I hate holidays. Ok, that’s not exactly true. I actually like holidays. I just hate what comes with them: cookies, cake, candy, carbohydrates, calories, and any other substance that adds more pounds to my butt. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, 4th of July, and all other  holidays in between we feel the need to purchase or prepare mass amount of rich, fat packed food, eat until we have to unbutton our pants to breathe (of which I am guilty), and then drink alcohol like it was the night before Prohibition (of which I am also guilty).

What is it about holidays that  drives Americans to overindulge in such a manner? Why is it we don’t feel we have celebrated an occasion properly or shown true commitment to the event until we wake up the next morning in a puddle of our own sick? Why do we feel the need to take food and alcohol consumption over the top simply because of what day of the week it is?

Maybe our need to binge comes from our ancient past. Yes, I’m talking the about the Romans. Now here’s a culture that partied hard! Romans celebrated battles, Pagan holidays, the beginning and the end of wars, the return of loved ones, and any other little old thing they could think of. Not only did the Romans take food and drink to the extreme, they were known to eat and drink themselves stupid, evacuate the system (puke) at the dinner table, and then jump right back in the fun. Sounds like an interesting dinner party. Fast forward to the 20th/21st century. Today we celebrate everything from religious holidays, to the birth of a child, to a haircut. Potlucks in the workplace almost seem like a weekly “must have.” No wonder we have the highest obesity rate in the world! And what’s worse is we pressure others to partake in our over-consumption! We are not content with having one or two cookies. No! We must have the entire plateful AND we must make sure others are eating just as much as we are! I guess ensuring that our co-workers, family and friends eat and drink as much if not more than us makes us feel less guilty about doing it ourselves. And who the heck wants to hurt Grandma’s feelings by not eating the cake she baked, or the roast she slow cooked, or the potatoes she mashed?!?!

Many times have I felt pressured during a holiday gathering or workplace potluck to eat too much or eat something I didn’t want. How many of us have been given the stink eye or have been hit with negative comments if we politely decline from participating in that satanic ritual known as “the potluck?” Aren’t we allowed to just be satisfied with a small taste or appropriate portion size. If this blog entry sounds like a rant…I’m sorry but, it is.

Can’t we just celebrate a holiday or special occasion with gatherings of friends, family and fun conversation? Can’t we just get together and talk, play games or dance? I would much rather reflect on the reason why I’m there instead of placing the “honor” around the food being served.  If more of us would do that we would be much happier, and thinner.

I think it’s time I take on the Ebenezer Scrooge approach to holidays: you keep holidays in your way, let me keep them in mine.

Liz