I wonder why there is, in some countries, a Christmas season. I do not understand where the whole idea of the season comes from. It sounds like a big commercial to a celebration everyone should celebrate with presents, expensive presents.
In the Netherlands, it never was a custom to celebrate Christmas with gifts. At school, each child received an orange, a chocolate ring with a red ribbon, and a book. The book was written by an ln author who praised the lord and it always takes bout poor farmers, praying, an accident before Christmas, and a sort of happy end. Most likely this author was raised in such a family and for your information, it all happened during cold winters, we wore skirts and wooden shoes and ice skating was a skill we all had. At home, Christmas meant a tree decorated and some of us received the tree from school since it closed down for two weeks.
As times were better people made reservations at restaurants. Real good restaurants, not the fast food ones who charge for first-class restaurant prices. You needed to make your reservation early. For some restaurants, 6 months ahead but the restaurants closed down during Christmas. The economical crises, already started 20 years ago, kept the customers at home. These days we all can cook something exclusive and if not some supermarkets sell a box with all ingredients to make your life easier. Turkey or goose is no longer meant to be food for Christmas.
Christmas Eve, December 24, is not a celebration day in the Netherlands. We work and all shops are open. Christians might go to church at midnight. The church visit is basically what we Christians call Christmas.
Times change and other cultures their habits are forced upon our throat. Next to being a loser if you spend Christmas alone or prefer not to celebrate it, you need to buy presents. The shops tell you, the commercials want you to, your family, and friends force you to do so and even if you give in to it the end result is: unhappy, angry friends because they do not like the gift you bought, disappointed and fighting families, and high debts. You could cry because this special day was a waste of everything but you are not allowed to because it is all about happiness, hallelujah, hope, and love although you cannot feel it.
If the preach at church was heard at all it's forgotten before we arrive home. Presents wait and so does the good food. Even if the food is vegetarian and we have no clue how to cook something tasty and long for a huge pepper steak.
I cannot be part of this "fun". I am not a Christian I do not visit the church. Church and the people visiting it are not the ones I connect with. I do not like to visit Christmas parties or buy food and gifts I cannot afford. Gifts people will change or sell right after Christmas. I want to do what I like, spend this day (with us two days December 25 and 26) the way I like. Most likely in pajamas watching movies.
I try hard to understand what Christmas, a birthday, has to do with all the theatre people build around it. The fake and illusions which come with a lack of real love and being close. In reality, Christmas is disappointing. Something is promoted what only makes people more miserable and depressed. Christians, neither non-Christians open their heart and home to strangers, family, neighbors, those who are sick and lonely. There is no love felt and nothing to share to make at least one day a year this world a better place.
To me it feels like hypocrisy. Customs of earlier celebrations (Midwinter, father winter, the Christmas tree) are stolen from earlier religions. Religions we call pagan, not real.
good