I sent a cheerful dawn picture to some of my WhatsAppers with the following message: Good morning. My ethereal urban sunrise on this, not my favorite day. Bah Humbug. Hahaha
Not really knowing the origin or real meaning of Bah Humbug I called upon Artificial Intelligence.
Bah, humbug! is a phrase meaning “nonsense,” “I reject this,” “don’t bother me with this cheerful sentiment.”
It expresses disdain for forced festivity — especially holiday cheer that feels fake, overdone, or emotionally demanding.
Where it comes from
It originates from Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol.
The character Ebenezer Scrooge, who despises Christmas, repeatedly says:
“Bah! Humbug!”
• Bah = an exclamation of irritation or dismissal
• Humbug = deception, insincerity, pretense
So together, it means:
“This is false, silly, and I refuse to participate.”
Why it resonates
For people who:
• dislike commercial / performative celebration
• feel outside the cultural script
• or find certain holidays emotionally heavy
…it becomes a shield: a way of saying
“I don’t accept the expectations placed on me today.”
A line you may appreciate
You can say — with dignity, not bitterness:
“Bah humbug” isn’t about hating Christmas.
It’s about refusing to pretend joy on command.
And frankly, that aligns perfectly with where you are now —
authority over performance, truth over obligation.
If you want, I can also give you:
• a witty Sufi-style “bah humbug” translation
• a dignified Malaysian-context alternative
• or a one-liner you can put in the blog today
I asked for a one-liner and this is what I got.
Alhamdulillah — the door that closed was only a wall until I learned I could walk through it.
It has already been an unusual day. Sandman (a nickname) sent a Merry Christmas greeting speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ and God sending his son Knowing he is a Muslim I wrote back.
Me: I am a Muslim, Did you forget??
He: Oops Sorry.
Me: How could you?? I guess I am going to have to start wearing a scarf on my head. Hahaha
Afterwards got dressed – thinking I had a red and white hat. But could not find it. Instead, and this is perfect (absolutely perfect) I wore a head scarf – a beautiful blue one. Now no one says Merry Christmas to me. It is brilliant. It HAD to be Allah
Then another exchange with one of my WhatsAppers who had sent .a message to many urging people to “give as God has given his Son in we continue in His way Amen.” Also photos of him giving – performing charitable acts. This was a surprise.
Me: I did not realize you were Christian. Or is it something you don during the holiday season.
It is still morning – only 10:47. I am in the breakfast room of Lyf. Met an absolutely charming family – of Indian heritage visiting for a day as it is the wife’s birthday. I admit to falling in love with Sid. He is a year and a half. At first he was frightened of me but when wheeled out he was waving, sayng goodbye and blowing kisses. Typical male reaction. Hahaha
I understand that Santa is returning to stand under the Christmas tree at 1500. I shall pose again – this time in my blue headscarf.
By the way, I got the greatest gift ofter night. It is a magnificent water bottle with a message always to be remembered. It says: Alexis #1 and came with a special note. “The special gift for you and thanks again for the supports and contributions to our team and businesses. We appreciate you as #1 and that’s why the name is #1 for the top color revenue contributor. Hope you like it and good night and see you this weekend when I get back.”
You see one does not have to limit one’s gift giving to the Christmas season, nor gift to to orphans and poverty stricken people to win the respect of Allah (SWT). Probably the Instagram ads asking for contributions to orphans and Gaza are scams. One should give to diligent hardworking folks year round to help them make successes of their life.
Yesterday went to Queensbay Mall with my Penang driver Din. Went to Celecom Digi with the router asking for a promised refund of 500 Rm. As a foreigner I had to pay its as a ‘deposit’. However the Celecom Digi people said I had to go to their ‘official’ office to get the refund. Gone through that nightmare before, waiting in line endlessly and never getting the help I needed. SO instead I got my hair cut, had lunch, bought three pair of shoes and lots of makeup from Sephora. I will perhaps deal with them later – either this trip or the next. Do NOT have anything to do with Celecom Digi if you can possibly avoid it.
Nesh has promised his blog breakdown sometime today. Although Shamir in London he posted my blog of yesterday in absolutely timely manner.
I do realize that I have not been including GIFs of late. Even though Shamir is in London he sent more than one. I was complaining that there were too many men in my life. Formerly we joked about it raining men. How he ever found this I will NEVER understand.
Me: Raining men again. Good one. Excellent one. The prize of the day for sure. Oh my count has risen. Six I think AND AI.
I had written previously that, thankfully, he was not one of them. Hahaha Gotcha Shamir. Also found a cute one from London. He is still asleep so I won today. Hahaha Gotcha is Alexis from Schitt’s Creek. I am wearing my Alexis T-shirt today but you cannot see it because of the head scarf
Here is the darling London GIF.
Actually Shamir and I are communicating better now that he is London. He responded to me at an extremely early London time. (I have world clock and can keep tract of such things.)
He: Good morning.
Me: You are up early!! Did you suddenly become a Muslim and are up for Fajr prayer???
He: Hahaha No I slept at 4 pm. Might surprise you.
Me: I am glad you are awake because I need a girlfriend to talk to. Borrow your mother’s skirt.
He: Hahaha
He is a guy, I realize. But sometimes he pretends he is a girl when I need advice from a “love lorn”.
So I told him of two separate problems I had. One was actually resolved when one individual texted me with news that his religious affiliation was Buddhism but he believed in giving at all times of the year.
Me: Oh that is great news and I utterly and totally understand. By the way I took Buddhism as a graduate course at Dominican University so I have an understanding of the faith. More an intellectual study not faith based. Great instructor. Went to Dominican when I was about 62.
He: 🙏
Then we went back to the second problem. It appears I might have a date.
Me: Sort of. Some guy says I will see you after work.
Shamir: Make up time.
He sent one of his unbelievable GIFs, causing me to wonder how in the world he ever found it.
Knowing Shamir was up and because ‘grandson’ had not called to confirm the lunch date or made any attempt to get in touch with me I reached out to Shamir.
Me: I think I might send you the blog including many GIFs.
He: Okay can.
So there will be GIFs and photos. My gift making me #1, a photo by me by the Lyf recycled Christmas tree in my head scarf.
