Does anyone else really hate this time of year ?

Not symbolic at all if you read your bible Annie a very expensive oil was used. No one has ‘suffered’ for me, except in Christian mythology. And I’ve never read the Morning Star in my life, but I’ll bow to your superior knowledge about this paper.

Sorry folks - I LOVE Christmas! It is a brighter moment in the path to spring - when you think it will never arrive.

I love to see the children enjoying themselves. We buy in to the bits that make us happy and ignore the rest. If you do not like the commercialisation then let it wash by you; there are plenty of good aspects to Christmas to enjoy. Most people respond to charities at this time of year.

It is possible not to allow the pressure to get to you - just buying the gifts that you feel are appropriate, spending what seems reasonable and eating what you fancy.

Have just been to the cathedral for the shoppers' carols and craft fair - lots of folk full of goodwill and having fun and sharing a good time together and enjoying the singing. I cannot object to that. It was lovely.

The luxury foot massage with tears as you mockingly call it was a symbol of preperation for his death, which he suffered for you . As you don't believe in him how do you believe the foot massage? Think best you stick to The Morning Star

Scales fell from my eyes re commercialisation when I was 18. many years battling with a kind of angry gloom in December. I've reached a rapprochement these days. It amazes me that we make such a crazy amount of fuss in the UK. Way more than other countries.
My husband says "its good for the economy" but I do wonder about the UK's "productivity" and the effect of Xmas:
Taking time off in Dec to entertain clients to lunch
Works Do
Recovering from works Do and talking about it
Conducting disciplinary procedures arising from Works Do
Talking about Christmas
Agonising about the secret santa
Staff doing online shopping in work or taking long lunch hours to go to shops.
Offices often close early on Xmas day (half day) and then stay closed until after New Year. Or if people come in they are thin on the ground and laid back.
After 10 days off staff come back completely wound down and take the rest of the week to get up to speed.

While he was having a luxurious foot massage

Bellsnana

Annie as Jesus said, I think, the poor are always with us.

D’you know you don’t have to buy into all the commercialism, you are free to pick and choose. If you want a religious Christmas then you can. If you want a family Christmas then that’s a possibility. If you want to shut it all out then do just that.

Are we all sheep, on a hillside waiting for a celestial choir and SatNav directions to Bethkehem?

Yet how can some constantly keep on about the poor, the homeless yet spend so much money on luxuries ,

As I say every year, I would enjoy it a lot more if it only came round once every five years.

It’s something to break up the dark, cold winter nights. Nothing to do with Christian beliefs, except in a Johnny Come Lately sort of way. Ancient religions have been celebrating the mid-winter festival for thousands of years.

Bah Humbug!

I think there are many more people who hate the increasingly commercial nature of Christmas than we imagine. The tidal wave of tat, the orgy of food buying we are swept along by is becoming horrendous. What worries me more than anything is the pressure that families with little money are under to fulfil all this expectation for their children.

I think many of us tire of the commercialisation. I ventured into the big shopping centre near here and left inside of an hour empty handed and came home and ordered everything on line. I did enjoy seeing the excitement and happiness of the children (which is the main reason I went as I won't see any children over Christmas), but unfortunately the true meaning of Christmas has been lost amongst the rush to buy presents and over indulge.

I seperate the birth of the Christ Child from the commercialism of the 25th . If it means food and drink and goodies for the majority I have no problems with it, their choice, I do dislike the constant advertising coming into my home. I cannot feast knowing there are many starving but this is my choice. I love to see children out on their new bikes, I always wave to Father Christmas when the round table does the annual tour of the town, I have always loved the carol concert by the Salvation Army in the middle of town and am sad this year I can't join them to tin rattle. Not a bah humbug, just for me the blessing of the crib in the Cathedral, Midnight Mass , Christmas Day Matins and the exchange of the peace and greetings after services is Christmas.

Moi aussi

I get winter blues, and we used to go to the sun for 3 months.

Now I take vitamin.D. Not an answer for sun!

However this nov/Dec we have had the most amazing sunny days.

As My late Ma said, be thankful for your blessings. I most certainly am, but am I allowed a wee moan

My mother was like you floradora but the problem was she spoilt it for everybody else with her moaning. I'm sure you wouldn't do this - would you?

I'm sure we're going to be really popular, but I have to confess I don't enjoy it either.
I'm not a Christian, I don't feel guilty about anything: I just think we've been swept along in a storm of commercialism.
I can't bear the fact that it starts earlier and earlier each year, and frankly, i'll be pleased to be done with it.