am i the only one who dislikes christmas

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

bah humbug alert.

I never get in the Christmas spirt, the christmas decs are already bugging me and I am glad to be working all over christmas.

[Sunnymeg]

I too dislike it, mainly because we have the anniversary of three family deaths during Christmas week. All the attendant Christmas carp only reminds me of the unhappiness I felt when our relatives were actually dying and the false jolity that exists for a lot of a people at Christmastime. One relation died on Boxing Day and another on New Year's eve. It is very hard going, and I find it hard to care about the significant/insignificant details of the Christmas celebration.

[thenamestheyareachanging]

I hated it before having children.

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

I love the idea of Christmas, the principle of it.

The reality if it always seems like a bit of an anticlimax.

[Absy]

I don't celebrate xmas (Jewish - we have like 20 days of festivals of our own, I'm not lacking in the holiday department) but what I resent is the forced participation and the fact that it's everywhere from October onwards. I've had to politely nod at a colleague going on about making a cake, what cake, what decorations, what xmas jumper (for xmas jumper day! Donate £1 to save the children but spend £15 in Primark to buy a jumper Surely it would make more sense to just donate £16 to Save the Children and not wear a stupid jumper?), the presents she's buying, what she's eating, what am I eating? (normal food?), what she's wearing, aren't I excited?, the tinsel on her desk ("why don't you have tinsel? I also have a mini tree!") and buying a tree, decorating the tree and on and on. Seriously, by about the 10th of December every year I get a bit stabby. I've to the conclusion that the only people who actually like xmas are advertisers, shops and a certain type of woman (I don't see men working themselves into this frenzy).

[Mrswellyboot]

I always hated it. I don't like clutter. I don't see the point in swapping soap sets. I never lost all the weight I wanted to to get into the dress for the Christmas party.

Have a newborn here and feel happier about it. But we are running the road the whole day to different counties to keep everyone happy.

I love the school nativity and mass.

I was much more organised this year so when I potter around the shops now I don't have to panic buy, I got lots of bargains.

[snowed]

You could say the same about many other festivals, social events or parties though. They often involve consuming more food, wearing clothes you might not otherwise have bought, travelling somewhere you might not have otherwise been to, giving a gift to your host or someone with a birthday.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

It's all well and good if you have some sort of traditional family set up but I hate the pressure and stress Christmas creates for people that don't. I'm perfectly happy to spend Christmas (which is just another day) alone in my house and eat Pringles and watch the telly but other people hassle me about that and think it's some kind of terrible tragedy and you "can't spend Christmas on your own!!!" etc etc. I've ended up lying to people about what I'm doing so Ty don't try and pressure me in to coming up their houses for dinner. Opting out isn't actually that easy.

[mrsjay]

you are right opting out isn't easy me and Dh would love to sit in the house and not go anywhere but convention is you need to celebrate in someway I said to adult dd the other day Oh i think when you and your sister move out me and dad wil go on holiday or something she was horrified

[Ephiny]

Yes it's difficult to opt out when people won't accept your choice. You can do it if you're very stubborn and don't care if people think you're weird (that would be me then :)) but it's not easy.

Just look at the post above where the poster calls her partner 'misery guts' etc just because he doesn't want to join in her 'fun'. Why can't people just get on with it if they want to, and leave the rest of us alone? I don't expect the rest of the population to share all my hobbies and interests, or think it makes them 'miserable'.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

Exactly ephiny I don't care if people think I'm weird (it's them who are weird I think if they can't accept other people's choices) but sometimes I get sick of explaining myself and it's easier just to pretend I'm going to someone's house and then just stay on my own in my own house secretly!

mrsjay you should definitely go away!

[Lazysuzanne]

How many actual christmas refusers are there on here? (I'm one)

[CarolineDeWinter]

I'm like the Ghost of Bleeding Past Present & Future at Christmas! I pine for departed loved ones especially pets. I fret about the future when DD (who's only 8 ffs) might decide to spend Xmas Eve with her in-laws! And I yearn for a stylish low key Scandinavian Xmas but without the snow

I don't do cards, DH has to buy and wrap his own presents and I grind my teeth throughout visits to and from relatives.

However, I love that DH and DD are much more easy-going and fun-loving than me and I know how bloody lucky I am to have them and the means to enjoy whinging in warmth, comfort with enough food and money to go round. Were that we were all so lucky, eh?

Just don't get me started on New Year's Eve ...

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

I could so easily give the whole thing a miss. It would suit me just to have a few quiet days at home, pottering about and going for a few walks in the countryside.

However, DC would be hugely upset, so I do enough to make it seem as though I've made an effort. I'm not doing any special cooking though, it'll be Sainsburys mince pies and pudding.

Yes, once every few years as several previous posters have said. Once a decade anyone?

[mrsjay]

mrsjay you should definitely go away!

we probably will in a few years but then there might be grandchildren and it starts all over again might just leave the dds to it

[Lottapianos]

I'm pretty much a refuser. No cards, no decorations, no wishing anyone a 'happy Christmas', I just say 'have a good break' instead. DP and I not doing gifts this year, will get gifts for PILs as we will be staying with them. The only Xmas things I do are eat mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas dinner. Coz I'm a pig.

[Mim78]

I like it in many ways.

However don't like culture of excess and over spending / gettin paralytic either.

Feel for emergency services having to deal with all the extra unnecessary crap. Also for people going through difficult time as Xmas makes it all worse.

[PaulSmenis]

I don't appreciate being plied with alcohol. People can get very huffy when you refuse. Same with Mince pies, Christmas pud and Christmas cake. Why? They are totally minging.

[BreakingGood]

I like some aspects of it but hate others.
I loathe the 'tick list' gift giving - exchanging tat or stuff you could have easily got yourself...I only want to buy for my own DC. It is just plain silly. Hate the fact opting out of it is such a big deal.
I don't like Christmas cards - would much rather give and receive birthday cards.
I do like the decorations (but for a couple of weeks max), the parties and just staying at home all warm whilst it is cold outside.

[LouiseAderyn]

I love my Christmas tree and all yhe fairy lights and I enjoy the school nativity and carol concert.

But I hate the financial pressure and the obligation to be sociable and see people I am quite happy not to spend hours with. I am really scared about the amount of money I have spent and this year I was trying to cut down and not spend the equivalent of the national debt on gifts!

[Dollslikeyouandme]

You're not the only one, I don't hate it, but it's always such a chore, the true meaning is often lost and replaced with a greed fest, I have to socialise with people who I don't really want to, and then there's a big anti climax.

I do make a big effort for ds, and I'm quite looking forward to this year as we're eating out so I don't have to cook.

I really hate NYE and completely ignore it.

Bah humbug.

[LoveAndDeath]

I used to love it till my baby daughter died.

Now I dread it but have to pretend to love it for my sons.

[LucyLasticKnickers]

it is SO stressful, i was wondering about going to church, to actuallyh remember what its all about.
we have forgotten what it is all about.

[autumnsmum]

Love and that is so sad

[Lottapianos]

Oh Love I'm so sorry to hear that x

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

Bless you Love.

I can't even book a holiday due to work.

There are parts I do like, but I can cook a storm anytime