Have yourself a merry little christmas…

Christmas always seems to be a time of…. STRESS.

Let’s face it. When do we ever go out and buy all this loot for as many people as we do, spend hours wrapping the stuff up, spend endless hours traveling and handing out gifts, all in the name of a fat man in a red suit? (Cause it’s totally not for Baby Jesus..) I mean – really. We did this to ourselves. Damn you Hallmark.
But –every year – we go through it, and if you ask – COUNTLESS people will tell you that this is their favorite holiday..

An unscientific survey of my own brain leads me to the following reasons (and corresponding refuting arguments as to why these reasons... are dumb) people think that Christmas is their favorite holiday….

1. Family get togethers:

Okay – here’s a newsflash. If you’re only getting together with your family once a year, then – you just might not like them that much – or get along with them enough to be able to tolerate them for a long (or short) holiday. Hence all fighting when it comes to family holiday get togethers. My anectdote for that is – if you don’t like your family – don’t pick Christmas to spend with them… There’s too much pressure.. Presents, sitting around the table… having to have to be giving (since that is usually the central theme to all Christmas holiday specials.) Choose another less stressful holiday to get together.. Namely – Halloween. That way – you can get dressed up –and if need be – get away by putting on your mask and pretending to be someone else.

2. Presents presents presents. Exchanging presents for the holidays.
Ask these same people whether or not the presents they give out are well received or not… often times, the presents aspect of the holidays is the hardest and most stressful part of the holiday. Look at what is associated with present giving and receiving.

Giving: You’re constantly looking for that perfect gift for that person (most of the time –you trump up your own belief as to how awesome the gift is) – you might (1) miss the fact that the person really hates the gift upon opening; or (2) be uber disappointed that, although they liked the gift when they opened it –they didn’t seem to like it ENOUGH… Not to mention the hours and money put into the actual purchasing, then the wrapping selection (bag or wrapping paper?) then the delivery (do you meet on a day before or after the holidays?)

Receiving: What if you spend hours upon hours purchasing something for someone –you’ve thought about what the person likes – doesn’t like.. Then it comes time to exchange the gift, and you realize they got you a gift card with no thought involved whatsoever. Or – you have that friend who purchases you a gift, and then asks for the next 10 hours for constant reassurance that you like the gift, and even years later, asks where the gift is… I mean – c’mon! Is it wrong at that point to say – bluntly that you regifted it. Or, the best is when you give a gift, and the other person didn’t – and you sit there reexamining your friendship – thinking – hm.. do I care MORE?

3. The lights are beautiful!
Have you ever had to put up said lights? The first night they’re beautiful. Then – a bulb pops, and ½ your lights aren’t working.. and you have no idea where to change the bulb to get it to look nice. Then your house is the ghetto fabulous house on the block with ½ it’s lights working and ½ its lights broken. Ghetto. Fabulous…

4. Everyone is filled with the Christmas spirit!
Have ya been to a mall around Christmas time? Most of the people are scrambling to buy gifts, disgruntled, screaming patrons, aggressive driving…. It is one of the WORST times of the year. People are fighting over gifts in the store – last ticket items. If the Christmas spirit is cut-throat present purchasing, then EVERYONE I encountered at the mall was totally into the Christmas spirit.

*** and finally***

5. Seeing your kids (if you have any) run to the tree screaming PRESENTS…
I got nothing. That really is awesome.

Okay – so unless your reason is totally #5 – then I have no idea why you would ever think that Christmas is the best holiday ever.

It just so happens that for me- it’s totally #5.

Happy Holidays everyone.