They call me Scrooge

I really don't hate Christmas the way some people think I do. My mom assumes that I'm just a "Scrooge" and tells everyone such, but the reality is that I'm seriously annoyed with all of the PRESSURE that comes with the holiday. (Annoyed and hate are different, right?)

Think about it.

Pressure to buy gifts, usually starting before Halloween with emails, commercials and crap stacked up at stores.
Pressure to plan the perfect meal, be sure you see everyone you're "supposed" to see that day, exchange gifts, and any other tradition your family may have.
Pressure to spend money that you may not have because "it's what you do" for Christmas. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday... isn't there a green somethingerother thrown in there now?! COME ON!!!
Pressure to play the part of a happy American who loves Christmas. Even in the worst of situations (like Wal-Mart).

And it's all so exhausting that by the end of Christmas day, you're lucky to make it to your own bed before planting face first and passing out for as many hours as you're allowed before you go back to work (which for a lot of us is the next day).

 

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH!!

We plan for months for a day that's JUST ANOTHER DAY that the media tells us we should treat differently. What's the difference in Christmas day, and a family dinner on Sunday? It shouldn't be a dang thing, but it is... because we're pressured to recognize a commercial holiday.
Guess what.
I'm learning to despise Christmas because of its expectations. The magic is gone.

More than anything, I'm annoyed that it's in my face for months at a time. TV movies, commercials, songs, ringing bells, red covering the stores, lights... everywhere! Why is this ONE HOLIDAY such a big friggin' deal?! We really have our priorities screwed up.