image source flickr
Most people world wide enjoy this holiday for a variety of reasons from:
Family gatherings: This is utter chaos for me as an HSP and offspring of a divorced family. One or two "family" christmases turn into four. Christmas is merely an excuse for people to see each other once a year. It's the ONE time of the year they see each other and for good reason; most of them don't get along, hence the awkward dinner table silence or strange conversation.
Gift giving & receiving: December 25th as many know it, is not when Christ was born & gifts bestowed upon him; many signs by historians point to a time in possibly March or April as a birthdate for Christ. But, that would mess up the other commercial holiday Easter wouldn't it? Christmas has turned into a highly commercialized holiday and that is all that matters to most people, what they can get out of Christmas, not what they can do for others.
Various associated religious reasons. I am nearly 32 and have been brought up in a "traditional" Christian home & have fit into all those categories at one time or another. I say "traditional" because it was extreme right wing beat your kids so they do not go to hell "Christian."
These days I am at my wits end being unemployed and barely making it. My gifts to people this year consisted of post cards I spent meticulous time coloring that'll probably just end up in a waste basket, or given back to me (Yes, this actually happened & the events leading up to that will forever haunt me and deeply sadden me.). Here's my latest one that I'm doing all various hues of purple snowflakes for my grandmother's Christmas & following birthday. Purple is her favorite color.
Sorry to grinch out but this Christmas and last have been some of, but not the worst times of my life. December is also the year I lost a dear friend 16 years ago. This is the last Christmas i plan to celebrate. It's just another day people. If you can't afford to get someone the latest new electronic, you're wasting your time. Here's to hoping 2020 is a better year for me and whoever doesn't desert me.