Should we really base our holiday cheer around what’s under a decorated tree?

Christmas: that wonderful holiday that children everywhere count down to every year. It’s a time for children to write their letters to Santa, for parents to have time off of work to spend with the family, and for people everywhere to share general cheer. It’s a time for hot chocolate, Christmas music, and ugly sweater parties for everyone. But is it truly the “Most wonderful time of the year?”

As I write this, teacher Brandy Panagos looks over my shoulder and questions, “What anti-Christmas mess are you writing now?”

I’m going to be honest; I hate Christmas. With a burning passion, some might say. I know some of you out there just spilled your eggnog in shock, and are sharpening your candy canes to come after me for heresy, but hear me out and take a real look behind the farce that is Christmas.

“Christmas is a time for giving,” insists Katie Bohatch, freshman.

Au contraire. Since childhood, we have been conditioned to ask. This was begun with the iconic question, “Honey, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?” This has turned Christmas from a “time for giving” to a time for getting.

“It’s about Jesus,” comments sophomore Ryan Knowling.

Fun fact: Jesus wasn’t born on December 25, but rather during the summer.  Christmas was moved to its current date by the church in order to cover up a pagan holiday. So, if you are going to celebrate the birth of Jesus, please do so at the appropriate time.

“Christmas is about everyone being happy,” declares Sydney Burch, freshman.

Tell that to the angry shopper who got battered and bruised in the mad rush of Christmas shoppers during Black Friday. In my opinion, Black Friday is going to be the downfall of society. For some reason, people forget the things that they are trying so hard to carve into their children—that’s right, folks, manners—in a fit of frenzy to get a pair of boots for twenty percent off. People, please calm down. You’re making us all look bad.

Fellow Christmas hater, Ian Hendrix has the right idea, “Christmas is a time for fakeness and money spent on pointless gifts.”

Shouldn’t we always love our families? Shouldn’t we always want to spend time with them and do nice things for them, like giving gifts? Why do we have to have a special day to be happy?

For Patriot Pages, this is Emily Bohatch admitting yes, I am a scrooge.