My husband and I discussed this last night. We love Christmas and then we also dread it. We love the holiday itself but it never fails, we spend too much money and suffer for it in the months afterward.
130087
Ya, Christmas is my favorite holiday, we love buying presents and putting up tons of christmas lights on the house and the tree but then afterwards we suffer for all the money we spent then we dread taking all the lights off the house, it's more fun putting them on, lol....
377503
talk about as many good things as you can...ppl cant seem to handle negative things at Xmas...unrealistic fools I think but thats the truth
363440
i am so with you but part of mine i think is because i am kind of depressed and i have no cash..   but the holidays have become all about money   you have to buy for this person or that one and if you decide to not buy for someone they get you a gift so you feel obligated ect and as for turkey day its just as bad i have it at my house and no one gets along and most of my family doesnt want to help they just show up eat and leave  i hate the holidays i cant even make my self decorate anymore... and thats sad because i can remember as a child my favorite thing was to sit on the couch with the x-tree lit in the dark and just think about how calm and quiet and peacful it was... bla im turning into the scruge
368763
I agree. You know, it used to be that everything, was special, especially Christmas. Now a days, you see Easter trees and Foth of July lights, I dotn know what to think.\n\nIt makes Christmas less special if you do it too early, and before Thanksgiving is way to early. I think one should deffinatly wait till December. My family usually has ours out late in december, but we get into the spirt as soon as December 1st comes! \n\nEven though Christmas is fun and magical, if you dont wait and you treat the whole winter season like Christmas, it loses its charm.\n\nAs for stores, I think it takes away from the charm, but they have to do it. it is a business and they have to sell the stuff, because they know for the season,they have to stock early.
467769
The Christmas that I remember as one of the best is last year. \nMy family had just simply stopped having Christmas together. \nBoth of our parents are gone on to a better world than this one \nand left us at young ages. After our mother passed in 1992 we \ndriffted away from each other but last year my neice decided that \nenough was enough and told our family that it was time to act \nlike we are a family and would not take no for an answer. I am \nglad that she was so determined. We had a great time and we \nare close to each other again. We will have a blast this year!
4745
For the first time I am spending Christmas away from my Wife and kids.  I know how you feel when it comes to  relitives that are a little odd, but it is a different story when you can not be there, it's that "You do not know what you have tell it is gone" thing.  \n\nI well be sitting in Iraq waiting for Feb to come around so my year well be over.  Well there is always Valentines Day... *S*
554741
I used to, then I got a divorce.  It's all good now.  Sorry if that's not an option.  Seriously, just be as gracious as you can, and enjoy the people you do like.  Do the in-law thing first(Christmas Eve?), so you have fun with those you love on Christmas Day and have something to look forward to.  Good luck sweetie.
392205
yess christmas is not what it used to be..it is more of a commercial holiday meant for retail stores across the nation to boost their profits
478408
My family is going through some financial strains this holiday season, so I told my husband not to buy me any gifts. He agreed. I immediately felt disappointed, and I imagined Christmas morning with no gift under the tree -- how sad I would feel. I wish I had suggested a dollar limit, even if it was just $10 or $20. I would have been quite happy with a DVD, book or a music CD. Just a little something to celebrate the love. Thanks for asking the question. It got me to own up to my true feelings. I think I'll let my husband know what they are and make my suggestion of a limit. :-)
431616
I totally understand, mine is Jan 5, and so people are always complaining to be broke following the Christmas Holiday. I am so used to it now so I really don't sweat it anymore. But there are some people that give me some very nice gifts. But most of all I am grateful that God has let me kive to see another Birthday. Somebody won't see their Birthday this Holiday Season, and that's pretty sad huh!
545219
I know exactly how you feel. I know that I LOVE the holiday season but I always end up dreading Christmas day and Thanksgiving. Its completely normal, especially if your'e alone like you are. It must be hard trying to be thankful all by yourself. Just think positively. Decorate your house. Buy a real tree. Make a big deal of it. For Thanksgiving and Christmas ( or Hannukah) you don't need a big family, get together a group of close friends. Let your daughter have one of hyer friends family over. Surround yourself with love and joy and you'll end up truly enjoying the season. To get yourself conditioned, so stations are already playing 24/7 holiday music, try and find one to listen to in the car or at work. Hope that helps!
379650
It sure is the normal for me,I hate the holidays ever since my kids went to live with their mom,nothing but sad memories for several years now,oh well.Wish I was the only one.
465170
This year it seems that I am doing everything backwards.  Usually I have all my shopping done by Thanksgiving and then I start my decorating.  This year I had my in-laws for Thanksgiving so I wanted the house to be completely decorated.  Everything is up (Three Trees!) and I have bought only 1 gift out of a total of 45!  Wow!  I need to get moving - TODAY!  Thanks for asking such a great question - it got me thinking of everything I need to do.\n\nMerry Christmas!
500990
Aww thats cute, i remember one year my parents were dead broke i was maybe 10 and my brother was 9 and we told them we didnt want anything cause we were so down about not having a nice christmas with a tree so we just told them its okay to save there money for other needs. And on christmas morning my sister and my mom woke us both up and told us they were looking for a blue ball and a red ball that they lost to help them find it and they made us go from the back of the house to the front as soon as we got to the front of the house me and my brother both had a bike his was blue and myne was red. It was the best year ever we had those bikes for about 7 years. And its a christmas that still makes me laugh to this day.
492009
Yes I know that and agree. There has always been (since I've been a christian) a strange feeling for me at Christmas time. I felt trapped, enslaved, depressed, oppressed and angry during the holidays. Something just never sat well with me. I studied and found out it is all pagan and vain. God never says to follow any of these so called "christian" holidays. He did however mention the Holy Days in His Torah. I am not Jewish but I am being prompted by the Lord to study the feast days of the Lord and the Holy days and the Sabbaths. They weren't  meant just for the Jews but for all who were born again as well. They bring peace and understanding of the Messiah.
435602
When you have to sacrifice your lifestyle to supply people false happiness.  When Christmas becomes about the gifts and not the giving.  When Christmas becomes a holiday and not a holy day.
428040
No, no. I was just thinking about this today actually! I really dislike this holiday. Thanksgiving, I can take. Christmas, I hate Christmas. I hate sappy Christmas music played up until Christmas Day --and then sometimes afterward as well!! It's like Chinese water torture all the way up until Christmas Day. I was in Borders, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, and Atlanta Bread Co. today, I could not escape the Christmas music!! And it's still November. I hate when crossing the street people nearly mow you over in their SUVs, with a fancy little wreath attached to the grill!! I hate how people sack the stores searching for gifts for people they would otherwise ignore the rest of the year. I especially dislike how people decide that Christmas is the one time to buy people they love meaningful gifts. Love and meaning should infuse everyday of one's life. Not just one day out of the year. If I see a coat or a scarf or a toy that I know a member of my family would love, I buy it then and give it to them. I don't horde it for weeks or months and then shove it in some wrapping and slap it under a tree. :( But that's me!