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AIBU?

To think your life must be pretty empty if you're celebrating Christmas already?

427 replies

MerryMarigold · 02/12/2018 13:45

Maybe it's me, but I think 2 weeks before Christmas and one week after, is ample time to have your tree/ lights up, be watching Christmas films (if you're that way inclined), listen to Christmas songs, have Christmas nights out/ dress up in Christmas jumpers etc. This weekend my Facebook has been inundated with 'Look at my lovely tree' statuses and today I've just driven past about 30 Santas power walking, my kids are begging me to get a tree up (which will be dead by Christmas). I just think you need to enjoy life now and not always be looking forward to the next celebration.

AIBU and a miserable git, or do i have a point?

OP posts:

Report

MerryMarigold · 04/12/2018 11:13

Not that puritan. We do Halloween! (Couple of days before and on day), Easter (a week maybe, decorate eggs etc), birthdays. Lots of fun in between too! I just think this weird obsession with Christmas blocks out enjoyment of normal fault daily life; people seem to live for the 'season' and then fall into a January depression, until we can focus on Valentine's Day!

OP posts:

MerryMarigold · 04/12/2018 11:15

"Normal, real daily life"

OP posts:

SoyDora · 04/12/2018 12:42

I manage to still enjoy normal daily life while having my Christmas tree up .

SnuggyBuggy · 04/12/2018 12:44

Normal daily life can be boring as fuck for many. Give me the Christmas season any day

thecatsthecats · 04/12/2018 12:46

Maybe it's me, but I think 2 weeks before Christmas and one week after, is ample time to have your tree/ lights up, be watching Christmas films (if you're that way inclined), listen to Christmas songs, have Christmas nights out/ dress up in Christmas jumpers etc. This weekend my Facebook has been inundated with 'Look at my lovely tree' statuses and today I've just driven past about 30 Santas power walking, my kids are begging me to get a tree up (which will be dead by Christmas). I just think you need to enjoy life now and not always be looking forward to the next celebration.

AIBU and a miserable git, or do i have a point?

Just repeating the OP here, since I think it's bloody disingenuous to suggest people 'haven't read it properly'. Full credit to OP for admitting being a miserable git, but let's not pretend that the original post was anything but a snippy post judging people who do things differently.

I'm not criticising that! I LOVE to judge people joylessly when the mood takes me.

KellyW88 · 04/12/2018 13:14

I’m more like you in that I don’t think the whole of December needs to be dedicated to Christmas but I’m more in the let people get on with what they want type :’)

My DH however is Christmas crazy and has already started with the music and the films and one thing that does get me going is repetition (from an adult anyway) and there are only so many times I can listen to Slade and Wizzard before I get grumpy :’) this is our first Christmas with our DD and DS at home (last Christmas they were in the NICU ward) so I’m trying my best to tolerate DH’s approach as he’s excited to celebrate with them :)

LagunaBubbles · 04/12/2018 13:43

just think this weird obsession with Christmas blocks out enjoyment of normal fault daily life; people seem to live for the 'season'

And this is whst really annoys me about viewpoints like yours OP, just because you feel like that you assume everyone does. So it might come as a surprise to you that no, doing the OTT Christmas (in your eyes) that we do is part of our "normal life", it's not spoiling anything at all or "blocking" anything out, it's part of the enjoyment!

Jezebel101 · 04/12/2018 16:12

Getting decorations up early is a painful reminder to people in challenged financial circumstances? I don't get upset when a Porsche drives past me because I only have a modest car.

I'm all for consideration but people need perspective. If I can't afford something it doesn't mean no one else should have it either.

paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 04/12/2018 16:24

Why can't I enjoy normal family life while my house is cosy and lit with candles and fairy lights ? I can multi-task!!!!

tinstar · 04/12/2018 17:24

Getting decorations up early is a painful reminder to people in challenged financial circumstances? I don't get upset when a Porsche drives past me because I only have a modest car.

There isn't a frantic all-encompassing retail/media campaign to convince everyone they need a Porsche!

Of course it's a painful time for people with little money - especially when they have small children. It's also a painful time for those of us who have lost loved ones.

OneStepMoreFun · 04/12/2018 17:29

I spent today getting the house decorated and making the Christmas puddings. I loved every minute of it. Double shift at work yesterday and today is my day off. I find the focus on Christmas gets me through the darkest days of the year and helps me not dip into depressive hibernation mode

headinhands · 05/12/2018 14:54

just think this weird obsession with Christmas blocks out enjoyment of normal daily life

You think that someone enjoying one thing will stop them enjoying another? Christmas is part of the normal yearly routine. I could understand your stance if the people who were putting up decorations were also necking Smirnoff daily from 10am. It's just foliage, plastic and electricity at the end of the day.

I decorated my kitchen the other week. Is that okay or did my excitement at the new decor prevent me from enjoying anything else?

Also say it was preventing people from enjoying everyday stuff. The everyday stuff is there when the tat goes back in the loft. Problem solved. Your issue with it is most hard to comprehend.

headinhands · 05/12/2018 14:57

If everybody just stuck to a couple of weeks then it wouldn’t be “rubbing it in “ to those for whom this time of year is a painful reminder of their financial situation.

I put the decorations up just as early when I was proper poor.

Last year was hard as it was the first year without someone I'd lost. I don't remember resenting anyone for doing Christmas early. And if you would be upset you'd get upset wether they were up on the 1st it the 21st surely?

FloofenHoofen · 05/12/2018 14:58

Christmas makes me feel happy. I have anxiety so majority of my life must be sad and empty because I have my tree and decorations up already.

deluxetruffles · 05/12/2018 15:14

Agreed. It is capitalism gone mad. My daughter tells me that children in her class have had their tree up since November.... for the love of God...

NeverTwerkNaked · 05/12/2018 15:53

Why is that so terrible @deluxetruffles? Many of us have explained why we have done so, and many had sad or difficult reasons for doing so.
My son is going through something unbearable at the the moment and the elf and the Christmas lights and the advent calendar are all giving him little boosts. We don’t buy much “stuff”, so it has little to do with capitalism in our house. It’s about families and traditions for us.

deluxetruffles · 05/12/2018 16:01

I am not anti-advent calendars. I do think elf on the shelf is awful though. If you are talking about traditions then it is not at all traditional to have a tree and Christmas lights up at the beginning of December.
Traditionally Christmas does not start then. However, I only speak for myself and apart from this thread do not voice my opinions on it. Each to their own.

OftenHangry · 07/12/2018 09:10

Congrats
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/mum-slammed-saying-you-should-15518032?fbclid=IwAR0AVg62dwAuX7PmOgrvrX7qTSCbq69l-op9beRmSxuc11SFsGfOIsY1-p4

SoupDragon · 07/12/2018 12:38

I've been quoted in the Liverpool Echo. My life is compete.

Do you think the "journalist" is hoping for a job on the Daily Fail?

LucheroTena · 07/12/2018 22:52

At this time of year I feel exhausted by work, darkness, general mundanity. I also feel relieved that DD finally seems to feel better after horrible health scare. So I’m quite enjoying the distraction of lights, buying presents, watching xmas films. Tomorrow I will decorate the house.

I do experience a little slump in Jan though so I get where you’re coming from. I’m trying to slow it down / go lower key this year

notaperfectparent · 08/12/2018 07:07

My daughter is nearly 5, we have already been to harrods Christmas party,ice skating, winter wonderland ( got 2 more parties coming up.
The Xmas tree is up ( makes no difference to my life ) she is happy it’s up so that’s all that matters !
Presents etc are wrapped so leaves time to Relax and enjoy the lead up.

ralfeesmum · 10/12/2018 10:59

I'm astonished that the birth of one child over 2000 years ago can generate so much fuss, spending (which goes hand-in-hand with debt) frazzled nerves, family tension not just one the actual day but for months before and endless weeks after.

What's wrong with us?

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rubaduhlo · 10/12/2018 13:18

Speak for yourself ralf I quite happen to like the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Spending time with all my lovely family together, we only manage it about once a year or weddings. No stresses with us!

carrie74 · 10/12/2018 13:22

It's because my life is so busy that I do need to do some of these things 'early' - there's a lot going on in December, and to try to enjoy as much of it as possible, then I will do a Santa run the First weekend, and I will wear a Xmas jumper when meeting old friends in another city etc etc. It's a great way to make a dark, cold, wet month go by a little quicker as well.

headinhands · 10/12/2018 13:29

can generate so much fuss, spending (which goes hand-in-hand with debt) frazzled nerves, family tension not just one the actual day but for months before and endless weeks after

Fuss, nerves and tension aren't compulsory though.

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