What's even more flabbergasting is that this only brings them back to the same headcount they had 12 months ago. This is true of almost all the mass layoffs we've seen (twitter excepted). Companies were on a ridiculous binge over the last year. Every time this comes up people explain it as predictions based on the effects of the pandemic, but I don't buy it. This was like a mass delusion.

End of the year is generally when decisions are made regarding the next year, the whole "but it's Christmas and snowy.." is cute but companies only step back from doing it if they perceive the backlash to be too big and the sentiment is not the same all over the World.

Why is it that approaching a Hallmark made up consumerism focused holiday supposed to be more terrible to be laid off than any other time?

You learn new things every day. Personally, I didn't know the Hallmark corporation was present at the Council of Nicaea (c. 325).

I remember when the council of Nicaea blessed the day to honor Santa Claus with lights, a tree and, of course, plentiful gifts for the non-needy.

Because a lot of society buys into said consumerism and expects bonuses and stability heading into lots of potentially irresponsible gift-buying decisions for their friends and family?

And I'd expect the calculus is "we're planning to offer severance and paying out bonuses, so they have stability in their consumer choices, and we can start the clock earlier on their severance by doing it as soon as possible (including during a holiday when those employees probably weren't going to be very productive anyway)"

Because companies tend to interview less during the holiday season which means people laid off will have a harder time finding a job

Because the holiday applies additional pressure to consume. You outlined it yourself.

Your take is cliché, factually wrong, and makes you look callous all at once, congrats! Any other major religions' holidays you'd like to dismiss while you're at it?

Because the made up consumerism focused holiday is celebrated by most Americans and generally involves buying gifts for loved ones and attempting to relax with family.

Since most people use the money and PTO from their jobs to enable these goals, losing one's job during this time of year adds an extra layer of stress to those who might have hoped to celebrate the culturally dominant evil made up consumerist capitalist holiday with their loved ones.