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Original poster

Christmas feels a bit flat this year

42 replies

Tittyfilarious81 · 14/12/2023 13:05

I'm just wondering if anyone else feels a bit flat and not as arsed about Christmas this year , my family and quite a few people I know have said they just don't feel Christmassy this year and there are about half as many houses decorated this year in our street compared to last year .

OP posts:
NightmareGirl · 14/12/2023 13:07

Could be the disrupted seasons.

TeddyBeans · 14/12/2023 13:09

It doesn't feel christmassy to me this year but I am looking forward to Christmas as it's DD's first 🥰

Whataretheodds · 14/12/2023 13:10

I think people went all-out after lockdown and now either need a rest or general economic doom /CoL /possible WW3 is making people feel less celebratory

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Christmas Events & celebrations
IsItOverYetAndCanIComeOutNow · 14/12/2023 13:11

Money worries
Crap Government
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza
More money worries
More crap government

All adds up (or, indeed, subtracts from the joy)

TeenDivided · 14/12/2023 13:11

I think we are still 12 days away.

piscofrisco · 14/12/2023 13:19

I've never felt less festive in my
Life! I've been ill the past month or so and that has bought me low but I'm coming g out of it now and I still can't find the joy in anything.

Dabralor · 14/12/2023 13:20

Everything does feel a bit subdued actually, yes.
My hearts not in it yet, if I'm honest. Got no money and the kids are in school for another week still, so we aren't having the usual sort of festive build up, really.
There's so much doom and gloom in the news too, you fee kind of guilty about it.

ActDottie · 14/12/2023 13:32

It doesn’t feel Christmassy to me this year but I think that’s because I’m heavily pregnant and hating the last few weeks of being achey and not able to move without pain!

AdoraBell · 14/12/2023 13:37

I’m struggling to feel Christmasy due to money issues, even when I went to Christmas market. DDs will be home for Christmas, from Uni, so I’m hoping I’ll feel more positive then.

Cotswoldbee · 14/12/2023 13:38

Opposite here.
Never seen so many illuminated gardens & houses, make our traditional offering seem quite tame! 🎄
Luckily not many (any!) Illuminated Santa in a train, hot air balloon, climbing ladders etc, seems to be illuminated trees, reindeer & house fronts but practically all are in white (nice 👍), hardly anyone has gone for coloured lights.

Have also seen a huge increase in wreaths on doors, not just Christmas but the whole year through (spring, summer, autumn, Halloween, Christmas, winter). Must be a new thing but I have to admit I quite like seeing them throughout the year. 😁

lndnbrdge91 · 14/12/2023 13:40

I came off instagram and am feeling better not seeing the perfect Xmas, the ridiculously priced advent calendars etc. it does feel weird this year with school finishing late, but just keeping it simple and looking forward to some time off. There is a lot of pressure to feel a certain way and do certain stuff, but agree it's hard with all that is going on in the world and economy.

daffodilandtulip · 14/12/2023 13:44

Everyone's ill or been ill
It's been winter since Easter
Schools don't close until 22nd
Any activity/outing/meal is shit because no one cares about their job anymore

Daisies12 · 14/12/2023 13:47

I never expect anything special, it's just another month of the year, I only look forward to the time off work. Everyone just does everything for social media nowadays anyway, so harmful.

Cotswoldbee · 14/12/2023 14:03

Our school breaks up this Friday (tomorrow) and we are off for 3-weeks.
Family over tomorrow for the first Christmas get-together.
Tree & decorations going up today.
Presents wrapped a few days ago and going under the tree tonight.

Bring it on! 🎄

EnjoythemoneyJane · 14/12/2023 14:35

Yes, I’ve noticed the same. The weather isn’t helping, I don’t think - it’s constant rain, mild & muddy here, the shittest of all combinations. Plus everyone’s broke or worried about money at the most expensive time of the year, which can dampen the mood quite a bit.

I’ve even noticed that the Christmas fare on all the channels & streaming services is really thin pickings - loads of cheap old rubbish & hallmark crap - as though they cba with even trying. It does have the feel of one of those weird Christmases that just kind of comes and goes like a non-event.

But I’m trying very hard not to let it happen that way! Got lots of fairy lights and candles on the go last night, and it did feel wintery and nice, so I’m fully launching into next week in the hope we’ll all up our festive game by the end of it.

DancingFerret · 14/12/2023 14:37

I feel conflicted about Christmas this year - too many wars, horrible violence and other human suffering makes me wonder what happened to peace on earth. Feasting, entertaining, and generally having a very good time before retiring to our comfortable warm beds seems almost obscene while others endure so much pain - and I'm not one of life's "do-gooders" with strong religious beliefs, just very aware of, "There but for the grace of God go I".

(When innocent people were being slaughtered on 7th October we were on a ferry returning from a French holiday with friends, full of joy and bonhomie, totally oblivious to the horrors unfolding in Israel. I remember only too vividly OH and I watching in the late news at home that night in stunned silence.)

AgnesX · 14/12/2023 14:38

Early days really.....this week coming everything will start to ramp up ( and the tree will go up!)

tobee · 14/12/2023 14:42

Felt like this for years now. Endless mild(ish) and rainy days aren't helping.

I usually start to feel Christmassy late January Confused

JesusAndMaryPain · 14/12/2023 14:52

As an aside....how are all those people with illuminated homes paying for the energy? Electricity for my home is already costing an eye watering amount. No outdoor lights for us this year but inside we are just starting to feel Christmas!

BreakfastAtMilliways · 14/12/2023 14:59

JesusAndMaryPain · 14/12/2023 14:52

As an aside....how are all those people with illuminated homes paying for the energy? Electricity for my home is already costing an eye watering amount. No outdoor lights for us this year but inside we are just starting to feel Christmas!

Most lights are LEDs these days, not nearly as energy intensive as the old incandescents. You may find they cost far less to run than, say, your tumble drier.

VanityDiesHard · 14/12/2023 15:06

I don't feel this Christmas is any different, no. Wars and atrocities have always happened, the only difference is that 24 hour news and social media means we are more aware of them. I'm not a huge Christmas person just because I think the pressure can be a bit silly, but I enjoy it well enough. I don't feel 'guilty' because others are suffering. I didn't cause their suffering, so what's there to feel guilt about?

SomeoneYouLoved · 14/12/2023 15:16

I don't feel flat because l don't make a big deal out of one day.
People put far too much importance on Xmas, which inevitability often falls flat. There will be a relentless outpouring of disappointment and complaining on here throughout the festive period, same as every year.
People fall for the unrealistic, over the top images tv and social media ran down our throats, then wonder why they can't live up to it.
Domestic violence is at an all time high this time of year, this fact conveniently gets overlooked.

CuttingMeOpenthenHealingMeFine · 14/12/2023 15:33

I don’t generally get the Christmas feeling until a little closer but our decorations have been up for ages and so have lots of other peoples so the streets are lovely and festive.

I find a lot of family members to be really miserable about Christmas this year though, my parents especially just seem not arsed (and it’s not money worries or illness) and even the in laws are more downcast than usual.

I had have had a crappy few months myself including a miscarriage last month so I am determined to be perky and festive for my DC and not let others bring me down.

mrmagpie · 14/12/2023 15:37

I'm the same, I have been off work sick since the start of November which doesn't help but we have all the decorations up and everything and I still just don't feel 'christmassy'. Being honest, some of it is cost based and me being ill - we haven't done some of the usual Christmas activities but I also just can't be bothered. I only put the decorations up for the kids really. Me and DH aren't doing presents and I don't get any from family (estranged) which is fine but I normally look forward to the food and all that and I'm not.

I'm hoping it kicks in next week!

Tisfortired · 14/12/2023 15:44

I was saying this to DP last night. Everything is bought and ready, I even am not at work this year! (Maternity leave) and it’s DS2s first Christmas. I absolutely love Christmas and should be so excited but I can’t muster any excitement at all. It just feels very overwhelming and makes me want to hide under a rock until it’s over.

I think for me it’s a combination of money worries, DS2s terrible sleep and the house being a shit tip which I can’t get on top of due to aforementioned DS2 all of which are draining me a bit.

But I know I’ll be sad if Christmas is over and I haven’t enjoyed it, I won’t get another Christmas where I’m at home for all of it again. I’ve said to myself I am going to finish off the last minute bits and do whatever cleaning I can and mope about until next Monday then I absolutely have to start getting excited 😂