OK, I realise it's early to start a complaining-about-Christmas thread, but curse it, it's retaliatory! They force my hand!
It is, for God's sake, the middle of bleeding November. Moreover, it is 20 degrees and sunny. Therefore, dear singer on the bus, we are not 'walking in a winter wonderland', and I would appreciate it if you'd shut up and let me relax.
Moreover, all you snot-nosed kids asking for this or that bit of ugly Santa apparel : You cannot, cannot, cannot keep up that level of excitement for a whole month, ok? Trust me on this, you don't want to arrive on Christmas Eve as jaded and cynical as I'm feeling. So give it a freakin' rest, all right?
Oh, and store owners : Just what do you think you are accomplishing by annoying me like that? I will indeed 'have myself a merry little Christmas'; my girlfriend is coming to visit. But NOT IN BLOODY NOVEMBER, OK?
Moreover, all that money that goes into lighting up your stores with tinsel : How about some street lighting, instead? I had a right nasty little near-accident today because I couldn't see the horrible cracks in what passes for pavement in this country. I mean, four lanes plus one for bikes is a very fine thing, but how about a bit of maintenance once in a while? And, y'know, if you're going to have bike paths, well, bikes don't have 100-watt headlights. Brighten the road where you are, why don't you?
[/rant] Damn all colonials, anyway.
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
You stuck up old Europe medaeval curmudgeon. Christmas is the happiest time of year for many around the world. Would you steal that happiness, or, more to the point, those profits from those who wait excitedly for December throughout the year?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I love the fact that our town begins decorating the trees and such the week before Thanksgiving. We have a very picturesque downtown-- OSC gave it two thumbs up when he was here. I mean, seriously, it's like something out of a Rockwell painting.
So, they light up the trees a bit earlier than custom requires, and they dress the lamp-posts and churches-- and we get to celebrate a little bit longer.
The trick to enjoying Christmas is to focus on the season entire-- not just on the one day.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I can cope with November.
It's when the decorations started in early October I got upset.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
KoM, I wanted so bad just to say "Well, why don't you go home and leave our despicable little so-called country."
But instead, I think it'd be much better to wish you, in the most true and heartfelt way, a Merry Christmas. May joy fill your heart.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I'm with KoM on this one, actually, It's starting earlier and earlier every year. I've been hearing carols in the stores for a week now, the wraps and decorations have been for sale in the stores since early October (and in the craft stores since MAY!!! even they didn't used to start till July!).
Believe me, I enjoy Christmas. Just not so danged soon, and not for so long!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
*is guilty of popping Christmas tapes in in August*
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
I agree that the Christmas craze is early (they started the decorations before Halloween!) but I am also a bit guilty of it... I've been listening to Handel's "Messiah" (my quintessential Christmas music) for the past few days and wishing we would finally get a lasting snowfall.
*sigh*
Posted by mistaben (Member # 8721) on :
You have Christmas tapes, ketchupqueen? You have a tape player?
Seriously, how many of you knee-high jatraqueros have never used an audio cassette tape?
I've been waiting since July to put on Christmas music. We finally broke down two weeks ago!
On topic: something surprising happened the other day. We were at the store, and there was Christmas stuff everywhere. Only as we were leaving did it occur to me that it's way too early and I should have been outraged. But it was so pretty!
Merry Christmas!
(But first, happy thanksgiving!)
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Okay, I'll admit to periodically listening to Christmas music "off-season". Especially Trans Siberian Orchestra. And I stitch for Christmas year round because it's the only way I can manage to stitch all the ornaments I give as gifts in time, however many of those are not specifically Christmas unless you're going to rule that red and green can only be a Christmas combination. But bell ringers before Thanksgiving???
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
KoM: Resistance is futile.
Heh-heh. Happy Thanksgiving! Is this your first Christmas here? The crass commercialism has only just begun . . .
*hums a Christmas carol*
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
That's what they all say just before the Molotov lands between their eyes.
Posted by lord trousers (Member # 8741) on :
If you want to retaliate, you might try hanging Halloween decorations on your Christmas tree. I believe a top-hatted skeleton with wings would be quite fetching on top.
The big question is, if angels play harps, what do skeletons play? Accordions?
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
Gah. My wife starts buying Christmas presents in May. Sometimes two years early. Everytime I hear the words "Christmas", my head starts to hurt.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
I have no problem with someone buying christmas presents far in advance, but I don't approve of the decorations or songs before thanksgiving. One holiday at a time, please.
Also, skeletons play xylophones. I thought everybody knew that.
--Enigmatic
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I get tired really quick of listening to Christmas music. I don't play it voluntarily. I enjoy Christmas and all, but I don't really get into it until Christmas Eve. I am already tired of seeing Christmas decorations. It's sensory overload and it jades me.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Goody Scrivener: I'm with KoM on this one, actually, It's starting earlier and earlier every year. I've been hearing carols in the stores for a week now, the wraps and decorations have been for sale in the stores since early October (and in the craft stores since MAY!!! even they didn't used to start till July!).
Believe me, I enjoy Christmas. Just not so danged soon, and not for so long!
As anyone in retail....that music, and most of those decorations..have been going up that time of year for over 40 years.
There isn't enough time to get them up if you wait for Thanksgiving week, it takes almost two full weeks to decorate a store the size of ours.
It may be a half week early from time to time based on what day of the week Christmas falls on, but it really isn't any earlier for the most part.
Kwea
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
So you would be finished decorating around the 15th of December? Well that's just the right time, curse it! This is not an excuse, it's an admission of guilt. Siberia for you, my retailing friend. Where you really have a 'winter wonderland' six months a year. BWAH-HAH-HAH!
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
KoM, being an Orthodox Jew, I am more of a Christmas spectator than observer, and I, too, get sick of the earlier and earlier anticipatory music and decorating. But, hey, let the folks have their fun. And while I don't generally exchange Christmas presents, I do have one for you! Enjoy it! Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
quote:Originally posted by lord trousers: If you want to retaliate, you might try hanging Halloween decorations on your Christmas tree. I believe a top-hatted skeleton with wings would be quite fetching on top.
The big question is, if angels play harps, what do skeletons play? Accordions?
Since this is a gripe thread, I'll add mine here:
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HALLOWEEN TREE! You can make it with black needles and hand garlands of skull on it and nice glass ornaments of witches and skeletons and ghosts, BUT IT'S STILL A FREAKIN' CHRISTMAS TREE! Please don't give into the decoration sellers who are bastardizing the traditions.
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: KoM, being an Orthodox Jew, I am more of a Christmas spectator than observer, and I, too, get sick of the earlier and earlier anticipatory music and decorating. But, hey, let the folks have their fun. And while I don't generally exchange Christmas presents, I do have one for you! Enjoy it!
I think people would be a little less irked by this if we believed it was really due to over-exhuberant people having a little early fun. What bothers me about it is that it all smacks of marketing and commercialization. It's like they're saying "It's only a month till Halloween. That means only 85 shopping days 'til Xmas!" Gotta get those Christmas decorations out! Gotta shove this Halloween stuff to the side to make room for our big Christmas displays. Heaven forbid someone might be in our store within 90 days of Xmas and not be thinking about all the stuff they have to buy before then. Can't we just enjoy the holidays as they come? Do we have to spend Halloween and Thanksgiving thinking about all the stuff we need to do/buy for Xmas? [/rant]
That said, "Merry Christmas Everybody!" Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
quote: You have Christmas tapes, ketchupqueen? You have a tape player?
I have 8-track and player.
quote: Especially Trans Siberian Orchestra
They are good aren't they. You should hear their nonChristmas Music. Beethoven's Last Night (which also happens to be their only nonChristmas CD).
On that note: I don't do Christmas. I haven't spent Christmas at home in 7 years and I'm not going to do it this year. However, because of an unfortunate event, I will be spending Thanksgiving with my family.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
I love Christmas time. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I used to be a grouch about commercialization too. But then I realized-- I'm not effecting any sort of change by being offended. I'm not doing anyone any good, least of all myself, with my grumpiness.
My wife's family has a tradition of LOVING the season. I took my lead from her. It's much more pleasant finding joy where it can be found, rather than looking for and finding the hypocrisy and crassness that are there as well.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I love Christmas time, too. I love Halloween and Thanksgiving, too. And quite frankly, part of the reason I love Thanksgiving is because it's a long weekend so close to Christmas. I just get a little bothered when Christmas becomes this monolithic event that makes everything else after Labor Day a footnote.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm with KoM on this. It pains me to, yet again, say that, and yet...
I don't sing Christmas carols and jingles in December. They irritate me. But singing them at other times of the year when they're generally viewed as inappropriate is, to me, fun.
I hate the gross commercialization of what is one of the most meaningful days of the year for me. The focus, as far as I'm concerned, should be on the spiritualness. Yes, I know, there are others who don't believe in Christ and yet exchange gifts on Christmas, but for those who believe in Him and get so carried away... It irritates me.
And someone, way way way up there said
quote:Christmas is the happiest time of year for many around the world.
Thing is, from what I read and hear, it's the most depressing time of year for a good lot of people. I used to be one of those people. I hated Christmas in spite of the spiritualness of it. My family ruined it for me with all the squabbling, manipulations, lies, and abuse.
And then people get so nasty - impatient and selfish - as they go about their shopping and whatnot. Ugh.
I don't miss the crass commercialization. Not a bit.
Edited for slippery fingers.
[ November 22, 2005, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I've really been enjoying doing the following since mid-October:
"I know you don't make the decisions (to sales person assisting me), but please pass on to management team this observation: Seeing Christmas decorations up mid-October is crass commercialism. I will not buy ANY Christmas wares from your store - and further, I'll tell all my friends, family, and business associates not to, also."
And then I leave a much more ugly, pointed remark in the comments box in the kiosk/comment center.
I waste not an opportunity to share (politely) my dismay, and what I plan to do about it.
*smiles at Kwea* I have to go with KoM on this one, Kwea. LESS is MORE.
I keep entertaining a little fantasy of some enterprising business person happily advertising that Christmas revels will not begin until December 1 in his store, and the idea is such a hit that he sells out in two days. The idea takes off and lo and behold, the neighboring stores catch on for the next year. And by the third year, the federal government mandates some law punishable by horrible awful fines and MANDATORY soup kitchen work for any offender that puts up any sort of decoration, etc., even a day before December 1.
*happy sigh*
So, what's your Christmas fantasy?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
P.S.
Tante . . . I LOVE the link . . . that's my all-time Christmas favorite.
But did you have to link it so early? Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I love parts of Christmas. I love the music, and giving presents, and the cookies, and I love the snow when everything is going well.
I also hate Christmas. I miss my mother desperately, and I miss my family, which gets more pronounced when I'm in Utah surrounded by some members. I hate the red and green and Santa Claus, and I dislike the ornament exchange reindeer games, but I don't really mind other people liking them.
I don't decorate, but I start Christmas shopping in September. I might decorate at some point, but just for me makes no sense at all, and I REALLY don't like decorating with Santa Claus and the other santized, unreligious elements. I love Christmas cards. I can't stand Christmas trees.
It's a mixed bag.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
A surefire way to irritate people as much as christmas irritates you is to continue referring to the temp in celsius and to all your new neighbors as 'colonials'.
Merry Christmas! (although I'm with you on it starting too early)
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
It's not my fault if you lot are all the descendants of people who couldn't make it in the Old World. And real units are here to stay; deal with it.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I deal with it just fine. Just so long as you're prepared for blank looks when you're wearing shorts in Cali talking about it being in the twenties.
Believe me, no one would be happier than me if we went to the metric system. Sadly, it ain't happening.
[ November 22, 2005, 11:21 AM: Message edited by: El JT de Spang ]
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Face it. Christmas isn't starting any earlier than it has for the past 50 years. Its just that as you get older, time seems to fly by faster. It just SEEEMED to start later in the past.
As far me, after Thanksgiving, I go to the store and ask where the Valentines Day section is.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Not surprising in the slightest that KoM is the one who started this wholey negative thread.
While it does irk me a little to have to search through the Christmas trees to buy my Halloween candy, I am not going to throw a fit about it, whining and complaining to merchants or using it as a reason to justify rants about street maintenence. It may be commercialism, but in this day and age, what isn't!?! I am not going to let a few early displays and a few anxious people who play their Christmas carols before Thanksgiving ruin my holiday.
I too LIKE that the streets are decorated in November, even though (living in Texas) the weather is too warm to believe it's almost Thanksgiving. I like that people are bustling about, ready for the holidays. For most people, regardless of how or what they celebrate, it is a HAPPY time. Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) comes from your heart; is this thread displaying the heart you really want shown to the world? I place my Christmas stocking directly over your Bah Humbug and happily sing "You're a Mean One, Mr, Grinch." Seasons Greetings!
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I too dislike Christmas starting before December First. 36 Days of Christmas is enough for me.
And that's all I'm going to say.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
One thing I'm looking forward to about going to see my parents in December is that our little town has some of the most spectacular Christmas lights. And also, the city decorates a bit as well.
I myself have been known to sing "Good King Wenceslas" as early as August.
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Christmas is the happiest time of year for many around the world. Would you steal that happiness, or, more to the point, those profits from those who wait excitedly for December throughout the year?
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