You know, it's funny. I worked in retail for years and so saw all the bah-humbugs long before I ever celebrated the holidays.
The thing is that people do get weighed down, especially if they have big families. It can become so expensive that all they can think of is how much they have to spend. Then there are some people who are just so hard to shop for (we have one of those in my small celebrating family, but since I don't have to buy for many people I can really think about his gift. But it's hard.)
Also there is that tv image of Christmas that everyone tries to live up to and with so much famiy disfunction, it just ain't happenin in most cases. then there's the entertaining. If my whole family celebrated I don't know how we'd do it. It's so huge.
If people have health issues year around (like I do) then the holidays can be especially overwhelming. I have found ways around that though, and I am eternally grateful for the people at Amazon.com and ebay LOL.
I laughed about people waiting to see who sent them cards first, I never do that. I have missed doing cards the past couple years cause I was really sick but this year I enjoyed it so much that I just decided to even send them to people I haven't heard from in a long time. just a quick note to say I was thinking of them. I had to go out and buy more cards! LOL I want to finish them up tomorrow.
It is what you make it. I think that a lot of families would be so much happier if they could say "Look, we're so big now lets decide how to work this out so nobody goes broke." If there was more honesty then I think people would like it more.
Also there are those out there who get depressed because they don't have any family to share it with. So you come across all kinds when you're dealing with the public. I bet that no one appreciates christmas more than ex JW's do.
hugs and Merry Christmas all!
essie