Ever Think About Boycotting Christmas?

1. 66

   ThompsonPenposted 12 years ago

   I'm just wondering. After all, it causes so much stress for every one, and is a pretty costly time of the year. Ever think about just saying "you know, this year I'm going to ignore it"?

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      LeanManposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      When I worked in Saudi Arabia I had no choice... we all had to work as it is just a normal day.. No decorations available in the stores from September onwards.. No carols blaring out as everyone queues 20 deep for the checkout.. Just a normal day.......
      Very peaceful and stress free... this year I already hate the stores and I have not got the kids presents yet!!!

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      plogan721posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It depends.  If you are talking about boycotting the commercialism about Christmas, the answer would be yes I feel like it.  To me, Christmas means more to me then just shopping for presents to be put under a tree, eating until I am ready to burst, and music that gets repeated some many times through that time.

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      Any Other Voiceposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Happy Festivus...

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      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think you can have some control over how much stress it is.

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         WriteAngledposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Not really, when so much of the stress comes from other people's expectations.
         
         Most people I know seem resigned to endure a traditional "family Xmas", which they despise, because they are afraid to offend or hurt relatives.

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            psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I think you still have control over how much you are controlled by family expectations and how much you associate with family that have unreasonable expectations. And if associating with them is more good then bad, then I make it clear how much I am willing to do.  This does not involve laying on a whole dinner even if I provide the table it is eaten on.  And there is an hour of the night I expect everyone to leave. etc.

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      paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "Ever Think About Boycotting Christmas?"
      
      No. To me, Christmas is the time of year when we try to be nice to each other. I'm big on that sort of thing.

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         ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         But shouldn't we be putting that principle into place all year opposed to just one mandatory chunk of the year? It's kind of like being a good Christian on Sunday, but the rest of the week swindling people and whatever else.

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      alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wouldn't be a lot of mileage in it in this house. Christmas is compulsory! We seem to sprout a small pine forest from early November - a real one in the front bay window, a synthetic one at the back window (same room), another 'falsie' in the dining room, one on the landing and a twee mini-tree by the door into the younger daughter's room! Then there's this infectious bustle from the wife and older daughter - all these packets from Amazon for her arriving at our address because there's nobody at hers. Not to mention all the cards and wrapping papers in the living room.
      No, there's no mileage in boycotting Chrimbo in our house. Anyway, I'd get sent to Coventry!

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      jessonMaroonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No. Not even think about to boycott Christmas.
      Christmas should be celebrated. This has become a tradition to celebrate it.

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      Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's the only time of the year my pastor brother is nice to me.

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   justateacherposted 12 years ago

   This year, I have thought of that...just because of the stress...

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   Victoria Lynnposted 12 years ago

   Yes, this year for sure. I haven't had time to deal with it. But other people won't let me, of course.

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   Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years ago

   I don't boycott it. I just insist on celebrating it my own way. Luckily, I have friends and family who let me be myself without flooding me with their expectations. I really appreciate that.

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   Thelma Albertsposted 12 years ago

   No, I don´t boycott it. It´s a tradition in my family and it´s just sad to think of Christmas without celebration.

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   Louise Latelyposted 12 years ago

   Sometimes I would definitely like to! At times when you've just finished work and you need to hurry out to the shops before they close - together with half the population of London:/ There is a lot to think about in a short space of time. The whole concept of buying stuff because others are going to be buying something for you is all a bit stressful - it's like you are pressured into buying things. I probably sound like the worst Scrooge ever but when it comes down to it, I quite enjoy most things that surround Christmas - it's just easy to complain. Hope you have a great Christmas!

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   WriteAngledposted 12 years ago

   I'd love to spend this time of year somewhere where Christmas does not exist.
   
   Yes, I will be spending the time with my daughters, and it will be nice to see them since they live some distance away. However, we can and do get together any time of year without needing a specific excuse to do so.

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      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I was supposed to be in Egypt this year for christmas. I was so excited to not hear Jingle Bells! But it got too dangerous and we had to cancel. So now, Jingle all the way...

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         alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Joseph and his young family are thought to have upped-it off to Egypt when things got hot in Israel. Now he'd be better off sticking it out in Israel. Funny old world, ain't it!

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   Nurseyposted 12 years ago

   Christmas is so wonderous. I would weep if we had no Christmas. ♥ ♥ ♥

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   FatFreddysCatposted 12 years ago

   I have boycotted Christmas in the past. My father passed away on Christmas Eve in 1999, so obviously we didn't feel much like celebrating the next day. That carried over to the next year as well.

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      alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      My uncle died last year only a week before Christmas. They still managed to cheer up and celebrate - to an extent. My Mum died at the beginning of November this year, and we've just managed to get her affairs sorted out. Christmas will be almost normal this year, her ashes are downstairs waiting for me to go up North and spread her ashes on the Moors, so in a way she's still going to be 'at the party'!

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    NathaNaterposted 12 years ago

    Yes, generally I think Christmas is phoney and commercial; a way for people to pretend to be nice one day out of 365. And it's just a way for those with money to make more and more money. The whole thing is a sham from top to bottom. I don't exactly boycott it, I just don't celebrate it; guess that's the same thing.

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       ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I try very hard not to celebrate it. I tell every one every year I'm not doing it, but then I catch wind of some one getting me something and I can't just have a gift and not give a gift....So I give in every year. This year I almost got it down to just my mom and my significant other, but somehow I got signed up for a secret santa - which I did not approve of, but it got done any way - and have to get a gift within the $50 range! Who can afford that??? For a stranger too!
       I don't like the commercialism. I like the love that it inspires, but that's about it.

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          alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

          It boils down to what you make of it. You can spend the season listening for Jacob Marley dragging his chains, or you can sit in front of the telly with a mine pie and a brandy and toast your celluloid hero(in)es!

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             alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

             That should read 'mince pie'! (Put some extra brandy in them before you put them in the oven. Six'll do, leave one for me...

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                ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                I never did get into mince pie. Too tart for my tastes

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                   alancaster149posted 12 years agoin reply to this

                   It all depends on what's been put into the mince pies. You can make them as sweet or as 'desserty' as you want. Rum or brandy tends to de-sweeten them, but you wouldn't want to drive after polishing off a few! The 'mince' can be bought ready-made in a jar, or mixed in a bowl with things like diced carrot, currants, raisins. Put more carrot in for less sweet (I think it tends to act as a 'drier' though, so you wouldn't want to put too much in or it'll be like mixing cement with too much sand!.

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                      WriteAngledposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                      Mince pies?
                      
                      Give me pannetone and turron any day!

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             rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             I've always loved a bit of Brit humour.  Especially after browsing the thread topics on page 1.
             
             I don't boycott Christmas, but I've certainly dropped the expectations and simply enjoy the season... with a few glasses of holiday cheer. 
             Enjoy it, be nice. 
             
             This should bring some holiday smiles, a card I received.  It may take a moment to load.

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                Nurseyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                I don't know this "Brit humour" but what a lovely thing to say. I hope you also enjoy it! ♡ ♡ ♡

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                   rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                   OH, I will and do.  Thank you. I enjoy every day, why not?
                   
                   I'm wondering whose alter ego you are...

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                      Nurseyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                      Alter ego? I am new and it is so nice to meet you. I hope we meet again on the Hub Pages forums. Have you been here a very long time? ♡ ♡ ♡

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                      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                      I  was wondering the same thing..

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11. 87

    Healthyannieposted 12 years ago

    Don't boycott Christmas do something positive or different. Help a homeless person, make sandwiches, collect blankets, pick up a couple of thermos flasks and hit the streets

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       ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I agree, however, we shouldn't need this time of the year to inspire us to do it just because it t'is the season. I think it should be something we're adopting year 'round.

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    knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

    I'm still here. Merry Aquarius.

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       ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Merry Aquarius indeed!

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    mattforteposted 12 years ago

    You can't boycott a holiday. It is a day with a name, and it is a day where most families take an excuse to spend time together.
    That's like saying "I'm going to boycott summer" and expect it to just go away.

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       ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       The difference being Summer is a natural occurrence, Christmas is man-made. It won't go away, no. But you can save yourself the stress that it forces upon many people

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