December 20, 2005
It's around this time every year that I start to become annoyed with the Christmas-haters, and it's not general annoyance, either; it's very specific annoyance targeted at one thing that they all seem to like to say:
"If Christmas is so great, why don't we just do it all year round?"
If you see me rolling my eyes this Christmas season, it's probably because someone just pulled out that old chestnut. (I'd like to roast it on an open fire, I tell you what.) The premise seems to be that Christmas is stupid, because if the purpose is to celebrate goodwill and cheer and friends and family, well, gee whiz, shouldn't we just do that every single day of the year? It's just dumb to pick one day of the year and shoehorn all the goodwill and cheer into it. Why don't we have Christmas every single day if it's so G-D important?
I know this entry may seem strawman-like, as I am not actually responding to any specific person, but trust me when I tell you that I have heard those words, more or less verbatim, from various friends and acquaintances over the years.
Anyway, the answer is quite simple, and it's the same answer for why we don't celebrate everyone's birthday every single day of the year, too. Holidays are a special day we set aside to spend time with friends and family and to celebrate whatever it is that we're celebrating. Think about that: celebrating. If you do it every single day, it's not special, and it's not a celebration, it's just everyday stuff, and if you have the ability within yourself to overlook petty grievances and annoyances and just immerse yourself in love of family and friends every single day of the year, well, that's great. I don't know too many people like that, though.
Everyday means, well, every day. It means getting up for work and making breakfast for the kids and putting gas in the car and meeting that deadline and remembering to pick up your suit from the dry cleaner's, and paying the bills. Sure, you appreciate your loved ones during all of this, but unless you have the metaphysical ability to control time and space, you're not going to be able to express that every day.
The holiday season, and Christmas in particular (or other holiday if you are of a different faith, of course) is a time set aside to celebrate. You don't have to go to work -- well, most of you don't, anyay -- and you get together with your family and have a little Christmas party, or even a big Christmas party, and you knock back some eggnog and listen to some carols and watch football on TV, or do whatever you do, but the point is that this is not something you can do every day of the year. It's special. It's a holiday. It's a celebration.
Maybe I haven't been convincing, and maybe there are still those of you out there snorting and thinking to yourselves that holidays are still pretty stupid, but I respectfully disagree. You see, it is simply because I treasure my family and loved ones so much, that I value our time together so highly, and because we all have everyday, mundane chores to do most of the time, we can't see each other en masse more than a few times a year. It is those times that I cherish, and I will not have anyone telling me that I am stupid for appreciating them.
So keep your bah, humbug to yourself, please.
Posted at December 20, 2005 5:10 PM
Posted by: Sarah at December 20, 2005 10:09 PM
Have you heard about the guy who celebrates Christmas EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Posted by: Jennifer at December 21, 2005 1:51 PM
Hm, that didn't work:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051129/wl_uk_afp/afplifestylebritain_051129093224
Posted by: Jennifer at December 21, 2005 1:52 PM
When terrible things happen to people during the month of December (like losing loved ones or house fires, etc.), this is what I believe causes the "Christmas haters". They cant get past what event may have happened to them, no matter how many years have gone by. This leaves them the opportunity to suck us dry of any goodness and cheer and relaxation we may be trying to celebrate. They are selfish.
Posted by: susy neeley at December 26, 2005 11:57 AM
Damn Christmas haters. I love my Christmas music, and my pretty lights, and all that fun stuff.
I've never heard anyone say that though.