Does anyone else hate xmas?

yes, but its gets better when you start to scale it back, no presents, cards, no tree, etc. People are brainwashed from birth to think they have to celebrate and give presents, see family, have a tree etc you dont.

I hate the pressure of presents most of all. I hate the worry about money, the trying to find out what people will like, the being put on the spot about what I would like. I hate the way it causes you to think you're only "worth" x amount, if your partner's present isn't what you wanted, even if you don't want to feel like that.

If it wasn't for this insanity I would enjoy it - twinkly lights, carols, nights out with friends. But the present shit is completely out of control.

I lost my Dad October 2021 and my Mum March 2022 and we don't have much contact with my extended family as they're spread all around the UK. Christmas will just be me, DH and our two DC (both grumpy teens). I really don't enjoy this time now that our DC are older. All the tv adverts show happy families all sitting around a huge table full of food etc. but it is not everyone's reality

I have always hated that it's in summer here in Australia. I would like to have experienced a sort of Dickensian Christmas.

My cousins are in Perth, as children the Xmas phone call always asked about whether we had snow.

One of them went to Korea on holiday, experienced snow and ice for the first time and is now cured of any thoughts of wanting snow.

I’m so sorry @Goldenboysmum & @stitchinguru and anyone else that has lost someone. This time of year just amplifies the loss x

I used to love Christmas, would literally look forward to it and the build up to it from Sept 1st.

My partner passed away this year and the thought of it just makes me cry. I’m trying to do all the things I usually do for my DC, but I’m struggling so much. Then the impending New Year's Eve. Never been a fan of that, but the thought of starting a whole new year without him is soul destroying.

I use to love it, but realising I'm from a Narcissistic family it's dreadful, Ive never been able to celebrate it my way for years, I'm a single parent and my parents always, I mean always have to do it there way, meaning I go to there's every single Christmas day, they have never seen my daughter's open their presents at my house, it has to be at their house, if i don't go, my parents go into a major huff with me and give me the silent treatment for a good 4 to 6 weeks until I ring them to apologise, i had a blow up with them the other day saying I'm staying home on my own with my youngest daughter she's 14 my other daughter is 28, they try and guilt trip me saying what about my youngest daughter blah blah blah, because there presents for her are far more important then what i get her and im having a chill quiet day, instead of rushing around to their house, I said i will see them boxing day, the phone put down on me, im 47 for god sakes, its all about controlling me, im done.

I’m not a fan either. I had great christmases growing up, but it highlights ti me that I’m not as close to my family now. They never want to come for Christmas Day, & I do feel it when I hear how others have plans to meet family.
I don’t want to travel for Christmas as I’m trying to create happy Christmases at home for my own children. Just wish family would like to get involved, but hey ho. Also I hate the spending and the fact that “big presents are better presents” that in-laws seem to think. I totally disagree with this and say money& something small would be far more practical. But we have differing views

I hate it because my DH works in the warehouse of one of the major supermarkets and I barely get to see him from the last weekend in November up until the first weekend in January. He's not allowed to take annual leave during "peak period" either.

OP I'm 100% sure it's not just you. I don't hate Xmas but there are other times of the year where i DO totally get FOMO and feel like it's a slap in the face of not having the same experience as other people.

I wonder if you would consider volunteering on Xmas day?? I feel like if I was on my own on Christmas Day this is exactly what I would do. Either with the homeless, the elderly or with a church or something like that?

😁😁

We are always fed this "Christmas in the snow" theme aren't we? I love snow, although we rarely see it these days, and while one snowy Christmas would be magical I think back to the last time we had more than a brief fall. In actual fact, snow is only lovely for the first day, after that it freezes and I don't particularly enjoy trying to navigate the icy footpaths, or it rains and gets slushy and dirty.

I have been to one mid-winter Christmas dinner, I think that's all. It was a thing for a while, but I haven't heard about it in recent years. I'm not in the Alps, but I can see them!!! I'm happy just to have Christmas at the usual time really.

I have relatives in Australia. On the Christmas phone call they would ask, "Is it snowing?".

A couple of years ago my cousin's partner took her to Korea, she is fully over the idea of snow and ice.

Yes, I doubt there's much pristine snow to be seen there really!

Do you do the "Christmas in July" thing in NZ? That would be fun if one was up in the Alps. Unfortunately when it's held here at my retirement village (no snow, and noisy, talent-free "entertainers") it's just cringeworthy.

A picture-postcard Christmas does sound nice, but I suspect you would have to go somewhere other than the UK to be guaranteed one.

I did actually mention I would enjoy a winter Christmas to someone from England many years ago, and they pointed out that a lot of people are sick with winter ills at that time of year.

Where I live we actually rarely have a very hot Christmas day. Cloudy, windy, cool, yes, but only occasionally hot.

That would have been unpleasant!

I'm not a fan of summer at all, I much prefer winter (I'm in the southernmost part of the mainland, so we get cold but not bone-aching cold winters, and snow is vanishingly rare). I'd love to do a picture-postcard Christmas, but of course that's probably all it is! 😄

I have always hated that it's in summer here in Australia. I would like to have experienced a sort of Dickensian Christmas.

I'm in NZ and love that it's in summer. I like the idea of a winter Christmas, but when I think back to winter weather here I go off the idea pretty quickly! Also, the thought of people being ill with winter ailments is enough to put me off - I had a cold one Christmas when I was in my teens and it made the day horrible.

It can be avoided to a certain extent.

I generally ignore it. When I was teaching it was a great day to get marking done as people leave you alone.

Get plenty of things to watch on TV. Do all shopping online. Plan a couple of things you like, whether it is a bubble bath, taking a dog for a walk or reading a book.

I dislike the commercial crap that starts earlier and earlier (saw a totally cringeworthy inflatable cartoon reindeer the height of a house in someone's front yard yesterday).

I have always hated that it's in summer here in Australia. I would like to have experienced a sort of Dickensian Christmas.

The whole "it's all about the children!" thing irritates me, especially since that boils down to yet more consumerism.

I don't actually hate it, just find it tedious (especially having to hear crap songs in the supermarket) and irritating.

I am very grateful I don't have to spend it with my sister and sit through Love, Actually ever again.

Same here. I hate the run up to Christmas.

I hate Christmas too. I've hated it ever since my parents broke up when I was 12. After that my Mother's family were extremely controlling over my Mother and I rarely saw my dad. I think it stems from that.

I do, have hated it since I was a teenager. I'm autistic & the change of routine does my head in, I mentally cross the days off until Boxing Day is over. The only saving grace is the World Darts Championship is on over Christmas to keep me sane.

It's the annual bore, but the evenings slowly are starting to get lighter so that's a good thing.

Would you mind naming those solo festivities?

I hate it too OP, but for opposite reasons. I have too many people pulling me in every direction and I get really stressed and overwhelmed. But its more than that, my reaction is excessive and I get a bit down and emotional and really really exhausted. I respect that its important for others and its part of our culture, but unlike any other cultural things its everywhere 100% of the time. I don't know why some shops or restaurants don't just decide to not do it. I can't be the only one who avoids certain shops because I can't cope with the Christmas music. I also hate the wasteful rubbish sold in shops, marketed as gifts or stocking fillers.