Poll: Christmas Guilt

[Soviet Heavy]

I'm sure every one of you has felt this at least once in your life. Something happened or you did something around Christmas time that made you feel terrible.

Let me share a story with you. When I was around nine or ten, I really wanted a playstation 2. All my friends had gotten Xboxes or Gamecubes or PS2s for Christmas, and I really wanted one.

I got a Clarinet instead.

After Christmas, I listened to all my friends talk about their Halo and Ratchet and Clank and Mario games, while I sulked because all I got was a musical instrument. After a while, I blew up and bitched at my mom because she didn't get what I really wanted.

My mom tore me to shreds about being grateful, and understanding the reason why we have Christmas at all. I felt utterly terrible.
Ever since then, I decided that I should grow the hell up, never ask for anything for Christmas, and accept gifts graciously. I would appreciate things.
The Clarinet I received for my tenth Christmas has lasted me longer than any game or console I have ever known, and it has brought me so far in the world of music.

But I have never, ever forgiven myself for my behaviour that day.

TLR have you ever suffered from Christmas Guilt?

 

[delet]

Nope, I'm Jewish. No Christmas for me.

And I just ask for money, get money, and go on my merry way. It's much simpler that way.

 

[Sacman]

I don't expect anything for Christmas... I'm not getting anything anyway...<.<

 

[Pimppeter2]

I didn't get the chance to pick up my girlfriend's gift, and she's on her way here to give me mine. I feel like an ass. But I'm the best at making things up, so its all good

 

[Irridium]

Not Christmas, but I did that for my Birthday once.

Got all pissy because I didn't get a game I wanted or something. Now I look back and try to not be like that anymore. Been working fine so far.

 

[Toriver]

My family's income was lower than most other families in my class when I was a kid, so I experienced this often. I never went so far as to complain to my parents after the fact, but in private, I was often disappointed and jealous of other kids' Christmas gifts. I would usually get what I really wanted eventually, but I would often have to wait until my birthday or some other gift-giving time, when the price dropped and it became affordable. Of course, by then everyone was on to the next new thing, and the cycle would start all over again. Eventually, on my own, I learned the same lesson as in the OP, and around the time I was in junior high, I just stopped asking for things for Christmas. That actually frustrated my family quite a bit, because then they would never know what to look for! Any time they asked me, I would just shrug and say I didn't know.

 

[SimuLord]

When I was a little kid I was greedy and remorseless about it, a sociopath in training...or just a snot-nosed little brat, depending on your perspective.

As an adult I don't celebrate Christmas (Io, Saturnalia!) and as such do not experience Christmas Guilt. Besides, my life is an embarrassment of riches despite my low monetary income. As long as I have enough to get enough food, an occasional game purchase, and to replace any clothes that wear out, I'm perfectly content.

 

[Leole]

Am still a kid, and frankly, I never wanted something "badly".

I just saw christmas as an oportunity to get stuff I ussually wouldn't get that easily (Not implying I'm rich or spoiled or anything)

If I didn't get what I wanted, my gifts were good regardless. One time, I asked for this huge HotWheels track, and Santa got me an electric track.

I must admit, that's the best fun I had for weeks! And it lasted more than the track would've lasted.

Maybe I grew up sooner, maybe I didn't realize the possibilities of a free gift or maybe I just didn't care, I was just happy with the stuff I had.

 

[Koroviev]

I feel awkward receiving gifts, but saying "I don't know" or "you already paid for this or that" doesn't really fly in my family.

 

[Anarchemitis]

I've long since realized the practicality of socks in my stocking every year.
Walking around all the time seems to wear them out, as opposed to sitting somewhere and playing video games.

 

[Kimarous]

Not really. There was one Christmas where I felt that I got the short end of the stick, but my family was rather comforting about it. It wasn't so much that I got less so much as I got all my presents early on (my family is VERY ceremonial about gifts, opening one at a time); seeing everybody else get a whole bunch after me just skewed my perspective for a time. I was fine after a few minutes and was perfectly fine with my haul afterwards.

 

[Jedoro]

Don't remember how I was as a kid, so no possibility of guilt. From what I do remember, well... since Platoon gave me the way to say it, I regard myself as a grunt, because "a grunt can take it, can take anything." I take what I get, and I find a use for it. If asked my opinion, I'm honest, but I shut up and make due with what I have until I can acquire something more useful.

 

[DesiPrinceX09]

I'm Muslim so no Christmas for me. Normally someone in my position would get jealous of all the Christians around him getting gifts while he didn't but I grew up in Africa so things are much different there (people are way less spoiled than Americans). So when I came here and American kids tried boasting about their awesome gifts, I didn't care one bit.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

All my friends had gotten Xboxes or Gamecubes or PS2s for Christmas, and I really wanted one.

I got a Clarinet instead.

Gosh I totally burst with laughter reading this

Anyway, I'm not sure whether your mum sucks or is just poor at explaining ('tore me to shreds').

Whatever. Christmas always makes me feel bad for some reason. Either I have to be with the idiotic part of the family, or I give cheap presents. I'd really like to give some since gifts, like giving away something I own, but people around me wouldn't appreciate my stuff, so I end up buying crap.

Don't get me wrong, she is not a bad person. She knew I liked music, and thought it would be great if I had my own Clarinet. When I said Tore Me To Shreds, I was referring to how she ripped on me for being selfish and greedy.
She means well, and I was just too stupid to see it at the time.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Can't say. I am loathe to this particular season, so I don't commit anything to memory. But even as it is, I don't think I was ever so obsessed with commercial goods.

 

[Blindswordmaster]

I've got the Christmas guilt now because I could only afford presents for 4 of the people on my list.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Let me share a story with you. When I was around nine or ten, I really wanted a playstation 2. All my friends had gotten Xboxes or Gamecubes or PS2s for Christmas, and I really wanted one.

I got a Clarinet instead.

I grimaced and made a pretty vile sound after I read this part. I would have been pissed as all hell to.

I've never experienced Christmas gilt myself though.

 

[Rylot]

Not around Christmas but for one birthday I whined like a little shit over a N64. My parents did indulge me, btw but I haven't acted like that since.