In the grand theater of holiday cheer, where twinkling lights and festive music delight the senses, there seems to be a growing number of self-appointed Christmas critics eager to deliver their scathing reviews. The latest installment of this delightful tragedy features a chorus of TikTok users adamantly declaring their disdain for the most wonderful time of the year. Strapped into their moral high horses and equipped with smartphones, they embark on a quest to save us from the capitalism-laden clutches of Christmas. Spoiler alert: They’ve forgotten to bring any joy along for the ride.

One charming protagonist argued that life is best experienced in the moment—no need for all those pesky holidays to distract us from our “emergent present moment reality.” It’s sweet really, kind of like that well-meaning friend who thinks you should stop drinking coffee because it’s bad for your chakras. Sure, they’re trying to be deep and profound in a world chock-full of presents and pie, but perhaps they missed the memo that celebrations have been a part of the human experience since, oh, forever. Like, ancient human experience. You know, before we had TikTok.

Next up in the lineup was a well-versed herald of Pagan origins, declaring that Christmas should be shunned for its commercial roots and lack of biblical validation. They claimed that since the holiday’s origins are debated, we should sweep aside this time-honored tradition rather than join together in merriment. But here’s a fun fact: if all celebrations had to be validated by Scripture, every birthday party and congratulatory gathering would likely be out of commission. It’s like throwing out your favorite cake recipe because you forgot to check if it was mentioned in Leviticus. Even more amusing, this individual likely picked up a box of ornaments at their local store—those adornments of commercial allure one’s supposedly rebelling against.

And oh, the sorrowful holiday warriors lamenting the “over-commercialization” of Christmas. One lamented that gift exchanges now resemble a cosmic transaction—a bizarre court of obligation where one feels compelled to gift and receive, lest they be deemed ungrateful. The solution? Apparently, we should all stop gifting altogether. But wait a minute! Isn’t part of what makes Christmas special the spirit of giving? While nobody wants to feel like they’re pawning off favors for credit, there’s a certain warmth that comes from thoughtful generosity. It’s a touchy subject—like discussing politics at Thanksgiving—because if gifts are now seen as obligatory transactions, should we also cancel birthdays, anniversaries, and Tuesday?

Then there were those voices of discontent who lamented being forced to engage with distant relatives come Yuletide. It’s as if they would prefer to live in a bubble, shielded from the loud and sometimes obnoxious eccentricities of family gatherings. Look, nobody enjoys Aunt Barbara’s unsolicited life advice, but that’s just part of the holiday charm. You endure her questionable remarks for a couple of hours, and then you’re free until the next family reunion—hopefully for a very long time. The alternative? Celebrating alone while being a cheerful Grinch. No thanks!

Finally, the grand reveal: *It’s okay to hate Christmas!* Yes, we’ve reached the climax of this modern carol, wherein discontent is celebrated as empowerment. This seems rather counterproductive, doesn’t it? If you believe that expressing negativity is grounding to others, what about the rest of us who revel in the merriness of the season? Why should we stifle our joy because some people feel left out? It’s akin to a potluck where everyone insists on bringing salad while others are craving dessert.

In conclusion, let’s agree to embrace all aspects of the holiday season—the good, the weird, and even the slightly grumpy family members. Christmas, with all its merriment and delight, may not be perfect, but who among us is? For every frowning face, there’s a twinkling light, and a holiday cookie just waiting to be enjoyed. So raise a glass to the unabashedly cheerful revelers, the families united (however awkwardly), and the timeless traditions that bind us. And for those who wish to grumble through the season, well, remember, you can always unfollow on social media—but don’t expect us to stop celebrating. Cheers!