10 worst things about Christmas
While 'tis the season to be jolly, it is also the season that brings countless headaches for thousands across the world.
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Christmas is a season for giving, but for some, it is a season of dread. Whether it’s the throngs of Christmas shoppers that flooded malls across the country, making it nearly impossible to move around without inadvertently stepping on someone’s toes; or trying to send out your Christmas cards on time, especially to family members who live abroad; or trying to buy the best gift ever for your loved ones.
We totally get it! Therefore, we decided to compile a list of the top 10 worst things about Christmas to help you realise the real reason behind the season.
1. There are actually tree months of Christmas:
We all know it’s that time of year when stores across the country erect their Christmas trees, as early as October, that have been lying in the storeroom, along with the tinsel and decorations. Not to mention the candy aisle, which is ablaze with Santa Claus adorning the front of all sweet and chocolate packets.
2. The Boney M and Mariah Carey songs:
Boney M Christmas songs have remained a staple diet of grocery shopping during the holiday season since their debut. Who could forget Mary’s Boy Child or Little Drummer Boy? Not to mention Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas or a horrible shrill cover by someone attempting to imitate her.
3. Weight gain and the festive bulge:
The trend begins with a feast of delectable treats. Then, beginning around the second week of December, you’ll attend staff parties, Christmas lunches, Christmas lunch with the in-laws, and dinner with your parents … oh, then there’s the leftovers which is another topic all on its own.
4. Christmas lights:
A Christmas tree isn’t complete without a set of multi-colored and tangled together lights that add a lovely glow to your living room and serve as a convenient landing strip for Father Christmas when he comes down the chimney. Of course, this presents a challenge in and of itself, as you are presented with hundreds of options to purchase, and the worst part is that there will always be lights that do not work in the set. If you bought them, a trip to the Christmas box is required, but this is followed by a curse word or two because the lights are in a tangled heap and you remember it was your fault for packing them away the previous year. There are just too many Christmas lights! There is also always one neighbour who believes that the only way to demonstrate how much the holiday season means to him is to flood his front yard with Christmas lights, some of which rival the decorations in the city centre.
5. Bad kitsch sweaters:
We’ve all been there: either our grandmother knitted a wonderfully warm Christmas sweater with Rudolph or Santa’s little helpers, or a coworker decides that the best way to get you fashionable for the staff party is to buy you a sweater festooned with Christmas trees and tinsel.
6. Mistletoe:
Nobody kisses under it; it’s just a myth. And nowadays, it’s mostly used as a pick-up line by desperate men at the office party.
7. Bad Christmas gifts:
Okay, we’ll be brutally honest: socks and underwear are the worst Christmas gifts ever. Sure, they’re functional, but if you’re going to go this route, they have to be some seriously awesome undergarments and socks. We’re either too busy or we enjoy procrastinating when it comes to Christmas shopping. Whatever the reason, we end up paying the highest price for Christmas shopping. With shopping aisles resembling the voting lines from the 1994 democratic elections, you’ll end up waiting more than 4.5 hours just to pay.
8. That period between Christmas Day and New year’s Day:
Those of you who are unfortunately have to return to work during this time will find yourself either hung over, bloated or both … point is, you will be incapable of focusing properly on your computer screens. Nobody gets any work done, and you despise every second of it.
9. Too many Christmas lights:
There’s always one neighbour who feels the only way to show how much more the festive season means to him is to flood his front yard with Christmas lights, some of them rivalling the decorations in the city centre.
10. Christmas Shopping:
Either we’re too busy or we like procrastinating. Whatever the reason, we end up paying the heaviest price when it comes to Christmas shopping. With shopping aisles looking like the voting queue of the 1994 democratic elections, you’ll end up on average standing in line for more than 4.5 hours just to pay.