What I Love (And Hate) About Christmas

Everyone has a favorite holiday. My favorite is Christmas, but not for the reasons you think. Although I love the December holiday, there are some things I absolutely hate about Christmas.

My husband has an unhealthy obsession of looking at how the houses in our town are decorated with sparkling red and green lights. He will drag me out every evening for 2 weeks before Christmas Day to look at the nativity scenes in yards and giant inflatable Christmas decorations on rooftops. Driving around for hours down every street within a 20 mile radius is not my idea of a good time. Not only that, but why do we have to drive so slow? Going 5 miles per hour and stopping at every decorated house to marvel at the time and expense spent making a brick and mortar building look like a psychadelic pinwheel is a waste of time and money in my opinion. I don't care how many ooh's and aah's you get.

A lot of people I know just love Christmas music. They play it in their homes, cars, and at work. All you hear for weeks are vocals about the Christmas spirit. Ugh. It drives me crazy! I think it's silly to sing and dance about to songs about Santa Claus. Christmas music does not make me jolly. In fact, it makes me nauseated and gives me a headache. I'd rather rock out to Linkin Park. Now, that music puts me in a good mood!

Now, lets talk about those Christmas movies on television. I don't understand why everyone gets all tingly from watching a film centered around Christmas. Of course, the television networks can't save these movies for Christmas Day, they have to pollute my television screen with them all day, everyday for a month! I think this was the reason why VCR and DVD players were invented. While everyone else is watching "A Christmas Carol" ten times a day for 3 weeks, I will be watching movies of real value, like "The Exorcist" and "Children of the Corn".

My husband calls me a scrooge. I beg to differ. If I were a scrooge, I wouldn't want to celebrate Christmas at all. I certainly don't go around yelling "Bah, humbug!" to children at Wal-Mart. I enjoy wrapping Christmas gifts for our children and watching their excitement as they open them. I like getting together with family and friends. I look forward to baking cookies and making gingerbread houses from scratch (not one of those cheap gingerbread kits people buy nowadays). Did I mention I also love fruitcake?

But I do have a confession. My most favorite part of Christmas is receiving gifts. As selfish and greedy as that may sound, I won't lie about it. I like gifts! Lots of them! I'm like a giddy little kid on Christmas Day. It looks a little odd to outsiders, but yes, I am a 32 year old woman who jumps up and down when I see there are gifts for me under that Christmas tree! It reminds me that I am valued and loved. When I receive a Christmas gift, it's sending me the message that everything I do for family and friends all year long is appreciated.

So, through all the annoyances of deafening holiday-themed music, those stupid blinking lights on your neighbors porch, and of course the long lines at the mall, I still enjoy Christmas and look forward to opening my many, many gifts Christmas morning.