Christmas Eve

It's been a while. Thing have happened, both to me and you. Well, I'm not going to discuss what has happened to me, but you can tell me what has happened to you. As long as you tell and don't write, I think it's pretty much OK...

Anyway, it's Christmas Eve. The day before Christmas. Woohoo. Presents are due tomorrow. Feel happy and smile around.

How about... 

Yes, yes, I know. Christmas is one of the greatest holidays ever, blah blah blah, and so on, and so on... Well, guess what. It isn't.

First of all, Santa isn't real! What is there to be happy about?! You have been told that a fat bearded man in a red suit enters through the chimney and leaves presents for you to find under the Christmas tree for over a decade, and then suddenly you find out he doesn't even exist! And you realise that the above description could very well suit a convict escaped from prison... although the only thing he'd be likely to leave behind are traces for the police.

Let's talk about the Christmas tree. Do you know how difficult it is for a pine tree to reach the height at which it is suitable to become a Christmas tree? Do you realise that upon reaching its 18th birthday, it is forcefully taken out of the forest, cut down and let to slowly wither in a house for the enjoyment of little children? And there come the "green" fellas who have artificial trees... Oh yes, please, tell me how PVC is better...

What about the gifts? All the promotions and consumerism in the holy days of Christmas surely make some good money for those who already have more than enough. And you, like me, spend most of what you have to please your loved ones, only to wake to the thought that what you've spent is actually not worth it. Not for the people, but for the gain.

Let's suppose you are so anti-social that even on these days you just want to stay home and relax in front of the TV. I can tell you what you're gonna watch. All the series of "Home Alone". Plus all the other films you are bound to watch EVERY Christmasm for over a dozen of years now. It's like they have a playlist of some sort, and every year on the 20th of December they pull it out and play it. 

And now it's time for the big family reunion, traditionally held on the day of Christmas. Oh my god. Every relative in immediate reach trying to pry on your personal life, in turn telling you about theirs, food flying everywhere and the same music playing over and over again... What more is there to ask about?

I know, I know. I deserve your rage, and most probably you're going to crucify me in the comments. Sorry for the bad pun. But, seriously... aren't there things that annoy you in these days of joy and happiness? It is well known that we need to push a little bit to be happy and not grumpy, but really... is this the way? Every year it's the same music. Every year it's the same movies. Every year it's the same food. Every year it's the same people. Every year... the same...

My best friend once told me that happiness lies in the search for repetition. A phrase by Nietzsche I think. I get that. And I am happy being able to repeat all those things, every year, as I presume are you. But every once in a while, I feel like doing something different. Like, being with the people I want, and not that I have to. Doing the things that I like, and not that I must. After all, Christmas is about wishes, is it not..?

After my ranting about all the negatives of Christmas, I now feel I owe you one. So, here's my wish.

I wish you happy holidays. I wish you a white Christmas, full of joy and smiles. I wish you get the presents you dream of. I wish you to be with the people you want. I wish you can do all the things you desire, and I wish you to be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest. Be it under a plastic tree or on a bench in the park. Merry Christmas, everyone! :)