My late wife was the house decorator,after her passing,I had all of the decorations given away,too many memories,before we married,I looked at the Holidays as just another day,nothing special,this Thanksgiving and Christmas will be my 3rd with out her, 27 years(26 good ones).....

I enjoy a tree with lights aglow, holiday music, and people acting a little bit nicer . But I also feel loneliness and loss in the holiday season. It’s a challenge and a struggle. I fight to keep the good moments on top and sorrow at bay.

share gifts, food, and time, The winter solstice has been celebrated for at least 10,000 years, a few days earlier or later is irrelevant. We actually don't celebrate any holiday, it's just the time when people have time off so we take advantage.

Enjoy and grateful for the family time. Ignore the reason.

the same way i dealt with it before i was an atheist, since i am jewish: i feel isolated, i feel inundated, i feel put-upon, and i hate it. it makes the world assume i am a happy christian and fond of red and green. it makes the world assume that christmas is for everyone, oh it's not a religious holiday, wait, let's put the christ back in christmas -- how does THAT dichotomy work? i want to sleep for a couple months. i want to go out and torment a reindeer. it makes me want to rip apart a vermont teddy bear. it makes me want to shove a tree up someone's ass.

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I’m a horrible atheist, I flipping love Christmas! I’m putting up my tree this weekend.

Fun family time. Nothing more.

It's just a time for family, and fun and food and good times, stop over thinking it, I for one have never felt forced to acknowledge jesus on Christmas and to anyone that trys to call me a hypocrite I just tell them its a pagan celebration first and a commercial enterprise at that and it pretty much shuts them up.

I treat it just like actually most do - as a family holiday and excuse to see people do not normally see. Oh and to take a break from work and relax. If someone gives me free time off, I will not complain as long as there are no strings attached. Besides, its a good excuse to celebrate the real holiday on 12/25: Newtonmas! Yes it is actually Sir Isaac Newton's birthday (at least on the older Julian calendar used when he was born). I send out Newtonmas cards too -- but they need to be bought well in advance because for some reason not everyone stocks them, go figure?

Do not work temporarily job at Walmart garden center during holiday.