Just a short rant about my BIL who "doesn't do Christmas" because he's far too cool and pagan

[ImaginaryHorse]

Christmas being sooooo tacky and shit and over commercialised doncha know.

He and his DC have their Christmas on solstice instead. And ohhhhh boy don't we all know about it. If you say "merry christmas" to his DC (8, 10, and 11) they tell you "we don't do shitmas" (yep, in those words). BIL loves to lecture us on how shit and commercial christmas is and how he thinks solstice is so much more important blah blah blah.

I'm not averse to solstice celebration tbh and we usually get out for a sunrise walk (didn't bother this year as was so grey and gloomy at 7am) and then have a little fire in the evening to mark the day. The sun returning feels special to me and I love to think of the days getting longer again.

But BIL has basically just shifted all the stuff he claims to despise about Christmas to solstice instead. His DC get piles of gifts and spend months talking about what they want and asking for specific ££ things "for solstice". They also kick off if they don't get exactly what they asked for or if they think one of their siblings has more then them, or for something they've decided they wanted. Obviously this isn't the DC fault, it's BIL's doing (he's the resident parent, ex SIL has the DC every other weekend and half holidays). But then afterwards they still descend on MIL for Christmas day and eat dinner and get more presents, all the while telling everyone how shit they think Christmas is. We just don't go over there on Christmas day any more because me and DP both find it so unbearable!!

I don't really care if people do or don't celebrate, or what they celebrate or how they celebrate, but the unbearable smugness combined with the absolute rubbishing of Christmas just grates my cheese. I keep wanting to say to BIL "well you might think Christmas is shit but at least my kids know what we are celebrating and why, and don't throw a tantrum if they don't get everything on their list, so NERRRRRRR". But I obviously won't because I'm not a dick. I'll just rant here instead.

I'm having an anonymous rant on the internet.

I'm just getting it out of my system because I'm fed up to the back teeth of hearing him bang on about how much better and more spiritual he is than the rest of us.

I wouldn't say any of that to him (because it would be rude) which I think is the key difference!

The kids being spoilt doesn’t have anything to do with what day they receive their presents or for what occasion. It would be the same if it was Christmas, Eid, Chanukah, Diwali or anything else.

EXACTLY!

He sounds like a complete prick.

I agree that is a key difference that you keep mum about it.

But then afterwards they still descend on MIL for Christmas day and eat dinner and get more presents, all the while telling everyone how shit they think Christmas is.

Not too cool or pagan just common or garden rude.

Do people who celebrate Eid refer to Christmas as shitmas, or Diwali as shitwali? Because of they did, they would also be twats. It's perfectly possible to acknowledge otger customs, especially the ones you're brought up with, without shoehorning shit into the word to express your sanctimonious disdain.

funny how Xmas was a pagan holiday before Christianity. joke is on him:)

“Festivus, for the rest of us.”

Bring on the annual airing of the grudges.

What a moron, and his kids are going the same way.
I hate people like this, the "your way is shit and I will remind you of this every time I open my mouth"
I wouldnt be polite about it, I would tell him to shut the fuck up, get out of my face, and stay out of it 😆

For those mentioning Festivus I've actually never heard of it before (never seen any Seinfeld!) but now I've googled it I could get behind a celebration of airing grudges. BIL and his too-cool-for-school "shitmas" nonsense would be high on my list 😂

"you do you" and don't give them any presents

It sounds unintentionally hilarious but I can see how it boils your piss as they all sound absolutely awful.

He and his DC shouldn't bring you and your family down with their beratings. Yes we all know it's commercialised crap in many ways but also value the special occasion and spending time together. Pompous and unnecessary, shame he's instilled those values into his DC. Xx

Yeah it's the sort of thing I'd hoot over if it was a friend's BIL - and then tell her to totally ignore.

We do give the DC presents btw, but not BIL 😂 I don't use Christmas paper to wrap them and I just write "seasons greetings" in the card which is my usual catch all greeting for this time of year anyway. Since we stopped going to MILs at Christmas we tend to try and see BIL the weekend before, which this year obviously clashed with actual solstice. I wish they were further away so we had an easy out, but they're in the same town!

Tbh I'm much happier today than I will be on Christmas. I cannot wait for the brighter days. I'm not religious, so to me Christmas is not particularly special - if anything it's too commercial and stressful due to the expectations of others around me.

Just leave each other alone.

Why but say that though? Not in those exact words, it is ask him to explain the difference between his solstice celebration and Christmas, and if he’s so against it why does he then go to his mothers for more gifts? Surely he should treat it like any other day.

to be fair pagans were there first etc

Did we read the same post? The one where the OP was relaxed about solstice but brother shits on Xmas but still wants the food and presents?

I think Spirit Adder is:
a) the new partner of BIL, or
b) a solstice addict who will hear not one word said against solstice, or
c) determined to misinterpret OP’s post.

Or all three.