Im I the only person tired of this dam@ holiday? Im starting to believe Ebenezer was right?

You have a point, a good point, but don't get too discouraged. There are still reasonable people out there. Some people still celebrate this day as the birth of Christ, or even further back, as the original pagan celebration. Others don't celebrate the religious aspect but instead use the occasion as a good reason to spend time with their families and friends and give tokens of respect.

The people you're talking about are the people who are insecure about themselves and take security in superficial belongings. These people are the sort of people who trampled a Wal-Mart worker on Black Friday last year. These people are ignorant and enrage sensible people like you and me, and they are obviously making people feel bad about themselves, but the truth is, it doesn't matter what you get, or if you get anything. The idea is to give a token of affection and celebration.

There are people who ask that instead of presents (a rude term in my book) their gift should be a donation to a charity of their choice. Some other people actually give time instead of items, and others give gifts that they made by hand, entailing more time and effort than merely browsing the Web or store aisles. These people know the spirit of Christmas, and the others are only trying to make themselves feel better about having to buy expensive (and usually useless) things to express emotions they are otherwise too immature to express.

In this way, children are much wiser than adults. Have you ever seen the look on a child's face when he gives a painting that he spent hours on, or she hands you a plate of misshapen cookies that she mixed and cut by herself? They are offering you their love, which is what the concept of a Christmas gift is. An adult may give another adult a pair of shiny rocks that he bought in a shop because he felt obligated to,, when really all he wants is to show her his love and to get a kiss in return. She may spend years quilting her friend an elaborate comforter, only to receive in turn a blender.

The thing of it is, some people may be losing touch with Christmas, but others are still generous without being idiotic. Keep this in mind when you're out and you see people squabbling over the last this or that. Unless a gift has meaning, it's just a present; Christmas without meaning is just a spend-fest. We must remember that the reason for Christmas is, if not a celebration of a religious holiday, a celebration of life and love in general.

There are plenty of people who give each other heartfelt hand-knit sweaters or original paintings, or write each other songs, either because they don't have enough money or because they feel it is a better way to express their affection than wasting money on "things." If you see the abomination of object/money-centric celebration, gently remind these people that Christmas is a celebration of love and life, and a gift is merely a gesture of affection. Perhaps you will be a Christmas ghost in a different Christmas Story - the opposite of Scrooge's story.

Remember to look at all sides of the issue, and see the world through children's eyes once in a while. It's good for the heart and will keep you a little more optimistic.

Merry Christmas, and may love and sensibility fill your heart and the hearts of your loved ones this season.

I'm a little bummed out because it's my first Christmas away from home. No tree no lights but my fiance is coming to visit me on Wednesday so that's the best gift ever.

I'm away from home working, I've really noticed how rude people are around the holidays. Maybe it's because I'm out of my element but the attitude some people have ticks me off. The other day I asked a pair of girls to cut ahead of me in line because the rude comments they were making about fellow shoppers and the staff of the store was driving me mad.

On the flip side there is always some good this time of year. My workplace sponsored two local families for the holidays. Shopping for another family perked me up a bit. I'm still going to miss my family and friends and I miss the lights and the tree and I even miss Christmas Eve service, but you always have to remember there is someone worse off than you this time of year.

Don't give up on Christmas just yet. Some people just need to be visited by their own ghosts and realize what the holidays are all about. .

Let's see now. I love how the existence of God in point #2 depends on whether or not you want God to exist. Good thing we don't use that reasoning to diagnose illness! As for point #1, you really should conduct some primary research on your own. At this point, the entire movie (accurate or not) is just hearsay on your part, and you are only believing it because somebody told you it was true. Take a look at what actual scholars have to say about the existence of Jesus and the basis of the Christian religion.

Yeah, this time of year people worship capitalism, not jesus, and that's only one of the most annoying things about this holiday. There's also the "I'm a Christian, so everyone I speak to must also be a Christian and therefore must wish me a merry Christmas!" mindset, and the "Ooh something good happened in the winter! It's a Christmas miracle!" news articles.

you are right in away. I believe christmas is Gods birthday and he is the only one who should get something so everyone should do something good for another person in the name of God

thank god,

i feel just like you, dont know why, but i do

but now i dont know the purpose of it-- mean shouldnt we be with the ones we love any other day

mean yeah if a family member works like 24/7 then thats good to see them

Just wait.

Those "people" will start to disappear in your life.

You might one day find yourself with no-one -- Christmas spirit or not.

Utterly no-one.

What's worse? You don't want to find out, believe me.

Life is about teaching, learning, listening, and making the most out of things.

you're not the only one. as an atheist living in the bible belt, one cannot swing a dead cat without hearing or seeing about this stupid holighey crap. Makes me want to take up sniping.

It's totally all based on commercialism, not about their religious figures. Damn sheeple.

Oh my god I love you.

I don't do christmas that much or gifts for that matter.

However, my boyfriend, and his whole family is like that.