Thank you for writing this. Absolutely, I feel this way every year. Growing up Jewish, I always attributed it to being an outsider; as I've gotten older, I've learned that others feel this way, too. So much emphasis on "togetherness" and happy gatherings -- when this time of year brings up equally intense feelings of sadness and loneliness, even among those with close and loving family and friends.

Throw in a December birthday that never gets acknowledged and it really is a whirlwind of suck.

Thank you for the cat picture, always welcome but please don't make it wear that silly outfit too long, cats have pride too. And thanks for the post, being a UK member I was getting a bit fed up with hearing all about Thanks Giving from the US, even though most of it was critical. I thought it was just me because it means so little to us over hear, and I thought that next year I would take revenge by putting up hundreds of posts about Guy Fawkes night. However now I hear that some of you get as fed up with the season, I will forgive, (spirit of my year not just one season) and forget. So no bonfire night posts, unless I can think of something really funny.

I don't find it depressing. But it does irritate the shit out of me. I fuckin hate xmas lights and tinsel and everyone's cheery 'merry xmas' greeting. I hate when people give me cards cos then I have to return them. Christmas day means doing a shit load of cooking being a busy hostess and then cleaning up the mess. Next year I'm running away

Bullshit, it starts in September when the shops start roll out all the trees and shit

Thank you.

Actually quite oblivious to it all...