If you don’t ‘do’ Xmas, what do you do?

[Pogodog]

I’ve never been a very Christmassy person, I don’t really enjoy the festive stuff tbh (makes me sound miserable I know ), but I try to put on a good show for DS, 10.

This year though, I’m on my own for Xmas and I’m wondering what I’ll do. I’m torn between doing something different e.g go away (but where? Tightish budget and everything seems to be bloody Xmas focused) OR carve out my own type of Christmas, whatever that means.

Looking for ideas, so if there’s anyone who doesn’t ‘do’ the whole traditional Xmas thing, what do you do?

Thanks

We don't bother with it much. Just a roast chicken, some sweets and nice food and the odd gift. We don't go overboard and have no wider family in this country, so no annoying relatives to interact with. The sitting room is too small for a xmas tree.

DH is Jewish in 2018 and 2020 we did a "traditional Jewish Christmas" which is getting Chinese food and going to the cinema. I loved it.

Best duvet day of the year!!! Loads of take-away ordered the day before in the fridge, and plenty of junk food to munch on in between.

@toolazytothinkofausername this is my ideal. Pizza and I cream and crisps and garlic bread. Now my mother is drooling. Throw in chocolate cake and custard and I’m there

Normally, a holiday - Muslim countries are fab, but even in Europe things only close for a few hours so I love a museum or gallery on Xmas Day (eg in Amsterdam, Venice, Vienna).
If we have to be at home, no tree, no turkey dinner (horrible!), no relatives or enforced socialising - just relaxation, books, wine etc. Perfect. And it's only one day, so easily ignored.

There is just the two of us so we treat it as a chill out day eg films, games and PJ day. We normally have a buffet which we pick at over Christmas Day and Boxing Day as we aren’t fussed with a ‘traditional’ Christmas Dinner, so saves cooking. This year though I am going to do a fancy Christmas themed afternoon tea, after seeing the idea on MN… really looking forward to it and all the work can be done the day before. We do oblige in eating too many chocolates but that’s about the only Christmas tradition we keep. Sometimes we will drive to the nearby beach to walk the dog but clean Pjs go back on again after we get back. I love our Christmases - they always feel special and relaxing despite being low key

All of the above mentioned lazy days and drinking and pyjamas just sound like Christmas to me!

I’m not a fan of Christmas and we don’t have children so it’s very low key in our house. We both work between Xmas & NY, only taking the bank holidays off. No decorations, no tree, no turkey. We give each other presents, and also to immediate family. We treat ourselves to some nice food & drink, of course, but we don’t go mad. Boxing Day is the highlight, we usually go to the rugby or the horse racing.

I often live in countries where Christmas isn't really celebrated so things are open as usual. One of my favourites was a few years ago when I went to a posh hotel for breakfast then made use of their pool and spa for the morning.

Meant to say, I love the build up, decorations etc. We do have a small tree and a few other decorations. We don’t really do presents but we buy each other a stocking full of stuff, budget of £50. We open our stockings in the morning and let the dog unwrap his presents.

We usually go on holiday somewhere sunny. Last year we were home, obviously, but this year, we are away to the sunshine again. Can’t wAit

Christmas Eve is important to me. Adult children come to me and we go to the beach for fish and chips, watch to sun set and our world shut down for the holiday. Feels really calm and peaceful. A lovely way to start the holiday. Kids are free to do as they please then which is split their time between other family, ie, their Dad and their partner’s families.

Christmas Day then feels for me special for its quiet pleasant indulge. Will probably take off to the beach again with a flask and chocolate. Then home for tele and pjs.

Return to work feeling refreshed and the same weight I started the holiday. No need for a New Year health kick and just little bit more self reliant.

on my own too. I do a run, some yoga, take the dog maybe 3 times during the day, relax, have some champagne, have a lovely dinner, watch tv or a film, I do not find it a hard day at all but I have had some crap Christmases before with exes or even as a kid with family. Great to decide my own day. Many people end up with people at Xmas that they do not like due to feeling obligated and have no say. Often big rows and bust ups too. Peace and your own decisions cannot be overrated.

What is a treat about wearing PJs all day? Do you not wash? Please explain.

For those who go abroad at Christmas, how do you manage with food? Surely restaurants are either closed or booked up already? Following with interest!

It's making me laugh the way people say I don't enjoy/celebrate Christmas I just get nice food and watch tv, which is basically Christmas 🎅

Nice food and tv is often weekends ime there is more to Christmas . Christmas for many is church and family too and presents which may or may not be enjoyable.

Volunteer for a soup kitchen / old peoples' xmas luncheon.
Befriend some neighbours with a different culture who aren't celebrating Xmas as such and have a get-together and share a meal.

Restaurants both abroad and in the UK are open at Xmas, so I'm not sure why there is a query about food? But - as here - it is very easy to book a restaurant online in advance, or ask your hotel to do it..... the same as a holiday at any other time of year.

@writingsonthewall

It's making me laugh the way people say I don't enjoy/celebrate Christmas I just get nice food and watch tv, which is basically Christmas 🎅

Pretty much everyone I know looks forward to and plans Christmas for months. They do lavish gifts, have huge meals with extended family, go to church, buy special Christmas Day outfits, etc. Even my mum and dad have my brother, SIL, grannies and aunties and uncles round for The Full Works.

That, to me, is "doing Christmas". DH and I don't buy each other gifts and we spend the day eating snacks and drinking Baileys in front of repeats of The Royle Family.

I'm usually alone so
Nap
Films/TV series
Indulgent food, I usually do a special shop from somewhere I don't usually go! And get some slatterys chocolate pretzels too
I go to the library before they shut over Christmas and get a load of books out
Bath/pamper stuff so all the stuff I don't usually have time to do
Catch up with YouTube as a lot of the channels I watch do vlogmas
Facebook chat with everyone being driven mad by family and feel relieved

If I was entirely on my own on Christmas Day. I wouldn't do Christmassy things at all, even though I love all the festive stuff if others are around.

I'd do a really self indulgent day. Buy myself a 'stocking' of lovely presents: luxurious bubble bath or oils and a body brush or bath mitt and new face cloth, face mask, moisturisers etc, a couple of really gripping books, a beautiful notebook and pen, maybe a DVD of a favourite classic film or box set (or download one), new PJs or loungewear and some really good food.

I'd have a long bath listening to music. Then put on new lounge wear, make some food, curl up with one of the books or a good film. Maybe write in the notebook some plans for the new year - lists of stuff I want to get done, places to visit, outings to have, updates to the house, bucket list stuff etc.

If the weather was good I'd go for a walk, otherwise just stay cosy being totally self indulgent. I'd love a day like that with no one else around and no work lurking.

Holiday time! I mean, I still love Christmas and Santa comes to the kids wherever we are but in most places I wouldn't have known it was Christmas Day.

I've been on my own at Christmas for most of my adult life. I basically just eat pizza and read/play video games, bliss . I've dabbled a couple of times with doing a Christmas Dinner solo but it's not worth the effort.

So many good ideas here, and helpful thoughts.

I’m interested in the European city breaks idea. Do museums, galleries and places often stay open on Xmas Day? Bit nervous about booking something in case it all gets called off this year (again) but I’ve checked and I can get a very cheap return flight to Berlin it seems!