25 reasons why Christmas can be the worst time of year (2024)

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Travel is insane.

Not only are flights super expensive around Christmas, airports are jam-packed, lines are insane, and flights are frequentlydelayed. Driving isn't much better as highways become clogged.

Mall parking is mayhem.

From Black Friday onward, don't expect to find a parking spot at the mall. It is mayhem.

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Electricity bills skyrocket.

Sure, Christmas lights are pretty, but your electric bill won't be.

Christmas movies are the worst.

Aside from maybe "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street,"Christmas movies are not good.Don't even get us started on all the plot holes and sexism in Christmas classic "Love Actually."

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It's breakup season.

Two weeks before Christmas is peak breakup time. Maybe they don't want you to meet their family, maybe they don't want to have to buy you a gift, or maybe thestresses surrounding the holiday just got to betoo much. Regardless of the reason, prepare yourself for potential heartbreak.

Your bank account will be drained.

Between buying presents, plane tickets, decorations, food, and more, your bank account will be drained by the New Year.

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Family dynamics can be fraught.

The holidays pressureyou into seeing family — even relativesyou'd rather not see. Sometimescutting ties with family members can be healthy.

Family dynamics with your SO's relatives can be even harder.

Spending a lot of time with your partner's family can be even tougher, especially over a longer period of time and in close quarters.

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Buying presents is stressful.

Finding the perfect gift is so much pressure. And just when you think you found it... it turns outthatAunt Susan got the same thing.

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Holiday depression is a thing.

Christmas isoften associated with an image of love, peace, and happiness,so it can feel gut-wrenching when you don't feel any of those emotions on the inside, which is why many people get depressed around the holidays. Between family conflicts, financial woes, holiday breakups,and highexpectations, Christmas isn't always a happy time for everyone.

While the holidays may pressure you intoputting on a facade of happiness, remember that it's ok to feelsad.

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It's horrible for the environment.

From massive amounts of trash going straight into alandfill to food waste andenergy consumption,Christmas is horriblefor the environment.

It's all about excessive consumerism.

Christmas has gotten incredibly commercial, and all about buying things. How crazy is it that Black Friday has gotten10 people killedand 105 people injured?

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Christmas music gets old fast.

The first time you hear "All I want for Christmas is you" is nice and nostalgic. By the 100th time you're over it.

You have to pretend to like presents you actually hate.

Nothing is worse than having to pretend you love the socks your auntgave you for the fifth Christmas in a row.

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It's exhausting.

Everything about Christmas is exhausting. Traveling to see family, shopping, cooking, baking, decorating, small talk, holiday party after holiday party... It can really take a toll on people.

It starts way too early.

The first week of November is just too darn soon to be thinking about Christmas. Disney World, for example, starts putting up their decorations on November 1st. At least wait until after Thanksgiving...

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Office holiday parties can be really awkward.

The office holiday party is always a sticky social situation to navigate.Not having enough fun can mark you as an office bore, whilehaving too much fun can completely ruin your work reputation — it's a fine line.

Fruitcake is disgusting.

You do not want to be known as the person who brought fruitcake to the holidayparty. Between theweirdchunksofgreen andorange, somethingabout thisiconic cakeis justinedible.

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You have to take awkward family photos.

Being reunited with family for the holidays means you are forced to takea lot of awkward family photos. Even better when some older relative is in charge who can't seem to figure out the camera.

If you live in a warm climate, you never get a white Christmas.

A "white Christmas" has become iconic — too bad it'sunrealistic for many.

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If you live in a cold climate, it's too cold.

If you do get to enjoy a white Christmas... it's often unbearably cold and involves lots of shoveling.

Singles have to watch couples be all cutesy.

Mistletoe can be super awkward... both as a single receiving unwanted advances and a single having to watch couples be all lovey-dovey.

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If your birthday is anywhere near Christmas, you always run the risk of having your presents combined.

December babies always getgypped as most people will simply combine their birthdayand Christmas gifts. And who wants to go to another party when there areso many holiday parties to attend?

The lie that is Santa.

Keeping the lie alive is tough enough, but once the truth comes out the jolly old guy becomes a little more creepy than comforting— especially mall Santas.

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You can't say you don't like Christmas without being called a grinch.

Disliking Christmas is ok. Whether you love Christmas or hate Christmas, your feelings are valid.

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