I’m sure a large part of the hoopla is the fact humans get depressed in winter and ‘this’ is their attempt to find relief… The way religion has so co-opted the celebrations, and how society accepts that is frustrating. Then there’s the atrocious Commercialism … bombarding us from all angles.

Once having done my best to select some aspects ..while rejecting others, raising children and having relatives, especially in laws - kept it coming… I finally reached a stage where I could, would, and do avoid it. My kids laugh, relatives understand, and former in laws may still grit their teeth

The sadness for me is what appears to be a ‘follow the leader’ ‘mass insanity’ behavior from ..nearly everywhere. I’m disappointed, very disappointed with my fellow human beings.. It’s nothing to celebrate, that’s for sure, but nobody can blame this crap on me

Who's saddened? I'm always having a great day.

I don't celebrate Christmas, or any of the "holidays, really. Our culture of the almighty dollar has perverted them all with their requirement for manufactured sentimentality and spending. Kinda soured me on holidays. Besides, I don't need a special day to show my loved ones how important they are to me. Every day is that day.

Much of the season is about children. If you don't have your kid(s) on Christmas, it takes something out of it.

Except for it being winter, I love Christmas.

Excellent post, and a perfect reflection for me, having been one of those so "saddened" (see my comment on KenChang's thread about this; would link if I could).

Since I wrote the comment referenced above, I've contemplated this much--and I've reached essentially the same conclusion as you have, OP. I've decided to redirect my focus from what's wrong, out there--re: the runaway commercialism, "forced joviality" (credit to Callmedubious), et al.--toward what's right, in here. To keep it culturally-relevant and somewhat subversive at the same time, I'm thinking about "bringing light into the world."

I'm OK with this time of year b/c I'm in AZ where it's sunny & warm.
Were I back home where it's wet, miserable & cold I would be feeling pretty down by now.
I think the commercialization of this season turns a lot of people off. That & the forced joviality.

I just hope that it stops raining - otherwise, I'm not sad about anything else.

The holiday celebrations around me do not sadden me, but rather an anniversary on December 18th, which back in 2006 is the day my father passed away from a sudden heart attack, so for that reason this time of year can be slightly depressing for me.

Speak for yourself, I'm not sad!