BY CAMILA FERNANDEZ
While the snowman decorations at every corner can be adorable, and the sweet taste of gingerbread cookies is like no other, Christmas to many can be described as a month-long headache. As the years go on, this migraine seems to begin earlier and earlier, with some big companies sneaking in holiday adornments as soon as late September.
Although the ongoing joke of “Christmas season beginning immediately after October 31” seems to resurface around social media every year, an ample percentage of Americans (45% according to NBC) feel as though this season is a plain drag.
When the Christmas season rolls around, nearly everyone is anxiety-stricken with the pressure on for gifts and the same three songs playing on a loop. By the time it’s actually Christmas, one is already bored of Christmas.
Growing up and living in South Florida definitely takes a big toll on the overall outlook for this season. It’s not difficult for Floridians to grow bitter as, time and time again, they’re forced to hear lyrics fantasizing over winter days and forced to watch movies about falling in love in the midst of beautiful snowfall but are then hit with reality when they step outside for a couple of minutes and quickly melt. When Hallmark movies and trite holiday music alike establish an exact landscape for what the season should look like, living in South Florida will disappoint one again and again.
With cheesy music, cliche movies, never-ending traffic and rude shoppers, the season is not as jolly as it seems.
While some may enjoy said ridiculously cheesy romantic-comedies with exaggeratedly quirky characters and subpar plotlines, it has never hit the spot for many. The titles are almost always straight give-aways to the movie’s narrative, and you can pretty much predict the next scene (hint: tears or a dramatic confession). Christmas Hallmark movies somehow go off the charts on this scale of corniness. However, confess this to your local Christmas-addict and you will quickly be told that it’s “one of the classics!”
“Holly, jolly” music can also be a pain, especially with its overwhelming frequency. Turn on your local radio station in the middle of your commute. Enter any basic clothing or grocery store. Holiday music is blasted on a constant loop. Before you know it, you’ll catch yourself humming the lyrics to a song composed in the 1950s that is most possibly sexist known as “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
Beyond any one opinion, we can look at the numbers for reinforcement. Stress statistics during these months prove to be pretty high, with over 69% of Americans feeling burdened by the lack of time and lack of money. Christmas season can be a hassle to many, especially with the pressures society asserts on spending money on gifts for family, friends and even coworkers.
The plain and hard truth is, the holidays can be a nuisance for many. With cheesy music, cliche movies, never-ending traffic and rude shoppers, the season is not as jolly as it seems.
Photo by The Lariat Photography
