First of all, I'd like to start by saying I love my family and the time I get to spend with them, esp my bro who is in the Marines and has been off in Japan for a year and half without a visit. Also, I love my children and the happiness I see when they get all that they asked for from Santa. Really, that should go without saying, but I thought I should be thorough.
--WARNING: Those with young believers that can read should read in private. --
Having said that I really hate Christmas. I'm not entirely sure what it is that I don't like. It could be that my shoes are too tight, or maybe my head isn't screwed on just right.
More likely it could be the last minute shopping and wrapping that ensues every year, or maybe added family visits that screw with my routine. It may even be the Christmas tree. Yes. The Christmas tree. I hate having to store decorations in my house, therefore we don't have anything but a tree and a big box of ornaments in the very back of the closet on the top shelf. You know, as far away as possible so that when you wait til Christmas Eve to put up your tree, you have to maneuver around all the presents you're hiding from your kids, while talking on the phone, (bc really, let's make it as hard as possible) and taking a breather from one end of the closet to the other to yell at your kids at the top of your lungs to make sure they hear you: "Do NOT come in here!! I mean it!" That's Christmas joy at it's finest, right?
Another reason I might not like Christmas is the fact that it's entirely too commercialized for me now. Maybe it's bc I've grown up and can no longer hear the jingle bells of Santa's sleigh or maybe I'm just truly a Grinch with a heart two sizes too small. It could even be the music that starts playing right after Thanksgiving straight up til Christmas day. Even more than that it could be that my subconscious hates me and somehow tricked me into engaging in two things I hate: Christmas music and whistling. That's right folks. I found myself whistling Jingle Bells while cleaning up a few days before Christmas.
I've come to the conclusion it's not all Christmas music that I hate. It's the 9843759287345 different recordings of the same songs over and over and over. All so that people can make more money when they aren't putting out original music. I think I'd much prefer to hear the songs as they were first recorded without all the melody changes and added riffs.
Then there are the songs that are just plain stupid. A prime example of that is Last Christmas. And to go further into how many time people record these silly songs I'll just name a few people that have done this song: Taylor Swift, Ashley Tisdale, and Jimmy Eat World...Now, click here to hear the TS version and to understand my rant fully. Ok, so, my thing is why would you give your heart to someone in the first place if they weren't special? Furthermore, if they weren't special, then why on God's green earth would you care enough to cry about it?
Another song that's incredibly stupid IMO is I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. (That one too has been recorded a ridiculous amount of times. The original recording of it was by Jimmy Boyd in 1952. -listen-) Anyway, back to the matardedness of the song. Now, I would think this song could teach kids one of two things. First, they could be too smart for their own good and figure out who Mommy was really kissing, or they could think Mommy's just freely giving away kisses to strange men who shimmy down the chimney in the middle of the night.
That actually brings me to the next part of my rant. Santa Claus. My oldest son is in five year old kindergarten and they have 'book buddies' (3rd graders) that come and read to them occasionally. They each are assigned to the same child for the whole year. However, one day his buddy wasn't there so he went with another student for that day. Well, that kid decided to tell my son that SC wasn't real! He wasn't upset about it or anything, but he did come home and ask me "Mommy, is Santa Claus real?" I hate lying to my children. I feel that it's important not to shield them from the real world all that much. I don't tell them all the bad stuff that goes on in the world, but just enough to let them know it's there. So, what was I supposed to say? I didn't want to lie so I just didn't answer. I simply replied, "Well, what to you think?" Followed by his, "Yes." and my "Ok, then." He's asked me this about three times since then and I cringe every time. So, another thing I hate about Christmas is Santa Claus. You may ask why I didn't tell him the truth since he wasn't upset while asking, well, I'm scared that once he does find out he might be upset.
Moving on...
I am a believer of God, let me say that first before diving into my next topic... I wouldn't say I'm extremely intelligent, however, I can read. So, I did a little research bc it's bothers me endlessly when people get on their high horse screaming "Jesus is the reason for the Season." Aside from the fact that all people don't have the same beliefs and that should be respected, He's actually not the reason in which Winter festivals were made and later evolved into Christmas. Christmas has pre-christian origins, plain and simple. Read here. Or except my paraphrasing: Basically, there was a winter festival to celebrate "the birthday of the unconquered Sun," as in sun gods. "The festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be "unconquered." Later, Christians equated the birth of the Sun to that of Jesus, thsus taking it over for themselves.
On a side note, I read that early Christians didn't even celebrate birthdays bc it was thought of as a pagan custom. That, my friends opens up a whole other topic for me that I will skip over for today. I'm sure you're glad.
But, to tie together my Santa rant and 'reason for the season' rant, I'd just like to say that if those who maintain that Jesus is, in fact, the reason for the season, then why do they participate in the ruse of Santa Claus and buy into all the commercialization of Christmas when the two have nothing to do with each other?
I think I could go on, but it's probably better that I stop here. Please, for anyone who disagrees with anything I said, feel free to let me know your opinion.
I think it's safe to say that I am a complete Grinch when it comes to Christmas. Maybe next year I'll take and hide my little curmudgeon self in a cave high up on a hill and plot with my dogs. To quote a wise fictional character: "I must find some way to keep Christmas from coming!"
Grinch icon courtesy of innermurk @ livejournal 
6 comments:
I've had that NSync Christmas song in my head for DAYS...DAYS! And th eonly words I know to it, are "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays..." and it's ANNOYING!!
I think that the commercialization of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus' birth should be separate. I mean, obviously, they go on at the same time, and the Santa Claus/gifts/etc. part of it gets children "into" it and excited about it, but some people are like "Jesus is the reason for the season!" and they mean for the Santa-coming, gift-giving, etc. And that's not the case!!
I think it would be possible to revolve your Christmas around Jesus and still give gifts and stuff, like Jesus got three gifts - give each child three meaningful gifts, y'know??
I should blog about this, too. When we were in line for Santa with M, I heard a lady tell her child "I hope Santa doesn't see you being naughty." and I dunno what the child did, but the mom said "Remember, Santa Claus and Jesus are best friends. Jesus will tell Santa." I was seriously perturbed! There are just SO many things wrong with that sentence.
I may have to blog... LOL
But anyway I don't think you're a Grinch. LOL I think you like hte RIGHT things about Christmas... spending time with family, etc. but not all the hooplah that comes with it! And I don't blame ya!
haha! I'm glad I don't know what N'SYNC song you're talking about! I'd have to take an illegal 9 hour drive to hunt you down. =)
ITA that they should be separate, I mean Jesus wasn't even born at this time of year!
I also agree that for those who preach "JitrftS" could do the gift giving thing like you said, with the three gifts like Jesus got.
As for that woman in line. WOW! I would've been ranting about that!...To me, with that statement and if I were a kid, I'd think that Jesus and Santa were like equals or something. haha. maybe that's just me trying to complain too much.
BLOG WOMAN, BLOG!!!!
Wow, this makes me really sad! I will say now that everything in this comment is being said with love and concern, because I think you're missing out on lots of happiness, because in a way, I think you're being closeminded. *myrtle ducks*
Let me explain: I, too, can read. In reading the Bible, it is apparent to me that Jesus knew that we humans processed information in a certain way. Therefore, when He taught, He usually explained things in parables, little stories that would break down spiritual principles into common, everyday terminology. I mean, what the heck does a mustard seed have to do with spirituality? Back in His day, this would have opened people's eyes. Now, not so much - it might need more explaining, but the principle is the same.
Now, what does this have to do with Christmas? In my opinion, Christ followers are people that copy the way He did things while He was on earth. Over the centuries, Christians saw that there was a need to celebrate the greatest Gift we ever received. Also, they saw that there was a great time of year to do this. Others around them (pagans, if you will) tended to celebrate the seemingly eternal light of the sun during the winter solstice. Hey - we Christians know that the Eternal Light comes from the Son! Cool coinkidink, huh? What a great way to use something that made sense to pagans but resulted in teaching spiritual principles! So, during the time of year that people were not busy planting or harvesting, but gathering together in their family units to celebrate, the roots of what would eventually become Christmas was born.
Now, I could go on, describing other pagan symbols that Christianity acquired (because I've done my research, too!), but this is getting too long for a "comment" so I'll try to wrap it up. I'll touch on the birthday thing - medieval Christians also thought that anyone that could swim was a witch! Aren't you glad some things have changed?
I'm not sure the tone of my post has survived the transition to the internet to satisfy me. I hope I didn't come across as too harsh, but this is something that I am passionate about.
Cindy Lou Who
(aka Myrtle)
Ok, so after thinking about this I've come to one conclusion - You always make me rethink everything I say. You're lucky I love you, Myrtle.
So, I feel the need to say that I wasn't very clear at all in my post. The kind of people I was talking about are those that get all offended and try to throw it in people's faces that Jesus is the reason for the season. My purpose at the time was to point out that He, in fact, is not the reason for everyone's season. As you know, with the diversity that is the US these days, there are all kinds of religions, therefore different holidays. So, it's not 'Merry Christmas" to everyone, so people say "Happy Holidays" so as not to offend those that don't celebrate Christmas.
I'll admit that in my post I went a little crazy with the ranting without much thought. However, I still stand by my opinion that those Christians that get offended by "Happy Holidays" are the disrespectful ones of the situation. I mean, how Christian-like is it to judge someone based on their beliefs?
Having said that, I don't think I'm missing out on any happiness. I think that if you have certain beliefs that you should celebrate that all the time. Valentine's Day, I think is a great example of that, and possibly not even comparable, but I think if you love someone you should celebrate that love as often as possible and not just once a year with a box of chocolates...
I don't know, maybe I'm still off on the whole thing. I hope I made you not be sad anymore. I probably failed though. :(
I'm glad I'm doing my job! I sort of see what you are saying, but I think if you truly believe something, you will shout it from the rooftops! If I tell someone "Merry Christmas", and they respond with a "Happy Hanukkah", I thank them, because in their heart, they were sincere, and I hope they know that I also was sincere with my well wishes.
To open another can of worms... Yes, the US is a very diverse nation. Our greatness is enhanced by all the various people that have sought a better life here. Even with our problems, this is still the greatest nation on earth. However, without a doubt, even though all our founding fathers were not Christians, this country was still founded on Christian principles. Reading our founding documents will prove that. Christmas is still the only federal holiday. I have never seen any government-employed Wiccans standing outside their office buildings on Christmas day demanding entrance inside to work. So why the big problem with Christmas?
The nature of the beast is a little more subtle... The Christians that complain about "Happy Holidays" taking over are responding to the more widespread persecution that is attacking the Christian faith across this nation. Ten commandments being forced down; Nativity scenes removed; crosses being forbidden; Christians likened to mindless, illiterate automatons; IRS investigating pastors; the list can go on & on! All it takes now is for one of these "open minded diverse people" to complain, and we have to cave in or be sued!
I would rather see someone take a stand than roll over and play dead any day. Beginning with Christmas is only the beginning.
--Myrtle.
Alright, well, I agree with most of what you said. However, not completely. Saying Merry Christmas to someone is one thing, but the people (and there are some) that would be offended that someone replied with Happy Hanukkah are the type of people I was talking about. I did not mean to group all Christians in together. Also, there are those people who may listen to half way to those who are trying to take a stand the right way and then just jump on board half way. Does that make sense? I hope so bc my head hurts.
As long as people go about making a stand in the right way I have no problem with it. It's the ones that are disrespectful with it that bother me. And yes, that goes both ways.
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