To really not want to do Christmas, at all?

[willowriverwander]

I know I sound like Scrooge here, but hear me out.

I just don't like it. I am vegetarian and I feel a bit ill at the thought of the turkeys being killed. I hate the "stuff your face" sort of mentality that's seen as acceptable. I mean, in Dickensian England, fair enough. People had nothing for the other 364 days. But today we are so greedy anyway. I actually find the food thing really stressful.

I like buying things for my children but again, I am so uncomfortable with this idea of them tearing through hundreds of pounds worth of gifts. I hate the way everywhere is crammed at this time of year.

Tentatively, I'm wondering about just having a tree, and then just a chilled out day with a nice dinner. Maybe one gift each.

We are going skiing in the New Year so that should be nice. I wish it was over Christmas itself!

Or will I be considered shocking by today's standards?

Men cooking the Christmas lunch, well who'd a thunk it. I hope they did all the buying and prep and cleaning and etc. and so forth too or they will be in my sights!

Sounds like the old BBQ thing. Always the men, with a bottle of beer in their hand to show they can balance that and a tongs to turn the meat. Yowza! The women do the buying, the prep, etc. But it's a start I suppose. Ha ha.

Running I’m not really worried as such, just that if people are “competitive” about how many presents they give their DC/what traditions they do etc, they would probably get just as “competitive” about a minimalist Christmas.

Admittedly I should have said people. I'm not always right but I still think some take the bah humbug too far.

DH does the buying and prep too. I stack the dishwasher afterwards.
BBQ’s... I sit on my arse with a gin and tonic while DH does it all (shopping/prep/salads etc). Again, I might clean the mess up afterwards.
He does all the cooking though to be fair.

Ecureuil

As I am sure you know, my post was in jest. Well 'tis the Season (just about) and all that!

curtainpolehistory,

Don't worry about anyone here, and do not apologise for anything you said either.

Hope you all have a great Christmas.

The Bah Humbug thing is becoming quite fashionable. Watch this space!

So do as you please. Bit rich to criticise what others do. It's their time and money, if they want to blow it on Xmas and you want to blow it on a skiing holiday, why's one better than the other?

curtain you criticise the poster who is volunteering for charity....yet moan your father never did anything charitable in his life!! can't win with you eh?

miserable?? whats miserable about toning it down? how is it 'ruining' it for everyone else by refusing to join in with too much tac!??

I dislike Christmas intensely. It's all very well saying "just do your own thing" and we try our best - but you cannot escape the fact that supermarkets have been full of tat since September, CHristmas ads start in full flow first week in November, and people are falling over each other to get their Christmas tree up first. I hate the fact that people who can't afford it feel that they have to get themselves into debt to "compete" with other parents. I hate the amount of total crap which stores shove into their "gifts" section and which you just know will end up in a charity bag in January for them to dispose of. Greed, gluttony, consumerism at its very worse and the whole thing is just awful.

Coupled with the dreadful weather - 2C and snow today where I am - I cannot WAIT for it all to be over. Hate hate hate it.

Oh and while I'm on a roll with the moaning - it's the groundhog day-ness of it all. Christmas is always the fucking same. Radio in December is unlisten-able because you just know you're going to hear the Pogues, Wham, Slade and Cliff Fucking Richard on repeat.

Thank god for Radio 4.

Lunas, podcasts are your friend (and I love R4 and the World Service too).

Was just listening to "IPM, we start with your stories" fabulous. There are so many podcasts out there now. I have my faves though, as does everyone, it depends on your interests I suppose. And they do block out the repetive news, ads, Christmas etc. Perfect!

For another thread perhaps, but there is probably a favourite podcast thread here somewhere.

Well you could always make things for your loved ones , wrapped in recycled fair trade paper bags and have tofu turkey instead —that you decide not to eat and donate to your local soup kitchen—. Do whatever you want!
I’ve decided to enjoy it as more of a mid-winter Yule celebration. Not a lot of gifts, just a few good quality ones and I DO make gifts. A small but delicious dinner. Don’t invite the annoying inlaws. No need to virtue signal OR stress yourself out consuming as much as you can.

Quite honestly, the only reason I 'do' Christmas since DD1 died is because of DD2 and DS. But seriously, I don't expect the rest of the world not to, criticise them for doing so or waste time being completely hateful over it all. Life's too short.

So sorry for your loss EXPAT. That loss will be with you forever. Flowers your way. (I can't be arsed following the instructions thinggy for the picture of flowers, sorry).

I never criticised anyone doing charitable things. But you can be kind without refusing to spend any of it with your own dh and kids!

The whole joy of Christmas is the break from monotony. Christmas isn't groundhog day, the slog through winter without a festive break would be.

lol is it really 'a slog'.....our winters are mild. we have weatherproof clothing, central heating, food

maybe sort your life out if its so dull and monotonous for the other 11 months of the year

and yes.....you mentioned the poster who is volunteering, you were sneering at her because her partner is taking himself and the dc to his family for 'the day'

plenty of people work on December 25

Runningoutofchange - I was a nurse, I worked plenty of Christmases.

Why focus on me, rattled your cage?

Because I love Christmas and find genuine joy in it? My family, my kids being all excited. Cosy nights with nice lights and time off with my dh, who yes, works hard and has a bit of a slog commuting.

Actually I think it can be a bit of a slog. Lots of people leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a bit of relief from the daily grind.
Life is short. Fucking cliche I know, but my brother died at 27. It really is short. I try and celebrate as many things as possible.

I celebrate Xmas- and other days - exactly the way I want and assume other people do as well.

The problem is not what you do for Xmas but why you think you need to justify/get permission for how you want to live your own life.

'our winters are mild. '

Seriously? It snowed up here today and it will drop down below freezing tonight.

Scotland Expat?

I'm Scottish too. Winters are not mild

Our winters are mild?? Speak for yourself - don't assume the entire country is like the South of England! I'm in the West of Scotland and stood freezing scraping my car this morning to get to work, thankfully the snow never came to anything much today or the journey home would be a nightmare!

ahh but at least snow is christmassy......

our winters are mild

Another Scot. Winters are not mild. It was fecking freezing all day today. 2C on the themometer, with wind chill below zero. And so early dark. Counting the days until 21st Dec when we turn the coner and it starts getting lighter again.

Another Scot. Winters are not mild. It was fecking freezing all day today. 2C on the themometer, with wind chill below zero.

Tbf it was like that in parts of England today too. Showed between 2 and 2.5 today.

DH has just come in and said it's currently showing -1 now.