What's Your Holiday Stress Level?

1

You will be spending time with your family, and the prospect of gathering all those different personalities under one roof makes you feel:

Hopeful. You know there will be at least one or two you're happy to see.

Dreadful. You'd rather be Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone."

Nervous. Where there's family, there's a fiasco.

Thrilled. Families and holidays are meant to go together.

2

Your mother begins her annual harangue on your job/life/haircut. You:

Icily tell her you'd prefer not to discuss it.

Scream, "Can't you leave me alone?" and storm from the room.

Turn it into a joke.

Turn to your Aunt Mary and start talking about her daughter.

3

Holiday specials make you:

Smile. That stop-motion animation is really ingenious.

Nauseous. Those cutesy songs make you lunge for the remote.

Feel warm and fuzzy, recalling fond childhood memories.

Sad. Childhood can't be recaptured by adults.

4

Your family's holiday traditions are:

Nice, but it's time to get rid of the fruitcake.

A comfort. You always look forward to the Christmas Eve sing-a-long.

Stifling. Who has the patience to trim the tree one icicle at a time?

What makes the holidays, the holidays.

5

The time-honored tradition of sending holiday cards:

Is the perfect way to show friends and family how much you care.

Makes you feel guilty. You hate the required reciprocity.

Is unnecessary. It's all a Hallmark ploy.

Is nice, but you're all for e-cards to save time and the environment.

6

Gearing up for gift-giving:

Induces panic. Lines at the stores, finding the right gift—it's all so overwhelming.

Fills you with the spirit of the season. You love to buy just the right thing for everyone on your list.

Is no sweat. You've been shopping since October.

Turns you into Scrooge. The only ones getting what they want are the credit card companies.

7

Charity at the holidays is:

What you need this year, not what you can give.

A joyous way to share all the good things you have with others.

Something you want to do, but money's really tight this year. And time?

Natural. You always give money or time to local charities.

8

The office holiday party is:

Not bad. You get out of the office a little early and there's free food.

Puh-leez…work and party in the same sentence?

A chance to celebrate the year's accomplishments with your colleagues.

Too much to bear. Why should I have to witness drunken co-workers cavorting?

You will be spending time with your family, and the prospect of gathering all those different personalities under one roof makes you feel:

Your mother begins her annual harangue on your job/life/haircut. You:

Holiday specials make you:

Your family's holiday traditions are:

The time-honored tradition of sending holiday cards:

Gearing up for gift-giving:

Charity at the holidays is:

The office holiday party is:

Red

You're more raring to go than Rudolph. Life has its ups and downs, but this time of year you're focused on the festivities.

Blue

You find you're more cynical than cheerful. The old family traditions just feel old, and the preparations seem tedious.

Green

You're feeling calm, cool, and collected, but not so warm and fuzzy this year. You're in a bit of a holiday rut and may have forgotten just how joyous the season can be.

Black

Your motto this holiday season is "Bah humbug!" You’ve got the holiday blues, and it's bringing your spirit down.