It's not really a bummer to me, as I don't have anything do to with
religion.  I try to remember just so's I can give my parents a call,
they accept my lack of belief and don't mind that I don't go up there
so long as they can speak to me, they don't really bother that much now
either, apart from with the food, naturally.  I go see them quite a bit
anyway so they'd rather I came up when I want to rather than use up
holidays just to sit in their place (they know I won't go to synagogue
unless I have absolutely no choice in the matter!)  When I was a kid I
loved it, Channukah etc., but now with the family all over the world
it's not the same as the big get togethers we used to have.

For Christmas my partner and I usually help out at a homeless shelter
(and then guilt trip that we only do it at Xmas) but it's nice,
relieves the boredom to be honest and is better than sitting at home
pigging out and watching crap TV.  It's amazing how many Jewish people
do all the Xmas presents and trees etc., but I think I'd be
hypocritical if I did that, if I don't celebrate my born religion I
would feel weird celebrating another one!  When I have been in
relationships with guys that have gone to their parents for Xmas I
found it really strange.  They barely spoke to each other all year, and
then spent money on presents for people they obviously didn't care that
much about, then there was the horrid meal and all the forced jollity
(is that a word?) - wearing paper hats, pulling crackers etc., to be
honest I felt really uncomfortable with it all, as it was all so alien
to me, bah humbug..