Friday Five – Christmas Crap
So after that last post in which I affirm participating in the trappings of the Christmas season, I have to acknowledge that a lot of those trappings are well, just plain stupid and pointless. Take for instance the Cavalcade of Bad Nativities. One really has to wonder why anyone would spend money on such abundance of kitsch and crap, but it piles up every year. And I fully admit to owning my fair share of Christmas crap, I swear it just appears out of nowhere.
So in the spirit of acknowledging the pointless and tacky elements of the season (and because I haven't done one of these in a long time), I'm posting my answers to the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five – grumbly Christmas edition.
Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal….
1) dessert/cookie/family food – Snickerdoodles. I usually get at least a plate or two of these each year in one cookie exchange or another and I honestly can't stand the things. For one I hate hard cookies of all types. And secondly the false advertising in the name just annoys me. I mean SNICKERdoodle – I'm expecting a gooey confection of chocolate and caramel, but instead I get a generally overcooked and crispy sugar cookie dusted with cinnamon. Very disappointing. Oh and I can't stand ham either.
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc…) – Champagne. Okay so I've only ever had cheap Champagne (technically sparking wine and not really Champagne), but I'm not a fan. Give me a cocktail or even better a nice steaming cup of spiced wine, but I'll pass on the bubbly.
3) tradition (church, family, other) – White Elephant Gift Exchanges. The idea of going out to spend money on crappy kitsch that no one needs just to be cheezy represents all the things wrong with consumerism in America. Even when the point is to pass on cheezy crap that you already own, it seems that we are just showing the world that we have so much money that we own completely worthless crap that we can joke about. If we have to do a gift exchange I would much rather bring "nice" or usable gifts. A bottle of wine, a plate of fudge – stuff that will be used and not just end up in a landfill somewhere. (and yes I am ranting because I was voted down last night as our church planned our Christmas party…)
4) decoration – Hands down those giant inflatable lawn things. Tacky. Creepy. Just plain annoying.
5) gift (received or given) – Every year for Christmas growing up my grandfather gave me a porcelain statuette. Nice ones from designer names. Besides now having a collection of porcelain animals that I have no clue what to do with, what kind of gift is this for a 6 year old to open at Christmas?
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it. – I've always hated Away in a Manger. The stupid lines that proclaim that the little baby Jesus was too holy of a baby to cry and the sing-songy tune that gets stuck in your head. And speaking of cheezy nativity sets. Emma has the Little People Nativity which, of course, plays Away in a Manger. She loves the thing and plays it incessantly. The joy.
So with this outpouring of Christmas Spirit are we ready to get this season underway? 
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
A really good bottle of champagne is pretty nice, but otherwise, it's not worth it!
Wow, I was with you on most of those. SNICKERdoodles – FINALLY someone has spoken the truth. What is up with those things. Worse, is I seem to expect somethign different every. time.
I am with you on the champagne thing too. As far as the white elephant gift exchange – my pet peeve is when someone really misses the point and wraps up plastic spoons or a roll of toilet paper. Sadly these are the things I usually end up going home with. At least it is more useful than a miniature mouse with a Santa hat.
Thanks for playing!
i just hate the colors red and green next to each other.
and broaches. there seem to be more oversized chest pins this time of year.
I HATE Snickerdoodles.
AND
I was right there with you voting down that stupid white elephant exchange. I hate them more than anything else about the holiday. Well, maybe not, but close.
We could boycott and just watch???
Some of the ideas don't translate across the Atlantic. I don't know what a Snickerdoodle is – but it would appear that I wouldn't want to.
I'm in complete agreement about Away in a Manger.
I disagree about champagne – a good quality, dry champagne is a nice, once a year indulgence.
Finally, I'm surprised that the non-stop Christmas muzac that's played in shops didn't make it on to your list – it's near the top of mine.
for years I've periodically, out of guilt, given in and attended those stupid church gift exchanges. around here they call it naughty santa (which you'd think would cause some to pause and consider…) where a gift can be taken by someone else once it's opened. i hate hate hate hate hate those games. why do people think this reflects the christmas spirit? grr. i've made a personal promise that i will not ever again participate, regardless of the guilt that is piled on!
Hmmm, I guess I am the odd person here. I love SOFT snickerdoodles, and it used to be one of the few cookies I made at Christmastime (now I don't make any cookies cause I don't like baking).
And I look forward to the white elephant Christmas exchange at work. We laugh so hard; it is one of the highlights of the year.
Kris – maybe I could be turned by a good soft snickerdoodle, but it still wouldn't have chocolate.
Josh – I have to admit red and green are my two favorite colors and I love having them together at Christmas. I even had a Christmas wedding and used them as my colors.
Are you kidding me? I love snickerdoodles! And they're supposed to be soft. If you've had hard ones they either weren't made right or it went stale.
but you like weird stuff (as in stuff without chocolate)