Anyone else not bothering with Xmas?

[Touty]

No decs or presents cards etc?
load of nonsense?
Anyone else?

God a bunch of miserable people on this thread!

The point of Christmas is to be with your family and friends. I can’t imagine ever not doing it.

Exactly, some people are going over the top about this. Not everybody celebrates Christmas, or in the same way.

Cards get me too.

Dh family are big on them. PIL will come for Christmas Day and hand us all Christmas cards. They are standing in front of us to say happy Christmas, I don’t also need it written down.

We also have to get them cards, the “to a special MIL and FIL ones” and a Nanny and Grandad one from each of the Children, or there would be hell to pay.

I love the lights and decorations. The materialistic part not so much. Since being single I find it an effort. I’d like to hide and watch tv and eat party food. Family won’t allow that. Next year I think I’ll go on holiday.

Do what suits you then. That does not mean that others are miserable, because they want to do things differently. The point of Christmas will mean different things, to different people, why is that hard to understand?

There are 364/5 other days of the year where you can also be with family and friends so that argument doesn't wash with me.

ETA The only thing than DP and me celebrate on December 25th is my birthday. After over 50 years of having to think about how to make my birthday special for everyone else I can now be "selfish" and just think about how I want to spend it. DD lives some distance away and the earliest she and her DH can get time off to visit is the 2nd weekend in January, so that's when we will have our "Christmas"

It’s just me and my partner. We have no tree or decorations ( except for pumpkins that are still lovely from October!) We have no plans to visit or see anyone in the near future. We are planning a nice meal, special desserts and some holiday films. We have never been “ present” people so there will be no gift exchange. We may perhaps go out for a drive with coffee on Xmas eve to see the lights.

Hi op I've not done Xmas in years.
Nothing zero.
Can't be bothered with all the faffing and nonsense.

The 25 is like any other day to me.

Yes, hopefully in time more people will drop it.

In the history of Xmas, years ago it was opcional anyway.

Its not miserable its sensible. Not celebrating one boring, samey thing every year dosent make you miserable.

You can get together with friends and family anytime you like.

You've been brainwashed all these years thats your problem.

Yes, a lot of people on this thread probably are miserable - some of them have posted about being bereaved, traumatised or depressed. What’s your point, or did you just want to make them feel worse? Be grateful you can’t imagine not wanting to celebrate or be with your wider family. I love Christmas, but I don’t feel the need to point and laugh at people who aren’t enjoying it.

Yep. I’m far from miserable in fact I’m very social but I find the whole drama around one bloody day ridiculous.

I see friends and family all year round - I’m out tonight and next weekend with friends (plus the last 3 Saturdays) - it doesn’t have to be on the one day we’re all told we’re supposed to.

I only get the bank holidays off work - I’d rather do nothing those days than partake in enforced fun.

That is something to think about as well. How much time is spent at work, and then instead of being able to relax at the time of Year, when some people would rather be hibernating, they feel this pressure, coming from the usual sources, to be jolly, and willing to sort presents, food, do endless Christmas activities, I could go on all day. No thanks!

Mainly not - just some elements.
I send presents and cards because other people like them, and I want those people to be happy.
No tree or decorations because they're unnecessary and just a faff.
No turkey roast dinner, because it's not food that we like.
No visiting relatives because 1) v small family & 2) why do we need to see them on 25/12 when it's more convenient to see them at another time of the year?
But yes to mince pies, because they're delicious 😂

Result: no fuss = no stress.

Yes, it's this. It's not a restful break for those doing the organising. Would be great to have a year off.

What happened to "goodwill to all men"?
We're not "miserable", we're just not the same as you.
There is no need for it to be 'one size fits all'- everyone can do/not do whatever they want, and then we're all happy.

I'm in between. I love the season, the decorations and twinkly lights. I enjoy buying gifts (only) for my children. I like sitting round the fire with some cheese and a Christmas film.

But I don't get sucked into this flapping around like a headless chicken, ticking off some imaginary, nonsense, never ending list that just makes me stressed. I don't go constantly traipsing round the shops, rushing to endless "events" that you "have" to do, booking a million overpriced tickets. I don't get into a panic that I haven't done enough.

I just enjoy it.

Yes and no. After 30 family Christmases, it’s just us until 28th. No gifts for each other - just don’t need/want anything except nice food and each other’s company. Family arriving on 28th, when we’ll do the Christmas things.

Exactly.

I love love love the tree and the lights. So I do that, and get some nice food in, see various family and friends over the holiday.
Only do presents for my kids though, i have scaled all that back and everyone in my family knows not to buy for me now.
So it’s nice to eat special foods and be social, enjoy the tree but I don’t understand people these days rushing around to events ( markets, Santa, light shows etc) as that sounds exhausting!
I always celebrate the solstice too with a little ritual, but that’s more personal.

Why do you hope that more people will drop it. What difference will that make to you?

I think it's more exhausting if you have children - nativity plays, Christmas Fair, Christmas jumper day, Christmas dinner day, end of term disco etc, and if parents are working full time as well then I can understand how they would be rushing around.

I go to the pantomime every year (family tradition) which we all really enjoy and last year I went to a light show with a friend which was enjoyable.

If I had young children now I definitely wouldn't do Elf on the Shelf or Christmas Eve boxes.

I don't have any

You do you

25/26th is just another day in our family, but oh how we enjoy the lie in and nice foods we will get in. Quite often hubby and I will go for a nice drive out to and then come back watch some films with drinks n snacks. Perfectly happy with it