Just stop all this crap buying?

Can I join this game??

I agree 100% wirh you OP. The excess shite bought in society in general is obscene at times. For children, yes, grown adults, just no.

Such a miserable post, presume you also ask this of other religions who also buy things for each other often sweets to celebrate?

Just make it clear to those people around you that you don't want to be involved, it really isn't that hard.

It has nothing to do with the alleged “son of God” btw (who appears to have been born in March/ April anyway per historical records). Long before Christianity existed there has always been a midwinter festival of feasting and lights/ fires and celebrations because the winter months are dark and depressing and this helps people (who aren’t green and furry) to get through this period and cement family and friend relationships and cheers everybody up during a cold, dark period when many people get depressed and miserable and exhausted because they are expected to keep their same routine when naturally they would sleep until there is daylight.

The tradition of gift giving during the midwinter festival is also an ancient one pre-dating Christianity (in fact the Christians tried to ban much of our traditional celebrations that are now labelled “Christmas” including singing, feasting, gift giving, dancing, and decorations/ lights at various points, once they tried to impose their celebration over the top of it and pretend it was about their religion, when none of these traditions have anything to do with their religion in their origin).

If you don’t like it then don’t participate.

Why can’t you sit down with some chocolate throughout the year? That doesn’t make sense. I love Christmas and appreciate time with family and friends, but it’s far from the only time I get to rest and relax with loved ones.

Hello green one!

Agree!! I think loads of these occasions and traditions are hyped up by big businesses and sugar manufacturers to sell more. What’s religious about chocolate advent calendars? They’ve stolen the point of advent and create a blood sugar high / dip every day which is mega unhealthy for kids.
Christmas jumper day is wasteful, expensive and not inclusive for people who can’t afford to waste money on a new jumper each year for each child that gets hardly worn, yet these expectations are drilled into everyone to conform and spend more money. All the toy crazes each year just driven by profit seeking companies- really feels like we’re being manipulated to spend more on crap we don’t need!
Makes it hard to push back and not go broke buying useless crap just to have more things to open but it obviously is possible, just needs more thought. Which is why it’s such a stressful time and so many people just grab any old stuff to wrap and be able to surprise their overexcited overhyped over expectant kids!
Which is why I love January for the calm and reset after all the fuss.

This! “I look forward to the day more people start to reject these things and think for themselves?”
so stop doing what you want, think for yourself and do what I tell you!!” @PassingStranger ?

I'm happily brainwashed and I like buying and giving presents

I'm not huge on Christmas, but I buy people presents and join in the secret Santa because it makes people happy, not because I feel obligated to.

It's nice to spend a day with the family and spoil eachother once a year. We avoid 'buying crap' by buying nice things.

I buy very few presents, and certainly don't buy tat, and I hate that Christmas is rammed down our throats from October. However, other people can do whatever they please and I don't judge them for that. Also, what is wrong with people buying chocolate? I agree that your attitude towards other people's Christian beliefs is unpleasant - worse than people buying tat.

Maybe just get on with your own life and stop trying to lecture everyone.

I agree with your general thought of buying lots of presents is pointless.

I am not religious, but I think your tone, delivery and mocking towards Christianity is not right.

You should maybe reserve your ire towards the commercial marketing behemoths.

-import duties swells the tax coffers

• income for uk customs handling/Airport warehousing companies

Agree! Have had people who think (for example) 6 people all giving a card with £20 to each other is still nice… why bother??

buying crap for the sake is the worst thing about Christmas to be fair. Unnecessary

Why do couples buy each other a Christmas present, absolutely no need, total waste of money and more tat

It's not Christmas until 25th December (hence the term Christmas Eve).....and doesn't end until Twelfth Night on 5th Jan.....but it seems that Christmas now starts in mid November and promptly ends at midnight on Christmas Day....with people taking their tree down in Boxing Day when it's actually only the 2nd day of Christmas! Bonkers!

I totally agree with you and yes I buy crap.

I guess it's a case of "you do you." Yeah some people go completely over the top and some people hardly bother. I'm somewhere in between the two. But if buying a load of plastic crap and chocolate makes someone happy, who am I to tell then what to do with their own money?

People are in very different situations. Christmas for some is filled with nostalgia and happiness. For others is painful. And for others they couldn't give a crap. Neither is right or wrong. I don't do the religious stuff but if others do, or if someone wants to spend £100s on decorating their home, good luck to them

I'm a Christian and I don't do Christmas. Just another excuse to rinse people of money. Nowhere in the bible does it say to celebrate Christmas.

I agree.
This huge consumption, then we throw so much out afterwards because our homes and fridges are so full.
Sad.

This is all a bit sad though. I’m not conditioned because I buy presents. It’s not brainwashing by the media, my family and I have always shared presents and we love the tradition. I find out what people would like and use and enjoy giving gifts at Christmas and family coming together.

Be careful that you don’t strip your life of joy while stripping out sources of stress!

You sound miserable, hope this helps

OI Op that could be my mum!
We’ve decided not to do presents but to a lucky dip type game.
It’s to make the day a funnier in the tradition of presents as we all said we don’t need stuff.
My dad only likes what he likes, my mum never gets anything new. My DH spends a fortune on himself and I hate waste!Don’t judge.

@PassingStranger agree 100% it’s all a massive rip off and people just go long with it as if they have been brainwashed.

I agree. I've told my team this isn't happening this year for exactly this reason and they have all been a pain in the arse this year