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.

I'm with you, though maybe instead of changing it's regularity, change all the crap that Xmas comeS with.

Everyone in the house/family should contribute to sorting it - cards/presents/decs and dinner.

There should be nothing in the shops till early November.

It should not be so pressurised and consumer-based. Just one present each or a gift card, unless you are a kid and then only spend within your budget. And not so many options - there were 25 cracker options in a shop I went to the other day - til much choice causes stress.

Everyone should be off work from Xmas eve till after Boxing Day (barring emergency services).

And everyone should be kind and helpful to one another.

Merry Christmas

Yanbu

It's tedious, expensive and hard work.

Nope! I LOVE Christmas, it is my favourite time of year and would prefer to keep it yearly, ta very much! However I do agree the hype (especially in retail) every year is getting worse.
If it really affects you that much have a chat with your DH to see how you can scale it back.
Despite the fact I love Christmas I don’t have a great deal of decorations up in the house, and only buy for the children in the family (the only adults I buy for are my parents, not my siblings because I buy for nieces and nephews) - this way I only have 10 presents to buy. What I’m trying to say is you make Xmas how YOU want to do it in your own household, and try and ignore the increasing hype that happens every year.
Good luck!

I'd be happy to keep an annual Christmas but have a ban on any Christmas adverts, lights, songs being played, discussion of presents etc. until December the 1st.

DD is 2 and I've made the decision that we are not going down the path of Elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve box, visit 4 different 'Santas' etc.

A Christmas tree, a traditional advent calendar,a letter to Father Christmas, maybe sing/play some Christmas songs and read Christmas stories nearer the 25th and a walk around our village in the dark looking at the Christmas lights. That's all we need for the run up.

Then a traditional Christmas dinner on the 25th, leftovers on Boxing Day.

Job done!

I hate the requests for Christmas present lists. I hate distant friends giving us presents. The presents bit causes the most stress for me and is so time consuming. Family not only want me to tell them what to buy DD and I but they also seem to want me to give them ideas for other extended family members.

Can you imagine the pressure for a "perfect day" if it was 4 years til the next one???

People make themselves so miserable already, no wonder so many feel depressed in January. It's a bit sad really.

But winter would be so depressing without all the nice food and pretty decorations.

YABU. I personally love Christmas.

All those people Who love Christmas - what's your secret? Lots of money, helpful family? Why isn't it added stress for you?

Genuine question, no goading?

I too love the lights And the decorations and all the lovely things but why has it exploded into so much fuss?

We have a tree,put up this weekend.My DD has decided to make cards this year.
We only buy for immediate family and only small gifts.
I am working this year,DD will be at her Dad's so I am going to be alone without even the solace of alcohol.The fairy lights will keep me going.
I could completely do without New Year celebrations but a 12 th night day would be good where big bonfires of used Christmas trees are made and everyone has local parties eating up all the left over Christmas food and drink.

Agree that an acceptable compromise would be to keep it annually but ban the he mention of it, any decoration and displaying shops until the first weekend in December.

I'm with you OP. We have a very untraditional time over Christmas. We put the tree up Christmas Eve as an activity and it comes down on Boxing Day. We have a curry instead of a roast. We do a present each and that's about it for the day. Other than that, it's just a normal day to us.

Do what you want OP but i LOVE Christmas! I love the cheerful music, decorations, excited children, seasonal food. I do think it doesn't need to start until december tho, and I think it could be a lot less wasteful & excessive for most people.

Are you happy generally OP? I don't mean to pry but some of the people i know who hate Christmas, are people who can't stand the jollity because they are having a rough time in other ways & so don't want to join in.

All those people Who love Christmas - what's your secret? Lots of money, helpful family? Why isn't it added stress for you?

We keep it simple and don't expect one person to do everything. We only do the things we enjoy and don't get sucked into things that aren't for us.

We've got 8 of DHs family for xmas day and we're all really looking forward to it. It'll be low key - a nice meal, a few drinks and good company.

All those people Who love Christmas - what's your secret? Lots of money, helpful family? Why isn't it added stress for you?

I have a big extended family and a laid back attitude - I just enjoy us all getting together to eat, drink and be merry. When the children were wee it was wonderful and now they are older it is lovely to have them home. I have never felt any pressure to create a perfect xmas, I just enjoy the ones we have. So I guess that is my secret - I don't have the 'keeping up with others' gene.

I AM NOT DEPRESSED!!!

Just hate the consumer fest tat, the waste and the rest of it.

Anyway protesting in my own way today as I'm in charge of the charity shop CD player and we have bits of the 80s not shitty Christmas music.

Christmas is a religious festival, that's literally all, so if you are celebrating it in a non-religious way surely you can do whatever/ how little you like during the festive season?

There aren't any obligations :)

Sounds like you need to ditch your Christmas loving family OP!

I have never found christmas stressful. Not really sure why anyone does!

To be fair PineappleDanish if you’re working in a shop I think that explains 90% of your annoyance with Christmas - I think even the most Christmas loving person would get wound up with the Christmas music on repeat from November - you have my sympathies! It’s a bit like when Adele releases a new album - I love her but it’s fucking annoying when that’s apparently ALL the radio decides to bloody play!

I will not apologise for my love of Christmas though - as a PP said, when I’m trudging home from my shitty job in the dark and pissing rain, it’s nice to pass all the sparkly lights and houses lit up - we’ve got some round here that really go all out and raise money for charity at the same time; what’s not to love?

yougotanology the trick is to refuse to martyr yourself. Do what will make you happy and make it Christmassy enough for the kids, no need to go overboard. If family pressure you to do “more” stand your ground - if they’re so bothered by doing XYZ, then they can bloody well do it!!

Nah I love Christmas but I do it my way. I've set all the expectations in our house (as chief organiser) so I don't do anything I don't want to do*.

Christmas isn't mentioned until 1st Dec.

The DC get a standard chocolate calendar, no fancy calendar or North Pole breakfast

Tree and decorations go up mid Dec (yesterday)

I don't buy for grown ups apart from something small for my mum.

I don't buy for friend's children, just nieces and nephews on my side.

DH can do his own shopping if he wants. He never does. Not my problem. His lot don't buy for us or ours anyway.

Christmas activities (Santa visit and Panto) are the weekend before Christmas, no sooner.

People can visit over the Christmas period if they want but we don't visit anyone (distance). We always have loads of booze and snacks in and are happy to treat everyone to a takeaway but I don't put myself out.

Christmas Dinner is a mix of pre-prepared or bought ready made. I enjoy cooking and I can cook but I won't spend Christmas Day in the kitchen.

So I have a relatively chilled out Christmas! I only have 7 people to buy for (my 3 DC, niece, nephew, DH and my mum) and the festivities only start 10-14 days before. Online food order, limited cooking.

*apart from that bloody elf, I caved.

Im baffled anyone finds christmas stressful tbh but then, i write a list of who i need to buy gifts for and buy them in the jan sales and wrap them as soon as im home and keep them in the wardrobe. One huge job done for the year. Then buy party food and freeze it closer to dec. Done. Get a few nice decorations that will last the test of time. (We dont go overboard we have a cloth advent calander a tree and one wall hanging and cushion covers we switch from the normal cushions so easy to store. Easy peasy. Really dont understand what people are doing to be so stressed out? Keeping up with the joneses? The most stress i have at xmas is i work in retail on a zero hour contract so i can be called in any time and have to attend so i cant make any plans with family ans friends.

YABU. Though I’d happily ban some of the more recent consumerist nonsense like elves on bloody shelves, Christmas Eve boxes and Christmas jumper days - to me it seems like an unnecessary waste considering the state of the environment.

Oh and no Christmas Eve Box. Granny always sends new pjs so they have always been allowed to open those on the 24th and we watch a movie together and eat nice treats but there's no ceremony to it. It's just a normal family movie night.

I enjoy Christmas and don't find it stressful.

I start making a list of presents ideas for people (and myself if I can think of any) from about August/September.

Then I whittle it down to only things that are really worth it/the person will love. I avoid tat.

I only buy for DC, DH, DN and my parents. All presents are bought by mid-December. (I give my parents their presents in October as we don't see them in December)

Send fewer than 10 cards.

On the day it's just DH, me, DC and MIL. We do a mix of French and British traditions. I plan the cooking times ahead of the day so I don't have to think, just execute.

DH also cooks/helps clear up etc.

The DC love it. And that makes me happy.

Im baffled anyone finds christmas stressful tbh but then, i write a list of who i need to buy gifts for and buy them in the jan sales and wrap them as soon as im home and keep them in the wardrobe. One huge job done for the year.

Buying stuff in January for the following Christmas would feel like tempting fate to me.