Does anyone else hate Christmas?

[MengerFan]

I like Christmas a great deal the thing thats been bothering me recently though is the amount of deception that goes on during Christmas. Specifically the enormous deception of Santa Clause. Why do we tell kids that some large guy flies around the world and gives them presents?

One word - control.

"If you don't be good, Santa will not bring you any presents."

It also has a lovely side effect of instilling a strong sense of entitlement that they will carry with them their entire lives. "Where are my presents?" "I TOLD Santa I wanted an Xbox 360!"

I think I read something about a German tradition where parents told children that some evil elf, named Ruprecht maybe, would come at night and take them away to the coal mines or some such. Equally vile as Santa, but somehow much funnier.

[J’raxis 270145]

I like Christmas a great deal the thing thats been bothering me recently though is the amount of deception that goes on during Christmas. Specifically the enormous deception of Santa Clause. Why do we tell kids that some large guy flies around the world and gives them presents?

One word - control.

"If you don't be good, Santa will not bring you any presents."

It also has a lovely side effect of instilling a strong sense of entitlement that they will carry with them their entire lives. "Where are my presents?" "I TOLD Santa I wanted an Xbox 360!"

I think I read something about a German tradition where parents told children that some evil elf, named Ruprecht maybe, would come at night and take them away to the coal mines or some such. Equally vile as Santa, but somehow much funnier.

Teaching children to believe in the existence of Santa is a good way to open the door to getting them to believe in the existence of gods, too.

[dalebert]

At least Santa is an incentive for obediance as opposed to a threat which might constitute a violation of the NAP.

[EJinCT]

I guess the pointless consumerism is my main beef.
That and the music, oh how I hate the music!

Affirmative. I can fully commiserate with that.

I say we carol under Pukes window!!

I will throw water on you.

I can think of other substances that, while not hazardous, might be more effective. I wonder if any of the stores still have super-soakers in stock? 

I like a little secular merriment.

Same; I don't follow any particular religion so I don't have much impetus to participate in most "holidays" as they are typically "celebrated".  I understand the reasoning behind them, but as they are practiced by the majority of people I have met, it has lost any semblance of spirituality or enlightened thought.

Teaching children to believe in the existence of Santa is a good way to open the door to getting them to believe in the existence of gods, too.

IME, there are many ways to encourage and stimulate a child's creativity and imagination without resorting to deception and mis-truths.

[Becky Thatcher]

Lloyd - I really love that Tom Lehrer song.  It's one of my favourite Christmas songs.  I also like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Patsy and Elmo.  And of course, what is Christmas music without a little Weird Al Yankovic, with "Christmas at Ground Zero".

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
There's music in the air
The sleigh bells are ringin' and the carolers are singin'
While the air raid sirens blare

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
The button has been pressed
The radio just let us know
That this is not a test

Everywhere the atom bombs are droppin'
It's the end of all humanity
No more time for last minute shoppin'
It's time to face your final destiny

Well, it's Christmas at Ground Zero
There's panic in the crowd
We can dodge debris while we trim the tree
Underneath a mushroom cloud

(siren)

You might hear some reindeer on your rooftop
Or Jack Frost on your windowsill
But if someone's climbin' down your chimney
You better load your gun and shoot to kill

Oh, it's Christmas at Ground Zero
And if the radiation level's okay
I'll go out with you and see the all new
Mutations on New Year's Day

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
Just seconds left to go
I'll duck and cover with my yuletide lover
Underneath the mistletoe

It's Christmas at Ground Zero
Now the missiles are on their way
What a crazy fluke we're gonna get nuked
On this jolly holiday
What a crazy fluke we're gonna get nuked
On this jolly holiday

[Pat K]

I hate you all. 

Hey I think he's coming around.
In no time at all, he will be singing,Have a holly jolly Christmas.

[Puke]

I'll say this for the people that don't understand sarcasm.
This is all in good fun.




Unless someone actually carols near me, then it's go time!

[Puke]

I guess I should say that there is one good thing about this holiday.
The time off from work is really nice. I can't complain about that.

I think having almost never participated in anything X'mas has been to my benefit.

Hey I think he's coming around.

Never! Must...resist....

[dalebert]

[youtube=425,350]U_zJXhMz-kY[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_zJXhMz-kY

Enjoy!

[Puke]

Good one Dale. 

[buzzard]

[Kat Kanning]

Awww, Weird Al really caught the Christmas spirit with that one 

[Puke]

aww, you are participating in our party, aren't you??  pretty please?? with sugar on top?!?!?

I don't know. I really do not like X'mas. Nothing against anyone, I just don't like X'mas and all the stuff involved. Sorry. 

[ny2nh]

Christmas is actually a wonderful time of year - a time to be with friends and family. It's when people let the commercialism and the pressures we create for ourselves get in the way of just enjoying the season that Christmas becomes unpleasant. Simplifying things and remembering what is really important has made Christmas more enjoyable for me over the years.

And sorry, I enjoy the Christmas music.    Fa la la la la la la la la.

[Kat Kanning]

Nothing worse than being forced to have "fun".