Does anyone else think Christmas gets worse as the years pass?

Question

I loved Christmas as a kid, but it seems like the older I get, the less I like it. Maybe because I'm realizing how annoying my family is? Plus no magic of Santa. And it seems like the true meaning of Christmas has gone out the window. Anyone else feel this way?

Answer 1

Yes i really do, I understand completely.

Most of it has to do with , when you are a child Christmas
is so magical, sort of like with halloween only much more
so, with the though of santa and reindeer , elves all trying
to make sure you have a happy holiday.

Christmas is also a very elaborate holiday, there is usualy
excessive decorating, treats, christmas caroling, a big
feast, in fact christmas is broken up into not one but TWO
holidays, Christmas is such a big deal that we celebrate
the day before it happens!

Also christmas is naturally focused on children because
children have imagination, and have never experienced
it, everything is new for them. As you get older you
get used to it and also it is no longer focused on you
but the younger children.

I still love christmas, and i now vicariously enjoy it
through my daughter who is now at the age where
she is beginning to understand the concept of holidays.
When/if you have kids you will get to enjoy it again.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

It depends whether you decide to keep the magic or not! You have to have the natural feeling of magic with Christmas... I've always had it ever since I was little. And I've always kept it. Sure, it's never the same, but it's such a thrill! I love it. Maybe you should talk about it with your family... if you're so sad about your Christmas's not being magical- it losing it's touch- talk about it! There's nothing wrong with wanting the true meaning back, after all. I do feel as if people are forgetting God and such on this beautiful and religious day, but not me. I keep it alive. I mean, like I said before- if you like, do something for it! Act! But maybe it also has to do with innocence... I happen to have a lot of innocence still preserved- sorry to say, but you've probably lost it if you feel no magic for Christmas. Try and pray or at least hope for innocence to come back to you... Well, hope this helped and wishing you a Merry Christmas this year when it comes! :)

Answer 3

The older we get, the more responsibilty we get, the less time we seem to have to enjoy the simple things we had in our youth.
Decorating becomes a chore instead of fun. If you live on your own you can do something about it. Decide what Christmas means to you and go overboard. Start planning now, so you have plenty of time to change your mind once or twice. If you still live at home, when your parents start decorating try to have some input. Or if it seems they are doing everthing just to keep up with the neighbors, decorate your room to please yourself.

What is kind of funny, when you know someone is just "doing Christmas" to look good, start humming Christmas carols every time they are near. At first it may not mean anything to them, but eventually it will change their outlook and they might remember what Christmas is really about. Give it a try:)

Answer 4

Oh, don't be so cynical...you are suffering from lack of 'new', of 'hope,' of "been there, done that." Next Christmas, trim the tree and with each ornament, bring up a happy memory of a Christmas past. I started, years ago, a tradition of a trim-a-tree party , each guest had to bring an ornament with name and date on the ornament. Now, each time I trim the tree, I take my time, remember each Christmas, the friends, many of whom are now gone from my life (and Earth) with great fondness. You would be surprised at how wonderful that tree will become to you...a life time of love, of magic, of wonder. If you have not done this, a good place to start is to see Mom and ask for ornaments of Christmas past that you used as a child...you will not believe the difference it will make. STart your own tradition this year, get the invites out early, and call to confirm. It is a great start which you will never be sorry for. Presents come and go, are forgotten. But these ornaments are something else. Yes, there are plenty of sad memories associated with it, but sad memories are also happy memories of loss and missing, and that missing is the lost one's eternity..isn't it? Good luck...Christmas is not about pleasing all those about you with presents..that is fun, but not the real part of Christmas. The romance of the lights, the glimmer of the ornaments, the memories....that is where it is at. And each year, make new memories. You will begin to look forward to the season again, and it will stay with you the entire year. Good luck, and try it.

Answer 5

Try doing the presents like we do at work, and I brought the idea home, and the parents liked it.
We got a piece of paper, and wrote several things down that we wanted, within the $ amount we agreed on. If there were special instructions needed, you wrote those down too. We would draw lists, and picked something off the list to buy. That way, the reciever got what they wanted, and was still suprised. I took this idea home, and wrote down where to get the present, what color, etc. I suggested this because my Mother was convinced that I never liked the presents she got me.Unfortunatly, she really didn't ever like her presents.I put listed several things in several price ranges. Mom started asking for the list in August. I stressed to her over and over: I do not want everything on the list. You figure out what your budget is, and buy one or several things, not spending more than your budget. I did the same for her present. It worked, she liked her presents, and I was always suprised.
But it was a little sad. We Christians are supposed to be exchanging presents to remember the gifts the 3 kings brought to the Christ Child. That seems to get lost in all the shopping and greed around the holidays. I can't get over people who look at the giver, and say they don't like it. I'm one of those people who are gratful for my friends who want to buy me a present. I am just thrilled they want to, I really don't care what is is. I got a Wal-mart gift card for my birthday this year. I loved it. She gave me the whole Walmart superstore, I can get anything I want.l
These times, I am alone in my life, but I have a few pretty good friends. They go out of their way to buy weird, funny, cute presents, to do something different every year. My grade school friends have a gift exchange, we put numbers on the presents, and drew the numbers. I got a comfort kit. It was a red and green checked flannel throw, two mugs and a matching plate, some boxed candy, and a selection of Celestial teas. Cute.
Please forgive any spelling errors. Spellcheck is down, again.

Answer 6

I think much of the problem is that, every year, merchandisers are putting up decorations and putting out ads for Christmas gifts that we are getting desensitized to the holiday -- and to the true meaning behind it. No kidding -- last year in my home city, Halloween AND Christmas items were out at the SAME time! That's ridiculous -- it makes us all grumpy, and each week -- MONTH -- that passes as Christmas purchasing gets shoved down our throats, by the time it comes, we just want it over with -- we're tired of the harrassment!

Answer 7

I would like to leave right before Thanksgiving and come back after Christmas. I'd run away to an island and resume my life after the holidays! I'm am not at all a "bah humbug" type, but I have many sad or otherwise unhappy memories that happened during the holidays. I am glad if others enjoy the holidays, but I certainly don't

Answer 8

I used to feel this way, especially when I was in my teens, that Christmas was getting worse and worse each year.
But then I hit my mid-twenties and I remembered that Christmas wasn't the mall-hopping, the crazed shopping, the bad gifts, the worse family bickering.
When I went back to spiritually reflecting on the CHRIST in Christmas, I began doing the little things: calling my friends and family, text messaging/ emailing e-cards...
My mom and I started this tradition of getting creative with the front yard. And since she's a gardener in her spare time, she tries to figure out how to integrate the decorations with the potted trees.
We also go mad with the holiday trimmings in the house, (putting out those fat, red candles, holiday trimmings for the dining room), and even stringing the walls with all the cards we receive from family and friends. This reminds us of the people that love us all year round. I know this sounds cheesy, but Christmas is suppose to be cheesy in a warm, fuzzy, snuggly sort of way. When it no longer 'warms the cockles of one's heart' anymore, than deep reflection is in order.
For me, that meant remembering what was Christmas in the first place, and to celebrate it, not according to the commercials, but in my own unique way.

Answer 9

I feel the same way since all our kids moved out on their own,now we sit on Christmas morning,me and my husband,waiting for our kids and our grandchildren to come over.
Another thing that is missing on Christmas is our relatives that we have lost over the years especially my dear sweet in-laws.And my parents and siblings all live in California.The family has gotten so much smaller.
So I would rather sleep thru Christmas Day.

Answer 10

I agree with you. I have noticed people getting more and more grumpy ever year around Christmas time. I did almost all of my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving and it was the best Christmas I spent in years. I got to spend more time with my family and did more Holiday stuff like baking gifts for family, friends and neighbors. I've gotten pretty tired of the material side of Christmas. It feels like we get persuaded to spend more and more each year. I decided to try to not get sucked into it and felt alot better.