Is there anywhere in Europe that doesn't celebrate christmas

[Frangate]

I usually love love love love Christmas. I wasn't feeling it this year but I still forced myself to have a nice and good Christmas. It wasn't easy with the challagnes that I faced. I think my mother has dementia but it's not diagnosed and she's easily angered. She was in a moody strop since yesterday. Likely because her daily TV routine is off. She became angry because according to her boxing day is the biggest drinking day of the year for alcos but I wasn't going drinking and she wasn't going drinking and maybe that was it 20 years ago but it's not the case any more. All she has to do is go to the local and it's likely empty in favour of home drinking. She was angry about mass on Christmas eve. She said it was on too early (5pm). Even though she wasn't doing anything for the day. It would be early for people who were working and have to finish jobs for the day and people doing last minute shopping but I didn't argue with her.

She was just completely off form. It ruined Christmas for me because I work hard all year long. I have other difficulties in my life right now too and I think I might be depressed but I still tried to make it a good one. I had nice foods in the house and other stuff.

Do you know what Christmas means for me? I work hard and it's a few days off from the rat race of work and to enjoy time off.

Wrecking Christmas must be an art form for some people. I have experienced years of wrecked Christmas from my family.

• a sibling who likely has a personality disorder and I am estranged from. She likes to shine the most at Christmas time to try and suck any joy out from it. Just in case anyone has a smile, she will literally piss all over it.
• another sibling who was likely on drugs for a few years and there were Christmases where I had to walk on eggshells around him.
• now a moody mother even though the two main troublemakers have been removed from the equation.

I am wondering if there is anywhere in Europe that doesn't celebrate Christmas and somewhere I can jet off to next year?

I just can't stand Christmas any more and the ridiculousness of it all. I mean like there's only so many candles I can be gifted and that can be gifted.

I was going to suggest Istanbul as well - but haven't been there myself so not sure 😅

Then don't. Do something else, go away, help at a charity.

I looked into that option and it was too expensive. I would be looking at at least three nights away and it was too expensive. I was looking late and it a lot of places that were open were booked out. It was too expensive.

I find holidaying in Europe especially eastern Europe more budget friendly. I was hoping maybe on an eastern European get away next year.

Not Europe ... Marrakesh or Agadir in Morocco

@SleepyHippy3 There’s no need to quote the entire OP.

Well anywhere would be expensive looking late, but if you booked up early you might get something without the hassle of trying to find an odd fit

Either way, I meant exorcising! Although you might want to go exercising too!

Depends what price you're looking for and how long you want to go, next year saturday to saturday is 20th to 27th

What?

Very few places celebrate as much as the UK. In NL supermarkets and cafés are still open. Christmas is more like a British family Sunday where you go round for a meal, but it's not as full on. Presents are earlier in December or on the 24th.

You could go to Amsterdam. Shops and restaurants are open and public transport runs.

That sounds great

Oh gosh, quick comparison on booking.com, York vs Amsterdam for one person, price lowest first. Amsterdam is far far more expensive than York. Only looked at hotel rooms so far though.

Northern Cyprus is great in December. Shops and restaurants will decorate for Christmas for the benefit of visitors and expats but as a (secular) Muslim country it’s not “celebrated” as such. Everything opens as usual. Budget friendly. Not very touristy at all. Temperate weather, fab ancient ruins and so on.

But, is there not likely to be an element of “wherever you go, there you are” in trying to escape from Christmas? Would being alone not be a reminder that you have a challenging family and there still be an element of sadness over that? Do you have any friends who you could spend Christmas with instead in future?

Utter bullshit?

Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Belgium, Ireland... All of them historically catholic (some of them still today).

How do you get to northern cyprus? A quick google shows most flights dont go there?

I've been twice. The first time I changed at Istanbul to get to Ercan airport and the second time at Antalya. We didn't get off the plane at Antalya.

Where did you fly from in the UK, Im quite interested in this idea for next christmas to be honest

Netherlands. They celebrate st nicks on 6th December and although Christmas is celebrated by some, it's a very low key thing

Manchester, both times.

Not sure if Christmas is celebrated in places in Eastern Europe so it would need to be looked into.

This information probably won't help you OP, but what I like about the Netherlands, the way it used to be and I think, for the most part still is, is that December 25th is a Christian celebration only.

It is mainly for church attendance and goodwill towards friends and family and is separated from the commercial aspect and the buying frenzy of gift-giving.

In the UK, and some other countries, Christmas Day and what the Dutch call Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas a.k.a. Santa Claus) takes place in a mishmash jumble all crammed into one day.

In The Netherlands, Christmas Day is a relaxed day for churchgoing and visiting family and friends.

Sinterklaas is separated by taking place on December 5th.

December 5 is the day for parades and gift-giving, candies and other treats, visiting with the Sinterklaas, and it is the day that young children look forward to.

The good thing about this is that people who don't have young children don't have to participate at all if they don't wish to.

Christmas Day itself on the 25th is celebrated quietly by church attendance and visiting friends and family for coffee, a drink and or a meal, but no crazy gift-giving pressure like you get in the UK.

This is what happens when you try to combine a religious celebration with the pressure of giving lots of expensive gifts to everyone, adults and children all on one day.

I know that this is the way I would prefer to celebrate Christmas.

It seems a lot more genuine and
preferable; less hectic,commercialized, stress inducing and crazy.

Amsterdam is a very expensive city! But I do love it.

York is not the place to go to avoid Christmas though! Although the Christmas market left a few days before the big day, there's nutcrackers, and lights, and pantos everywhere! Every village in Yirjsgirevserns to have carol services and brass bands playing round the Christmas tree.. it's lower key, but it's still Christmas.

Just want to point out that ME is also full of Christmas trees, random Santas and Christmas events.
EE celebrate Christmas, Orthodox in Jan though, and if you are not fan of potato salad, you will be in trouble 😁 joking

Tehran outsode of the Christian neighbourhoods?

OP, I think you should pretend to go to Albania, but have a lovely Christmas at home without your family.

If things are better, you could try Israel. It's not very chrismassy at all, and everything is open!