My favorite blog Shakesville recently had a discussion post about holiday dread http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2011/12/discussion-thread-holiday-dread.html.
We are under so much pressure to make the season bright and most of us fall short.
I remember bursting into tears at a shopping center on Christmas Eve; I had been too busy with college exams to shop and was exhausted. During my first semester of law school, I was stressing about exams over the holidays after being diagnosed with hepatitis. Another year I was frustrated by relatives who spent Christmas day watching a Rambo marathon.
I realize these are minor concerns. The Shakesville thread made for some tough reading.
The thread got me thinking about all the pressure holidays generate. For Christmas you're supposed to buy gifts--maybe expensive or trendy, maybe meaningful, maybe personally crafted. There's also baking, decorating, cooking, throwing the perfect party. On New Year's Eve, you're supposed to be at some fabulous event preferably with a significant other to share a New Year's kiss. Let's not even get into Valentine's Day.
I think the worst part of these unrealistic expectations is that they are media or marketing created. Retail makes most of its annual profits after Thanksgiving. It's difficult to go out to dinner on New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day without a special (expensive) menu, Flower prices are hiked for Valentine's and Mother's Day.
Consumption rules.
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