For me it is the annual festival of abundance and waste. And a symbol of hypocrisy that has long lost it’s meaning.
Once more I’m facing the problem finding balance between a long “essay” (which sadly just gets tl;dr nowadays) and a too short text (which looks extremely polemic and does not provide any arguments). I’m prepared for the worst storm of protest and/or full ignorance. I had to hear and read “Christmas, Christmas, Christmas…” for the last few weeks without a break. Now I will express my opposite view.
It is a christian festival that also many non-Christians celebrate. Even convinced atheists celebrate it. The economy likes it obviously. Many people go nuts weeks before and start buying presents. In the last week before the 25th December it is almost impossible to buy foodstuff without getting a “Merry Christmas!” from the till girl. I told her: “I’m not a Christian.” She answered: “Where’s the problem? This has nothing to do with being a Christian.” Okay, the German words “Fröhliche Weihnachten!” do not directly contain it like in the English “Merry Christmas!” but… this opinion is strange. I’m done with the church (too much protection for child abusing priests). And I chose to be an agnostic for various reasons – which goes to much off-topic here.
I do not celebrate religious festivals. People, just be tolerant: Leave me alone with your religious things (that oddly enough have been stripped off their religious context and are now mostly obeisance for the God of Consume, Waste and Overeating) and don’t get on my nerves. I will not try to stop anybody. Everybody who likes it: Fine… but leave me alone.
I hear people moaning: “It is sooo stressful… Buying all the presents. Preparing the feast. So much to do! 25th celebrating at home. 26th going to the grandparents. So much to do! So much to do! Hustle and bustle.” They buy loads of stuff they don’t need. They have stress. They have family quarrels. They don’t enjoy it. They eat until they feel nauseated. Some drink more alcohol than they should in addition to that. All the whining about the stress, about the upset stomach… the enforced happiness and harmony when meeting relatives that do not care to even call or text the rest of the year.
And if I dare to ask: "Why don't you just stop celebrating Christmas if it is so stressful?" I get looked at as if I had just sad: "Why don't you just stop breathing?"
You have to participate on Christmas. That is a natural law. Like gravitation. Two masses attract each other. You have to celebrate Christmas!
Every single person I ask answers with: "We do not do much, but…"
I did not buy any presents. I did not get any and this is good. If I want to show appreciation this neither needs material presents nor a special day – no matter if it is some universal holiday or a person’s special day (birthday). On the contrary: This is what I call hypocritical. People who I appreciate deserve this any time – and if I feel it fits showing this appreciation with some present: Then I do this without asking my calendar for permission. If somebody remembers my existence only on "special days" I quickly hang up the phone or show them the way out of my house. Those social conventions don't mean anything to me.
Once more I’m facing the problem finding balance between a long “essay” (which sadly just gets tl;dr nowadays) and a too short text (which looks extremely polemic and does not provide any arguments). I’m prepared for the worst storm of protest and/or full ignorance. I had to hear and read “Christmas, Christmas, Christmas…” for the last few weeks without a break. Now I will express my opposite view.
It is a christian festival that also many non-Christians celebrate. Even convinced atheists celebrate it. The economy likes it obviously. Many people go nuts weeks before and start buying presents. In the last week before the 25th December it is almost impossible to buy foodstuff without getting a “Merry Christmas!” from the till girl. I told her: “I’m not a Christian.” She answered: “Where’s the problem? This has nothing to do with being a Christian.” Okay, the German words “Fröhliche Weihnachten!” do not directly contain it like in the English “Merry Christmas!” but… this opinion is strange. I’m done with the church (too much protection for child abusing priests). And I chose to be an agnostic for various reasons – which goes to much off-topic here.
I do not celebrate religious festivals. People, just be tolerant: Leave me alone with your religious things (that oddly enough have been stripped off their religious context and are now mostly obeisance for the God of Consume, Waste and Overeating) and don’t get on my nerves. I will not try to stop anybody. Everybody who likes it: Fine… but leave me alone.
I hear people moaning: “It is sooo stressful… Buying all the presents. Preparing the feast. So much to do! 25th celebrating at home. 26th going to the grandparents. So much to do! So much to do! Hustle and bustle.” They buy loads of stuff they don’t need. They have stress. They have family quarrels. They don’t enjoy it. They eat until they feel nauseated. Some drink more alcohol than they should in addition to that. All the whining about the stress, about the upset stomach… the enforced happiness and harmony when meeting relatives that do not care to even call or text the rest of the year.
And if I dare to ask: "Why don't you just stop celebrating Christmas if it is so stressful?" I get looked at as if I had just sad: "Why don't you just stop breathing?"
You have to participate on Christmas. That is a natural law. Like gravitation. Two masses attract each other. You have to celebrate Christmas!
Every single person I ask answers with: "We do not do much, but…"
I did not buy any presents. I did not get any and this is good. If I want to show appreciation this neither needs material presents nor a special day – no matter if it is some universal holiday or a person’s special day (birthday). On the contrary: This is what I call hypocritical. People who I appreciate deserve this any time – and if I feel it fits showing this appreciation with some present: Then I do this without asking my calendar for permission. If somebody remembers my existence only on "special days" I quickly hang up the phone or show them the way out of my house. Those social conventions don't mean anything to me.
