AIBU Not to celebrate Christmas

[Ladiva1971]

I stopped celebrating Christmas about 8 years ago, mainly due to the fact that I hate how commercialised it has become, for example people buying food like the shops are going to be closed for a week or people spending £100s of pounds on presents that are probably not even liked or appreciated, I am not religious, but for some reason I believe that Christ existed and I reckon he would be turning in his tombstone if he could see how we celebrate his so called birthday. My intention is to make this thread light-hearted as I mean no disrespect to anybody, I would like to hear other peoples opinions

Why have you given up celebrating it altogether though? Why don't you do a less-commercialised version of Christmas?

Christmas has taken on new meaning the older I've become. I'm in no way religious and feel it as a time of thanks and appreciation for friends and family (so therefore gifts are still very much given, but with some thought rather than mindless buy buy buy), kindness to one another and a feeling of connection with the earth and recognition of the changing of the the days - I suppose I've embraced solstice and Yule to an extent - my inner pagan is making an appearance!

YANBU for not celebrating - but, if you feel so inclined, don't feel as though you cannot celebrate/mark the occasion in whatever way you feel appropriate

I don't celebrate it, Netflix, me and the cat then back to work on the 27th. Just like a long weekend really

Most people aren't really celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ anymore though, it's now just a time to spend with family and close friends, have a little fun and give gifts.

I wouldn't it it weren't for dcs 😒

I see what you're saying, but why are you not celebrating Christmas because of how other people are? Can't you just celebrate it your way?

We aren't extravagant. I have bought DP a wallet and he has bought me a purse. We are spending Christmas together. Films, cheese board, family for turkey and enjoying quality family time. It doesn't have to be expensive.

I’m another one who says make it your own. Celebrate whatever it means to you, as low key as your heart desires.

I don't do it and I don't miss it.

I don't do it anymore and it's such a relief!

Why don't you just do a very simple celebration if you believe in Jesus?

Nothing wrong with advent candles, a nice dinner and some Christmas carols.

I honestly think I’d enjoy it more if I could take a year off from it, just once. I used to enjoy everything about it. Now I find it hard work and lots of stress, but I do my best to make it a happy time for my kids.

You know what day I love? Boxing Day. Plenty of leftovers in the fridge, kids happily occupied with their new stuff, house still reasonably clean from its pre-Christmas scrubbing. I usually just slob out and watch some of the shit Christmas films I didn’t get time for in the lead-up.

YANBU, OP. Christmas is different things to different people. You do you.

Christmas has a very different feel to it since I lost my DM in 2017.

Make it how you want it. DP got me a new cafetiere and some coffee, I got him books he wanted. Our DS is too young to know yet so we're having a quiet one.

We are “religious” in that we are committed christians. I grew up in a Christian home where the true meaning of Christmas was absolutely drummed into us. There was still plenty of commercialisation, festivity and stress however.

We decided when we had our DC that we really wanted to keep things simpler and in the last 7/8 years in particular we have made a particular effort to celebrate Advent intentionally by slowing down and making it a reflective season rather than hectic. We follow the tenets of Advent Conspiracy and it has really helped to keep Christmas from becoming insane.

The four tenets of AC are Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More & Love All. Even if you aren’t “religious” and therefore aren’t going to embrace the first tenet, the other three are all worth considering. The idea of giving more but spending less is about giving to those in need and giving intentional gifts which are less about money and more about presence. (So things like 12 coffee shop vouchers with a promise to have a coffee with your mum/dad/sibling/friend/son once a month for the next year, or a chess set for your DC with a promise to spend time teaching them chess over the next year etc)

We make a particular effort to give intentionally to those in need during Advent and to Love all - obviously we should be doing this all year round anyway (and we try to), but it’s a helpful focus fo stop us all (inc our DC) becoming totally me-centred.

It all sounds very “worthy” but it actually doesn’t feel that way, and we still fully embrace the fun of Christmas - we just try to be more intentional when we can with our gift giving, being aware of those in need and slowing down rather than speeding up!