thorn2

i find that i am depressed and gladdened simultaneously during the holidays. on the one hand, the sense of life in the world is better, people are more willing to believe and you can feel it (you know, like around halloween when everyone giggles about ghosts, but won't go out alone because they secretly deep down are sure they are real that one night and can get them - and because they believe it, it can happen that night). christmas makes everyone a little more believing, perhaps a trifle more faithful, and the world responds to that belief and faith. and that is nice. on the other hand, that belief is centered on the wrong things, the wrong ideals and it tends to make everyone more edgy and insipid as they all fall victim to the pervading sense underlying this time. they all struggle and fight and argue to make for one perfect day that they can never have, and thus take away from others. the day after christmas is always the worst day of the year because people stop believing and the wonder of the world dies a little bit.
i also tend to spend every holiday season alone. something always arises that takes away the object of my affections this time of the year... so i am probably biased.

True, there some out there who think the holidays are a magical panacea and suffer a "holiday hangover" even before it's over. It's also unfortunate that many think this is the one time in the year to give. I wonder how many evolved individuals actually ignore the holiday boundry and give of their time or something ( i saw this book once that was perfect for my closest friend, and bought it because i knew she couldn'y afford to get it at the time). But if we all did that retailers would freak out and the stock market would probably crash.