AIBU to think that Christmas should be a four-yearly event?

[PineappleDanish]

A bit like the Olympics, or the World Cup.

For the overwhelming majority of people it's not a religious celebration. And of course if Christmas is about religion for you, you can still go to church. But AIBU to think the whole thing would be better if it was once every four years rather than annually, starting the first week in September?

Total ban on decorations, present buying, consumption and spending for the sake of it, no elves, no christmas jumper days, no cheesy music, no pantomimes, no trees, no stress, no works nights out, just none of it.

Would be amazing.

Ah ya Grinch.

You don’t have to participate you know.

I’m confused by “starting the first week in September”.

Yabu, I love Christmas! You could just not celebrate it in your house and have a hibernation of sorts? Blanket den, big sleep, fur coat?

I initially thought you meant four times per year! I thought you were completely bonkers!

Yeah, can't we find some evidence that Jesus was actual born in 29th February? That should sort it.

No, sorry, I have to disagree Op. Christmas is the only thing that keeps me going once the winter sets in with it's long, dark, chilly days and early nights. There's no need to go and with all the Christmas jumpers, Christmas Eve boxes, matching pyjamas, if you don't want to. We don't do any of that and although we aren't religious, Christmas brightens up the winter for us.

You could just not celebrate it in your house

Can you pop round and explain that to my DH and children?

YABU to want it 4 yearly. But YANBU about the present buying, jumpers, shit music and complete over saturation from September... I think Christmas should be scaled right back, get rid of all the needless consumerism, fucking elves, queing for hours then paying £10+ to visit 'Santa' for 45 seconds, glitter- the endless shitting glitter, crappy gift sets nobody wants and general wasting of time and money. It's way out of hand and the pathetic one upmanship or 'look what I've bought' on SM makes me sick.

Let's keep Christmas dinner though, I love a Christmas dinner! Sitting down all together, the smell that you only get from a Christmas dinner and Buck's Fizz that only tastes good on Christmas Day!

brilliant! September is far too early though. It should start 1 December and finish 1 January.

Starting on the 1st of September ? Nobody even says the word Christmas in our house until December the first.

That sounds shit.

Won't someone think of the children?

If this were the case, it would mean some children would experience Christmas just 4 times in 16 years.

Thinking even further ahead, someone could live to 100 and only experience 25.

As much as I dislike the festivities starting earlier and earlier, making it a 4 yearly event would make the consumerism around Christmas so much worse. The entire year would revolve around it.

*Can you pop round and explain that to my DH and children?"

No because I would come dressed as a dancing elf singing 'It was on a starry night' with a tiny tears baby Jesus in a sling on my back and I don't think it would be have the desired effect of relegating Christmas

I’m confused by “starting the first week in September”

That's when retailers start displaying christmas stock and the advertising ramps up in a BIG way. When I am Queen of the Universe and the celebration is moved to 29th Feb (excellent idea, @JeezyPeeps) it will be illegal to mention it until 3 weeks before the day and anyone found even humming a Slade or Shaking Stevens song will be sent to the Tower.

I did think the other day that every other year would probably be perfect for me. As I get older time whizzes past and when the Christmas music starts in November it seems like only a month or so ago since it was last Christmas. But then I remember as a child the year was very very long and Christmas was anticipated - so I couldn't do that to children :)

it would mean some children would experience Christmas just 4 times in 16 years

I'd be fine with that.

Yanbu to think xmas should be scaled back. Last year xmas decorations were coming out before ide been on my summer holiday.
4 yearly would probably make it too big but I do see where your coming from.

Why not have a serious word with your DH about scaling back for next year if it’s causing you so much stress? What is it about Christmas that’s upsetting you? Is it that DH doesn’t do anything to contribute?

Presents from Amazon, stick up the same Christmas decs as last year, roast on Christmas Day with some pigs in blankets, and stick a ton of Celebrations out. Allow yourself 2 events in the run up - kids’ nativity and a visit to Santa. Anything else, your DH should get off his arse and do it if it means so much to him.

I have to say it is much better in the US where nothing Christmassy happens until Thanksgiving is out of the way in late November.

*tin of celebrations. Though maybe a tonne would be more accurate

No. Christmas is my favourite time of year. The planning, the growing excitement, the genuine happiness and good memories, the sense of community.
You can ditch inflatable Reindeer and an excess of plastic tat though.

I wouldn’t consider Christmas until into December though.

Oh i'm not upset. I just hate the whole thing. It's a pile of nonsense with no religious significance in our family at all.

Someone on another thread said it's enforced merriment and that's exactly it. I don't want a tree with lights in my lounge. I don't really want to go through the faff of buying presents and we're well off enough that I don't have to wait until Christmas if there's something I want to buy. Going to a pantomime is one long cringe (so I don't go). Yes we've opted out of a lot of the shite like cards, and it will be a cold day in hell before there's an elf in this house. But it's really impossible to block it ALL out unless you're a hermit in a cave.

And DH does a lot more festive stuff than I do.

I’d very much be in favour of the annual festive spendathon being moved to two yearly instead.

Bsh Humbug

No way. I bloody love Christmas.
It really is what you make it though. If you don't want to go all out then don't!

I love my house at Christmas....it really suits being decorated. We're hosting Christmas day this year and we can't wait.