How do you guys feel during the holidays? (page 2)

At least I don't have to worry about totally suppressing the Christmas music and being sick when there are light displays. I find myself naturally attracted to large numbers of undersized lights, such as Christmas lights. And these days, the regular music you find on the radio is so lame (not dirty or debauched, as parents in past generations whined about, just pathetically lame) that Christmas music is about all I can find that is entertaining. Even rap music these days lost much of its punch it had between 1992 and 2006.

About the only thing I don't do with Christmas is the Jesus part. Everything else, I am fine with. I have my tree, up and decorated, all summer. My lights are on, and I feel it wimpy when I pass house after house with not even a single set of LED lights on display (the electricity for a single set of LED lights is equivalent to an old fashioned night light, and going from a 60-watt equivalent squiggly thing to a CREE LED 60 watt equivalent reduces the equivalent usage of slightly more than a string of 70 LED lights (the snow cone LEDs I got for outward fixtures went from 26 watts to 13 per bulb, directing the light outward, and save about 2 1/2 strings of LED lights per bulb, at nominal usage not even accounting for the 55 watt per bulb reduction I actually got on my electricity bill). Thus, the smut about getting a huge electricity bill for displaying my Christmas lights simply isn't there.

wearewatchingyouman

"How do you guys feel around the holidays?"

Usually a little tipsy, super full and happy watching my kids opening gifts.

Band on the Run

I adore celebrating holidays now. I made my own traditions over the years. This year is a bit atypical b/c I moved out of state. My Christmas stuff is still packed away. Last night I was looking at photos on my phone of my Christmas tree and ornaments. I love attending Christmas concerts. The ornaments took me decades to collect. From Thanksgiving, they seem to come to life. I feel as though they are in prison this year. After New Year's, they revert back to ornaments. My space is too decorated. I think three amarilyss with spotlights would look elegant. The ornaments must have their time.

It is strange but seeing the store windows on Fifth Avenue and the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center with the people ice skating started when I was a toddler. As I grew older, I added trees. I hate cold Decembers b/c I must see my Christmas displays. It is fun to rate them with other strangers in line. There is usually a nine to ten pm run. The anchor for the season is the Midnight Service at St. John the Divine. Thousands of people show up. There is a Winter Solstice festival there a few weeks before Christmas. The space is immense. It is packed. One thing I want to add is volunteering Christmas. I need to tie up a position within the next two weeks. So many other people have the same idea. Maybe I will be an usher next year. I don't want to get stuck with a section in the cold rear.

I dreamed of such a Christmas when I was a Witness. My brother and sister celebrate but I must admit I have the most fervor. It looked like so much fun when I was a Witness. I find it to be fun and rewarding in many ways. It is nice to buy gifts and wrap them. People usually get what I would like to have.

If I never cared about the holidays, I would not care now. The one thing that bothers me is the commercialism in the stores. I also order Junior's cheesecake from Brooklyn or Grand Central and Teuscher's chocolates. This is the one drawback to NY. New York does not allow Teuscher's to seel acoholic chocolates.

Hope4Others

I can celebrate the holidays, but it seems so empty at times. This time of the year makes you think of all the family you lost.

EmptyInside

I can't get into it myself. I usually go to the movies on Christmas. The movie theaters are open.

In this area the young Witnesses would go up to the local ski resort on Christmas Day. Of course,some elders and a CO said it wasn't good to do,since it was a large gathering. Oh,they like to take away all the fun.

But,getting back to what you said about holidays. I feel much the same as you. I never celebrated it,so I guess I don't know what I am missing.

And it can be lonely,when most families get together this time of year. But,my family is divided with those still Witnesses and those who have faded. It's sad really.

I'm just going to enjoy the time off work.

Stand for Pure Worship

I feel conflicted when this time of year comes around. On one hand, I'm happy to see people in a festive mood. On the other hand, the commercialisation of the holiday season is something I find to be repulsive. I feel like more people who celebrate these holidays should be like Jesus when he tossed the merchants out of the temple, especially since Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus. Then again, as an active dub, I don't celebrate it. As a born-in, I've never celebrated it, so I'm not supposed to get it. To be honest with you, I don't really want to get it. I have to say the mixed emotions turn into a little bit of misanthropy and self ridicule. I walked by our break room today and on the TV was The Talk. For a second I cynically thought to myself, "why couldn't all of them(the hostesses) have herniated discs in their backs instead of Tony Romo? It's just not fair." Then for a second the self-pity kicks in like, "how'd I get born into this religion?" Then the stubborn prideful side of me kicks in like, "glad I'm not like these people celebrating this stupid holiday." It's a strange bunch of emotions and none of them are dominant or define my emotional state during this time of year. Rather, all the emotions fight for airtime.

The thing that leaves me the most unsettled during this time of year is figuring out what to do with myself. Got off work early this afternoon and after going home and crashing, I flirted with going back to the office. I just might go to work tomorrow. My routine has been disrupted with this holiday. I refuse to go out in service. I love "the friends", but I don't want to go bowling with them or do anything else social with them as they tend to be a little more sanctimonious than usual during this time of the year. Holiday television is usually pretty bad and I can't see myself reading all day. I'll be glad when this season is over and we can get back to some normalcy, regardless if normalcy is a bit of an oxymoron as a dub.

Edit post: EmptyInside, I played my "bored on a holiday then go to the movies card" too early. I went to see American Hustle last night, and Out of the Furnace a couple weeks ago. I should have waited until tonight and tomorrow. Now there's nothing else I currently want to see. Wolf of Wall Street isn't until next week I believe. Sighhhhhhh.

ShirleyW

Although i was a born in when I was growing up my dad was still a non believer, so at that time the wives were admonished to celebrate just for the hubby's sake, so although I never had a tree growing up, I had lots of presents and memories of going to friends (my parents were godparents to quite a number of kids) and relatives houses for the holidays. I'm so glad I have normal memories of the holidays.

For some reason, for the past ten or so years I've always made it a habit of watching Midnight Mass from St. Patrick's here in the city (NYC) don't know why I started that, but I'm definitely going to watch tonight.

Jolette, for some reason when I was in my 30's like you, I didn't give a rats ass about holidays, since my Bday is in December I look forward to it and the holidays as well. I"ll be doing a Champagne get together with friends, but I am cooking a special meal of leg of lamb and the sides just for me when I get home (Yeah, I know there will be food served at my friends' house) but I just like to cook so I always enjoy fixing something special. And since I get those Bday discount cards from the stores for my BDay, I use them as buying myself something special, or the holdays at a really good price.

mind blown

I'm happy!! Surly this is the best I've every felt in my entire life......true. Just hope it continues...

I wish you only the very best into the New Year!

freeflyingfaerie

Just a little weirder than normal

How do you guys feel during the holidays?

Joliette

WTWizard