Things you don't like about Christmas

[lorettalemon]

I know lots of other people must find it a stressful time - family dramas, having to see in-laws if you don't like them, getting food in, feeling obliged to go to things, the extra expense. If you don't like Christmas what are the things that bother you/you dread?

I hate being the only person that does anything, I buy all the presents, write all the cards, buy all the food, cook everything. I fucking hate doing it all, then I get asked "did you send a card to my auntie?" it takes the piss and was a major reason I left the UK. I was buying presents for my nieces who I've not actually seen for 14 months. Why??? Why do I take money from my own little family to spend on other people who I don't see and who have no interest in seeing me! I hate the sheer cost of it all.

The lack of overeating. As a child I remember loads of food, huge meals and snacks everywhere. Now we do a smallish roast essentially and then that's it.

Tv no longer being an event. Loved sitting around watching a bond film together because that was the only thing on. Now it's spending 3 hours flicking through on demand services trying to find something and then giving up and watching a list show where failed comediens reflect on 10 years of strictly or something

The Jesus bits and the queen's speech

I've been working a lot in Germany lately, I took my teenage son and toddler a fortnight ago over the weekend. Christmas there is do christmassy. Plain strings of warm white lights in specific areas, nativity scenes everywhere you look, hot christmas drinks on corners white lit Christmas trees in the streets. NO plastic santas or snowmen no flashing lights, technicolor or otherwise no blaring Christmas songs at every step. It's actually about real christmas, not about plastic commercialised Christmas tst. It's not about making you spend wildly. It's about a religious festival, but actually about spending time with family or friends, people of your choice at a special time of year.

It's made me and my DS 17 profoundly view Christmas. I cannot bear the commercialism and hype. It looks and feels unpleasant its bot about enjoyment and peacefulness, it's about getting presents quickly and cooking the dinner on time and wrating silly jumpers. We made a decision to change Christmas because of it this year now

Everything

All of it, i hate the commercialism, the hype, the insistence of buying gifts for no apparent reason other than "everyone else is doing it", the gluttony, the entitlement, and seeing family like you have never seen them before. The modern Christmas is a complete and utter load of twoddle.

So I choose to opt out.

I wish to God I didn't have to do sodding Christmas yet again.
You don't have to do it. It's a choice you make.

I can't think of anything I dislike about christmas- I love it.
But I only do what works for me and my family.
No elf, no queens speech, no jesus.
I rarely watch TV, so hardly see all those "perfect family" ads.
I don't run around shops like crazy, I have a month off work, OH does food shopping and cooking.
You don't have to engage with the parts that you don't like.

I don't feel pressure.

The fact that the majority of people who celebrate Christmas do so without any thought or reference to why. I just don’t get it why celebrate the birth of Jesus if you don’t believe 🤷🏻‍♀️

Trying to organise who is going where on what day. Most of my family have christmas off between Christmas and New year so families need to be accommodated. Let's just say some are just so much easier than others...

Cupcakegirl13
Christmas is an old pagan festival.
Christmas has a long history which predates christianity- by thousands of years. Nordic mythology, Celtic Custom, Germanic symbolism are all interwoven into the midwinter festival that we call christmas.
Originally called Yule, we still celebrate this very ancient pagan festival, using ideas from ancient times.
Father christmas, stockings, reindeer, mistletoe, christmas trees etc all are customs from pre christian times.

Christianity came along and tried to claim the festival as their own- with limited success.

Most familes in the UK celebrate a muddled christmas - mostly secular and pagan , with a few elements of christianity thrown in.

I could equally ask you why a christian chooses to celebrate a pagan festival?

The excess and pressure.

Despite the obvious excitement everywhere, there is also an unmistakable feeling of loneliness for many people.

I hate the fact that I'm not very good at buying presents so end up stressed that my kids wont like what I have got them.ji hate the waste. I hate the fact everyone moans about their parents and in laws when both of ours have passed away and I would do anything to see them again.

the gross consumption, mountains of material produced and binned
tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat
people who think christmas = must spend the day(s) pissed

I used to love it as a child, it was magical, and I make a huge effort, but if it weren't for the children I wouldn't bother.
Too expensive, too much work, and I would very happily never go to a work Christmas do again as long as I live. Nothing wrong with ours, it's the enforced jollity.

One my my close family members is terminally ill and it just puts all of the Christmas circus into perspective. Driving home from the hospital last night listening to Christmas songs on the radio was horrible.

One thing I've come to notice, current situation aside, is that I like Christmas a lot less since my kids started school. There's needing to get time off work for two nativity plays, the costumes for two nativity plays, money for this, money for that, Christmas jumper day, every day this week seems to involve something else we need to remember to send into school.

There dosn't have to be waste though...buy gifts that people want/ need. Sell unwanted gifts or take them to charity.
Buy food that everyone loves and freeze leftovers....it will see you through January.
Recycle wrapping paper or keep it for next year....let the kids made art with it...more decoratikns/ paper chains etc.
Every time i get really stressed by it all i remember dds face on Christmas day. She no longer beleives in Santa but is sooooo excited already.
My mum is dead but i use this time to remember her fondly ...not in a sad way.
I do hate the fact that i have put on 5 lb already...my fault as i ate all the mince pies!

Tat
Consumerism and grabbiness
The waste
The advertising
The expectation that if you don't have 3 weeks filled with sparkly dress parties and witty conversationalists and a huge extended family round a table on Xmas day you are a failure
If you do spend it with extended family it is dull as shite and involves 30 people in the lounge of terraced house watching two 6 year olds squabble over a board game
The fucking awful music
The belief it has anything to do with Christianity which is doesn't and shouldn't
Gaudy decorations
Gluttony

Need I go on. It's is all vulgar and vile. I even moved hemispheres to get away from it

Tat
Consumerism and grabbiness
The waste
The advertising
The expectation that if you don't have 3 weeks filled with sparkly dress parties and witty conversationalists and a huge extended family round a table on Xmas day you are a failure
If you do spend it with extended family it is dull as shite and involves 30 people in the lounge of terraced house watching two 6 year olds squabble over a board game
The fucking awful music
The belief it has anything to do with Christianity which is doesn't and shouldn't
Gaudy decorations
Gluttony

That doesn't have to be your christmas though. You can choose how to celebrate.

Like malificent7 we don't indulge in tat, gaudy decorations, awful music.
People get gifts that they need or will use, food gets eaten, no sparkly dresses, no office parties, no dull dinners with extended families.

You are not obliged tp partake ian anything that you don't enjoy.

There are many ways to celebrate christmas.

1. The bulk of the work falling on the mother whether or not she also works.
2. Taking down the decorations.
3. The fact that we celebrate something that didn't actually happen at this time of the year.
4. The going over the top with Santa Claus, Elf on the Shelf and so on.
5. Feeling for those that have to work Christmas Eve, Day, Boxing Day.

Personally I think it’s a load of overhyped shite.

Sums it up perfectly for me.

Fatted .

I'm a primary teacher (not working this year due to long term illness).

The autumn term is a relentless slog. End of term is so manic with assessments to mark, data drops due, Christmas fair, Carol concert and nativity, disco etc. Tired, overexcited children who have forgotten how to listen. Wet play meaning they are cooped up all day. Viruses. People think you are winding down and watching dvds when actually you're trying to cram in the last bit of actual teaching, work around all the fun stuff, participate in the fun stuff with a smile and plan ahead for the next term.

With my own children in two schools (infant and junior) there's loads to remember and bring in. Different dates for all Christmas activities. They are exhausted and full of cold.

Mine don't finish term until 20th December. The holiday dates must have been decided by

1.a man
2.a childless man
3.with no experience in the classroom!

I love a festival.

Any excuse to celebrate life. I celebrate all sorts of festivals through the year, christmas, Easter, Halloween and several more. I love the tradition, the way we mark the turning of the seasons.

I'm a Christian, so I love the religious side of things, but don't buy in to the commercial hype. I'm a teacher and relish the time off, but for many of the people I work with, Christmas is a massive drain on their mental health and finances.

I just don’t get it why celebrate the birth of Jesus if you don’t believe

The true meaning of Christmas has been lost in mass consumerism. A lot of people just see presents, sparkly trees and the horror that is glitter.