Cheer and loathing

Photograph: Chad Batka

Mickey Z

“This ‘season’ highlights two of the worst self-inflicted wounds of humanity: religion and consumerism,” says vegan, anarchist, kickboxer, author and lifetime Astorian Mickey Z.

For years, Z has posted steaming essays on his website that criticize the contradictory nature of Christmas: One rant rails against the fir-tree industry; another recaps the time he was riding the N train and heard a homeless man singing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

Z says the holidays are as unavoidable as the presidential election cycle, and the best way to deal with them is to have a sense of humor. Or to practice insider defiance: Z and his wife organize get-togethers with friends and casually suggest that each attendee bring a small gift for a struggling family. Says Z, “It’s easy to forget how obscenely privileged most Americans are.”Sometimes, sparking up a conversation is enough: “Once you start talking about hating Christmas, you give others the freedom to voice similar disdain. There are plenty of scrooges out there dying to break free of our suffocating commodity culture, but in this coast-to-coast mall we call America, it’s almost always easier to keep your dissent to yourself.”

Go on, now—share the hate!

SEE IT
Z plans to revisit his holiday hatred throughout the coming weeks. Check for curmudgeonly updates at mickeyz.net.

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