would you cancel Christmas if you could?

[ffsfindmeausername]

It always surprises me each year when engaging in conversation with people about Christmas at how many people say they really dislike Christmas, myself included if I'm honest. Everyone seems to say the same things that it's so stressful,expensive, pressure to make everything magical etc. Lots seem to say they wish Christmas didn't exist! I also feel this way and I actually dread Christmas coming around each year and feel huge relief once January comes around.
How many actually feel this way and if there was a national vote to cancel Christmas then would you vote yes?

No, we are a close knit family and we all get together at different houses over the Christmas period and it's a lovely time of year/

Yes. Despise it, always have. Now both my parents are dead, relieving me of the duty of visiting I ignore it as best I can. Am child free which is also a huge plus.

Same - not keen on it for various reasons including the rampant consumerism but also the forced family time. So many talk about “surviving” the holidays and feeling depressed after seeing family and I think why are we normalising this?

I am child free and have a partner but he has to travel abroad to see the family this Christmas. I was meant to go too but now I don’t have the heart to so I’ve just said I’ve got some work to be getting on with which is true tbf.

Also declined an invite from a close friend to spend it with him and his family. Very kind of him but I’m going to probably spend it spring-cleaning, watching movies and eating popcorn.

It’s so tiresome how people pity you even if you’re spending it alone out of choice so I won’t be telling many people.

I will put the money I’ll be saving from opting out into my holiday fund for next year.

I agree with all of this!

@pl228 Are you me?

I have never had a Christmas tree. Artificial or otherwise. What a boring faff. And how weird, if you think about it. ( Thank you , Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha.)

I am old and the pressure these days is insane. I have no plans at all.It is largely a soppy over romanticised commercial confection in my view.

Great for those with genuinely happy, functional families who adore each other's company. Not so good for the rest.

I'd quite like Christmas dinner more often.
Aldi were selling frozen turkeys in about February and one fell into the trolley and got cooked up. God it was good.

We have it all year. There is always veggie parsnip
roulade in the freezer, along with pigs in blankets and parsnips. I buy up Xmas puddings in the January sales and we have those too, and always on DD’s half birthday in April.

Why wouldn’t you?

@ThatIsNotMyNameSoWhyAreYouCallingMeThat You're right. I've just remembered that Morrisons were selling turkey legs... I thought I guessed one the right size for my slow cooker but hadn't so had to debone it first thing in the morning to put it in. That was almost a Christmas dinner size roast. No cauli cheese though.

Cauli cheese has no place on a Christmas dinner! 😉

It does for us @greengreyblue - we have beef for Christmas dinner! I don’t like it myself but Dh and the dds love cauli cheese so it’s always an addition to the table.

I like that the day off to spend with family and friends. I used to hate it as it was so stressful and full of expectations. I had to always travel to family, even late at night over 200 to be there on Christmas morning. Covid and family bereavement has changed my attitude. I have a few friends feel the same plus my dad. My DP hates Christmas and is always grumpy.

So this year I am not travelling and invited my dad to mine. I have an open house policy and few friends are coming round. I have 10 for a meal, which is causal and picky food for others. I just want a house of laughter and chill.

my DP is not coming as he wants to be alone. I do think he will join us as he also hates the formality. But no pressure and I would rather him be happy than forced to socialise

I go all out on that particular one!

I would happily cancel it this year
My mum died in January and it's been a hard year. I cannot be bothered with Christmas and the thought of it is quite overwhelming. I have to do it and stick a smile on for DS but I'm sorry to say I will be pleased when it's all over. I normally love Christmas, but it's lost its sparkle now.

I would t cancel it, but I would tone down the gifting part to just 5 gifts per child and. none for adults.

YY to the above.

Mince pies and illuminations are nice. Most Xmas stress is caused by present giving. Gifts among adults are ridiculous and most people I know think the same - it’s like we’re keeping it going for the sake of a minority of adults who have this rather immature obsession with having “something to open” on the day.

I quite like some bits of Christmas but I wish I didn't feel under pressure to buy my adult friends so many gifts. I'm off work sick long term at the moment (going through treatment for something) . I bet if they told them that they would understand, but the people pleaser in me is too ashamed and proud to tell them I am COL hard. It may be awhile before I work again if I do.

@IAmGoldenGuineaReturnedToMN
Speak to your friends. I bet they care much more about you that exchanging gifts.
Hope you get better soon.

Thanks. I will try. I've bought the gifts now and can't return but for next year I will remember.

We have! Our daughter is only 2 so she will never know. She gets spoiled all year round and we make a fuss on her birthday.

I hate everything about Christmas, in fact January 2nd is my favourite day of the year.

Nope, absolutely love Christmas

I love Christmas, especially the run up to the actual day. Decorating the house, buying a tree and trimming it, lighting Advent candles (one for each Sunday of December), carols, food... makes me feel festive and cozy and happy. I have never made a big deal out of presents: Stocking fillers and a gift or two for family members. I used to make a huge Christmas dinner for up to 15 people but not anymore, or at least not until my DC have their own little sprogs.

Yes. I would cancel it. Haven't enjoyed it since being a kid. Despite having my own child. I find it too much.

I hate it more each year. There are so many "Festivals" one after the other. It feels as though we are just being manipulated to spend spend spend, Halloween, followed by Christmas followed by Valentine's day, Mother's Day, Father's Day....leave us alone!!!

I can't afford it this year, or would rather spend the money on other things.

I think Xmas would be better if the actual day itself (25 December) was not a thing, other than for sincerely religious people (rather like Whitsun for Christians or the summer soltice if you're a pagan or whatever).

Most of the drama around Xmas seems to center around the pressure to spend on particular day centering your family and not letting anyone be alone. So people who are alone at Xmas end up feeling miserable, or if they don't, other people pity them and try to force them to join their gathering. You "have to" invite unpleasant relatives you would normally avoid, out of pity or a sense of decency. Grandparents fight about who they get to spend Xmas day with, and adult children get caught in the middle (guilt trips, arguments, or spending Xmas day dragging about trying to visit both households in turn). Too many people under one roof. Few pubs and restaurants are open, and those that are open will probably serve mediocre food with a snarl and charge huge amounts for it, so someone always ends up having to host at home for far too many people.

It would be better if Xmas was more of a generalized wintery season where there were nice Xmas lights and music and special food throughout (ideally through the end of January), and where you just made plans to meet with all the various people in your life on any day. So maybe do dinner with one set of grandparents on 20 December, do lunch with the other set on 2 January. Which would give the option of going to a pub or restaurant if you want, and would involve your spending a couple of hours enjoyably with someone rather than having way too many people in the house and the whole thing dragging on all day.

Oh, and the other thing that seems to cause misery at Xmas is bloody presents (so much butthurt, hurt feelings, stress, arguments.....). I basically don't exchange any gifts at Xmas other than the kids in the family and a restaurant voucher with my parents, and my goodness it is so much nicer. I'd rather spend the money on getting together with someone I care about and having food and drinks together, frankly.