Most Despised Holidays

[Bruticus]

I think we had this thread last year, too, but I don't think it's around anymore.

Anyway, since Valentine's Day is coming up, what are your most hated holidays, and why? I think you can guess my first choice: Valentine's Day. If I wanted to waste money on chocolates, cheesy Valentine cards, and diamond rings, I'd say I was sleeping too close to an open bottle of cleaning solvent. I might understand why some people (read: horny teenagers and the demented weasels who invented Arbour Day) choose to spend so much money on the day, but...OK, I don't understand it. I guess if I had a girlfriend or something I'd get it, but right now I'm sticking to my opinion on it.

[Cole Deschain]

I just spent 30 pounds (or roughly sixty dollars) to get a bouquet of flowers delivered to my girlfriend, who is studying abroad in England this semester, on the accursed day itself. And I have no problem with this.

Clearly, then, this is a holiday for people whom love (yes, I do believe in it. No, I am not getting into a "love vs. lust" argument) has driven insane. For the rest of humanity, it is an obnoxious reminder of how single they are, or of how much the values of V-day do not relect their relationship.

In short, I'm with DEP in principle... except that I am a lovestruck imbecile, and therefore find the day worth my time.

Another runner-up? Easter. I'm not Christian, but I cannot imagine how devout Christians must feel when what is essentially the BIG DAY of their faith has been turned into a spring rite featuring a giant rabbit dispensing gooey chocolate, at least so far as the marketing is concerned. Since, I'm not Christian, I have no reason to celebrate the day on any level- I'm certainly not going to insult the religion by pretending it's a day about candy.

Now, Christmas... a special case. I'm a firm believer in giving gifts when you can, and having an occasion for it seems like a nice idea... still too commercialized, but what the hell...



So, yeah, Easter and Valentine's Day get my vote. Thanks for playing.

[Solar_Behemoth]

Oh dear God... there are so many crappers out there.

Valentines Day - Popular Meaning: Waste money on a bunch of worthless stuff for attention from the opposite sex
My Meaning: Holiday of saving money

Easter - Popular Meaning: Now many people give out presents like its fuggin Christmas. People walk up to me and say "What did YOU get for Easter?" What the hell is wrong with people!? We have Christmas for that! Spoiled North Americans.
My meaning: Remember the Sabboth. The real meaning. Why must a Christian religion get all f-ed up into a Easter Bunny passing candy around?

New Year's Day - Popular Meaning: Excuse to get drunk and screw yourself up to desperately get attention and party.
My meaning: None.

[The Great MM]

Valentine's Day- Kinda hard to celibrate when the one girl you care about doesn't care the same way about you...

Just another day...

[kent]

Valentine's Day- Yeah pretty pointless unless you are married or are in a relationship.

Labor Day- What's the point? Most people still work on that day anyways so might as well get rid of it.

New Year's Day/Eve- HV pretty much said it. Just an excuse to get trashed. Although it serves a very SMALL purpose to reflect upon the ending year but really it is pointless.

Good Friday- What's so good about it?

Columbus Day- Should be more like Leif Ericson day since he was the first to stumble upon North America.

[Cole Deschain]

Labor Day- What's the point? Most people still work on that day anyways so might as well get rid of it.

As the son of a Union Laboroer, let me assure you that the holiday means something to a lot of us- and it hasn't been *******ized quite yet, unlike many others. And "most" people I know have the day off.

Good Friday- What's so good about it?

Religious significance.

[Megabyte]

V-day is the worst for the most obvious reason. Usually I try not to think about and drown myself in work or school to get over it. I mean its only one day out of the year.

Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas are 50/50, they're good because I get to see family and eat a butt load of food. However the stress that these holidays bring also tear us apart, as well as bring up old wounds.

And those are my two cents.

[Saruman]

There are no bad holidays, just over blown economic reasons for some of them.

I noticed that alot of people keep mentioning Valentines Day as a holiday they dislike, WHY?

Valentines Day is not just a day for couples, it is also a day to show someone/anyone how much you care for/love them. I always make sure to get my mother, flowers and a nice card that expresses how I feel about her, and how much I appreciate everything she has ever done for me. You don't need to have a girlfriend/boyfriend just to give meaning to this holiday. Yes it has pretty much been turned into that thanks to economic reasons, but you don't have to let that narrow your point of view on the holiday and see it just how companies want you to, so they can get your money. It's also a great time to make something for someone with your own two hands, gifts that you make yourself tend to carry much more meaning than something you bought.

[Gorjirus]

(While not a Nationally recognized holiday, in my mind and where I live it is considered one in how people act)

Kentucky Derby Day- When I was yonger, I despised this day even more, though I as I have grown older and more into sports, I am now less against it. This one, few minutes race takes over ALL television programming from about 5 am till 6/7 pm. And that is all my family (ie mother and sister, my father could care less) wants to watch. It is the day that women buy the largest, most superfluous hats that they can find to wear, and people drink about this many too many mint julieps. Oh wel...

Oh, and the reason for New Years Eve/Day, one word: FOOTBALL.

[kent]

I noticed that alot of people keep mentioning Valentines Day as a holiday they dislike, WHY?

Valentines Day is not just a day for couples, it is also a day to show someone/anyone how much you care for/love them.

Thing is Jeff, you shouldn't be needing a holiday to show your love for anyone. If you truley care/love them, you should be able to do it without a holiday reminding you to love someone.

[Cosmos]

Valantines day, Mother's day, Father's day, Secretary's day, Boss day...are all halmalk hollidays.
True enough, that Valantines was a holliday before it was made into a love day, but it was made into what it is today by the greeting card industry to sell more cards.

I'm quite love struck as well, and I show her I love her all the time...not just one day of the year.
She understands my contempt for this holliday and shares my perspective. feelings.

The only hollidays I recognize are TV turnoff week in april, Buy nothing day in Nov. and kiss my a*s you consumer whor* day which is every other day.

they're all bull.

[Saruman]

Thing is Jeff, you shouldn't be needing a holiday to show your love for anyone. If you truley care/love them, you should be able to do it without a holiday reminding you to love someone.

True you don't, but it doesn't hurt having it there to remind you either. I'm sure that you don't tell your parents how much you love them and how much you appreciate everything they do for you, EVERY DAY. So if we can take one day out of the year and devote it to doing just that, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's a day to reflect, remember and show your appreciation for the people in your life that mean the most to you, be it your parents, siblings, boyfriend/girlfriend or just friends in general. If you think that devoting one day out of the entire year to doing that is not worthwhile, then you might want to re-examine some things.

Oh, and using commercialism as an excuse to not like a Holiday is actually no excuse at all, simply a crutch. You don't have to buy into the commercial aspect of any holiday if you don't want to. There are plenty of things that you can do that have nothing to do with the commercial aspect of holidays.

Christmas - You can actually make your own gifts to give.

Valentines Day - Again make your own gifts. Pick wild flowers instead of buying them (if you live in a suitable climate). Take a long walk with your loved one and have a heart to heart talk with them.

Just a couple of examples. There are always alternatives to the "commercial" aspects of holidays if you don't like the commercialism. But the commercialism is no reason to dislike a prefectly fine holiday, just the companies that commercialize it. I hate that stores start decorating for Christmas before Halloween is even here, but that doesn't mean I dislike Christmas, it's still a great and fun holiday.

[Raptor]

Excellent approach, Saru! Especially regarding parents and friends. Valentine's Day isn't just about boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, what the commercialism is focusing on, trying to get all the insecure beaux out there to buy flowers, diamonds and candy to "express" their interest. Doesn't sound like a very solid relationship to begin with IMO if he has to resort to those tactics!
Of course, everyone is made well aware when it is about any holiday "season", often way too early (such as Christmas right after Halloween - if not even before!) Any Santa Claus shows up before the Macy's New York parade, tell him to go back to the North Pole and get the toys made (in a joking, non-confrontational way, of course)! :laugh: It's not Christmas' fault the local mall has him showing up the first week-end after Halloween.
You can also wish ANYONE a happy holiday like Valentine's. Gals and fellows were hugging the same sex as an acknowledgement of the day as a friendship/partner observance as it's a brother and sister type thing also, just like many of us do with our parents. Our best friends are another example of what Valentine's (or ANY day) can also be about. Holidays are meant to be celebrated with others in many cases so make the most of them, DESPITE the commercialism. ;)

[Melkor]

I respect all holidays, yet the over-commercialization of some are nothing short of detestable to me. Take, for example, Valentine's Day. What was originally a feast day of a Christian martyr slowly evolved into a day for couples to get 'too close for comfort' and what we finally know today as the overly-expensive holiday everyone loves to hate. The same with Christmas-- do not get me wrong, as a Catholic, I treat the day with the utmost reverence because it reminds us of the Incarnation of the Son of God-- but really, Christmas these days is evolving into one of those secular, 'all-is-good, let's-love-each-other-and-be-merry' type holidays. Instead of the Child Jesus, Santa Claus and his elves are adored. Frankly, if Christians love their God, it's about time they put an end to this over-commercialization. Easter, too. You know most Christians have gone mad when they worship a hare on one of the most solemn days of the liturgical calendar instead of remembering the Resurrection. Anyway, I think I'm just a little stressed up lately... I also think Arbor Day is a thoroughly useless holiday, for some reason I cannot fathom completely.



Peace,



Melkor



:darklord:

[Raptor]

Did we really need a new Earth Day? I think the "environmentalists" got so wrapped up in saving spotty owls and trees they forgot all the many celebrations of the planet that have been going on for centuries among various peoples. Of course, these are normally considered pagan and not PC/contemporary enough and you might couldn't sell the commemorative T-shirts at every Wally World. As far as I'm concerned, EVERY DAY is "Earth Day".

[RexRaptor]

We need an " Industrial Revolution Day ". Screw Earth and Labor Day...