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?

The fact that I get excited in October /November and come mid December my Christmas spirit has died.

That I will seem like an asshole for not exchanging presents with my brother and his wife. I always give my nephew his present though.
I just don't want more shitty presents nor waste money. You wonder why I don't want to exchange presents? Well for one, maybe don't buy a deep fat fryer when I never asked for one /never implied I wanted one l/don't have the space in my kitchen and especially don't buy it when you've asked and first I said I didn't want to exchange presents but gave in and said gift certificates for a brunch/date night for my partner and I. We didn't use to give each other presents as adults but suddenly you've decided I'm an asshole if we don't.

That British Christmas food isn't as good as the Danish.

That it rarely snows on Christmas eve.

That it never lives up to my expectations.

That my partner is stressing about spending extra money because we haven't given several family members birthday presents (we live abroad, I've been admitted to the hospital because of pregnancy and childbirth)

That there doesn't seem to be any good new Christmas movies or songs. It's all the same crap again and again.

I don't do Elf on shelf, Christmas jumper (who thinks it is a good idea for the environment to mass produce shitty jumpers worn once), hundreds of days out, parties etc
I just keep it to the bits I like. I am less stressed this way and enjoy it.

The songs are rubbish, including carols which I hate.

Also they take all the things I want to watch off the telly in favour of Christmas crap.

Otherwise I enjoy it. I find it easy to ignore the religious stuff and concentrate on the reason for the season which is the season. A bit of eating, drinking and being merry in mid-winter is a wonderful high latitude tradition.

Christmas pudding 😮 - mince pie I love. Pudding I hate. I’m the only one though.

My husband is a Christmas perfectionist it usually ends with me losing my rag with him as he fussed around making sure everything is perfect rather than doing the jobs that need doing, last year we ended up having dinner at 10pm Christmas eve because he'd spent the day faffing. My kids say Christmas isn't Christmas without me going off in a huff🎻

I like Christmas generally, and am pleased that my family (ds, 2 sisters, BIL and a family friend) will be staying. Just not so pleased I will be working a 12 and a half hour shift Christmas Day,

1. Adults buying presents for adults. It drives me mad. We stopped it in my family about eight years ago, so everyone only buys for the children, and it is SO much nicer! Such a huge stress reliever. Adults don't need Christmas presents. Focus on Birthdays, but Christmas presents for every adult member of the family is just excessive. People literally get themselves in debt over it, craziness.

2. People asking what to buy. What's the bloody point in that?! Why not just cut your losses and spend X amount of your own money on something you want for yourself, and not bother exchanging a gift with someone when you both know what it is. It's pointless!

The original Pagan midwinter festival was about bringing light and joy into the darkest days. Friends, feasting, twinkly lights drinking and jollity.

I adore that concept. That's what I do. On ONE DAY

I despise the religious add on and the earnestness of the 'reason for the season' (no it's not, don't be silly)

I hate the greed, consumerism and waste

I hate the idiotic, vulgar celebrations starting on November 6th

Shopping for gifts -every bloody year...I have reduced it and the internet helps but the shops are too busy, there's nowhere to park and people are peak stuff, so finding something anyone really wants is a nightmare!

@QuickstepQueen I've never hear the term 'peak stuff' but it's perfect!

Not Christmas but just after. New Years Eve/Day absolutely hate both those days and just want them over with

Agree with previous posters that it's the same ness of it all. I'm in my late 40s, and have heard the same music and seen the same decorations my entire life. It's SO tedious.

Did suggest to the kids we had beef instead of turkey and you'd have thought I suggested barbecuing the guinea pigs.

No family so that is a factor plus anniversaries of both parents around this time.
I do get invitations but would have to drive and everyone else is family so always feel a bit out of place - people trying to be kind but do find it a hard time and yes also dislike the music and the general stress and busy-ness of everywhere even if just trying to do normal things.
Last year had it by myself with my dog - was lovely - went for a run then took him for a walk, lazy day watching tv and eating and drinking too much!

1. That marketing for it starts in August. If Christmas were not mentioned until 1 December, I'd like it better.
2. The pressure to do 'traditional' things. It's as if you're not a normal human being if you choose to stay at home with your cat/dog/OH, a bottle of wine and the telly.
3. The way it's seen as a business opportunity. As businesses are essentially competing with one another for a share of a finite amount of disposable income, any business that doesn't join in is likely to lose out.
4. The idea that 'traditional' Christmas things are a must. Christmas as we now know it was invented by the Victorians. That includes Christmas cards (I'm glad to see these are on their way out), presents and trees.
5. The waste. Wrapping paper, unwanted gifts, uneaten food.

TBF, although I barely celebrate Christmas, I do love some things: Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, mince pies, a nice roast (NOT turkey), advent calendars and above all the feeling of anticipation and excitement on Christmas Eve. I think my point is: do what you enjoy and don't feel you have to do any of it.

The emotional blackmail used to make me spend the day driving 30miles from home and pretending to enjoy the company of the in-laws who have no boundaries.

Mary and Joseph in all nativity plays that I have been to are always white. Never are the family all non white, even at an international school in Kenya. What the hell?!

Or God is played by a white guy. Can He not be of Asian heritage or South American, black heritage, dual heritage?

This juxtaposition of God and Santa Claus as the white American hero is tiresome. Yawn

I hate all of it.

The overindulgence (food, drink, chocolates, presents).

The waste (cutting down real trees, mountains of wrapping paper/plastic and so on).

The pressure (you 'must' be the perfect happy family at this time of year).

The lack of meaning (kids just think it's about presents, having totally forgotten the real meaning).

I'll just volunteer with my local oldies then go home and eat cheese. Humbug.

I don't like the newer tradition of elf on a shelf - sounds really menacing to me! Christmas eve also seems to be the target of commercialisation which is just more pressure on family budgets and makes it less likely families will develop their own traditions

It’s just such a terrible time of year for introverts. I love the quiet bits - the lights on the tree, a bit of baking, chatting over a cup Christmas tea and a mince pie and listening to carols and reading winter book, But most of it is socialising with loads of different people. I’m so useless at it. I missed the staff meal and drinking outing because I simply could not do any more.

People constantly asking 'Are you all set for Christmas?'. I always think 'Set for Christmas? In what way,exactly?' . My only child is grown up and married,she and my granddaughter are the only family that I have now. The only person I buy presents for is my granddaughter,I give my Dd and son-in-law money. I spend Christmas Day on my own,watching TV and eating whatever I like,and see my Dd and DGD on Boxing Day. I am disabled,and in poor health,so fighting my way through hordes of people in the shops,and standing in massive queues for ages,is my idea of hell.

It's my birthday and I'm expected to give gifts to family and friends when I don't get any on their birthdays.

Micheal Buble

And mariah carey

I hate the build up to Christmas. The rushing around, people trying to out do each other with gifts, the stress, the inevitable “lets all go into town as a family and buy presents” from dh on Christmas Eve, the rushing on Christmas morning trying to fit everyone in (Skype mil, Skype bils, go and see Fil and then have dinner with dparents).

I’ve put feet down this year and have said to dh that I’m happy to go to the pub early with the kids but we’ll be home for 7 so we can do Santa’s mince pies etc. And no visitors on Boxing Day. I’m not being social at all. We’re gping to stay home and eat chocolate and play with toys.

Family rows- no matter how hard we try it always seems to happen. always with one particular side of the family.

The excess of stuff in shops gets to me. So, so much tat that is just going to end up in landfill. I have really become more mindful about not buying too much.

That the day itself is over so quickly when so much effort goes in!