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If we moved Leap Day from February 29th to December 32nd, we could do it once every four years.

Seems like a good idea at first.

But then think, how long is the run up to Christmas now? Seems like 3 months or so to me.

So if you're making the time between Christmases 3 times as long as now, then probably make the run up period at least three times as long.

Which, quite frankly, sounds bloody awful.

Interesting idea but there’s so many kids around that a huge percentage of people would still be celebrating anyway. Beside what about family? Are you going to ignore Christmas even though your niece and nephew are celebrating? If anyone in your family has kids you’re likely to show up.

Then who are we left with, childless couples and single people. The couples might get by but this season is already very challenging for lonely people. Not all but many of them have a rough go. Now your going to have them spend it alone while everyone else celebrates or hangs out with there spouse? I’ve spent Christmas alone thanks to COVID. Trust me it’s not better.

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Even without kids, I wouldn't want to miss it any year. It's indeed the happiest time of the year, so why skip it, when you're also probably be asked to skip taking days off? Wintertime is dark enough as it is.

Bad idea.

They say it comes but once a year, but the whole xmas season rolls around every eight months. Seems like it was just over then it hijacks our time and money yet again. If it was every three or even four years it would be more special and not burn people out with all the music, ads, and overbearing focus on retail consumption.

Oh you can’t completely escape it, but at least with my plan you’re free to chose your level of participation instead of the blanket automatic obligation.

Precisely. My theory is it’d actually make Christmas more worthwhile because people could prepare and pace themselves instead of having it be a huge morass you always have to navigate every year.

You already are free to choose your level of participation.

Ur theory blows

Nope if it becomes socially acceptable to ignore it for long stretches you’re more at leisure to limit participation because you wouldn’t be “Scrooge” you’d be “less fanatical”.

The big issue will be shutting down the strident “war on Christmas” conservatives. This is one of their favorite talking points. But my solution would be to point out that by removing the outrageous retail marketing and exploitation aspect associated with the Holliday you’d be making it easier for actual religious minded people to focus on the biblical/Christianity aspect of Christmas. You might actually get support from staunch Christians for limiting the big business/retail exploitation of the birth of their savior.

Is there a particular part you're less fanatical about? Traveling, family obligations, gift shopping, decorating, or just it all in general? I'm hoping there's a way to compromise so the balance between your happiness and social expectations is readjusted.

I’m going ahead with the premise that there’s broad swaths of people that feel the Holliday’s are too much work. I’m not saying don’t see family, and I’ve already stated that kids should have Christmas every year since it’s mostly they who enjoy it the most. But for those who find all the hype burdensome-and we do exist- this solution offers an alternative choice between deciding to participate or not. What I’m saying is some of these people may actually wind up loving Christmas MORE if it was 1/3 as rare. It would perhaps become more precious.

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Christmas is first and foremost, and always will be, the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Christ Jesus. Sadly, while the holiday remains, most have forgotten the reason for the season. This post is a true example of that and it saddens myself as well as all my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I just want to chime in and say I love this healthy back and forth. Reddit is awesome

>how long is the run up to Christmas now

It's however long you choose it to be. We'll put the three up the weekend before Christmas, and start making the mince pies and other goodies a couple of days before. You don't have to have your tree up in November.

They start advertising package holidays on Boxing day. That doesn't mean we should only have a summer break once every 3 years.

But it isn't my choice, is it. It's the retailers and advertisers choice. If it was my choice, with Christmas once a year the run up to Christmas would be 2 weeks before the 25th of December.

But no, I currently have to sit through perfume, aftershave, watch, and jewelry adverts from the middle of October. Every trip anywhere near a shop after the 5th November and I'm assaulted by tinsel, Wizzard, Wham and stop the frigging cavalry.

HUMBUG!

I feel like Christmas is only stressful and anxiety filled because people make it that way. It comes every single year, yet every year it's like a huge surprise to many humans. You get the Christmas rushes of everyone going to the store at the same time scrambling to get all the crap they need qhen a lit of this stuff could have been bought and planned for in advanced.

Then again maybe I just tend to think aheada little too much.I don't wait until the last mintue to buy Christmas stuff and gifts. After Christmas that crap goes on sale for far less than others originally paid. And I buy gifts throughout the year as I see stuff go on sale.

So while everyone else is pinching pennies and rushing to buy crap, I already have most of the stuff I need. Of course there are certain items that become Christmas releases so you can't buy it early, but majority of the stuff can be planned for.

Wow. Some adverts and tinsel, and you can no longer make up your own mind?

There are adverts for summer holidays in the middle of winter - it doesn't destroy my ability to enjoy a cup of cocoa and a snuggle up by the fire.

Maybe stop letting adverts and shop displays dictate your life?

I think you're missing the point. They don't dictate my life, but it is impossible for me to avoid it, and I don't like it. Is that clear enough?

>They don't dictate my life, but it is impossible for me to avoid it, and I don't like it

Lol - that's literally the definition of dictating your life. Maybe grow up and stop expecting the world to revolve around your inability to think for yourself?

Or you could just do what I do when something is irritating and incessant, and has no bearing on my life. Ignore it - like I'm now going to do to you :)

I think you need to look up the meaning of the words definition, literal and dictating.

Personal perspectives, crazy ideas, questions (rhetorical or otherwise) and meta submissions are not showerthoughts.