I am the only person who can't stand the secular aspect of Christmas

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Anglewannabe

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Honestly, ever since I was a teenager (and realized my family was dysfunctional) I have found the supposed Holiday Spirit horrific. The phoniness (sp?) of the importance of family when the rest of the year they are mistreating each other just depressed me.

As a kid I looked forward to the gifts, but now, unless they have come up with the ‘Personal Assistant that can read my mind and do my house work the way I want it’, there is NOTHING anyone could buy me to make me happy.

I don’t mind people at work who decorate their offices, but when they call me a Grinch because I have better things to do than cut out snow flakes with them to decorate isn’t funny IMO.

One girl gave me a Christmas card on the 1st of December for which I thanked her. I was actually happy it was a religious one. I brought it home and she came by my desk and asked where it was??? I said I brought it home. I didn’t know these things were suppose to be displayed !

Just needed to vent
 
Most families are dysfunctional. Even the perfect looking ones have skeletons in the closet.

I grew up Protestant. So Protestant that we didn’t have instruments in church because “it doesn’t say in the bible to use instruments” :rolleyes: It was instilled in me that it wasn’t really Jesus’ birthday. My grandmother wouldn’t even put anything religious out for the holiday. No angel on the top of the tree at her house. So growing up, it was family time. I knew that some people thought/celebrated His birth, but we really didn’t.

Now, I still get excited for gifts and giving gifts. I enjoy decorating, but I do have a nativity scene. 😛
Now, it is a special season for more than just Santa. 🙂
 
[/FONT[COLOR=“SeaGreen”]]It’s so hard for many people this time of year. Some people are very quiet to themselves, and they should be respected. I’m sorry the Snowflake Makers thought you were crabby instead of being a very observant Christian. Misunderstandings can bring so much pain.

Have a very blessed Christmas.:tanning::tanning::tanning:
 
Weejee said:
I’m sorry the Snowflake Makers thought you were crabby instead of being a very observant Christian. Misunderstandings can bring so much pain.

Have a very blessed Christmas.:tanning::tanning::tanning:
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Just to give an alternative view, I personally know of at least one or two people who say they’re being ‘observant Christians’ as an excuse for authentically Scrooge-like behavior. There are many cultures (including mine) who are simply structured to bring people out of their shells. Refusal, in turn, is actually taken as a cultural offense.

Just my two cents. 🤓
 
I like the secular aspect of Christmas, though it isn’t as important or as beautiful to me as the spiritual aspect. I have always loved spending time with my family. Even if my family is disfunctional, they’re better than being alone or having to go to work. I’ve always enjoyed giving gifts more than recieving them, but more than the object itself it’s the feeling that someone was thinking of me. That’s why I’m not fond of “gift exchanges” or “secret santas”. I think gifts should be freely given without expectations of gifts in return. That’s why I think the gifts I enjoy giving the most are the ones I give anonymously to the children on our Giving Tree. One of my students said that gifts we give to the poor are the best gifts, because we are actually giving them to Jesus.
 
There isn’t anything I don’t like about Christmas. Secular or religious.

It’s wonderful, amazing, cheerful, quiet, sparkly, contemplative, and generous.
It’s all in your own outlook. I don’t expect the world to make me happy.
It takes much more effort to be cranky, I have no time for that. Life’s too short. I imagine Christmas in Heaven is spectacular, musical, tender, and prayerful. I appreciate any good will that people offer me. I try not to read ulterior motives into others’ actions.

Merry Christmas
 
pianistclare said:
There isn’t anything I don’t like about Christmas. Secular or religious.

It’s wonderful, amazing, cheerful, quiet, sparkly, contemplative, and generous.
It’s all in your own outlook. I don’t expect the world to make me happy.
It takes much more effort to be cranky, I have no time for that. Life’s too short. I imagine Christmas in Heaven is spectacular, musical, tender, and prayerful. I appreciate any good will that people offer me. I try not to read ulterior motives into others’ actions.

Merry Christmas
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You have a great attitude, Clare. Have a Merry and Musical Christmas!
 
I love the secular aspect of the season, even when it’s beginnings push back into early fall, even when it conflicts with the Church’s expectation of doing penance in Advent.

The sensory nature of it all is gratifying to the inner child. And unlike all of the familial or romantic expectations surrounding the season, it costs nothing to fill your senses with it.

IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA.
 
One of my favorite parts of Christmas (and Easter), I really can’t figure out whether to classify as Secular or Religious…it is the Church full, standing room only, no parking available, restless kids crying, “regulars” grumbling about the same, and old timers who haven’t been in church since the change in the Missal (a couple of years ago, or in 1962) shaking their heads in disgust over any kind of change, etc.

Some would say these are “woes” of a secular celebration, because people are attending church who otherwise cannot be bothered.

But, I see it as the joys of a triumphant Church as those curious, and those who have wandered away return home, even if just for a moment.

Peace and all good!
 
The religious aspect is important to me, but I do love the secular aspect as well. I love every aspect of Christmas - even those dreaded Christmas carols every one seems to hate. I listen to Christmas carols all year round.

My family has its problems but we genuinely try all year to get along and help each other. Sometimes we manage, and others we just have to hope we’ll forgiven for our idiocy. So far we all have been. Christmas is the one time of the year when we all manage to get together. Me, my brothers, the wives and all the kids. And of course the grand parents! There aren’t many days we get to do that and I cherish that time.

People complain about the commercial aspect, but I love the presents. I spend a lot of time trying to find something that people will like. I’m one of those crazy people in the shopping centre that is smiling whilst she is waiting 20 minutes to be served. I make sure to be extra nice to the people behind the counter - so many customers are stressed, I imagine some can be quite rude, so I try to be the best customer of the day for them. I don’t spend a lot of money, and it never goes on the credit card, but there is a lot of love put into it. I think it helps though that my family very much has an attitude that if you don’t have money, then you don’t buy gifts. And it’s ok. The only people you can be guaranteed to get a present from are you parents. If they can’t afford it, then we would all chip in. I’d rather my nieces and nephew get a present from their parents than from me, even if I pay for it! The kids have learnt they won’t get presents from everyone, and the adults would never expect it. I do love how excited the kids get. My brother and his wife took in a number of foster kids about 10 years ago and I will forever remember the looks on their faces that first Christmas. Now they’re kind of used to it, so we don’t get the same reaction but it still brings me a lot of joy to give them gifts. It’s my way of telling them I care. That and the hugs and kisses and the interest and all that other boring aunt stuff.

So, no. I don’t hate the secular stuff. I love it. I’m like a little kid and I look forward to it all year.

Don’t care much about gifts for myself. This year I’ll open one. From mum and dad. Granted, that’s because my sister and I told everyone we were each others secret santa this year and we’re going to do dinner and a show later in the year so we can spend some time with each other. Getting a night out with her means more to me than anything she could buy.
 
My two cents:
It is a time where I am given almost free reign to evangelize the secular society (at work, in stores, with non-Catholic relatives, etc.). It opens up the atmosphere to where they will listen for a moment or two as I tell them the “Official Good News of the King Jesus Born” (the Gospel, which means “Officially Propagated Good News”, not merely “good news”).

We, as Catholics, know the real content of all the material symbols we see them using, and can comment to them on these symbols. And very often they will take a moment to listen during this season that they set aside for their own meanings. And by God’s Spirit, some will hear.
 
Monday night I was on line at Macy’s (at 10:30 p.m.!) and I heard the woman behind me bemoan the fact that she had left her coupons behind. The man behind her immediately offered her some of his.

Yesterday the grocery store was packed (at 8:30 a.m.!) and people were laughing and joking as we jostled our carts down the crowded aisles. A woman motioned for me to take the parking spot we were each approaching from opposite directions.

I’ve seen so many smiling acts of goodness and cheer that I can’t help but think that it’s the holiday spirit moving hearts.
 
I’ll admit that I do find it irritating that the stores are filled with people (I get anxious in crowds), and I’ll turn on the local radio station and listen to three (bad) renditions of “Santa Baby” before an actual carol comes on. But I do love the decorations (what a way to brighten up a seriously dreary and dark time of year), the traditional foods are fabulous, and I like giving and getting Christmas cards and spending time with relatives (yes, there’s some dysfunction, but at least for us, Christmas seems to be a time that most of it gets put aside, and I appreciate that).

I do get mildly annoyed when people endlessly ask my children, “So, have you been good for Santa this year?” But I am happy that people are usually nice to children this time of year, which can’t always be said for the rest of the year. 😉

To deal, I listen to Christmas carols at home (borrowing CDs from the library is a good way to do this commercial-free!), shop at off-peak times (which I do anyway), and do as much prep as I can beforehand so I’m hopefully not running to the store at the last minute when it’s likely to be crowded. I do like being at home with the decorations out and music playing. We finished wrapping and putting the gifts under the tree, I’ve got the candy in the freezer ready to put in the stockings (good hiding place, plus chocolate out of the freezer is delicious)…

…wait, I forgot to buy eggnog. :doh2:
 
It seems to get worse every year. Definitely a reason to be grumpy. There’s even a christmas show called ‘grumpy old men’ & ‘grumpy old women’; full of bah humbug complaints about the ‘secular’ competition Christmas often turns into.
The people in this show have given up trying to win awards such as:.the best christmas dinner & desert menu, followed by the best christmas table & interior decor; the best house christmas lights competition; the best present thought of; the best wrapping paper; the best social gathering - the amount of family & friends attending; the best fun that was had on the day; & basically who had the best champagne party of a Christmas. Even if you are a runner up in this competition, you have totally outdone Martha in the work department. You have slaved over the stove for hours to make it look ‘perfect’, you have slaved over yiur garden for weeks so that not a blade of grass is out of line, your house has been cleaned to within an inch of its squeaky life, & you are so angry with everything & everyone that the first glass of champagne might actually see u.commit murder, or send you into a crumpled heap on the floor for the rest of the day.
So, yes, the secular world has made Christmas hard, placing many demands and expectations on its shoulders, very few of which does Christ require. Thank God.:dancing:
 
Joy2day said:
It seems to get worse every year. Definitely a reason to be grumpy. There’s even a christmas show called ‘grumpy old men’ & ‘grumpy old women’; full of bah humbug complaints about the ‘secular’ competition Christmas often turns into.
The people in this show have given up trying to win awards such as:.the best christmas dinner & desert menu, followed by the best christmas table & interior decor; the best house christmas lights competition; the best present thought of; the best wrapping paper; the best social gathering - the amount of family & friends attending; the best fun that was had on the day; & basically who had the best champagne party of a Christmas. Even if you are a runner up in this competition, you have totally outdone Martha in the work department. You have slaved over the stove for hours to make it look ‘perfect’, you have slaved over yiur garden for weeks so that not a blade of grass is out of line, your house has been cleaned to within an inch of its squeaky life, & you are so angry with everything & everyone that the first glass of champagne might actually see u.commit murder, or send you into a crumpled heap on the floor for the rest of the day.
So, yes, the secular world has made Christmas hard, placing many demands and expectations on its shoulders, very few of which does Christ require. Thank God.:dancing:
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People put these demands on THEMSELVES for their own glorification.
No wonder they’re grumpy.
No one ever believes they receive enough accolades do they?
If they looked outside of themselves, they might experience Christmas.
The “secular world” only enters in if we invite it in, and welcome it with open arms. People who do this should not be surprised that it doesn’t fulfill. No one is hounding me into a camera ready life. Far from it. I have enough strength despite being exhausted form work and life in general to resist and turn my own thoughts to the Child Jesus.
It’s also a symptom of secularism that we blame outside influences for our behavior.
People who don’t like the commercialism only have to not indulge in it.
It’s a pretty easy fix.
Merry Christmas.
 
I hear a lot of people who talk about the phoniness of people being nice to each other just because it’s Christmas…but the fact that people are trying to be nice…no matter their issues the rest of the year is a good thing. Maybe it’s not phoney, maybe they are hoping they can put differences aside at least for the one day.

Just something to think about.
 
pianistclare said:
People put these demands on THEMSELVES for their own glorification.
No wonder they’re grumpy.
No one ever believes they receive enough accolades do they?
If they looked outside of themselves, they might experience Christmas.
The “secular world” only enters in if we invite it in, and welcome it with open arms. People who do this should not be surprised that it doesn’t fulfill. No one is hounding me into a camera ready life. Far from it. I have enough strength despite being exhausted form work and life in general to resist and turn my own thoughts to the Child Jesus.
It’s also a symptom of secularism that we blame outside influences for our behavior.
People who don’t like the commercialism only have to not indulge in it.
It’s a pretty easy fix.
Merry Christmas.
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Cheers! 😃
its called Keeping up with the Joneses, as opposed to Keeping up with Christ.
 
Joy2day said:
Cheers! 😃
its called Keeping up with the Joneses, as opposed to Keeping up with Christ.
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Well, maybe we who are Catholics should take up the cause and make sure we cheer those who are affected by the grumpies. 😉
God bless, and Merry Christmas.
 
Anglewannabe said:
Honestly, ever since I was a teenager (and realized my family was dysfunctional) I have found the supposed Holiday Spirit horrific.
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Everyone’s family is dysfunctional in one way or another.

I can’t wait for Christmas. I just wish we has some snow this year.

BTW, I’d probably call you Grinch too if you said my holiday spirit was “horrific”. And whether you say it out-loud or not, I’m sure your feelings come thru loud and clear.
 
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