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Hatred and dread of Christmas

Bee68

[Please don't read this if you like Christmas, I don't want to upset anyone or criticise what they enjoy!!!]

I am only just recovering from last Christmas, and I'm painfully aware that in 4 months all the hype is going to start again.

I've started writing down and keeping notes every year about how dreadful I feel at Christmas, so that I know it's just an annual thing that happens every year and then passes (although it's taking it's own good time this year).

I HATE all the hypocrisy: the manipulative advertising, the "it's Christmas so we have to make sure the homeless are fed - we don't care about them at all the rest of the year" attitude from certain people who are extremely wealthy, the dreadful music, the way we're pushed into having to believe it's "the most wonderful time of the year".

I get panic attacks, I feel like the world is about to end. This goes on for weeks. I can't get out from under it, and nobody understands (including me) why I can't do that.

I avoid it as much as I can, and now I don't have young children that's quite easy when I'm at home.

I have had some serious trauma experiences in the past (40+ years ago) at Christmas time, but that doesn't explain it.

I think it's the HYPOCRISY! The lies about how beautiful and wonderful Christmas is, how it cures all ills, how everyone has to be nice to each other because it's Christmas - but the rest of the year they can get on with just ignoring / being nasty.

I'm really dreading next Christmas because this just seems to be getting worse.

I also really like all the lights, etc. If the whole thing only lasted a week, and the advertising wasn't so sickening, I think I would enjoy it.

Is it just me? Does anyone understand?

Parents

  • I live in the countryside away from advertising hoardings, but it's still on tv, I record it and FFW the ads, it is still everywhere, but it's more manageable.

    I like the winter festival, the Solstice celebrations, I'm not into shiney tat, but I do like my xmas tree and decorating is a yearly ritual, a way of remembering and honouring the past through memories from childhood and welcoming in a new year and a new season.

    Maybe you could look into the history of winter festivals and sort of work around the comercial xmas thing in your head?

Reply

  • I live in the countryside away from advertising hoardings, but it's still on tv, I record it and FFW the ads, it is still everywhere, but it's more manageable.

    I like the winter festival, the Solstice celebrations, I'm not into shiney tat, but I do like my xmas tree and decorating is a yearly ritual, a way of remembering and honouring the past through memories from childhood and welcoming in a new year and a new season.

    Maybe you could look into the history of winter festivals and sort of work around the comercial xmas thing in your head?

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Yes, I love the pagan idea of it being the time of year when the Earth goes into hibernation in preparation for waking for the new year in the spring. All the tat is so awful. It feels like the opposite of the original purpose of the winter celebration. Also the opposite of the Christian Christmas thing (I am not Christian but I think a lot of Christmas is so opposite to what Jesus was promoting).

    Maybe that is a way through this: to try to focus on what does feel important at this time of the year with the winter festival and solstice. 

    Thank you.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    look into the history of winter festivals and sort of work around the comercial xmas thing in your head?

    Excellent idea.