Starting with a few days before Thanksgiving and continuing almost a week into January… the holiday season is upon us. Can you believe that it is that time of year already? The holidays are a time of getting together and enjoying each other’s company, but in reality they have come to represent three stressful things that we spend the rest of the year avoiding: family get-togethers, company and clique social events and, often the most stressful, gift exchanges.
The location of the planets in the zodiac always has an impact on how well you handle the holidays. Each sign is impacted differently. For example, you might have a great time with your family on Thanksgiving but have a terrible get-together with the same group only a month later at Christmas — instead of being confused, understand that in one month’s time the planets have all moved in the zodiac, some of them have even changed the zodiac signs they occupy.
In addition to the planetary influence on things these days, the economy is weighing heavily on all of us. With a bad economy, traditional gift shopping is looking to be a thrifty excursion and small, creative gifts, perhaps something handmade will be a dominant theme. Likewise, holiday parties may be less lavish and more informal. Family get-togethers could be more stressful if some members of your brood are doing well and others are hanging by an economic thread. Families tend to have well-defined roles and when one member veers too far from what the ingrained expectations are, tension usually manifests sooner rather than later.
Perhaps the biggest change in the stars this holiday season is that Saturn, the planet of limitations, has moved into Libra for an extended stay. This creates harmony with some zodiac signs (Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius) and tension with others (Cancer, Capricorn and Aries). Wherever Saturn is in your horoscope, this is the place that confronting boundaries will occur. Add to this Mercury turning retrograde the day after Christmas and Mars turning retrograde just before the winter solstice and you have an eventful holiday season that carries unique opportunities as well as challenges to stay in the spirit of things. Read for your sign below to see when, where and with whom your holidays will be most enjoyable. And don’t forget to vote in the poll!
Aries March 21 April 19
Best Socializing: Early December sees company parties and drinks with old friends the most satisfying way to get into the holiday spirit.
Best Gift Opportunities: Black Friday sales are your best bet. Get it all over with early!
Holiday Avoidance: Meeting new people after December 19 will cramp your style.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Best Socializing: Thanksgiving is best for family events while too many parties to count could make December a whirlwind. Keep to a New Year’s Eve tradition if possible.
Best Gift Opportunities: The after-Christmas sales will be too good to pass up.
Holiday Avoidance: High expectations from your boss at work put a damper on the festivities.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Best Socializing: Spend time with a partner’s friends and family around Thanksgiving and early December. Your closest acquaintances can wait until just about Christmas Eve.
Best Gift Opportunities: The first weekend of December delivers some perfect discoveries.
Holiday Avoidance: Ignore the trendy places and stick to old haunts for your New Year’s revelry.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Best Socializing: You will be at your best during the middle two weeks of December. You might feel a bit of a burnout close to Christmas. Look for a revitalized New Year’s Day.
Best Gift Opportunities: Anytime! If you have a secret recipe for holiday snacks, make a bunch — people will appreciate the immediate treat and thoughtfulness.
Holiday Avoidance: Expect a partner’s drama right around Christmas.
Which end of the year gathering is most stressful for you?(opinion)
Leo July 23 August 22
Best Socializing: Too much too soon will wear you down with a whole week left before Christmas. Get some rest in early December and pace yourself.
Best Gift Opportunities: ‘Tis the season for gift cards and cash, don’t waste your energy at the mall.
Holiday Avoidance: If you take every other day off, you might make it through the holiday season unscathed.
Virgo August 23 September 22
Best Socializing: If the work-related parties clash with a reunion of old friends, don’t try to do both. Pick the one you will most enjoy. Family time is warm and inviting.
Best Gift Opportunities: Shop around the 2nd week of December and you will find bargains that will be appreciated.
Holiday Avoidance: Stay away from career networking after Christmas and especially around New Year’s festivities.
Libra September 23 October 22
Best Socializing: Throughout the holidays you might want to avoid sentimental gatherings as you are filled with an energy that is moving to the future with confidence.
Best Gift Opportunities: As early as possible — in fact, you probably already have made a big holiday gift purchase or two.
Holiday Avoidance: Make reservations early, as your last minute plans will not pan out.
Scorpio October 23 November 21
Best Socializing: You might have to make family visits quick and superficial. The presence of some real chances for career networking will be the story of the season.
Best Gift Opportunities: A special someone deserves most of your attention, and you have mid-December opportunities to make this person happy.
Holiday Avoidance: Ignore old rivalries as they will take your focus away from what is shaping up to be an awesome future.
Sagittarius November 22 December 21
Best Socializing: A trip, or series of parties, in early December will be less hectic than events around a specific holiday; they will bring more cheer as well.
Best Gift Opportunities: Wait until the Winter Solstice (December 21) and then hit the mall!
Holiday Avoidance: Avoid getting too tipsy as you will be expected to behave responsibly.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Best Socializing: The chance to take in a variety of new experiences makes this a holiday season to seize and savor.
Best Gift Opportunities: Treating friends and family to a New Year’s Day festivity will be more memorable than any bauble you could wrap.
Holiday Avoidance: Those familiar places will suddenly be somewhat dull and seem constricting.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Best Socializing: Christmas week will be filled with a month’s worth of memories — be sure to have a backup camera battery and extra memory card (or film if you are keeping it old school).
Best Gift Opportunities: The first Christmas sales will bring out your instinct and impulse buys will be a success.
Holiday Avoidance: Why bother hassling with neighborhood functions attended by people you really don’t care for? Stick with the ones that you love.
Pisces February 19 March 20
Best Socializing: A comfortable Thanksgiving sets the tone, as the world will come to your door in December. Expect the unexpected and you will have a happy holiday season.
Best Gift Opportunities: Opening your door is almost enough, but stock up on the comfort foods and quick, simple recipes as you may be entertaining beyond what you ever imagined.
Holiday Avoidance: Seeing the same people too many times may be a drain, familiarity breeds contempt, even during the most wonderful time of the year.
