To wonder if you could get rid of one Christmas Tradition

[Atthewelles]

what it would be?

For me, it would be Christmas cards. They're so much hassle to write and get sent off, people get all worried if they get a card from someone they forgot to send one to, people who no longer have any real contact or interest in each other anymore are afraid to be the first one to break the habit of sending cards etc etc etc
I think it would take a lot of the stress out of Christmas if this tradition ceased or was confined to people you are still in touch with but do not see on a regular basis. So no cards to neighbours, siblings who live down the road, couple you met on holidays 15 years ago and wouldn't recognise if you fell over them in the street......

Not strictly Christmas but can we ditch New Year's Eve? Pressure to go out, drink too much, Kiss strangers, hobble home in rain. Everyone hates it.

I have never sent cards.

Don't know what bread sauce is but it sounds like some kind of runny high carb sauce of doom.

Secret Santa system for adults in my family has been working well for years.

Honestly folks - don't do the bits you don't like/stress you out.

drjohnson, don't get me started in NYE. It should get a thread all of its own! I can't bear it and never celebrate it.

I would def get rid of any and all marketing hype before 1st dec. no ads, no songs, no stuff in shops till December. I know they say people need to plan and spread the cost over a few pay packets (I do!) but hey, I can put the money away in an account to save up for the Xmas shopping, I don't need the actual stuff in my house!!

I would also can the annoying music in shops. Or at least reduce the volume by 50%.

I would get rid of the build up. Two to three months of adverts, seasonal shop aisles,ice skating, Winter Wonderland, Bavarian Christmas Fairs, panto, nativity, parties, lunches, carol singing, cards, advent, Elf on TV every five seconds. It's Too Fucking Much.

Poor DS is sick of it too. Every morning he comes in and asks "Can I open my Christmas Presents YET?" As much as I am trying to teach the little darling bugger patience and the joy of delayed gratification, I cannot say that I blame him.

Christmas should be in December Only and we should space out nice wintry things like ice skating and panto through the bleakness of Jan and Feb. I also feel that we lose out on Halloween and Bonfire Night by blurring it all in together.

I'm doing turkey for the first time ever this year, (DS1's request) I like sprouts, but I resent the amount of time spent preparing the things, and the sheer mountain of waste from the bits cut off. Also I can't eat them if anyone else cooks them.

I've never done cards, I'm too disorganised. At school I used to keep a stack in my bag and just write one for anyone who gave me one

I actually enjoy wrapping presents, so my DCs tend to get a lot of small presents so I can do lots of ribbons and bows.

I ignore the Christian shit, except a few carols I like. It's not their festival anyway, the Romans just stuck it over the existing Saturnalia festival.

I would definitely ban the extended run-up. There is NO reason to have your lights up before the beginning of December, I saw some had gone up near us before Halloween.... I groan when the first Christmas merchandise appears in the supermarket almost as soon as the "back to school" stuff has been cleared away. Our local Tesco had the Xmas stuff out before the Halloween sweets this year! I have never been a big Christmas fan. Can you tell?

ButternutSquish "Can we ban 'Christmas' being called 'Xmas'?! It just winds me up something rotten!!"

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I like calling it xmas. It's got eff all to do with Christ for me so why would I want his name in the word? Urrgghhh. I also refuse to give it a capital letter.

The word Christmas is way too wholesome and 'yay Jesus' for me.

xmas xmas xmas xmas xmas :o

How about banning manically flashing Xmas lights. I would like a nice slow twinkling effect but all the ones i see are the strobe like ones? I have static ones instead

The whole christmas lunch thing. I cook the children whatever they want for christmas lunch and they have never asked for turkey! We only have turkey if we are at someone elses house

Like everything else though

Blue lights are too blue, and they just look as though someone stuffed loads of tiny ambulances into some foliage.

If I say 'oh don't bother' about presents, I do actually mean it, and would be perfectly happy if you didn't get me anything!

lubeybooby- but the X in Xmas still represents Christ and the Mas bit still means Mass, so maybe you'll have to invent your own name for it if you don't want any Christian association whatsoever.

BTW- it's OK to say Christmas without people thinking you are Yay Jesus. I've never heard of that sort of interpretation before, I think you might be overthinking it!

I know I'm being very silly but just demonstrating that the word xmas serves a purpose even if it is only in my head

Cards I haven't done any this year as been to busy working and sick kids plus price of stamps that costs more than the cards!

Christmas day TV - every year reaches a new low.

Christmas day TV - every year reaches a new low

Apart from the Dr Who special -that's one newish tradition our family loves. Its the only TV we did watch - fortunately presents included a film we'd all enjoy.

Cards I haven't done any this year as been to busy working and sick kids plus price of stamps that costs more than the cards!

Agreed- we spent about 6 quid on cards and it cost 25 quid to post them all!

Ecards, I appreciate the saving in cost, resources etc but they just seem lazy and meaningless to me, if you're going to email make them separate and personal, then it is as good as a paper card.

I love blue lights, cranberry sauce, sprouts but hate bread sauce andChristmas pudding.

WhoKnows- I agree. getting a mass emailed e-card is about as personal as getting one about the Argos Sale.