I hate Christmas, but I am not a Grinch.

I hate holiday music.

I hate the snow.

I hate the cold.

I hate hot cocoa.

I hate giving gifts.

I hate receiving them too.

I hate that you will judge me, but I won't judge you.

People are so quick to judge when I tell that that my least favorite holiday is Christmas. Why does it have to be my favorite holiday? To me, Christmas is not how it used to be.

Black Friday starts on Thursday (Thanksgiving) and the "joy" of being with your family is overlooked for a quick snatch and grab store sale. We are putting a value on our family when we go out shopping for Christmas gifts, instead of being with them. Was Thanksgiving dinner with your family really worth the $2 movies at Target?

Christmas practically starts before Thanksgiving now. People have their trees and lights up. Stores start selling Christmas decor three months early. You are celebrating the idealized Christmas- which isn't going to happen. STOP premature Christmas decorating!

Christmas is now all about gifts, and who spent the most or the least. It is a family competition of who has succeeded the most in the past year, who is doing the best in school, in work, who makes the most money, and over all who is the star of the family.

I don't find pleasure in driving long distances through the blizzard to argue with my family, or feel ashamed of myself. I don't desire to sit at the dinner table or perhaps dispersed about the living room to watch sports and argue about politics. I don't want to be asked "How's college?", "Are you seeing anyone?", "Where are you working?", "Do you like your job?", and "Who did you vote for?".

Holiday music is overplayed and overrated. I will NOT be having a holly jolly Christmas, and I am okay with that.

I will be having a great winter break though. Apart from the suffocation from my family, I can escape finals and finally get some much needed sleep. I can finally focus on myself and my health. I can pay attention to my family members that need it. I don't need to celebrate Christmas to achieve these things.

My heart isn't small, and I don't plan to steal Christmas gifts. My dog doesn't like being dressed like a reindeer, and I don't own a sleigh.

I hate Christmas, but I am not a Grinch.