Christmas puts me in a terrible mood. Am I the only one?

[MikeV]

Well christmas is upon us and all I can do is shoot off steam

I dont know why but every christmas I get extremely moody, besides christmas eve and christmas day.

So for example ill be doing a lot of this: until the 23rd, then until the 26th im fine

I have no clue why I get so moody before christmas. maybe its waiting for presents (I am the most impatient person on the planet, seriously if impatience was an olympic sport id win the gold medal by far)

or maybe its the christmas cartoons/movies. I dont know why but when a christmas cartoon or goofy christmas movie comes on the TV it just enrages me.

Am I the only one who gets like this before christmas? Am I just weird?

[olstyn]

It's the music. I work in retail, and while I don't hate Christmas itself, I sure do hate all the surrounding crap, especially the music. Hearing the same ancient Christmas song done (badly) by 5 different artists over the course of only an hour is enough to drive anyone mad.

[zina10]

I have to admit, the "hoopla" around it does get to me.
The super early decorations and music/movies everywhere, the commercials and pushy people.

I know , this might sound "soppy" but what I do like are the memories of snow and twinkling lights everywhere, the excitement as a kid. Decorating the Christmas tree. Trying to sneak out of the over filled church without the parents noticing, and being back in by the time it (finally) finishes.

Nowadays its all loud, abrasive and commercial. Its still fun for the kids, though, and thats good

Personally, I only feel the "magic" on dark quiet nights, being outside in nature and admiring its beauty, being out in the cold and seeing Christmas lights everywhere, or sipping hot chocolate while enjoying a warm evening by candle light and the fireplace, admiring my Christmas tree. Yes, I know how corny that sounds

Basically, the "loud in your face commercial" Christmas gets on my nerves, but I still manage to find the one that matters to me.

[marwari31]

I get really stressed when family comes over. About 75 people come to my house for christmas eve so all I can think about is cooking and cleaning and I don't get to have any fun so its not that great for me either.

BUT...we have a lot of young kids in our family and i LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing their reactions to the tree, snow, presnets, decorations and the like

[zina10]

You cook for 75 people ?

Not to mention clean, house, entertain ??

[MikeV]

It's the music. I work in retail, and while I don't hate Christmas itself, I sure do hate all the surrounding crap, especially the music. Hearing the same ancient Christmas song done (badly) by 5 different artists over the course of only an hour is enough to drive anyone mad.

OH MAH GAWD LOL i forgot about the music. the music is enough to make me want to jump off a bridge.

I have to admit, the "hoopla" around it does get to me.
The super early decorations and music/movies everywhere, the commercials and pushy people.

I know , this might sound "soppy" but what I do like are the memories of snow and twinkling lights everywhere, the excitement as a kid. Decorating the Christmas tree. Trying to sneak out of the over filled church without the parents noticing, and being back in by the time it (finally) finishes.

Nowadays its all loud, abrasive and commercial. Its still fun for the kids, though, and thats good

Personally, I only feel the "magic" on dark quiet nights, being outside in nature and admiring its beauty, being out in the cold and seeing Christmas lights everywhere, or sipping hot chocolate while enjoying a warm evening by candle light and the fireplace, admiring my Christmas tree. Yes, I know how corny that sounds

Basically, the "loud in your face commercial" Christmas gets on my nerves, but I still manage to find the one that matters to me.

Yeah I can appreciate the beauty of the winter, I love the snow so winter time is pretty good for me

I get really stressed when family comes over. About 75 people come to my house for christmas eve so all I can think about is cooking and cleaning and I don't get to have any fun so its not that great for me either.

BUT...we have a lot of young kids in our family and i LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing their reactions to the tree, snow, presnets, decorations and the like

wow, 75 people! jesus I would be going bonkers if I had to deal with that much work LOL

[rabernet]

Christmas was always magical for me growing up, but I also grew up in NC where there are a lot of Moravian communities that have traditions that most of the community adopt or make part of their tradition as well. Almost every house has a Moravian star hanging over their front porch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moravian_star

Almost everyone within a reasonable distance makes a trip to Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC during the Christmas season to pick up home made beeswax candles, coffee cake, Moravian cookies. http://www.oldsalem.org/holiday.html

And my favorite thing in the world is to go to a midnight Christmas Eve candlelight Lovefeast at a Moravian church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovefeast

[midwest_98]

This time of year definitely stresses me out, tons of money to spend that i never have, cold weather, lots of houses to visit for the holiday, memories of loved ones who have past etc etc.

I at least have a new woman in my life that brings quite a bit of joy and i have my son on christmas eve so i get to experience a awesome christmas morning (hes getting his new orange ghost that morning ) Should be a great couple days.

Not to mention i work in collections so everyone is spending there money on other things rather than bills.

[mainbutter]

It's all about the cold and lack of sunshine for me.

[Freakie_frog]

As I get older I find that when it comes to the holidays we adapt traditions to fit my family traditions. When I was a kid it was turkey and stuffing, mom would really put on a great spread for dinner, loads of presents, time at the grand parents ect ect.. Now Christmas is more about relaxing and enjoying my family than the media induced scene of got to have that most people have.. I'd rather spend Christmas eve with a good bottle of wine, a nice cigar, good steak and my wife, son and dogs in front of a fire listening to music or reading a book. We have gone from a "Christmas List" to finding one item that the other person would never buy for themselves, like an out of print book or a painting for their office or the house..

This time of the year use to get me all up tight what with traffic, bills, wrapping, buying, debt.. Now it good wine, good food and relaxing with family..and poof the magic is back..I'm excited for Christmas again..