When X happens just before Christmas

[Norelco]

I never understood why people say something along the lines of "this is such a shame that this happened just before Christmas."

X = job lost, death in the family, robbed, whatever

What is it about being just before Christmas that particularly amplifies the situation? Is it that Christmas is supposed to be a joyful holiday?

[Suburbanelite]

Yes.

[Byrd]

I once got fired right before Christmas, which made it for a particularly painful financial seaon, so that sucked.

But in general, I think it's considered a joyful holiday that you're supposed to celebrate with family and/or friends. I think the constant holiday atmosphere reminds some people that they're not happy and/or don't have friends and family to celebrate with. Thus depression results, and suicide rates reach their yearly peak.

Probably similar to the reason a lot of single people get pissed off/depressed of Valentine's Day. It's a holiday you're supposed to celebrate with your significant other, but if you don't have one, it kind of rubs it in your face. Although it doesn't bother some people, it depresses the hell out of others (particulary those who have a current unrequited love).

[Norelco]

Does this formula still apply to people who don't celebrate Christmas?

[Dimmauk]

People are already emotional around the holidays, so when they get laid off it makes it worse, cause they cant spend money on gifts for their loved ones. Or when a death happends clsoe to Christmas, they are forever reminded of the death every season.

BTW, companies lay people off at Christmas so they can get their payroll off the books before the year end. I know this cause I have been part of the laying/ and getting laid off before.

When I worked for Motorola, I knew for weeks that we were laying people off. When the day came, one guy had his car repo'd, had to walk to work, and then got laid off.

[Suburbanelite]

Does it matter? Nobody's forcing anyone to be happy.

[Correction]

Does it matter? Nobody's forcing anyone to be happy.

Well spoken with the JtHM avatar.

I tend to get bummed if everyone else is having a good time and I have a cloud over my head like...say, unemployment or someone just wrecked my car. It's perfectly natural. Christmas = people having parties and unhappy coincidences can ruin parties for people.

[Norelco]

People are already emotional around the holidays, so when they get laid off it makes it worse, cause they cant spend money on gifts for their loved ones. Or when a death happends clsoe to Christmas, they are forever reminded of the death every season.

BTW, companies lay people off at Christmas so they can get their payroll off the books before the year end. I know this cause I have been part of the laying/ and getting laid off before.

When I worked for Motorola, I knew for weeks that we were laying people off. When the day came, one guy had his car repo'd, had to walk to work, and then got laid off.

I would think that I would be reminded of the death no matter what time of the year it was.

But Christmas is about spending time with family and really shouldn't be about money, so I can see why a death would be particularly painful during this time of the year.

I dunno. I'm being a nitpicky little bitch I guess.

[_chuchu]

To the OP; I always thought that X-Mas was just a cheap way to abbreviate Christmas

[BadKarma]

To the OP; I always thought that X-Mas was just a cheap way to abbreviate Christmas

lawl

[Callisto]

Christmas is all about money, if you don't have any nobody likes you since you can't buy them shit, and if you're like me and about to be laid off in 2 weeks, it sucks more this year than it usually does.

[TheShadyMan]

My grandpa died two years ago before Christmas. I was relieved because I had no idea what the hell to get him. I suppose a new pace maker would have been nice...

[Metah]

To the OP; I always thought that X-Mas was just a cheap way to abbreviate Christmas

I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought this

[BRP]

The family dog was ran over on Christmas Eve(hit and run). I actually saw it happen. I had to run in and tell everyone but they wouldn't believe me until my uncle(he was also there) carried her inside. The dog was driven to a hospital(not like you can get paramedics to pick up a dog). We spent the next hour or two being sad, then we found out the dog died and we were even sadder. Eventually we would open presents at 12am, and I got shitty presents too.

Christmas is suppose to be the ultimate family get together time. When something that harms the family happens, well it ruins what could be the best time of the year. It might be different for families who aren't close I guess. In my example we are a family that have Birthday cakes for every single family member ever year.

[Norelco]

The family dog was ran over on Christmas Eve(hit and run). I actually saw it happen. I had to run in and tell everyone but they wouldn't believe me until my uncle(he was also there) carried her inside. The dog was driven to a hospital(not like you can get paramedics to pick up a dog). We spent the next hour or two being sad, then we found out the dog died and we were even sadder. Eventually we would open presents at 12am, and I got shitty presents too.

Christmas is suppose to be the ultimate family get together time. When something that harms the family happens, well it ruins what could be the best time of the year. It might be different for families who aren't close I guess. In my example we are a family that have Birthday cakes for every single family member ever year.

Sorry about your dog. I think you hit the nail on the head. My family isn't close. We all live in different states lol.

[zoobernut]

The family dog was ran over on Christmas Eve(hit and run). I actually saw it happen. I had to run in and tell everyone but they wouldn't believe me until my uncle(he was also there) carried her inside. The dog was driven to a hospital(not like you can get paramedics to pick up a dog). We spent the next hour or two being sad, then we found out the dog died and we were even sadder. Eventually we would open presents at 12am, and I got shitty presents too.

Christmas is suppose to be the ultimate family get together time. When something that harms the family happens, well it ruins what could be the best time of the year. It might be different for families who aren't close I guess. In my example we are a family that have Birthday cakes for every single family member ever year.

I think BRP really said it best. Sorry to hear about your dog. I know I look forward to the holidays as a time when I can relax and enjoy myself and it is hard to do that when you are stressed out due to something bad happening. My wife just got laid off and I know that it will be something hanging over our heads during the holidays this year, not only financially because we will not be able to get each other nice gifts like we usually do but also because it sucks to lose your job and it is stressful.

[Kiro]

Some lady who used to live in my building died on Thanksgiving last year when her family was over.

NOTHING TO DO WITH THE THREAD BUT LOL ANYWAY.

[Osede]

I never celebrate christmas, since it is not the main culture practice in asia. However, this reminds me that my grandma pass away due to the cancer right during first few days of Chinese New Year.

My parents and relatives are very sad during that time, but I don't think I was so as sad as them. Probably due to that I have accepted the fact that my grandma is gonna gone anytime soon

[Elvis]

No one has it worse than that chick from Gremlins.

The worst thing that ever happened to me was on Christmas. Oh, God. It was so horrible. It was Christmas Eve. I was 9 years old. Me and Mom were decorating the tree, waiting for Dad to come home from work. A couple hours went by. Dad wasn't home. So Mom called the office. No answer. Christmas Day came and went, and still nothing. So the police began a search. Four or five days went by. Neither one of us could eat or sleep. Everything was falling apart. It was snowing outside. The house was freezing, so I went to try to light up the fire. That's when I noticed the smell. The firemen came and broke through the chimney top. And me and Mom were expecting them to pull out a dead cat or a bird. And instead they pulled out my father. He was dressed in a Santa Claus suit. He'd been climbing down the chimney... his arms loaded with presents. He was gonna surprise us. He slipped and broke his neck. He died instantly. And that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus.

[Ksandra]

I would think that I would be reminded of the death no matter what time of the year it was.

But Christmas is about spending time with family and really shouldn't be about money, so I can see why a death would be particularly painful during this time of the year.

I dunno. I'm being a nitpicky little bitch I guess.

My mom's dad died when I was 2 maybe 2 days before xmas, my mom's mother died a year later about a week before xmas. While of course she would know of their death throughout the year, every christmas she does get a little sad knowing it is another christmas where her parents aren't there to be with her.

As to the money issue, you're right xmas is about money, but that can still be a situational bummer. I'm going home for Xmas this year, and can't really afford gifts, it's hard to go home and be the one that's like "I'll get you something nicer next year!" My family though is very judgemental so I guess that's where I get it from.