to think that christmas is a pain in the arse.

[HObloodyhoagain]

Spending tons of money on presents that are forgotten about the minute the wrapping paper is torn off.
Overcrowded Shops
Over heated Shops.
The relentless screechy Christmas music blaring everywhere from October onwards.
The shitty adverts on tv.
Rain. Never snow (like on the cards) always rain.
Even worse mild and grey.
January diets because of all crap consumed at Christmas.
Trying to keep everyone happy.

Who's going to who's house When.
The dreaded words: ''SO, WHO'S TURN IS IT THIS YEAR?'' to play host and feed the 5 millions
Family feuds.
Grabby relations.
Ungrateful relations.

This is the reality of Christmas for most people.

AIBU to want to ignore Christmas altogether this year?
I don't have children, so it wouldn't affect anybody other than myself.
I wish it was more acceptable to say Im not doing Christmas this year, without everybody thinking you're a weirdo.

It doesn't sound like my Christmas.

I pick up presents through the year. Book an online shop for the weeks shopping. Make it clear that I will be in my home and don't really want visitors. And have a lovely chilled Christmas. I do eat far too much though but not bothered about a January diet.

I don't really recognise that description of Christmas.

We have all ours wrapped up by December. The presents don't get unwrapped and forgotten and we always have everyone round here.

No one even falls out Christmas is the one time of the year we all manage to get on

I stopped the stuff I hated, like cards.

If my Christmas was like you describe, I wouldn't do it.

I like Christmas, but it is very expensive. Would quite like it to be alternate years, or at least only do presents on alternate years. Think the excess is getting out of hand. Am trying to reel it in a bit but with 4 dc I spend loads.

I agree somewhat. I think it's difficult to opt out of xmas without people being really put out. In my 20s, I went on holiday alone over the xmas period because I hated it.

However, it doesn't have to be as crazy as your description sounds. Shop online, keep presents small and thoughtful, and don't get sucked into the xmas drama. You don't have to watch Christmas adverts or stuff your face. Things like bad TV are easily avoided.

That doesn't sound like my Christmas either.

If you don't enjoy it, take control, make changes.

Yeah if that was the reality of my Christmas I'd probably think it was a pain in the arse too.

But I don't recognise the Christmas you describe.

I agree op

I've been scaling it back for years now.... every year I drop a few of the xmas 'essentials' and don't bother getting them

I've dropped so far

Xmas cards
Chocs on the tree
Xmas crackers
Xmas tablecloth
All excess secs.... just have tree and door wreath
Poinsettia
Nuts ( the type you crack)
Xmas cd
Tinsel
Baileys
Xmas cake
Pointless nativity style ornaments

There's probably more.... I just don't buy tat

This year I'm thinking the advent calendar madness might have to go.... youngest is 8 and didn't bother with it last year

Don't do it then!!
Cut down the number of people you buy for, do it online, don't go overboard on food.
Why get sucked in???

We've done a family Secret Santa for years. So much pressure OFF!

All presents done online. All.

Have never done cards. People get over it. Have never done thank you cards. Again, people get over it.

Adverts have been muted for about 10 years - year round though.

I think Winter would be awful without Christmas.

YABU, I love Christmas

Tree up every year on 27 November and I love planning the decorations and Christmas shopping. We don't go over the top with presents dc get 1/2 gifts and a medium sized stocking

This year we've said we are not seeing anyone Xmas eve, day or Boxing Day as we want peace and quiet and lovely food at home relaxing with dcs. Too much drama once extended family involved

I do 95% of the shopping online and what was previously an awful time of year I've turned into something I love so rally and truly I adore Xmas as others me through the anniversary of a terrible terrible loss

I fucking hate Christmas!

Don't let my kids find out though lol

I love it.
Our Christmas doesn't sound anything like yours.

Yabu, but then I absolutely love Christmas. Especially since I had my son. Next year I'll have another little elf to share it with.
It was always a massive occasion in my big family & is still the priority. We love it, every stereotypical minute of it!

That's not my Christmas either yabu. I love Christmas week , I love meeting up with friends and family , I don't buy lots and lots of presents but I do go out a lot. It really is my week of partying at night and relaxing during the day .

Well, that doesn't sound like my Christmas either.

You have the option of scaling back, or only opting in to the bits you enjoy. You don't have to do lots of the things you list.

We do a split family christmas because of long-standing feuds, so we've finally got it down pat.

Only the under 18s get presents. This limits the amount of money, and time, spent on buying presents.

I live in Australia, so the weather's generally fine. The last three years it's been fairly miserable, but not England miserable. Hopefully we'll actually get summer weather this year because we like doing a low-key BBQ.

I do dread it though. My grandmother always wants us to traipse 2.5 hours north to do Christmas at relatives we never see/speak to (I'm talking like 3rd cousins relations). I have three young DC and another due in January, but she doesn't seem to understand that that's just about the last thing on earth I feel like doing.

I just hate Christmas full stop ....!!! But, to be fair, I've scaled right back to absolutely bare essentials now and survive it by doing my best to avoid most of the things on OPs list. No pressies except token gesture for DH, a tree but a modest one, cards only for those people I don't see regularly and who don't have email (about a dozen last year), a "Sunday roast " type meal as we hate turkey anyway, avoid the worst of the rubbish on tv ....

The trick is to do the fun bits and ditch the rest.

I agree.
You missed dragging yourself up and down the fucking country to sleep on a rickety bed in your childhood bedroom and having to alternate with your parents and inlaws when you want to just stay at home in your PJs.

now my ds's are older teens I miss the kind of schmaltzy Christmas I love!

mine love getting stuff but arent mad keen on the day itself, they are quite low key now and I would love it to be more over the top than it is now!

and I've got no extended family to share it with either

Christmas is very stressful for a lot of people. Making it low key is the best, if it's at all possible for you.

I love Christmas!

No arguments about who's doing what, we either invite people to join us or not. Or accept an invitation or not.
I do a lot of the gift shopping online.
No mass grocery shopping either - enough to get us through the week is plenty but we can be unsociable bastards! I do order the turkey and some bits in advance to pick up on Christmas Eve.
Love decorating the tree on Christmas Eve whilst scoffing chocolates and watching a Christmas film.

My only pet hate is the wrapping but mainly because I'm truly crap at it! I'm very much into tissue paper and gift bags or simple shapes!

Meh. I'm not a fan. I try to tell myself it's only one day but it goes on forever....

Well as regards the shopping, I do All of mine on line, and it's all wrapped and ready before the end of November, and anyway, all the DC in our family are getting older, so just want cash. Fine by me!.
We don't really buy Christmas food goodies, because nobody in our house eats that type of thing. We go out to dinner/socialising regularly, so Christmas is no different. Stuff like cards and decks, are slowly being downsized each year!
If I were you, I'd just ignore it, it's only 2 days...though there are times when I think once every other year would be good!

That's not our Christmas.

We have our family and friends around us, and we have many get together and parties, we give gifts our vouchers that they would like.

Big family and friends PJ and movie nights, sleepovers, board games, pantos, ice skating, elf on the shelf. Christmas for us is a huge affair.