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With everything going on in this country and the world, it seems so bizarre to toy with lights and consumerism. I'm sure some people use it as a distraction, or for the sake of their children, but I can't get into such things when I'm seeing and experiencing what feels like the downfall of society. Perhaps I'm the fool for not realizing things have always been this bleak.
On one hand great! It's a nice break from / for everything.
On the other hand I don't like gifting nor receiving gifts much. I like randomly gifting people on occasion but not at a fixed date. Receiving gifts is strong social stress for autists.
This year I don't have to do anything for it. My mom scheduled the family get-together on the 23rd. Since I work that day and the day after the 2+ hour drive makes it impossible. Of course it would be nice to see most of them but I'm very happy I have an excuse. My favorite way to engage with Xmas is to not recognize it. I'll be sitting at home with my dog, probably playing video games, and listening to metal.
Meh. Not a big fan, and especially for most of us depressed people a lonely, bad time. :c
I think Christmas is a grotesque and mostly hypocritical holiday. The customs are often bizarre at best, and the general fueling of consumerism is disgusting. In addition, my girlfriend and I are atheists, which is another reason why we don't celebrate Christmas at home. No presents, no decorations, nothing. However, she loves to bake, which is why we have cookies in December. I guess that's her way of compensating for the fact that I go along with Christmas dinner at her parents' house without complaining. Just because I don't like the holiday doesn't mean I have to spoil it for others.
Both anxiety and loneliness are basically every holiday that involves big family gathering. It was so stressful I had some breakdowns even. Usually I use every excuse I can to avoid that. All I want is some quite time at home, with the few people that I truly love.
I observe Yule, but overall I have good associations with Christmas since most of the people I'm close to celebrate it. I know it justifiably gets a bad rap as a consumer and religious holiday; the "war on Christmas" stuff in America is just exhausting. For me it's just a way to spend time with the people I love and enjoy delicious baked goods. I enjoy the sentimentality of the gift-exchange aspect of the holiday when it's not overdone, there's a few Christmas songs that are really catchy, and I read Gift of the Magi every year because it's adorable.
But that's about as far as I take it. I was never brought up believing in Santa Claus, and I hated the long sermons I was dragged to as a kid. I think if no one in my life observed Christmas, it would just be another day for me, honestly.
Lock ourselves in our bunker for all of December ... we still have a bit of food stocking to do but not much ... after the next grocery haul, we're not planning on seeing another human in person until 2026