Why Do People Hate the Holidays?

The holiday season is here, ready or not. Lights are going up, trees are being decorated, and everyone is excited to celebrate their holiday, whatever that may be.

Not everyone awaits this season like a giddy child. 

Ebenezer Scrooge and Grinch are two very anti-Christmas characters we all know. But there may be more Scrooges and Grinches in your life than you think.

An introvert is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.” Introverts make up around a third of the population. While being introverted doesn’t make you a holiday-hater, it can make the season a lot less bearable. 

One of the biggest things to do in the holiday season is to meet with friends and family. Introverts sometimes struggle with social interactions, and with the amount of time you spend with others during the holidays, it can be exhausting.

Medium says “Often, introverts will spend the time wishing they could have some personal downtime, and a chance to recharge their batteries. It’s not that they hate their friends and families — but find the forced, continuous interaction that comes with Christmas time — incredibly exhausting.”

As an introvert myself, who sometimes just isn’t in the mood for big Christmas parties, I can attest to this. There’s a certain feeling of wanting to be with family who you care about, but not having the energy to socialize. 

Medium lists five reasons introverts dislike the holidays: (1) The Neverending Loop of Socialisation, (2) Opening Presents Is Not That Enjoyable for Us, (3) The Dread that comes With Party Games, (4) The Element That All of This Is forced, (5) It’s Not Just Family but Work And friends.

It’s also important to recognize that these factors aren’t just limited to the winter holidays. Introverts may find other holidays, including birthdays, less enjoyable as they require lots of socializing, attention and dealing with family. 

Speaking of family, lots of people may find the holidays stressful due to the interactions with their families. Plenty of people have strenuous relationships with their families, so the dinner parties may be more tense than usual.

Also, the holidays may be difficult for families who are missing or dealing with the loss of a family member. The family get-togethers are just a reminder of the empty seat at the table.

Psychology Today conducted a study on how people felt during the holiday seasons. A survey revealed that “Thirty-eight percent of people surveyed said their stress level increased during the holiday season. Participants listed the top stressors: lack of time, lack of money, commercialism, the pressures of gift-giving, and family gatherings.”

While many of these factors won’t have as great of an effect on some people because the happiness of the season is more important to them, it’s important to recognize that for families with less money and resources, it’s more difficult to buy gifts for relatives and children. Everyone deserves a happy holiday season, but with the stresses of family, money, and constant traveling, it’s not so easy for everyone.

If you want to give to charities that support children and families during the holidays, The Spruce  has compiled a list of 10 charities to donate to this holiday season.

So to conclude, maybe Scrooges and Grinches have more reason to be less enthused by the season. It can be emotionally draining, hard to deal with family loss, and difficult on families with monetary struggles. Whether you’re a fan of the holidays or not, everyone deserves a time of year to rest and connect with others.