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10 Reasons I Hate Christmas. Love, The Grinch.
by Sarah Miller
*Warning*: If you are offended easily, don’t read this….
One doesn’t have to look far to see the atrocious side-effects of the Christmas season on the environment and on the psyche.
As a non-Christian and non- religious (but extremely spiritual) Being, I take offense to much of these customs that are seemingly forced upon us during this time of year.
Oh I can hear the backlash of comments to come!! I’m speaking blasphemy. Blah Blah…But here are my top ten reasons that I choose to be Grinchy at this time of year.
1) It all starts waaay too early: Shortly after they get done with Halloween, the Christmas crap starts showing up in stores- well over two months before the event. The DAY after Thanksgiving (don’t get me started!) people are out putting up the tacky “yard ornaments.” December technically starts on November 25th in America.
2) The yard stuff is tacky: I don’t mind making the long, cold winter months a bit more cheery with some lights and nog. Whatever. But when your lights/Santa/ candy canes/Mickey Mouse etc., are life size, they infringe on my personal space and vision. Furthermore, when your yard looks like Las Vegas, you’ve gone too far. When you don’t know how to artfully arrange items, or determine what is clearly distasteful, or what has nothing to do with Christmas in the first place, you have no business putting anything in your front yard. Period. (Example: dalmatians, lollipops, Mickey Mouse, blow up Santas, deer etc.)
3) Lights, electricity, fossil fuels: Have we thought about the environmental implications of the excessive use of electricity for all these lights, blow up machines and spotlights?! How many watts are being used when a yard is so bright it competes with the full moon itself? Then, on top of this, people DRIVE around in their cars to look at the Christmas lights. Talk about over-consumption and a waste of fossil fuel.
4) The “Christmas tree”: I don’t even have to say it, it’s so obvious. A living tree has been killed. For what? For less than thirty days of enjoyment. For putting gifts under (I’ll get to that in a second). To say that you “did a tree this year.” To hang chintzy ornaments on. It’s disgusting. Kill nature. Then decorate it. Then throw it away. Oh so American! I am obviously not pro-killing trees for decoration. Tree farms? Still a bad idea. Then there are the fake trees. Made of plastic and entirely non-biodegradable. Need I say more?
There’s also the reality that the “Christmas tree” is associated historically with paganism and several other traditions but gained popularity in the U.S. and UK during Queen Victoria’s reign mid 18th century. As it turns out, it is a fairly new holiday association.
5) Gifts?: What kind of gifts are these anyway? Gifts you need? Or gifts you want? Gifts your kids are whining about? Basically it’s more crap. It’s a holiday designed for retailers and makes people feel the need to buy, buy, buy. Long after the holidays are over, your finances have gone to sh*t. You are giving gifts just to give gifts because that’s what people do at Christmas; give gifts. Who needs gifts? Who needs anything? Right. No one.
6) Put the Christ back in Christmas: Let’s first point out that Christ wasn’t a Christian- he was Jew. Secondly, I’m all for celebrating Christs’ day of birth except for one small thing: he wasn’t actually born in December. In fact, he was born sometime closer to spring. The Christians actually disguised their celebrations under the auspices of Solstice (a considerably “Pagan” holiday by some standards) in order to avoid persecution.
Perhaps this holiday should be restored to its more truthful origins? Or is this the epitome of what the holiday itself has become?
7) Separation of church and state: So according to our government, we all must be Christians who celebrate such things as Christmas. Otherwise all government offices wouldn’t be closed and all working folks wouldn’t get days off from their employers- by law. I could have sworn that our Constitution states a separation of church and state? Hmmm. So let me get this straight, a country built on the very backs of immigration, that boasts its very founding on freedom of religion and the ending of an oppressive regime, is now telling me what holiday to celebrate and my government sees no conflict with this- even though the Constitution clearly states otherwise? Wow, we are so hoodwinked! Clearly, I’m not getting days off from work for Diwali or Ramadan. No. Only Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas…….
Santa Clause: We all know there was a St. Nick who lived once. Around the world there are depictions of a jovial Being and his generosity. I love it. I really do. There are pagan ties (Odin to the Germans) that have made Santa taboo for certain Christian celebrations. I like the guy. But……my point is, he doesn’t actually belong with Christmas at all. Call me a Puritan, but he’s not Christmas. And besides, you’re lyin’ to the kids and that ain’t cool.
9) “Merry Christmas!”: How many times do I have to hear “Merry Christmas!” in my lifetime? How many times will I have to respond with “happy holidays” before people realize that not everyone is celebrating their holiday with them? Isn’t it a bit egotistical to assume that everyone else is ALSO celebrating Christmas? I find it super rude. Especially for those who are celebrating Hanukkah and Kwanzaa at this time of year. And funny no one wishes me a happy Raam Navami…..
To put it into perspective, American Muslims don’t go around wishing EVERYONE “happy Ramadan” every year. Why? Because they know that not everyone in America is celebrating Ramadan with them. So why do Christians, or those celebrating Christmas, assume that everyone else is playing along with them? Weird.
10) Bottomline: I think this Christmas thing is WAY out of control. If you want to celebrate your holiday, go for it! I support you in that effort and honor your desire for celebration in the name of your personal beliefs. But please, please, don’t turn this into an everyone holiday. And to those who are just giving stupid gifts and cutting trees and putting up horrid light displays with Mickey and lollipops and dalmatians, you need to find some meaning in it all. You’re celebrating Christ after all. Aren’t you?
With love,
The Grinch.
November 25th? You're right, but it's even worse: November 1st I was biking through 29th Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, and Frank Sinatra was singing Jingle Bells or some gaddamn thing. November 1st!
Another agreement here, great quote via Sojourners:
"It's good to remember that Jesus grew up as a poor Jew in a poor town. His life was not about having great material possessions, but about living for God in this humble and modest way."
- Stephen Chapman, associate professor of the Old Testament at Duke Divinity School, on the discovery of the first dwelling in Nazareth that dates to Jesus' era. (Source: USA Today)
Controversy for the sake of controversy. Sorry, but this post was full of the same old trite complaints about Christmas that numerous people before you have expressed. No one "forces" Christmas upon you. You have a choice when it comes to celebrating it or ignoring it.
Though I consider myself a "Christ-follower" in the sense that I appreciate his teachings and the life he led as an example for others to follow, I am not crazy about the Christmas tradition. I don't get caught up in it, nor do I let it affect me.
I think it's silly to write a post being so annoyed by something you can simply abstain from, and have much more peace in your heart and mind as a result.
I respectfully disagree, Joe. While I don't think that the post was paticularly original, but I do think that this season is "forced" upon those that don't follow it. For 3 months we are bombarded with Christmas promotion, propaganda and pomp.
Cheers,
John
I respectfully disagree, John. You're bombared with the high consumer holiday that has surpassed Christmas the religious holiday. To point out how Christians co-oped these pagen rituals without mentioning that irony is unfortunate. Most of us are consumers before anything else. Yes, even us pedantic and high minded Buddhists can be catagorised as consumers first. Without addressing this consumer component, the article falls flat in making an original contribution to this new (offically tiresome) holiday ritual of pointing out hypocricsys of Christmas (leaving out ourselves is always nice).
Wow! This is a very similar comment to the one left on my blog…hmmm…
My immediate family did a "No-Buy" Christmas this year as did my extended family (Buddhist, Christian and Atheist). So, personally, I have no problem pointing out the hypocricsys of this particular holiday (consumer or Christian). The consumer aspect is well established and understood. Why would that be need to be brought up, again?
I don't think the pagan aspects of this Holiday are well understood by most people that celebrate it. It is well to be brought up every year. I field the comment that people don't "get" why I prefer not to have a nativity scene or loads of lights up at my house. As well as why I don't say "Merry Christmas" during the holiday, let alone when I explain that I have my own beliefs.
Although, all said, I appreciate your comment (twice).
Cheers,
John
Joe – I suggest that you re-read #7. Government offices are closed for Christian holidays. I work in a government office, and I do not subscribe to christian beliefs. I would rather take different days off, but I do not have that option. We can't simply "abstain" and ignore it. Happy Holidays!!
2 words: advent conspiracy
two words: pastry and coffee!
Well, I have to disagree with Joe. Though my family chooses to celebrate the changing of the seasons and to use lights to brighten our dark winter nights, I am extremely bothered by the over-consumptive and excessive capitalistic "celebration" that we now call Christmas. And there IS no way to avoid it. Joe seems to think this is simply a matter of looking the other way. That is an impossibility. It's EVERYWHERE you look, and even if you choose not to celebrate Christmas, you have no choice but to observe it. You can't do ANYTHING on December 25th in America. Everything is closed, including most grocery stores. If you're Jewish or Muslim, or Pagan, or Atheist, whatever…you can't even get gas or groceries in some small communities.
And Sarah, I want to add to the fossil fuels discussion. WIth all the gifts people are ordering and shipping all over the place, the carbon footprint for this "holiday" is extreme! I live in a rural area and I saw FedEx pull into my neighbor's driveway three times yesterday alone. I could go on and on…
The point is, that in order to create something meaningful, my family exchanges a few needed, or hand-made items on the shortest day of the year as we welcome back the light with a feast, and wishes for a beautiful year ahead. But then, of course, we have to engage with the extended rest of the family who does do the whole ridiculous gift-giving exchange. We have to drive all day to get there, and watch everyone stress out in order to enjoy the "merriment" of the season. It's pretty much a world of difference from my reality. And THAT is really a problem. If something is supposed to bring you joy and you're so stressed out by it all the time, then why not make some adjustments?
*smooch*
I dunno. Seems like more and more of the articles at this site are leaning in the direction of smug and judgmental.
You think peoples' lawn ornaments are "tacky"? Good for you. Just seems a bit harsh coming from someone who claims to be a "spiritual Being."
Remember, every writer posts in their own voice, to their own integrity. It's a community here, and if someone comes off as "off," the wonderful 2.0 two-way street of new media (ie, comments like yours) help bring this site, and our authors, back to kindness and fairness and away from being too judgemental. So stop judging us.
Before I forget! Sarah, a pagan friend has been posting on my personal blog this past month on how he deals with the Christmas Holiday. He referenced your article (positively). It will be up on Christmas.
Happy Holidays! Love the rant!
John
http://www.zendirtzendust.com
I'm sorry, but spiritual being or not, I think MOST people with taste have some idea that lighting your house up Griswold style is tacky. I don't think that constitutes being smug or judgmental. Opinionated, yes. But aren't we all allowed that?
Oh, I give your comment a thumbs up. Thanks for sharing, it can be harder to share criticism, so kudos.
Well, I reread my post and it was more critical than it should have been. My apologyies. Happy holidays, and cheers to community.
Lead editorial, most popular on entire NY Times site right now: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/opinion/24krist... via Nicholas Kristof
Another in similar vein: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24xmas….
Another in similar vein: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24xmas….
Thanks Sarah for such a refreshing viewpoint!
[...] by Waylon Lewis, elephantjournal.com on Dec 25, 2009 A lot of people, manyyy of my friends, hate Christmas. And for very good reasons. [...]
A great list! This year, my family and I gave each other letters and it was so much fun to think of the gift that each one of them is to me. So much more pleasant than struggling through long lines and parking lots to get people stuff they don't want, spending money I don't have! Great stuff!
Wow when you lead with a description of yourself as – "extremely spiritual" and then go on such a harsh and senseless rant I have to say "Hold on a minute?"
I think people of any religion or spiritual persuasion extending what is intended to be a happy and peaceful greeting to another person is beautiful and sorely lacking in society today. I never feel like "Merry Christmas" is proselytizing and if "Happy Ramadan" ever came my way I'd be ok with that too. Religious tolerance is quite simply a key to peace on earth. I would be the first to agree that the commercialization of Christmas as well as garish displays are annoying but then again I can look the other way at many things that I do not agree with if they cause me or others no real harm. When I hear others complain that Happy Holidays has replaced Merry Christmas in the malls I politely remind them that there is little spirituality to be found in most retail stores. Why allow yourself to be offended by something so benign?
So I say with peace and love in my heart – Happy Hanukkah, Namaste, As-Salam Alaikum, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you Sarah!
this is an area which i think needs some serious attention. let me get this straight: spiritual people aren't supposed to be mismatchers? see the incongruencies in life? see what's "wrong" in order to create what is "right"? say "negative" things? this is a truly unfortunate expression of spirituality and verges on dogma and mood making. let's be authentic in our lives, even if that means we aren't all "happy and roses, love and bliss" in every moment. accept your emotions, expressions and feelings. this, too, is a part of life and Being. that said, i appreciate your positivity because it brings those of us who aren't feeling that level of joy in the moment, back to center. thanks for the comment.
If you wanted me the reader to pause and think – you got it! (and good for you). I think we are all trying to figure this spirituality thing out. I am simply suggesting we let the more benign aspects of an others spiritual journey that conflicts with ours simply be okay. When true proselytizing and conversion is occurring we should call it out. I would challenge you that a call for being "authentic in our lives" might sound a bit dogmatic as well since we all have many conflicts everyday in our words and actions. It is the hardest challenge to living in society since compromise is always required. I hope my general trend in life is that I am always traveling toward the "good" (whatever that means) and away from the "bad" (whatever that means). Thanks for replying and sharing and provoking thought in many of us.
does anyone else see the humor in all of us discussing our opinions and thinking that our viewpoint is somehow a valiant effort at truth? i especially love it because the piece is titled "10 reasons i hate christmas" yet never mentions why you should too. it is quite personal. that said, i find it extremely interesting to hear others' views on these crazy holidays and truly appreciate your interest in my "grinchy" take on life. i would like to mention that i actually wrote this last year, when i lived in Houston. if you have never withstood multiple "texas christmases", i invite you to subject yourself to a few just for good measure. then, maybe, we can really have a good chuckle over all of this. bless*
A "very spiritual being" wouldn't even think to call themselves a very spiritual being let alone write this article.
thanks for being an authority on "spirituality" JM and letting me know that i am not. wonderful!
Other religions are trying to eradicate Our Main Holiday! We need to pass a law making Our Main Holiday "Number One." Retail stores shouldn't be allowed to take the focus off Our Holiday — OR ELSE. The nerve of some people, to mention other holidays and other religions at this time of year! Bah, Humbug! It's all about US! It's Our Holiday, or the highway! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!
the author takes herself so seriously i can't take her seriously! As a reader, you lose my trust as soon as you start relying on CAPS and !! instead of wit to make your point. This post lacks sophistication and eloquence, two things on which i believe elephant otherwise prides itself by sticking to meaningful content written by educated columnists.
the only thing that is "offensive" to me about this post is sarah's continual use of the second person, which assumes that I agree with her, forcing her opinion on me in a way that is more "obnoxious" than any yard ornament. Good journalism leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions. And the negativity the article (and seemingly Sarah) spreads is probably more toxic for our environment than the fossil fuels from some idling cars full of families to be freaking happy.
the article is all ego and no logos; ironic considering it was published by a mindful magazine that promotes Buddhism which is principled by (insert antonym for ego here).
agreed, the flawed holiday has been hijacked. the new christmas is the entire consumerist ecosystem boiled down to an unofficial fifth season, a microcosm of a worldwide epidemic. I wish the author had read a scholarly criticism on over-commercialization of christmas, such as Scroogenomics by Joel Waldfogel or reviewed material from the Advent Conspiracy, which has been compiling the case against Christmas for years. Perhaps then might this have had some substance.
that this person considers her "extremely spiritual" is evidence for how meaningless and overused the word spiritual is anymore. Mother Theresa was extremely spiritual, and she didn't gain her rep for it by holding onto and then unabatedly spewing her resentments all over the internet.
sarah: good luck finding more joy in 2010.
that comment seems grinchier than even sarah's! woops. good thing i've got no claim on spirituality
love love love