[Citrine]

I was thinking about the occasion people make of Christmas and the New Year in general and I was wondering why. I guess for different people there are different reasons. Children, family, happy memories, social events, visiting. What makes it have any importance for you if it does?

I quite like the feeling of goodwill I sense. I see a little more giving and acceptance and well a bit more love toward each other. Theres also alot of fun around. I also thought how its the measure of the year, where are we, what are we doing since the last season. I dont mean materially really. It can be a sad time for many and a happy time. It is the beginning of a New Year and a new start, if you need one.

What is its significance for you?

[Espresso]

I like the goodwill thing. I was just thinking about how strangers have seemed nicer and more helpful lately. Of course, there's also the other side of the coin where people are complete jerks as they rush around crowded stores trying to get their last minute supplies.

It's always been a family event for me, but lately the holidays have been losing their significance.

[danvb]

I despise the commercialism and unfettered materialism that these holidays have become. To me, Christmas (in particular) represents the worst in human beings. It's become all about buying THINGS and getting THINGS. It's become all about net sales profits and moving the merchandise. It's become all about unmet expectations, disappointments and greed. The concept of the "traditional family Christmas" is becoming more and more a thing of the past.

I no longer believe in any sort of religion, so the religious aspect of Christmas means less than nothing to me.

Personally, I try to live the spirit of Christmas in my everyday life instead of waiting until "that special time of year where everyone is a little kinder and a little more caring". As hokey as it might sound, to me, every day is that special time of year... I don't need to have some ad campaign tell me to be kinder and more giving to my fellow human beings. I let my heart lead the way instead. At least I KNOW my heart doesn't have an ulterior, profit-based motive...

Dan

[sewerrats]

it means nothing to me like any holiday , I like my life in a straight path no ups or downs just cruise along , I have done the over the top celebrations, and the fake happiness like on bad holidays when all you want to do is get home, all the pubs and bars at Christmas are full of bodies of all shapes and sizes getting wrecked out there heads. Roll on spring when I can sit on a river bank and watch the joys of nature unfold .

Christmas to me means celebrating the end of another year and being with my family...it has lost it's appeal since i've got older though, to me now it's quite stressful. After all there's a lot of pressure and to be honest i'd quite like it to be other with already. I think the less fuss made over the whole thing the better really...

[lizardlady]

I'm afraid I'm going to sound like a humbug.

At this point I am so tired of hearing about the holidays. I'm over it all. It's like the entire country loses it's mind from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

I am not a Christian, so Christmas is not a big religious day for me. While I was raised in a Christian faith I stopped believing about 40 years ago. Not to mention growing up the holidays were more a nightmare than the Norman Rockwell image we are taught to expect. The contrast between what the time was supposed to be and reality was a strain for me. The media also hammers us over the head with images of wonderful family times this time of year. I have no family anymore. I have very close, dear, supportive friends, but no family. The ads on TV for the big family deals remind me of what I've lost. Then I remind myself I never had what they are trying to sell anyway.

I do put up a tree and decorations though. I enjoy the appearance of the lights outside and the tree indoors. Though there are years I don't bother. Some years it just seems like more work than it's worth.

On the positive side, I like to see other people reaching out to others this time of year. There's a local church that donates gifts for the kids I work with each year. This year four families I work with that would not have had a Christmas at all are going to have a good day. It moves me to tears every year.

Some years I do something to celebrate the winter solstice. The idea that the days are going to start getting longer makes this lizard happy. I tell people I'm solar powered. I'm tired of leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark. I'm looking forward to more daylight.

I also like to reflect on the past year on New Year's day. I don't make New Year's resolutions, just don't believe in them. But I do spend some time thinking about the year that just past, remembering the highs and lows.

[pachyderm]

Christmas in Germany:

The German roots of Christmas - CSMonitor.com

If I never had kids I wouldn't be doing Christmas, I do Christmas for them.
New year I don't go out it's way too expensive, I would rather stay at home and do a buffet and play some music.

[eskielover]

For me Christmas is only about the Birth of Christ. That is my only focus not that it isn't throughout fhe whole year but strting with Advent 4 weeks before Christmas my readinv & study i try to get a closer relationship with God & hopefully learn a new aspect that i missed in the past.

I do get together with close friends for lunch & help decorate. I make a gift for each close friend, my daughter & her bf & his 2 children.

Having left the horrible married life i had & no family anywhere close the focus on the Christ & his life & it's meaning to the world & me is really the only important thing in my life anyway & i feel that peace

Much ado about nothing really. The majority of people are just getting stressed out, going into debt, and acting crazy.

[RoseInterrupted]

Just like a couple of other posters, I can't wait until Christmas and Boxing day are over for another year.

Christmas is always a sad time for me. I guess my general and social anxiety has helped make it that way. I hate the increased road activity, the crowds rushing here and there, the long lines in the supermarket when all I want to do is get the heck out of there and go home, those terrible Christmas carols playing through scratchy shop speakers which are occasionally punctuated by "Price check, register 5" and mostly by the sheer waste of resources, the endless tons of overpriced plastic junk supplied to children which will often be in the garbage bin by the end of Christmas day.

My perfect Christmas day would be a B-B-Q with a couple of close friends and some of my family.......if only they weren't so involved in their own dramas and actually had time to visit!! Oh, and somebody "special" to snuggle up with when it's all over would be nice too

[Grey Matter]

holidays just = stress. haha

having my family shut me out ages ago, and not have any friends to celebrate with either, christmas means nothing to me.

i also can't stand it when children say.. oh, can i have this, that, and the other... can i take the whole toy shop etc etc- since they've no respect for people that don't have anything. anyway, of course they end up getting everything they ask for, then just throw it in the corner.. which is a huge waste in my opinion

mentally for me, it's 1 massive gilt trip- having no distractions over the holidays, i can easily start thinking about how bad the year's been, and how next year is probably going to be even worse

[archipelago]

Nothing.

[Webgoji]

It means fighting with the in-laws ... and we already started this year! Yay!

[sewerrats]

Rose mentioned a B-Q , listen to this , my kids and grandkids and there dogs are coming boxing day for dinner because one of my girls is a cop and is working Christmas day. SSSSSo my wife has bought 2 massive steaks for christmas day and I will be outside on the B-Q rain snow or blow, we wont eat it outside but the people on the street will think I have flipped , but there used to me now .

[seeker1950]

Since my daughter and twin grandsons live in Europe, I really have no immediate family with whom I can exchange gifts or celebrate. Until this year, I've over-extended myself, buying expensive gifts for other family (sister's and aunt's families) who invite me but with whom I feel like a fifth wheel. While I spent lots of money, giving thoughtful and meaningful items, they gave me hand-me-downs or regifted cheap items, or nothing at all. I've always felt foolish afterwards. Now, I know it's not supposed to be about the cost of the gift, but the "thought," LOL! But I've realized I have been over-compensating, trying to have a meaningful Christmas with people who are focused on others and with whom I'm just an inconvenience. This year, I'm not doing it. I've told my sister I am not exchanging gifts (thus freeing her and her daughters of finding something in the closet), and freeing myself of unnecessary expense. Same with aunt and her family.
I realize I'm sounding self-absorbed and bitter. Sometimes it is necessary for me to hit a wall in order to make lifestyle changes.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by seeker1950

Since my daughter and twin grandsons live in Europe, I really have no immediate family with whom I can to exchange gifts or celebrate. Until this year, I've over-extended myself, buying expensive gifts for other family (sister's and aunt's families) who invite me but with whom I feel like a fifth wheel. While I spent lots of money, giving thoughtful and meaningful items, they gave me hand-me-downs or regifted cheap items, or nothing at all. I've always felt foolish afterwards. Now, I know it's not supposed to be about the cost of the gift, but the "thought," LOL! But I've realized I have been over-compensating, trying to have a meaningful Christmas with people who are focused on others and with whom I'm just an inconvenience. This year, I'm not doing it. I've told my sister I am not exchanging gifts (thus freeing her and her daughters of finding something in the closet), and freeing myself of unnecessary expense. Same with aunt and her family.
I realize I'm sounding self-absorbed and bitter. Sometimes it is necessary for me to hit a wall in order to make lifestyle changes.

I think your doing the right thing ,if you don't mind me saying

[Citrine]

Its been really interesting reading the posts, thankyou for being honest too. Love it or hate it, its up to y'all. Its good to see a mix of answers.

I myself dont have a big family to celebrate christmas with. Since my father passed just over 6 yrs ago I havent had a `normal' christmas either so for any in the same shoes I understand.

Seeker, I really know that feeling of being given presents that were clearly from someone else. Unyet I was always so generous to the 2 people that used to do this. Phh
Im glad you are drawing a line this year, you will feel better for it. You have to give up with some people at some point.

I do love the BBQ on Box day in the garden. Being in the UK I know what the neighbours will be thinking, lol. If the weather is anything like today...ummm it may end up being a takeaway lol.

[archipelago]

I am a Buddhist so I don't celebrate during this season. I do celebrate the New Year but according to the Asian calendar. I just felt that this whole season puts pressures on people sometimes and has become so commercialized that I really can't do it anymore. It's different if there are little kids or family rituals that need to be honored. But still I like the idea of handmade gifts or just stockings and meals together if that is the case. I used to enjoy buying gifts even if I didn't really celebrate. I like picking out a special thing for someone. Now I just do that any time of the year and not wait till this season to do it.

[MuseumGhost]

A good time to look back, and a good time to make new starts, if I am able. A time to re-assess, and to re-prioritize.

A time to catch my breath, if I am very lucky.

I've had to totally re-evaluate what Christmas and New Year mean to me, by the way, over the last 10 years. It has not been easy---in fact, it's been riddled with strife and pressure and horribleness on the part of several people who really should have known better, who claimed to be Christians, and who made my life a living hell for a good part of my adult years.

I have fought bitterness at every turn.

However, I have come out on the enlightened end of things (always with more work to be done)....although some days are still pretty tough for me, I will admit.

I do think I'm still on the winning end of things. I've overcome a lot. It CAN happen. It's not always badness and nastiness.

Good things can come from great strife. Just remember that the bad stuff belongs to them; they wear it----not you.

The Holidays do not always have to be a nightmare. It CAN change for you.

And hugs for all....OOOOXOOOOO

[Nihil]

I actually enjoy New Year's more than Christmas, mostly because I'm excited about what new discoveries and technological developments will be made every year, and I like the fact that people are celebrating a revolution of the Earth around the Sun.

[healingme4me]

It is a spiritual time of year, for many, pretty much regardless of religious belief. I remember the year, that three religions celebrated during the same week, perhaps same day. To me, it's about spiritual renewal. I do like the charitable aspect of giving, yet, being charitable is something that can be done any time of year. As it needs to be, in some way shape or form.
I was standing in line, for a coffee, today, and this woman, apologized for being in the wrong spot and was about to step back to the back of the line, and I said, please, no need, remain in front of me, I just thought you were being waited on, no need to go all the way back. She then told me, about last year, on the 26th, 'returns' day, and how someone snapped at her, when all she was trying to do was leave the store and I said to her, wow, guess someone lost the point of the season, real fast, omg, there was no need for that. Turns out, she was only buying a gift card, today, a real fast transaction, but I'd have not minded waiting while she and her two kids needed to be served.
I enjoy the season, on my own level, I just don't enjoy watching the stressed out people, surrounding me, not that I don't also notice, those that seem to be just being their natural non-stressed or seemingly non stressed selves.
I like the excitement and joy the season brings to my kids, but I also don't like the extra emotions that it brings, even to them, regardless of my mood, they are sensitive to everyone elses moods and the anticipation alone, seems to stress them, even no matter how hard I'd like to see them not affected.
And it's darker out, can't go outside as much.
It's bittersweet missing the loved ones that are no longer, replaying the memories, no matter how positive the memories were. Wishing to spend more time with family still here, but everyone is obligated extensively.
I like ringing in the new year, as a way of remembering where I was, how far I've come, and bringing new hopes for another new year, at the same time, that's also an anniversary date between myself and my ex, that though I'd like to not carry that around, it's just the way it is.
I enjoy some of the traditions.

Alas, it's bittersweet. Even on a spiritual level, as a Christian, when I stop and think, we celebrate birth, knowing how the outcome was...

[eskielover]

Alas, it's bittersweet. Even on a spiritual level, as a Christian, when I stop and think, we celebrate birth, knowing how the outcome was...

But understanding what that outcome was all about in God's plans......it's the sweetest thing we can ever imagine.....what a gift from beginning to the end........that is what keeps me going.

[Nicks_Nose]

To me, the holiday season is madness, an example of society's consumption, and an indication of another year past and no further changes to my economic life. This year did see changes in my family structure though and I am trying to deal with those. The end of this year seems pretty much like any other holiday season to anybody who works in the retail sector as simply a day off of work. I sympathize for those whose work does not take holidays off and send my expressions of respect and courtesy to them for their sacrifices on the holiday season.

Most important to me though is the winter solstice. This time of year is mostly celebrated my me as the time of year that days begin to get longer in daylight hours again and begin new hope for my depression symptoms due to ever extending hours of daylight.