A Christmas- free zone for all who hate it!

[Grinchly]

Inspired by the Secret Santa thread, just thought I would open this pop-up Santa free zone for those of us in the suffering minority.

I have no family, am an atheist, am unsentimental and hate excessive consumption. Oh yes am an introvert with hearing issues so loathe parties also.

Over to you. I know you're out there....

Hello! We might be basically the same person. Bah humbug!

Humbug right back at you

Yay! Thanks for this OP. I hate almost everything about it. I love mince pies, Christmas cake and the bank holidays. Everything else can sod off. I resent how it gets shoved down your throat at every turn

Can I join you for this year and maybe the next. I am very non Christmassy this year. Just me and DH and possibly my brother for a low key, no tat, no presents tiny event. I normally enjoy Christmas but don't go overboard on anything anyway. Crappy year with nothing to celebrate.

Bah humbug to you all. Another Christmas hater, it really is the season of greed and commercialism. I detest the way it is rammed down our throats, and tend to wonder how miserable peoples lives must be if they really need to make such as fuss over it. And breathe.

Hi @lottapianos, welcome

I really love food and enjoy cooking ( in other words I am greedy) but I have to say mince pies and Christmas pudding are not top of my list. Perhaps childhood memories playing a large part.

" Sydney, SYDNEY carve the bird" The bird was something called a capon, roasted beyond dryness, stuffed with rehydrated Saxo stuffing and served with bisto enhanced gravy and cold mushy vegetables. M worked herself up into such a torment of stress serving a simple roast dinner for five people. it wasn't enjoyable.

Other things being equal, maybe I could look back on this with fond indulgence, looking through my joke snowflake n' holly tinted spectacles ( from the secret Santa, maybe?) but other things are not equal.

Childhood Christmas was awful. I hated every second and resent it still impinges - how can it not ?

And Bah! To

@bobbinthreadbare 123 - sorry didn't tag you first time
@finfintytint
@AwfulSomething

Draw up a chair, and be assured no fake joy on present opening will be needed. You are amongst friends

Humbug to all!

I'm going to walk the dog, invite my (currently girlfriend-free brother ) round for lunch and phone DS. These are my only "tasks" for Christmas Day ( may also involve visit to village pub). This is like any other Sunday to be honest and I look forward to it.

I will visit aged mother out of duty
Come back home and cuddle the cats. My dogs both died in the last year and that makes it terribly hard as they were such a good distraction.
Then get drunk and go to bed early and it will all be over!

This year I will be working a 12 hour shift. Last year I told everyone I was working, an outrageous lie. I went for a run then ate steak and drank fancy booze. It was a lovely Christmas free day. No stress, no presents, just me doing what I wanted.

What are everyone else's plans? And more importantly how to keep the spirits if not up, at least above the surface, given that even WE are discussing the damn thing and it isn't even December...

@awfulsomething That is astounding if I may say so and I may even pinch it ( don't work shifts but maybe, maybe....)

I'm much the same OP!

this year I have no idea what will happen as my dad died recently. he and mum used to do Xmas to some extent, I would just appear on Xmas Eve, smile falsely, remind them to take any excess boxes of biscuits to the food bank etc!

I have a feeling mum might be happy to ignore it this year but if she wants to do anything, I have to go along with it of course. I don't mind really because she won't go in for crazy consumerism - that's the bit that really bothers me. She's always been careful about the environment but has extra zeal now after seeing animals swallowing plastic etc.

I'm not working because I took redundancy recently - so no need to deal with an office Xmas do - blatantly lied to get out of those in recent years - and won't have the grrr factor of cards from colleagues etc.

I do feel a bit lost on the actual day so I hope there will be posters here!

Joining. I have already told everyone that I am not doing presents this year. I am going to my godfathers for food but that's it.

I have become Scrooge. I lost my girls to adoption this year and Christmas has no meaning without seeing there faces light up. It's most likely going to be the same for the next few years.

Plus Doctor Who on Christmas was my highlight and that isn't happening so no point.

@grace212 - that was a bit of a light bulb moment. I would feel so guilty leaving aged mother alone but she hates it almost as much as I do and I fear other people judging as I am her only relative ( well the only one who keeps in touch as she is so bloody difficult) A conversation is necessary I think.

@darkriver198868 I am so sorry to hear what you have been through. It must have been devastating and the wall to wall Christmas crapola can only make it worse. I've not been through anything like that, but I do find limiting my exposure as far as I can does help a tiny bit with the Christmas rage. Hugs to you.

Can I join too?
I don't mind Christmas Day, I just don't get why Christmas starts in August. All the ballyhoo and jollyness rammed down your throat for weeks.By the time the Big Day arrives I am thoroughly fed up of it all. All I want to do is watch schmaltzy TV, eat mince pies and relax.
Oh and can anyone tell me how to tell the neighbours I won't be buying presents for their spoilt children next year 'cos they don't appreciate anything unless it costs megabucks and make me feel like Scrooge!

Welcome @gladiatorgirl, but I think you may need a bit of a Grinch top up!
Watching schmaltzy tv and eating mince pies would feature in my seventh circle of hell.
I'm hardcore. Oh yes. But this thread will strive to be inclusive

I like the pretty lights and the run up to Christmas as long as it starts in December.
It’s still November, Christmas trees all over Instagram and people are getting in to debt.

Really anti the shopping festival that it’s become, I saw the whale cut open, full of plastic and I felt sickened by the mindless tar that gets bought.

So sorry for the loss of your dogs op, it’s quite devastating isn’t it?
Maybe when the time is right you might feel able to foster or take on another one 💐

@Grinchly, if your mum hates it, do you just treat it as a normal day and normal visit?

I know what you mean about the judging - my parents never told any of their mates that I was home alone in my flat (through choice) on Xmas Day. Really it was partly about not driving - no trains meant that I was obliged to stay Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and then sometimes Boxing Day if engineering works were happening. So we ended up just having a lunch on Xmas Eve so I could get home - but people can be bizarrely judgy, so only the neighbours knew I wasn't around on the actual day

amazing how much fuss people can make about the actual day. I'm glad when it's over as it's so boring. However, the not working thing also spares me from quite a lot of annoying xmas music and plans chat that you always get in a workplace too.

also, when Xmas is over, at least the light part of the day gets a bit longer...even if only by a couple of mins!

Have survived my first year as a widow. Last Christmas was a horrible blur...and this year...I intend to ignore it all together. Just a day like any other. No special food. No decorations. No presents. No people. No pretending that everything's jolly and wonderful.

Thank you Grinchly.
Already got the Grinch factor - my DH. I spent years trying to sweeten him up but I fear it's a lost cause so now I am Mrs Grinch in training.I fear I might have to give up the TV but I'm hanging on to the mince pies. I'm not giving them up.Nope. Just can't do it.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your dogs Grinchly , It must be hard for you.
I'm with youShitland re plastic. How much more do we have to produce before we kill the world's population both animal and human.

'Crappy year with nothing to celebrate.'

Same here. I have lots to be grateful for, but not much to actually celebrate if you know what I mean