What irks me about the holidays...TV doesn't bother me. The economy needs the stimulus, so they're scraping the bottom of the barrel taste-wise jonesing for money.
I think the expectation does.
I had computer problems earlier in the week at work, so I was volunteered to put up our floor's holiday tree. One of the people I work for and I had to have a
sotto voce conversation about how neither of us was very Christian/or Christian at all, but how we both like the spectacle, Latin, music and images of an RCC mass (if you could avoid looking at the corpse on the cross with the dripping stigmata and bleeding head
) and we both mentioned that our Muslim and Hindu co-workers probably didn't think much of the tree or the festivities.
And we had to whisper this, while looking around carefully to make sure no one was overhearing us.
Probably because some people wouldn't be a tolerant as they should be.
Despite the neutral names and lack of emphasis on religion, it's quite obvious the workplace is celebrating Christmas and the expectation is that you just accept it and all the events that go with it.
From lame floor shows put on by co-workers dressed as elves - to games guessing the lyrics to Xmas songs and white elephant gifts...it's all just too cheesy. Makes me want to drink - a lot - at our holiday party that's upcoming.
ETA: I also hate that I'm going to a relative's house and since my cat got sick, and I spent my last $200 of fun money paying for her bloodwork and now can't afford to buy them gifts - I'll yet again feel and look like a poor cousin begging at their table, but to stay home and not go so as to avoid that would also be seen as a slap in the face because you're supposed to be with family during the holidays.
