Commercialism. BUY BUY BUY!!! If you are not consuming mass quantities of shit you don’t need you are INFERIOR!
That is why, in my NOT so humble opinion, Christmas sucks the big, herpes infested weenie. I just want to scream:
God damn it! You’re not the boss of me! I don’t have to buy just because you say so! I can make, build and give without the crass commercialism! Just lick my butt and call it ice-cream you market driven freaks!
Best!
Byz
Byz, you are totally correct about the commercialism. I couldn’t agree more(well, I wouldn’t want ANYONE licking my butt but hey…). I usually make/create my gifts rather than buy, and I don’t believe gift-giving is required, either.
Personally, I think Christmas is both good and bad. Good, because it gives you an opportunity to show you care for people. Bad as well, for in my case it is just another grim reminder of the losses of my family, as well as the planets’ roller-coaster ride to Hell. The commercialism, as well as the sheer amounts of superficialiality, are depressing to behold.
./^_/^\
< o | o >
.<_ | _>
…\U/
As an atheist, I don’t “celebrate” Christmas, but as a family man, I participate. I would much rather give people gifts during the year rather than try to pile it all on at once.
For my husband’s family, we’ve been adopting needy families in the area in lieu of exchanging gifts. It helps a little.
But I agree. Commercialism cheapens Christmas. Forget Waterford. Nothing is more dear to me than the little shellacked baby food jar/ votive candle holder that my daughter made me last year. 
I like to watch my kid open presents.
Other than that, I agree with Byz. I went to the Megamall tonight. Such fun. Hordes of dazed people, wandering aimlessly, and they all seem to pick the center of the aisle to hold their debate about where to go next.
Get out of my fucking way! I have a purpose! I want to finish buying shit and get out of here!
I love Christmas time, and largely ignore the commercialism. I’m sure it’s because in my old dysfuctional family Christmas time was somewhat an undeclared truce.
We put the tree up one week before Christmas which signaled the ceasefire. I remember trying to get the tree up two weeks before Christmas and explaining the logic behind it all to deaf ears.
I’m not trying to take the zing out of your rant Byz, fuck all those damned presents. You might try visiting Tokyo where you can see how our fellow mass consumers have unwittingly put the message across quite aptly with such store window scenes as the nativity complete with a huge Santa Clause sitting on a camel.
Xmas is so low pressure with me. I came to the realization years ago that I really resented feeling obligated to buy stuff for people, just because the retail industry says so.
I told my family that I would not be buying them gifts anymore, and I did not want them getting me any.
Kids were a little different. I still give them a little money at Xmas, but I don’t buy them toys.
Same with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and birthdays. It’s no pressure on me at all.
I still get things for my family, but I buy them when I think it’s time, not some arbitrary date on a calendar.
The American economy would choke and go into convulsions if it weren’t for X-mas madness. A lot of businesses make their only profit during this time of year. So like it or not it is a frickin’ cornerstone of our economy.
Yes, everyone, please buy into the big lie that if you don’t spend like there’s no tomorrow, you’re going to SINGLE-HANDEDLY DESTROY THE GREAT AMERICAN ECONOMY!
If people bought less, stores would eventually revise their sales projections downwards. If retail sales begin to falter, the economy will adjust with increased employment in other business segments.
It ain’t my job to increase the profits for shareholders of Federated Stores or Dillard’s.
“It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather
For the record,my son says he only wants boxes for xmas!
(where’s the nearest box’s are us store?)
I’ve just handed out $400 worth of gift certificates (Barnes & Noble) at my son’s school. I mostly give out book store gift certificates because I know they’re not crappy gifts. Everyone I know loves books, so it’s the perfect gift. Plus, very easy to get.
Although I don’t really like the commercialism, some of my best childhood memories are of Christmas Eve and trying to get to sleep, but without any luck. Us kids would start hollaring upstairs to our parents beginning at 3:00 a.m. Around 5:00, they would finally give in and agree to let us open presents.
Soon our house would be trashed with G.I. Joe and Barbie Town Houses and remote control cars and wrapping paper. Mom and dad would head back to bed around 6:00 a.m. The entire day would be spent visiting the relatives and exchanging more gifts. All the cousins would be tearing up the houses with all the new toys. It was always mass confusion, but the adults never told us to calm down. It was the best day of the year!
Now that I am a parent, I enjoy giving my kids the same experience. I love to buy my kids gifts that I know will light up their faces on Christmas morning. They usually wake me starting around 3:00 a.m., I usually give into them by 5:00, then I head back to bed by 6:00, as they trash the house with Playstation games, rollar blades, candlemaking kits, and remote control cars. Later in the day, we visit the relatives while the cousins go wild.
>^,^<
KITTEN
Fluff yer hair Beula, I’s feelin frisky - M.S.
Ooooh, it’s just so festive in here.
Now where do you want the tinsel and lights?
And your snowman is melting.
“There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.”
~P.J. O’Rourke~
uncle,I’ll tell ya where to put the tinsel!(just kidding,merry nonchristian holiday!) 
Orangecakes- Please refrain from saying things like “merry nonchristian holiday!”. If a holiday is celebrated by christians, it doesn’t automatically mean that anyone who partakes in it is required to be a christian. I am not saying you are, but it sounds like you dislike Christians. (Besides, the context of that sentence makes it seem like being a Christian is a bad thing…)
“Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s just another way of shooting yourself in the foot.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake. Lighten up already.
WALLY – Please refrain from using phrases like “for Heaven’s sake”. It makes it sound as if you dislike people who do not believe in Heaven. Thank you.
Insert standard disclaimer for the humor-impaired.
Jodi
Fiat Justitia
A tip of the hat to jodih.
For me, it’s not about the gifts. I’m happy with whatever people do give. It IS the thought that counts. For me, I dont give because I have to I give because I want to. I also give things people need, or may find interesting. You will NEVER see me rushing to buy something because “I have to”. It’s also about church and being in there with people I know as well as the sense of community that happens at Midnight Mass.
I go to mass on Christmas eve as well. I love watching my son’s excitement first thing in the morning. Otherwise Christmas sucks big time. This one especially sucks for a lot of reasons. I’m looking forward to December 26th when its all over and life is back to normal again.
I opened the door, and look who I found. Damn I’m good