And yet the Starbucks stores in Ogawamachi and Nishi-shinagawa (at least) had Christmas decorations up shortly after Hallowe’en, along with “Christmas Blend” coffee and Christmas music.
Bah.
When I’m King of the World, I will forbid anything Christmas-y before December 1, and require it to be gone by December 27.
I don’t particularly care for xmas but I keep it to myself in public because I don’t want to be a buzzkill. Every year people claim that it’s getting worse but in my observation it’s been about the same for many years. Twenty years or so ago I noted that the first xmas commercial appeared in mid-August and that’s still the same today. Generally the mid-August commercial is on TV and is for a record album (I guess it’s a CD now) of xmas songs.
Actually, this year it seemed better around these parts - I didn’t see anything till after halloween. Of course, now the streets are crawling with the stuff, but it did seem to start a bit later this year.
I really don’t understand why people get upset when christmas stuff comes out early - it just makes me happy because I’m reminded of the really fun process of shopping, decorating, baking, giving and having fun with my family.
