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Original poster

Crying at Christmas carols getting out of control

141 replies

stealthbanana · 13/12/2020 23:09

ds will be 4 this week. I remember having this moment of...emotion...when I was heavily pregnant with him and at a carol service and they sang silent night and suddenly just being overcome by thinking about the gentleness and innocence of a newborn baby (I KNOW).

Since then I have found carols progressively more emotional, culminating in, to my horror, this year, where I find myself uncontrollably welling up at ANY carol in ANY context. My kids were watching mickey’s once upon a Christmas this morning and I cried. Michael Bublé came on the radio and I cried ffs. MICHAEL BUBLÉ!!

Have I developed some kind of weird problem? How do I fix this? It’s embarrassing and mawkish. I’ve got a reprieve this year as not doing any in person carol services but will have to wear sunglasses to next year’s at the rate I’m going.

OP posts:

PussyMalanga · 13/12/2020 23:26

I'll be absolutely no help to you here. I welled up at the very words "newborn baby"!

Bloody emotions

redeyetonowheregood · 13/12/2020 23:29

I am the same. Not religious at all but I find Christmas time is a very emotional time for me and carols just make me cry. When I hear silent night/stills nacht I think about the Christmas day truce during the war and am a bit of a mess.

sandgrown · 13/12/2020 23:33

A group of small children just had to start singing “away in a manger” and I burst into tears. It happened at the supermarket and the woman next to me looked at me in disgust ! I have watched lots of nativities and have to bite my lip every time .

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DramaAlpaca · 13/12/2020 23:33

I'm not really an emotional type, nor am I religious, but I do love a carol service. I have to make sure I have a packet of tissues with me, just in case...

Honeybobbin · 13/12/2020 23:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Halo1234 · 13/12/2020 23:34

Same. For me any sort of music. And I am not a good crier.....nose always starts running too fml. Haopend in a restaurant when the dimed the lights and all sang hapoy birthday to a little boy who looked so so happy. Lights came back on and I was sprinkler tears. My dh was worried people would think he had upset me. Never happend before kids.

August20 · 13/12/2020 23:35

I'm sorry but I found this funny.

Is it any Christmas music at this point?

What about Fairytale of New York or You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch?

Bbq1 · 13/12/2020 23:36

@Sandgrown Me too. Children singing Away in a, Manger makes me well up.

Apple31419 · 13/12/2020 23:36

Oh my god, I get the same thing! Thought it was me.
It happens when I'm overwhelmed with input too, line in the cinema. I found myself crying at a couple of scenes in Moana 🙈
Don't get me started on "up"
I don't watch much telly or listen to music, so I wonder if that's that it is, I'm just very sensitive to it? Are your the same?

madcatladyforever · 13/12/2020 23:37

I started crying at everything including my cat that died 15 years ago. It turned out I was seriously depressed again and was fine once I started taking antidepressants.

JollyJingleJemima · 13/12/2020 23:40

It's kids singing 'Little Donkey' that sets me off 😭

bumblenbean · 13/12/2020 23:40

Oh my god i’m the same with carols, god knows why. They’ve always made me quite emotional but since having kids even more so...

Once in Royal David’s City and In the Bleak Midwinter (‘what I can I give him, give my heart’ 😭) always get me, as well as Silent Night...the music is so beautiful and the words are very poignant- sleep in heavenly peace etc ...

I agree though, I feel pretty ridiculous being so emotional 😬

Original poster

stealthbanana · 13/12/2020 23:49

@JollyJingleJemima actually you’ve found my one remaining area of hard heartedness

after weeks of DS tunelessly singing Little Donkey in prep for his nativity I am 100% unmoved by that particular carol

Everything else - instant meltdown.

@Apple31419 crying at Up is, I think, very much allowed, it is the most heart rending thing ever created. Not so an amateur church choir butchering the descant on o come o ye faithful...and still provoking the waterworks.

@madcatladyforever this is what I’m secretly worried about. Can you say more?

OP posts:

Original poster

stealthbanana · 13/12/2020 23:52

@August20 I always find fairytale of NY sad as I think of all the mentally ill homeless people having shit cold christmases. This is why I give more money than I can reasonably afford to homeless shelters at Christmas

Am not familiar with the Mr Grinch body of work, I will have a listen and report back

OP posts:

TheVanguardSix · 13/12/2020 23:53

OP, you need to listen to Christmas Unicorn by Sufjan Stevens. It’s mental and wonderful and there’s a lovely ‘ode to Joy Division’ towards the end. Even this insane assault on my ears makes me tear up. It’s ridiculous! I love crying to Christmas carols.

Ladylimpet · 13/12/2020 23:55

I'm not religious either and I too get emotional with carols. I've thought about this, and stopped going to carol service as didn't want to be a hypocrite.
I think it must be a nostalgic thing? To still carry on that sense of wonder and magic you had as a kid!

Ladylimpet · 13/12/2020 23:57

Oh, and I cried watching the Grinch today ..the very end...
I just hugged my boyfriend, and said, ahh, it's just nice. And sad!! Hahaha..think I'm due on.

NotMaryWhitehouse · 14/12/2020 02:24

@bumblenbean

Oh my god i’m the same with carols, god knows why. They’ve always made me quite emotional but since having kids even more so...

I agree though, I feel pretty ridiculous being so emotional 😬

I just came on here to mention In The Bleak Midwinter! I heard it on classic FM last week and there were silent tears rolling down my cheeks before it even started. 😳 glad it's not just me!

TyneTeas · 14/12/2020 02:31

As long as you aren't screaming at the sistine chapel you are probably okay www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3178898-DH-embarrassed-by-my-sensitivity

Nandocushion · 14/12/2020 03:07

This is funny, sorry OP. I do have a friend who cries every single time she hears children (of pretty much any age up to about 19) singing, especially in a choir. School concerts with her are a treat.

AuntieMarys · 14/12/2020 03:26

I am an atheist. I really dislike organised religion intensely. However, carols make me cry....memories of being a child, simple Xmas festivities, beautiful Victorian lyrics and descants.

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 14/12/2020 03:27

I don’t have children and I’m the same! At least you have a valid excuse! It’s not just carols for me though and recently any sad song is getting to me, I’m putting it down to menopause, plus my dog who is now elderly and I’m so anxious about losing her and any sad tune that comes on I just relate it to her and it makes me well up. I have to turn down the Lloyds banking advert “we’ve only just begun” sets me off, think I need help!

August20 · 14/12/2020 03:31

@stealthbanana

To be fair although I am yet to cry at a Christmas carol some hymns e.g. Abide With Me do make me tear up.

tobee · 14/12/2020 03:42

I cry at almost anything. It's when I don't that I start to worry!

Bloodybridget · 14/12/2020 03:48

It's quite embarrassing when you're at a carol service in church, singing away and then your voice cracks and the tears start trickling down your face . . at least that won't happen this year (bursts into sobs at missing all lovely Christmas singing opportunities)

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