Ask A Genius 658: The Shitty Holidays
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2022/01/01
[Recording Start]
Rick Rosner: Alright, some holidays are definitely more enjoyable than others. Take the winter holidays, for example: New Year’s, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Christmas, at least, is based on a historic event, the birth of Jesus. However, most historical scholars, to the extent they acknowledge Jesus’ existence, agree he wasn’t born on December 25th. It seems that Christmas was established to coincide with, or perhaps even overtake, the various pagan winter festivals. We have these winter celebrations because, frankly, winter can be bleak – it’s dark, cold, and people often feel down. Celebrating around the winter solstice, when things are at their bleakest, makes sense. We indulge in drinking, eating sugary treats, and giving gifts to lift our spirits.
New Year’s, however, can be a bit of a downer. There’s the pressure of figuring out where to go, especially if you have a date, or feeling left out if you don’t. Prices for restaurants and events are hiked up for the occasion, akin to the inflation we see on Valentine’s Day – another holiday where you’re hit with increased costs for flowers and dining out.
I used to enjoy working on New Year’s Eve when I worked in bars. It provided me with a place to be, surrounded by people having fun, immersing myself in the festive atmosphere. I got a kick out of catching people with fake IDs – one New Year’s, I think I caught about 15 trying to sneak into my bar. It was a good distraction, especially during the years when I didn’t have a girlfriend; it gave me something to do.
So, that covers the less appealing holidays. But what about the more enjoyable ones?
[Recording End]
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