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Original poster

To wish we could stop over complicating Christmas

273 replies

Beswitched · 10/12/2019 13:39

Ever more elaborate decorations, Christmas boxes, expensive branded advent calendars, fancy alternatives to the standard Christmas Dinner, competitive posts on Facebook, manic manic shopping, trips to lapland, Secret Santa angst etc etc and the whole shebang starting in November.

Aibu to wonder what happened to a couple of presents from Santa, simple presents for family and friends, putting the beloved and tattered decorations up a few days before Christmas and enjoying a roast dinner together?
It all seems to have become so elaborate these days.

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 11/12/2019 20:06

It all seems to have become so elaborate these days.

I value being an adult and deciding for myself exactly what I do and don't do, through the year, including Christmas

Try it, you will absolutely love it.

Elloello · 11/12/2019 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaurieMarlow · 11/12/2019 20:27

I am totally fed up of the 'pressure' you could easily put yourself under over Christmas

Well don’t do it then. Simple.

I don't do elf on the shelf, Christmas eve boxes, it's over indulgence

Who are you to say what’s ‘over indulgence’ for children/families you know nothing about?

lotusbell · 11/12/2019 20:30

Since my mum.died, I cant be bothered with Christmas. Christmas day is just dinner at my dads, not much different than a Sunday roast really. DS12 is always between houses visiting his dad and other relatives, OH usually only has Christmas day and Boxing Day off. I've put the tree up even though I put out fewer decorations each year these days. I'm.one of those itching to get my room back to normal come December 27th! DS12 and DSD12 arent that bothered by it so might not put it up next year. I'm not a scrooge, I just can't be bothered with it all, nothing decent on tv and that no man's land between Christmas and new year, which I also try and bypass! I.am.however looking g forward to 2 weeks off work so I can relax.

thirty8 · 11/12/2019 20:31

Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ which hardly gets a mention

LaurieMarlow · 11/12/2019 20:32

Actually no. Proto-Christmas festivals were long established before Christianity.

NeedAnExpert · 11/12/2019 20:33

Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ which hardly gets a mention

Nor does most of the “Christmas traditions” having been stolen from the pagans. Tree -pagan. Feasting - pagan. No mention of “baby Jesus” in this house. It’s all about the solstice.

JacquesHammer · 11/12/2019 20:34

Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ which hardly gets a mention

That’s another part you can opt in/out of as you wish!

Ravenesque · 11/12/2019 20:38

I watched Lucy Worsley the other night doing a thing about Christmas Carols and it was lovely and made me want to do the whole mid-winter celebrating the fact that we're alive and despite the cold and dark we all appreciate each other. Also, I'm a total sap and cried at the end when they were talking about Silent Night.

My Christmas is very simple. Presents for three people and my best friend's three daughters. The children's one was early this year as I bought a wooden advent calendar off of Hobbycraft, painted it and put chocolates in each drawer. Now they have one that will last for as long as they want it too and mum just has to buy some celebrations or something to keep them happy. The three adult presents I give are either cheap, charity shop or handmade. So one couple are getting a handknitted throw from me, (two for the price of one!) and another is getting books that I know she will love. I give presents to these people because I know what they like so well and it means I won't be giving them something pointless just or the sake of giving.

No cards. A white twig/branches thing I got from Hobbycraft last year with some tiny lights and baubles and such that I've bought over the years. No new one this year because I've not seen anything that takes my fancy.

On the day, a special meal, helping out somewhere for people who need it, good films and curling up with a book. The nonsense that keeps being added to the season every year can fuck right off.

Forgotmy · 11/12/2019 20:38

Oh forget about the arguments, Christmas is a joy to some who do the biz and do it all, But for others it is just another fkn day with nice food and all that nothing more really.

The most depressing day for me is Boxing Day. All over now really and all the shyte to clear up. And for what? Sorry now folks!

AllergicToAMop · 11/12/2019 20:41

No mention of “baby Jesus” in this house.
There is a mention in my non Christian house. Baby Jesus brings our pressiesGrin
On Christmas EveGrin

And as properly integrated meber of UK I obviously also welcome Santa on Christmas day who fills up the stocking.

And get 2 Christmas dinners.

It's good to be an immigrantGrin

AllergicToAMop · 11/12/2019 20:42

Negative point. Christmas planning starts in July in case Christmas include international movements

Exhaustedpanda · 11/12/2019 20:46

30 years ago I used to be allowed to open a present on xmas eve. A Christmas Eve box is no different really. It contains things you would probably get for your children anyway.
It is only over complicated if you make it so. No one is forced to do anything they don’t want to do.

NeedAnExpert · 11/12/2019 20:52

And as properly integrated meber of UK I obviously also welcome Santa on Christmas day who fills up the stocking.

No Santa here either.

Hopingtobeamum · 11/12/2019 21:04

Tell me about it!!

Poplarhawk · 11/12/2019 21:12

Agreed. 1st of December box (yes really), Christmas Eve box, Elf on the Shelf, and so on

londonrach · 11/12/2019 21:15

Judging by my facebook very few people doing the elf thing. I certainly not and not doing xmas eve apart for a minch pie and milk for santa. Christmas is what you make it. If you want to do the elf and christmas eve your decision.

londonrach · 11/12/2019 21:15

Mince now minch..

manicmij · 11/12/2019 21:21

I have come to detest the whole season. Any decorations will be those bright down from the attic. Adult presents are restricted to £10. Children will be given a sock with £15 maximum one present from Santa approx £20. and a main one from us £50. 16 year old £100 cash. What anyone else decides to give them is up to them. Marketing and advertising has conned us all and will continue to do so unless we say No.

SmudgeButt · 11/12/2019 21:42

the only thing I want to do that I haven't yet is to find a discounted Lindor advent calendar for a friend. I will then carefully remove the plastic, take out all the chocolates (from the back so doors arent' opened) and reseal it before giving it to him. he'll both hate and love it.

bingowingsmcgee · 11/12/2019 21:46

Yep. Talk about gilding the lily. Complete overkill.

yasle · 11/12/2019 21:48

Don’t forget the Christmas jumpers op!

I agree with you. Christmas is on steroids and I absolutely despise it now. I do not slave all year, only to be presented with festive slaving at the end of it. No. Fuck off. My kids are no longer little so I am not depriving them.

Doremisofarsogood · 11/12/2019 22:00

It's definitely what you make it; each to their own. My Christmas now isn't hugely different from when I was a child many moons ago. Tree with a random collection of home made decorations, added to each year as DD is only 6 and so still into crafting. Lights inside, nothing outside. Not extravagant on presents, buy for DD and DSD with token gifts between me and DH. He loves cooking so Christmas Dinner is down to him, while me, DD and my mum go to church to sing carols. Then home for presents, eat, drink, play games and watch TV. We see our immediate family and chill at home, lots of walks. I'm lucky enough to have 2 weeks off work so will enjoy spending time with DD. We have Christmas jumpers but DD had a new one for the first time ever this year. No bloody elf, although DD keeps asking but has been very firmly told no. No Christmas eve box either, she does have last year's Christmas pyjamas. Mince pie will be left out for Santa on Christmas eve and then the great wrapping frenzy will begin as I always leave it to the last minute and end up drinking a vat of wine whilst doing so, cue a headache on Christmas morning 🙈

MsAwesomeDragon · 11/12/2019 22:00

We do your simple Christmas. We have a chocolate advent calendar, visit family Christmas Eve and boxing Day but stay at home just us on Christmas Day. We have an artificial tree that we reuse every year. I did replace it last year but the previous one had been my grandma's, and had been in use every year for over 30 years (I inherited it when I moved into my first independent house) and it is looking rather thread bare now. We buy presents for extended family, but it's simple things like socks, nothing big, everything consumable/useable. Our Christmas dinner is just the bits we like as a family, so chicken instead of turkey, roast potatoes, millions of yorkshires, no fancy stuff that's extra hassle without extra taste.

PumpkinPie2016 · 11/12/2019 22:05

A lot of people do seem to do a huge amount for Christmas which is of course, entirely their choice.

I think a lot of people also do a 'simpler' Christmas.

We have the tree we bought when we moved into our house 10 years ago. Decorations have been added to over the years - usually one or two per year from a shop in the Lake district.

Our son has a simple chocolate advent calendar but we don't do elf on the shelf, Dec 1st box or Christmas eve box.

He does a nativity at school plus goes to the village panto. We go to the school Christmas fair because everything raised goes back to the school.

We go to visit Santa at the local garden centre.

We are lucky that we get 2 weeks off for Christmas and that is spent relaxing at home, playing with DS with his new toys, seeing close family and friends (all local) and watching films etc. We have Christmas dinner either at ours or a relatives and we buy a few treats (mainly cheese!). Other than Christmas day, it's largely normal food for us as that's what we prefer.

We buy presents for family but no one goes overboard.

No stress involved here - just a nice family time.