As the title asks, what’s your favorite holiday? I know the world over seems to collectively prefer Christmas, but I’m curious to see if the Dope is skewed different. And I’m just listing the major (or semi-major) US holidays, so if you’re from someone else, please choose the “Other” option and tell us all about it. Also, if there’s something I’m missing (and yes, I realize there’s Steak and a BJ day, but I don’t think it even counts as a minor one) and we should all know about.
Out of the ones mentioned above, 4th of July. Primarily because most people seem to be in a good mood, the weather is nice, and everyone has the day off.
Halloween. I love dressing up, decorating the office, and having fun. Christmas would be good if there wasn’t so much stress involved. Halloween is just a really enjoyable time for me.
I’m looking forward the most to seeing the kids dressed up this year. They’re dressing up as the two things adults fear the most - death and taxes.
I love Christmas because I love the fact it usually means I’m with a number of my extended family and I love the time of year. Winter is just so quiet and peaceful and contemplative. Christmas is the culmination of the whole season, something that builds slowly after Halloween and is given a boost by Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is wintry but my family usually doesn’t/didn’t do much besides the feast; Christmas is associated with stronger memories and, usually, more loved ones being around.
(Halloween deserves special mention for my utterly inexplicable and totally unhealthy love of candy corn. It’s, objectively… well, it’s sweetened, flavored wax formed into something that vaguely resembles kernels of corn. It has nothing to recommend it. I love it and I fully intend to eat a whole damn bag in the week or so before Halloween. It will almost certainly be the only candy corn I eat all year.)
For all of you that love Halloween, you should join the Halloween Exchange. I’m taking participants until the 17th, so if you’re interested, please come join the fun! We’d love to have you.
I voted for Thanksgiving, but I think the poll is wrong to omit Memorial Day, which is the traditional American start of summer and is a very popular day. We honor the war dead in the morning, and then have a cookout with volleyball in the afternoon. It is a win win!
Homecoming. It’s only a holiday if you are in a state where it’s a big deal and you are in high school, but since I am 1) in Texas and 2) trapped in high school forever, it’s a holiday for me. I love Homecoming because it’s secular, it’s a celebration of my most important community–my school–and it’s tacky and silly and fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I picked Easter. Work is very busy during tax time and I like having Lent, Holy Week, and Easter as a way to take my mind off of work.
I gave consideration to Thanksgiving as well. There is a very long stretch of time between Labor Day and Thanksgiving off, close to three months without a day off from work.