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Original poster

Christmas just too much......

45 replies

mids2019 · 08/12/2022 23:28

Generally.

We.are becoming increasingly a less religious society especially Christianity so in my opinion Christmas is losing its connection to its cultural routes. There shave in my life time been continuous complaints about excess e commercialism bubble this has reached a new level. December is now dominated by adverts for products with tenuous seasonal links and we are greeted with burgeoning Christmas ephemera and gaudy lighting. Just why?

We have this year a cost of living crisis coupled with a number of strikes and I find you have to have measure of cognitive dissonance to dissociate the world from the fuzzy indulgence fest of Christmas.

Do we culturally need to think about this or am I just the grinch?

OP posts:
slaiens · 08/12/2022 23:39

I think a lot of people feel like they need a bit of joy in their life and there is nothing wrong with that really.

MintJulia · 08/12/2022 23:53

I think you have the Christmas you choose to have.

I'll spend 10 days enjoying time with my ds, relaxing, having fun, playing games, cooking together. Yes I'll spend some money but not more than I can afford.

I'll go to a local carol concert, parkrun in the cold, have the neighbours in for drinks. Make sure everyone I know is warm. I don't need more than that.

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2022 00:18

Well, skimming over the fact that the origins of a midwinter festival are not Christian, I think you might be being a bit if a grinch. I enjoy Christmas as a non-Christian. My secular, family based celebration is as valid as anyone else's.

I think that it is absolutely reasonable for individuals to decide to have a small Christmas or no Christmas if that suits them. But policing other people's choices is unreasonable.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living Events & celebrations
NoSquirrels · 09/12/2022 00:22

Grinch, I’m afraid.

Snugglemonkey · 09/12/2022 00:54

Your starting point seems to be that there is a culturally cohesive idea of Christmas. There really is not though. Never had been in my lifetime.

Some people are doing the Christian thing (really, not many, make no mistake. Christmas has v little to do with religion). Some people are celebrating more in line with Celtic traditions (we do). Some people are enjoying a time for loved ones. Some people are enjoying the consumerist gift fest. Some people are celebrating other religious festivities,

What would the discussion be? Can't we all just do our thing?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 09/12/2022 01:08

i think the money society implies you need to spend now is insane. This is down to social media more than typical adverts. Yes people can choose the Christmas they want but don’t underestimate, particularly for younger generations, the unrealistic expectations that are put on them. That every day of December need be making memories for your children, they will only remember Christmas if you have matching pyjamas, elf on the shelf, a Christmas Eve box, etc etc.

Outtasteamandluck · 09/12/2022 05:52

Eh? Sorry all I read was waffle. Some of it didn't make sense. Proof read before clicking post.

Don't like it, don't partake.

Original poster
mids2019 · 09/12/2022 06:41

@Snugglemonkey

I agree Christmas now means different things to different people with it now being a mis match of different cultural influences through time if Christmas means different things to different people why not just increase people's holiday allowance so they can spend family time at their own choosing? For a secular society I guess the main thrust of Christmas is spending time with family and yes this is important but why the focus on a single day, would it just be better to see family more during the year?I

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Totally. With large proportions of the country in relative poverty the pressure for parents to go into debt to buy children presents is ridiculous. December as you say is now a whole month of events for kids (with a price) with every company under the sun desperate to get Christmas into their marketing.

Christmas is here to stay but I think we are led by an image of Christmas heavily lead by advertising and the media which is difficult to sustain (or even wanted). The forced jollity is also not needed; life happens over Christmas i.e. tragedy and death and i there is the pressure to put in a brave front because it's 'Christmas'

OP posts:
Swissnotswiss · 09/12/2022 06:48

I don't watch adverts, don't buy much and have decided to prioritize music and food above presents this Christmas. Hopefully it will feel more festive and less stressful.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 09/12/2022 07:13

I see it differently and yes on the one hand no one should get into debt but I've enjoyed Christmas at very dark times in my life,be that Xmas day alone, or after tragedy.

I like light's and sparkles, and Xmas films...

I like the fact it's a little bit of Dickens, Coke ad, religious, and pagan, Celtic... I like that aspect and I think the central pillar is the story of the Nativity. Who couldn't like it and agree in amongst all the spending it's a beautiful antidote.

SoundsOfThunder · 09/12/2022 07:20

I think it's crazy that people get into debt for Christmas when they could probably still have an enjoyable Christmas with much less but the point is, people are free to do what they want. They can celebrate however they want and that's their right.

MissyB1 · 09/12/2022 07:27

It has gone bonkers with the expectations and pressure on parents to take part in the latest consumer led crazes. Some parents fall for it when they can’t really afford it, you might say that’s their fault, but the media are very good at manipulation and exploitation. And social media has a lot to answer for!

We pared it right back years ago, and it’s actually more enjoyable.

girlmom21 · 09/12/2022 07:32

We have two children. We'll be having family round for Christmas. We'll spend more on food than we have on gifts this year.

Christmas is lovely fun.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 09/12/2022 07:38

I think you have the Christmas you choose to have.

This. It's a low-key occasion in my house. If others want to make more of it, that's great - we are all different.

ThatshallotBaby · 09/12/2022 07:43

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 09/12/2022 07:13

I see it differently and yes on the one hand no one should get into debt but I've enjoyed Christmas at very dark times in my life,be that Xmas day alone, or after tragedy.

I like light's and sparkles, and Xmas films...

I like the fact it's a little bit of Dickens, Coke ad, religious, and pagan, Celtic... I like that aspect and I think the central pillar is the story of the Nativity. Who couldn't like it and agree in amongst all the spending it's a beautiful antidote.

I love your description of Christmas, and I agree.
The Puritans banned Christmas and I don’t think that went down very well Grin
I think people need to have the strength to do Christmas their own way, and not worry what everyone else is doing.

KangarooKenny · 09/12/2022 07:46

Have your own Christmas, the way you want it. No need to do anything you don’t want.

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 09/12/2022 07:47

I'm another one who has a low key Christmas. Relaxing, with no pressure, no huge piles of presents, no over the top decorations.

We eat nice food by candlelight, enjoy some drinks, walk, spend time together, exchange modest presents and give thanks that another year has passed and we are all together....

PearlclutchersInc · 09/12/2022 07:50

Losing its connection to cultural routes?

I get the general gist of what you're trying to say but the whole post is incredibly pompous or is English not your first language?

Fuwari · 09/12/2022 08:50

I’m an atheist but I still enjoy Christmas. I have 2 adult DC, one away at Uni, one working and I work too, so it’s the one time we’ll all have a few days off together to just relax. We buy a few gifts for each other for the fun of opening some presents. But no one spends more than they can afford. We eat nice food, play board games, watch movies. it’s just a really nice break before the start of another year.

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2022 10:26

But if there wasn't a national holiday, the chances of fully all getting time off together would be much reduced.

I think there is something about ritual and tradition that is important to humans. So I doubt people will stop doing the things they have always done.

I there isn't really anything forcing people to have a big Christmas (or any Christmas) if that isn't their preference.

Coxspurplepippin · 09/12/2022 10:34

I think the US Thanksgiving model is more how I'd like Christmas to be - more about spending time with family and friends, good food, socialising and less about the more commercial, slightly manic side which seems to start in September.

Hoppinggreen · 09/12/2022 10:37

I actually don’t see Christmas as a religious festival. We aren’t of any religion and nothing we do at Xmas involves churches etc.
For is it’s time off to chill and do some fun stuff together and eat whatever we want and swap pressies. We also give a decent donation to a different charity each year
Thats Xmas for us, it’s lovely

anythinginapinch · 09/12/2022 10:43

It's not a nice break. It's being bombarded by adverts peddling a myth, by consumerism, by self indulgence. There's no escape in which to have a low key, personal break. Heaving shops, ear-watering songs, stress and tension in peoples faces. It's a parody of itself.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/12/2022 10:53

Coxspurplepippin · 09/12/2022 10:34

I think the US Thanksgiving model is more how I'd like Christmas to be - more about spending time with family and friends, good food, socialising and less about the more commercial, slightly manic side which seems to start in September.

If only it was optional and people were free to pick and choose what parts of Christmas they enjoyed, rather than being forced into months of buying and doing things they weren't interested in.

Oh, wait........

I'll ask again the same question I always ask on these threads. If you're not interested in the 'manic, commerical, endless consumerism' why do it?

It's not like you even need to visit any shops for the gifts you do want to buy. Or pay attention to adverts.

Or shop for food in person, or pretty much anything else for that matter. And even if you do, it's easy to ignore. There's Christmas stuff in the shops, so what. You don't have to buy it or even look at it, just like everything else you don't want or need. All supermarkets sell baby items and pet food, but if you don't have pets or babies, do you feel that these things are 'rammed down your throat'? So why is Christmas any different?

Loobyloo68 · 09/12/2022 10:57

Enjoy Xmas while your kids are little. I used to love it when mine were at home. I always felt emotional on xmas eve for some reason, now I don't care about xmas, I give and receive gifts but its not the same. I know I'm miserable but I can't be the only one. Tree always went up at the beginning of December on daughters birthday but haven't even got a tree yet this year, tbh don't think I'll bother.