49 Comments - Skeeter - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:06 pm: It is not exactly a holiday tradition, but the endless debate over the hidden meaning of “Happy Holidays.” As if somehow a person or company using that phrase serves as an affront to all Christians. It has turned into a minefield. Say “Happy Holidays” and you might “offend” certain people on the right. Say “Merry Christmas” and you might be saying it to a person who does not celebrate the holiday. Why can’t we disconnect politics from “Merry Christmas”? For family members and when you are 100% sure of the faith, use that term. For others, use another phrase. But whichever is used, people need to stop hearing the phrase as some insult. - Lester "Jak" TIchenor - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:12 pm: Least favorite would have to be putting up or taking down the outside lights in freezing rain or sleet. Never fails down here in “the Dale.” Second least favorite thing is holiday music in the malls. Played the stuff enough back in my disk jockey days to do me for a lifetime, but Annie Lennox’s “Christmas Cornucopia” is a fresh take on the subject. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:14 pm: I think going a “wasseling” is overrated and so Charles Dickens-ian. I would rather troll the anchient yuletide carol if I had my druthers… - MrJM - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:15 pm: Q: What is your least favorite holiday tradition? A: Office holiday party. We all have enough family commitments this time of year without an additional work obligation that takes place outside of work hours. Bonus points if the party is at the workplace but after the close of business. “Before you head down to the lunch room, be sure to punch out.” “We’ve invited some clients, so be sure to stick around in case they drop by.” Double bonus points if there is a Secret Santa gift exchange. “A Starbucks gift card for the smallest denomination possible! How did you know?” Triple bonus points if some clown collects money to the hat to buy a present for the boss. “Most are chipping in five or ten bucks.” - Wensicia - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:19 pm: Christmas shopping! Like Rich, I don’t like crowds, the noise, the whiny kids. (Not that my kids were exactly angels when we used to hit the mall.) Having found the joys of on-line shopping, I haven’t hit the stores in years. No more driving madly from place to place looking for that ‘must have’ toy or video game. The money I save is also a great side benefit. - Farmer Ted - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:27 pm: Bell ringers. It annoys me when drug addicted homeless beg for money during the year. It is twice as annoying when you dress them up in a salvation army vest and give them a bell. - bored now - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:35 pm: my least favorite holiday “tradition” is the make-believe fights about saying “happy holidays” or “merry christmas,” or the even more absurd conspiracy theory that some unknown, unidentifiable, but apparently super powerful force out there is trying to make people stop calling their christmas trees, well, christmas trees and compelling the world to call them holiday trees. or some such nonsense. it is quite frankly, the stupidest thing i encounter on an annual basis… - bored now - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:35 pm: opps, should have read skeeter’s comment first… - Bring Back Boone's - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:40 pm: The airing of grievances - Old Shepherd - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:43 pm: I agree with Skeeter and bored now. “Happy Holidays” used to be a term meant to encompass the holiday season, i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day, and New Year’s Eve/Day. Somehow it’s morphed into an evil affront on all things sacred. I must have missed that meeting. - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:44 pm: Bring Back Boone’s wins. LOL - Cheryl44 - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:44 pm: The holiday tradition in my family of going completely insane this time of year. - Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 1:49 pm: My least favorite holiday tradition is of course; the BS perpetuated ad nauseum about the Norman Rockwellian experience at the Walnut Room. Any semblance of that myth maintaining its lustre in perpetuity was quickly washed away several years ago while I was there waiting in line to be seated with the little Sentialians in tow. This was of course shortly after Marshall Fields was purchased by Macy’s, and a well dressed executive was removed the cord which formed the line system in order to walk in a group of Macy’s executives and their families to be seated ahead of everyone else waiting in line. HUMBUG! Now, as to the favorite holiday tradition, it will be kicking off tomorrow afternoon at another of Chicago’s most famous Christmas destinations; BUTCH MCGUIRES (GOD REST HIS SOUL!). No better place to be at Christmas time to celebrate of course the Winter Solstice; the LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR. While the moon on the breast of new-fallen snow usually gives the luster of mid-day to objects below, but given the lunar eclipse for tomorrow night I am wondering whether the beer goggles earned at Butch’s this year will make that more difficult, or easier to see. Either way; MERRY CHRISTMAS, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS CAP FAXERS; why can’t we all enjoy both? - Give Me A Break - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:01 pm: BBB: “The airing of grievances” I thought that was just done during House Approp. Hearings. - Responsa - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:09 pm: I love tradition and continuity so most Christmas events, music, and displays can be tolerated once a year (even if trite) to help keep the traditions alive for the next generation. But there are exceptions. I hate fruitcake, and detest the phoniness of office Christmas parties. What used to be a storied Chicago holiday tradition for us–Marshall Field’s at Christmas–is no more. My entire family has refused to set foot inside any Macy’s since they arrogantly and cluelessly took over and ruined Field’s along with all it had meant to generations of Chicagoans. - Way Way Down Here - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:11 pm: ===The airing of grievances=== Worse yet when you have family members who possess “total grievance recall”. - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:11 pm: ===“total grievance recall”=== Oy. - Skeeter - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:18 pm: Not to digress, but since there are a few comments about Marshall Fields/Macy’s: I’m in the minority in that the name change doesn’t bother me. However, I was in the State Street store on Friday, and it really has become like a big Target. There were nearly no sales people, the merchanise was average or worse, and the place is a mess (i.e dirty). The toy department, which was absolutely massive when I was a child and pretty good even a few years ago (when they had FAO contract for space) is now nearly non-existent. I see no reason at all to return to that store. It is too bad. That was a tradition for me that my kids will never experience. And not to digress further, but a positive note– About two weeks ago, I made my first trip to see Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. That is absolutely wonderful. If you live in Chicago, do it. Great as a “date” or great as a family outing. - Jake From Elwood - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:20 pm: All of the frankincense overdoses bring me down. - Who Cares - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:31 pm: Where do I begin? That all the Christmas shopping is my responsibility with little or no suggestions from other family members. Just what do you get for Grandma anyway or that nephew we barely know? Gotta agree with the bell ringers. Everytime I run in and out of a grocery store, which is often this time of year, I look and feel like a cheapskate. How many times are you expected to give? The people who think this is the most wonderful time of the year! PLEASE, it’s the most stressful time of the year. AND it’s cold and sloppy outside. I’ll take a warm summer day or cool autumn day on the golf course as my most wonderful time of the year. I could go on and on but I’ll end with the Chgo raidio station that starts playing Christmas music sometime near Halloween. The day that happens, they are off my pre-set. Merry Christmas! - just sayin' - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:34 pm: “The airing of grievances” - definite winner. If I recall my Seinfeld correctly, I believe that’s followed by “feats of strength.” - zatoichi - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:34 pm: Took the kids to the fabulous Walnut Room several years ago because they heard about it but never seen it. They took one look at the line and decided GINO’s deep dish would be worth the wait. Same trip, my son and I dropped little paper airplanes from the top floor of Water Tower place to see if we could land them on any hanging Christmas display. He won 4-3. - Responsa - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:35 pm: ==it really has become like a big Target. There were nearly no sales people, the merchanise was average or worse, and the place is a mess (i.e dirty)== Sad. But anyone who had ever shopped at at Macy’s NYC Herald Square “flagship” store saw this one coming a mile away. - Holdingontomywallet - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:36 pm: Mark me down for putting up outdoor Christmas decorations - I’d rather set myself on fire. By the way, your “super-crowded” restaurant reference made me think of a Yogi Berra quote, “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” - T - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:45 pm: The appearance of that terrible Paul McCartney song, “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime,” is a terrible tradition. Actually, the listening to holiday music from Nov. 1 until Dec. 31 at my office (or any office) is my least favorite holiday tradition. - 47th Ward - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:51 pm: Happy Merry Holidaymas to all my friends at Capitol Fax, especially the immediate and extended Miller family. I’m about to embark on my least favorite Christmas tradition — travelling through airports over the holidays. It’s bad enough the other 11 months of the year, but something makes it worse at Holiday time. I think it’s all the people who normally don’t fly the other 11 months of the year…who are now in my way, clueless and clogging up the security line staffed by the uber-friendly TSA elves. Whatever holiday greeting you prefer, God bless us everyone! - justbabs - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:56 pm: Bah Humbug to all of you. I love Kriskindelmarket, and putting up outside decorations - I then pretend that they’re not still outside until a warm weekend day rolls around. Love the Griswolds!!! - Walter Sobchak - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:58 pm: Trying to stay awake to see Santa and always falling asleep. - Anonymous - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 2:58 pm: Egg nog is disgusting. - Excessively Rabid - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:03 pm: 1. The twelve weeks of Christmas; 2. the “War on Christmas;” 3. knowing that all those year-in-review stories are coming right up. - Anonymous - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:07 pm: Just happened today. The kids get all excited to come to the city on the train. We head over to the Walnut room only to be disappointed by the 6 hour wait and we end up in the basement lunchroom. Went today at 11:30 and they said the table would be ready at 6PM. Sad faces all around. Merry Christmas! - Thoughts... - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:19 pm: Any situation, e.g. work Christmas parties but there are others, where there is forced, awkward interaction with people you would not normally hang out with…ever. - Anon - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:29 pm: Just a thought regarding the bell ringers at every location you probably visit this time of year. I think about what those people are sacrificing to stand out in the cold for hours. Makes it easy for me to drop in a $ or two every time I see one, often several times a day. So over the course of the holiday season you’ve given a decent amount and made every bell ringer you see feel better about what they are giving up to be there that day. Salvation Army also has an excellent track record and repuation for being worthy charity. - Bring Back Boone's - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:29 pm: ===2. the “War on Christmas;=== Couldn’t agree more. - Aldyth - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:35 pm: It was always Grandpa insisting on praying aloud over the Christmas meal for a good ten minutes before we could eat. Until Grandpa passed away and then we missed it. But, no one wanted to take it over and make everyone wait while the food got cold. So now, we just thank Grandpa for praying for all of us in heaven and we dig in. - GetOverIt - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:44 pm: What I protest most? 1. The phrase, “be thankful for what you have” and my refrain, “Thank you Lord for the low paying job, the never ending bills, and items on sale at Macy’s I can not afford to buy!” 2. The anorexic Angel that offers to sprinkle your table with a little “dust” for the holidays, all while I eat some crappy chicken pot pie at the Walnut Room and wonder if our little Angel needs a referral to a clinic. 3. Tourist or Suburbanites that fail to realize the sidewalk is to be shared, and scowl when I turn into a wedge buster to get through what is often an impenetrable line on a crowded city street. 4. People who complain about giving money to the Salvaition Army kettle colonels, as if dropping a dollar in a bucket is really a sacrifice as they drop $100 on some relative they don’t even like! Now time for eggnog and rum mixture, then nap. - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 3:53 pm: ===Now time for eggnog and rum mixture, then nap. === After that rant, you might want to make it a double-shot of rum with your eggnog. And maybe even use 151. Just sayin… lol - GetOverIt - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 4:34 pm: No Prarie Fire, i.e. 151, here…I started yesterday and figure to make it all right - right up to the 11:59pm mark on December 31…”and to all a good night.” - Third Generation Chicago Native - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 4:53 pm: The overpowering smell of the cinnamon scented pinecones when you are in the vestibule of the Jewel’s or other grocers. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 5:20 pm: Christmas ads before Thanksgiving. Any store that puts up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving or opens their store on Black Friday before 9 a.m. is immediately blacklisted for my holiday shopping. - BSP II - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 5:29 pm: The radio stations that start playing 24-7 Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. Some of them even start before then. I say give it a rest. - ericd1112 - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 5:31 pm: The annual ridiculous Bears in Early December Expectations-Raising Derby, followed of course by the annual “I should keep sending the McCaskeys money because WHY exactly?” deflation which starts after Christmas. My Letter to Santa is for the Patriots game to have spared us from it, at least for this year. - waitress practicing politics. . - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 6:15 pm: office gift exchanges. - Honest Abe - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 6:17 pm: The “Secret Santa” game. This needs to be stopped at the time you graduate from junior high school. For adults to be doing this at the office is just plain silly. - Skeeter - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 7:03 pm: A note on those holiday parties: last year at my office holiday party, I looked around and it really hit me that I no longer wanted to practice law with those people. A week later I hired a marketing consultant and three months later I left the firm to open my own. It was the only holiday office party that I’ve ever attended that ended up with a positive outcome. - The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Monday, Dec 20, 10 @ 7:49 pm: =I made my first trip to see Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo.= That’s one of my favorite places to be during Christmas. And, thanks for the idea, Aldyth. We experienced the same thing with my Dad and when he passed away a couple of years ago–and you’ve come up with the perfect solution. He’d laugh and be pleased with that one. - NIref - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 12:54 am: “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney. - Stones - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 8:43 am: Fruitcakes! - heet101 - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 9:57 am: Myrrh. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.