What is your greatest annoyance during Christmas?

November 28, 2009 7:21am CST
We all know that Christmas is a time of love, giving and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But i'm sure others have found little annoyances during Christmas. So whats yours? Is it people forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? The constant repeat of movies such as the Wizard of Oz? People buying expensive gifts for you when you told them to keep the money for themselves? Burning the Christmas dinner? A family member not there for Christmas? Someone staying alone on Christmas? or something else? Mine would be people forgetting the true meaning of Christmas especially when children have not been taught about it from a young age. Also the constant repeat of the same films each year gets on my goat. And finally people buying me expensive gifts when I know they cant afford it. The principle of "its the thought that counts" really sticks with me.
3 people like this
15 responses
• United States
28 Nov 09
Hi puttycat1, the most annoying thin in my opinion is when buying a present for someone, you have to make sure the price is a sticker that can comeoff. Like I cant buy a book for someone because on the back of most books is the United States price for it and the Canada price. Lol. I dont want pople to now how much i spent on Christmas and Im sure its the same for all of you mylotters too. Thank you for this discussion
• United States
29 Nov 09
thank you for the thank you on the thank you. (Im not sure if I pushed it or not with that last one.) Yeah but when they ask me how much I spent I never say unless they beg me. And then of course I smirk on purpose and ten say it was like a thousand or something. And I was wondering, who is that on your profile pic? is it from kingdom hearts or something?
28 Nov 09
Thanks for replying! Yep I definately understand where your coming from. I hate when you buy something that looks like an expensive gift and it really came from a pound shop.....:-P It wrecks the illusion.. :-( Also Thank you for the Thank you :-)
• United States
28 Nov 09
Mine is all the Christmas Music they start playing right after Thanksgiving It so annoys me!All day long and the same songs over and over!
• Mexico
28 Nov 09
Hi ja hernandez rivas: same here. That's the reason why i prefer to have a more personal celbration of Christmas and i don't consume all these pretty garbages that are on tv these days and that are far from the real meaning of Christmas. I think that's what annoys me about the holidays. Good answer. Have a nice day.
28 Nov 09
Thanks for the replies. I actually enjoy the music because it gets you in the spirit for Christmas but in my town the songs dont normally repeat that much :-P but I do get where your coming from.... its like repeating Christmas films for me.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
28 Nov 09
Hi, puttycat1. My annoyance matches yours perfectly! I hate when people expect you to buy gifts when they know that you can't afford to. They urge you to give gifts when you have no desire to. They put you on the spot to do something, just so they can critique your doings. I wished that people will remember that it is all about Jesus, Our Savior and not about what can I give you and what can you give me in return. Christmas is about sharing, loving and bonding with each other. And one of my greatest annoyances is the fact that people only show others that they love them on Christmas Day. They should show this love on everyday throughout the entire year. Christmas should be everyday for everybody! I dislike seeing people become so fake on this day, and once this day is good and gone they won't nothing to do with you. They treat you the same as they have been doing all along. Christmas reminds me of the Cinderella story.. She was rags but when she went to the ball she was a beauty. People love you on Christmas day, then they hate you the next day! This is what I am so sick of! I wished that people would stop treating Christmas day like a prize winning!
• United States
28 Nov 09
Hi, cream97: Your post made me laugh. I know people who made this long list for Christmas gifts and then complain the whole time about how much money they are spending. When you go down their list, they hardly know a lot of the people on the list. Then there are others who buy gifts and remind you the rest of the year that they bought it. You want to give it back to them.
28 Nov 09
Yes I agree with you completely! Everyday I try to show I care.....sometimes I fail but im human. I hate that Christmas day is full of love but other days arent but I guess it wouldnt be Christmas without it. Another way to look at it I suppose is that people might full uncomfortable showing how they feel until Christmas when everyone is doing it. We humans are messed up :-P
• Mexico
28 Nov 09
Hi Puttycatr: thanks for opening this discussion. I agree with your feeling of deception about how Christmas has lost his pure meaning to become like another pagan, commercial time where the industries ask us to go shopping for all these things we don't really need. In my opinion, Christmast won't be like it was before but we can recover the feeling in our own houses with our families and friends discussing these facts and remembering what really matters in these days. Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
28 Nov 09
Thanks for the nice comment I hope you have a Merry Christmas too. :-D I hate how industries take advantage of every holiday.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
28 Nov 09
Christmas annoys me in many ways. One of them is that I'm forced to celebrate something that I don't believe in. I mean, the true meaning of Christmas, not the comercial holiday that is nowadays. Also, Christmas means expenses. In my family you're supposed to give presents, so after Christmas I'm kind of broke.
28 Nov 09
Thanks for the reply! True, I dont think people should be forced into anything they dont believe in. Its your human right to have a choice. Also, Christmas spells out broke for me too. :-(
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
28 Nov 09
I also don;t like getting expensive gifts from people who aren't so rich. It makes me feel really guilty. w
• United States
28 Nov 09
olisaur, I feel the same way. When I get money or an expensive gift from someone that is not quite on the wealthy side. And I agree about the weather, here we almost never get snow! If we do its just slush.
@StarBright (2798)
• United States
28 Nov 09
Hi, puttycat1. Welcome to mylot. The most annoying thing about Christmas for me is hearing Christmas carols and seeing Christmas decorations right after Halloween. Geez, we haven't even had Thanksgiving. You know it is just a promotion to earn money. I immediately turn off. To counter all the commercialism, several years ago we decided in my family that we would give adults in the family the ultimate gift - freedon from buying a gift. We only buy gifts for children. This eases a lot of the old stress that used to be associated with Christmas. I make it very clear that I do not exchange gifts at Christmas. It took a while, but after a couple of Christmases when there was no reciprocal gift, everyone got the message. We make up for Christmas by being extra nice at other times during the year. The nicest gift is one you receive for no reason just because someone thought of you. It is ridiculous to go shopping and end up getting some expensive item that the person doesn't even need or want because you feel obligated to buy a gift. I totally agree with you that it's the thought that counts.
28 Nov 09
Thanks for replying! :-) I also agree about Christmas decorations straight after halloween. It really is ridiculous. No one should really get into Christmas mode until December not before! What everyone in my school is doing is that they will buy presents for their family instead for their friends. I agree about getting a gift for no reason. If someone picked a flower for me and gave it to me it would make me just as happy as getting an expensive gift at Christmas.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
28 Nov 09
I agree the commercialization of the holiday. First and fore most, it is a Christian Holiday in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Second, I think it is a time or family and appreciating each other. I know in my family, we can not afford expensive stuff. I make presents. Everybody close to me knows this. If they get me something expensive, I say thank you and I really do appreciate this stuff. It is the thought that counts. And if they thought that much about me, I appreciate it.
28 Nov 09
Thanks for replying. The idea of a family making presents for each other sounds so nice :-) The commercialization is ridiculous. I love the idea of Santa but I love Jesus more. He sould be the main icon of Christmas and not Santa. Thats how it has always meant to be.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
29 Nov 09
Christmas is so boring. I gave it all up long ago. I won't decorate my house because I don't wanna be like everyone else. I hate grocery buying because the music won't leave me alone. The Santa Clause thing started it all off when I was 6 and the kids told me Santa was a hoax. I couldn't believe my parents would lie to me, but they were, and they did! I quit the church when I was old enough to think for myself. I never lied to my kids and they respect me for it. I give gifts all year long except at Christmas. Bah Humbug!
@chulce (1537)
• United States
28 Nov 09
To be honest it is how comercialized everthing has gotten over the years. The stores are filled with "Holiday cheer" before Halloween in many cases. They seem to combine the holidays and not willing to give consumers a break from it. What ever happened to keeping the holidays simplified about family and friends. What ever happened to the many traditions we had over the years where it wasn't about how much you spent and put under the tree? Societies values have changed all of us so much that it is in fact, scary.
• Philippines
29 Nov 09
well, crowds could not be avoided and i do have to face them all the time during shopping do i plan to shop earliest morning as i do hate queuing in line. i already list all the item i need to buy to avoid confusion and have a worry free shopping.
@offlimits (596)
• Philippines
29 Nov 09
I don't remember anything that annoys me during Christmas. If there is anything, maybe it's just too minor for me to remember. Well I am happy during Christmas even if I don't get to spend it with my parents. I still stay with my other relatives and friends for that matter. Sometimes it would make me feel alone but it's just a mere feeling, I know. And maybe the greatest annoyance that I could have is the thought that Christmas would end so fast that I sometimes want to spend a little more time with loved ones. Take care! :)
• Philippines
29 Nov 09
Yeah I agree, some people have annoyance during their christmas because theier family is far from them or just busy with their work and they forgot that christmas is all around.
@RyanneD (186)
• United States
29 Nov 09
I love Christmas! I love the family getting together, I love the weather (especially if it's snowing) and I love the idea of togetherness. However, it seems that Christmas has become more of a competition as to who gave the best gift this year. I hate that. My husband and I agreed a while ago that we won't give presents to each other. I honestly don't see why people have to give presents at all. If someone were to make me a card or an ornament or something simple like that it would mean so much more to me than an iPod or a laptop or a new pair of shoes, etc. My mother-in-law actually drives me crazy during Christmas. Even before Thanksgiving she's sending all of us her Christmas wish list and something about that just seems really pushy and greedy to me. But don't get me started on my mother-in-law... that's a whole other topic ;-) Also, I hate, hate, hate, HATE the Christmas songs! Holy God, please make it stop!!! As soon as Halloween is over here comes all the Christmas decorations and the carols. It drives me crazy! And, although I love the movie A Christmas Story, why do the tv networks feel the need to play it ALL DAY!!!!???? Is that really neccessary?! Christmas should be like in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.... even though all of the presents, decorations and even the tree were stolen all the whos in Whoville still celebrated! Why can't we all just be whos?
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
28 Nov 09
Oh well there are a few things about the holidays that annoy me. Let's see well, first is the political correctness of the holidays and people being afraid to utter the words: "Merry Christmas". That has got to be the biggest BS I've ever heard of. Haven't people ever heard the expression "when in Rome?" Apparently not. Ok, next I'll mention how commercialized Xmas has become. Next, just as you mention that many children haven't been taught the true meaning of Xmas, well I'll agree with you. I know during the holidays we always buy our little nephews presents. As soon as they've finished opening them, they always ask is this it? Huh? I spend time and effort to buy them nice presents and that's what they have to say? Well, manners have not been taught by their parents I will say. I'd like to see them spend some time at a homeless shelter, so they can become "humbled". I will also say that of course at a busy time of year when more people are doing their shopping, that you will inevitably encounter rudeness from certain people. Ok, now that really irks me and if I'm particularly irritated by them, I'll snap right back at them. Other times I will smile at them and tell them to have a nice day. The other day I was walking and almost bumped into this disabled lady in a wheelchair. She glared at me and snapped :"Are you going to make up your mind anytime soon?" Well, I almost said something back but then thought that she's obviously an unhappy person, I am very happy inside and I really don't want to stoop down to her level. Another annoyance of mine are the crowded parking lots and aggressive drivers in the malls even. I almost had someone threaten to slash my tires as they kept insisting that my parking spot was meant for them, even though I was there first! Also I want to mention the unreasonable high expectations, (too many people want everything to be perfect) people will have during that time of year, which is why I think there are often many family feuds or blowouts that time of year. Ok that's about it. ;)