‘I’m not a Christmas person’

[Theanswerisblowinginthewind]

I keep hearing this a lot recently.

If you’re not a Christmas person, why?

Completely understand that it’s difficult for some people at this time of year with loved ones having passed etc. But if it’s not something understandable like that, why don’t you like Christmas?

I love it more now I have a Dd, but even before that I loved the lights, tree, presents, food, going out etc-what’s not to love?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't mind Christmas and will decorate and all the rest for the kids, but I could take it or leave it honestly. Halloween on the other hand is much more my thing.

I used to love Christmas when I was younger, but back then it was about celebrating the true meaning. I’m not sure what happened within our family but it’s become such a chore and seems forced and so rigid. There’s no joy or spontaneity and every year it’s exactly the same, same lunch time, foods, music, conversation. Same impersonal gifts.

The countdown to Christmas is getting earlier every year. It is thrown in our faces for months and these new ‘traditions’ are just getting ridiculous. Hot chocolate stations, Christmas Eve boxes, family pyjamas. It is all so commercialised, not at all magical or joyful. It’s all for show and the perfect Instagram photos. People seem to be getting a lot more entitled, expectant and spoilt every year.

On that note I kept seeing an ad on Facebook about something that literally covered all the things I hate and getting rid of Christmas stress but can’t for the life of me find it now. Wish I’d saved it because it probably would’ve done me the world of good. Will stay a Scrooge forever it seems

The debt people get into for one day is ridiculous. I work in retail its the worst time of the year especially this year people have no patience are rude arrogant and grumpy. I think christmas is far too commercialised. My dc get so much they forget who has bought them what.so much of the stuff is bagged the following year and given to charity. I tell my family every year not to get my children any more they have everything and they buy far too much for them. The adverts on tv make people feel like theyre not doing enough and the social media posts make me want to vomit back up my sprouts and bacon with the packed living rooms. Oh look my little jim got everything he asked for. Oh look santas been and got two year old rachel an ipad ancd iphone. Really annoys me.

I’m not a Christmas person because I get sick of hearing about it for months on end. Why is it necessary to talk about Christmas before summer is even over?!

I don’t like the fakery around it where people decide they’re going to “be nice” because it’s Christmas. So you somehow can’t find it in your heart to do that for the other 11 months, has to be just Christmas.. ok..

Forcing gifts on children who are too young to understand or don’t care what is going on and the overly dramatic people who can’t fathom not giving children toys for Christmas. My kids are still playing with the toys from last Christmas, are happy with what they have nor at a stage that they are requesting gifts so why buy them more toys if there is nothing wrong with the ones they have? Why would they need more? And isn’t Christmas about more than just gifts?

The Christmas music because hearing the same music in about every shop for two months is mind-numbing even more so when you work in one. Thankfully, where I work, it’s regular music mixed in with a few Christmas songs and I’m pretty sure our customers appreciate it too (we’ve been told this).

The adverts on Boxing Day about saving for next Christmas. Sad that the day is finished only for there to be ads about saving and spending money for the next Christmas.

The cost, rushing around to get everything done, shops full of tat for 2 months (once Christmas is over shops are having sales so don't return to normal until mid Jan), the predictability of it all, so much waste it's obscene (plastic packaging), it's exhausting.

I love Christmas, always have.

But..... with the hype starting earlier and earlier each year it is starting to annoy me so goodness knows how it makes those with bad/traumatic Christmas memories feel.

Also we don't get invited to any family do's - so get fed up of hearing about how it's family time & people on here are always moaning about being expected to go to see people 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love Xmas, just not in November please

I’m just not getting it this year I’m enjoying my Christmas call the midwives dvds, but as for Christmas with h he’ll be grumpy as usual, so I’ve cut right back this year, I don’t even care if we don’t have a turkey crown we’ve got some steak in, for Christmas Eve. Presents in-laws I’m doing next weekend him he can have a book or bottle of whisky. I really don’t care. Me got a couple of bits brought earlier this year. Tree up Christmas Eve.

I love it but I think all the people putting their decorations up in October spoil it - I'm already sick of the sight of Christmas trees all over Facebook, and I just know from past years that the same people will be itching to take them back down by Christmas night. If people just let Christmas be when it's meant to be instead of stretching it out over 2 plus months it would help!

Now of it appeals to me.
The shitty music.
The overspending.
The crowds.
The ridiculous stress people put themselves under to cook a meal for people who are already perfectly well fed.
The crappy, cheesy "feel good" films, and the "cute" ads which have grown adults shedding a tear over an animated carrot.
The greed.
The expense.
The pressure which is exerted as soon as summer ends.
The adverts for the boxing day sales, which start before christmas arrives.
The tinsel, which takes until next november to properly hoover up.

Besides shitty Xmas music and adverts, everything is pretty much your own choice

@ilovesooty

Overblown pointless consumerism.

It goes on and on and on for weeks too.

Weeks? MONTHS. First week in September it starts in the shops, then ALL of November and December.

Just horrendous.

Starts way too early now, I'd like it if it was every three years. Every year I feel sorry for those who don't celebrate it and have to deal with it. I'd happily not bother if I lived alone

I used to really love it. All through my childhood, teens, twenties and even a bit into my thirties but FML the stress of it now. My family (not dh and the kids but the rest of them) seem to except me to do EVERYTHING. I need to cook and host and sort out presents for everyone. Provide them with specific suggestions for gifts for my husband, my kids, me. I'm done in with it. I've put the foot down this year and said I'll cook (even though I don't like roast dinner very much) but I'm dammed if I'm doing all the thinking for everyone. Sort your own gifts. If you can't think of something then money in a card or nothing. I couldn't give a shiny shit about a gift. The gift of not having to be personal secretary to the rest of yous: that's what I'm giving myself.

@Fredstheteds

Hate the commercial clap trap - I do believe so love the church side but I’m not really a frequent church goer. I now have a 2 year old so effort for him and Christmas dinner is great .

However presents - hmmm very hit and miss and expensive as well as not being appreciated . However happy to put tree up Christmas Eve as not overly bothered plus the cat pulls it down

The only reason I'd put a Christmas tree up IS to watch the cat pull it down.

@louderthan

I hate it. It throws everything into stark relief, I am single with hardly any family and never feel my loneliness more keenly than at Christmas

This.

I'm more of a Hanukkah person

Also agree with the boredom and Groundhog Day factor of it. Same old same old. Same fecking spade records since1972, wham since the 80s and Mariah bloody Carey since 1993. That's why people keep coming up with new shit about elves on shelves - keep it novel.

@EishetChayil

I'm more of a Hanukkah person

I love Hannukkah too. Christmas with class.

@loveablequalities, I've had the same here - people asking me what everyone else wants!

I've given them all the same answer... ''Haven't got a clue!'

Trauma that previously happened around Christmas is triggering.

Which I maybe could cope with for a day or a week even.

But it's MONTHS.

By the time the day comes I'm all out of the ability to mask how it makes me feel.

It's also sort of forced fun vibes, like company 'fun' days they are anything but.

I have spent a few Christmas Days alone by choice now and it's brilliant. I don't do festive stuff, I just have a day of doing whatever I want and I treat myself.

And because I don't have kids yet, it doesn't affect anyone else. So I find it really irritating when in real life people try to convince me it's a magical, great experience to 'do' Christmas when for me, it's not the right thing. It isn't good for me.

I find it intrusive and presumptuous and patronising that people feel I'm not capable of knowing what's best for me.

It literally does nobody else any harm at all that I don't 'do' Christmas. I will when I have kids, because I know they will enjoy it. I probably would do some bits of it if my partner was especially upset I don't do Christmas.

Luckily he's very understanding and wants me to be happy more than he wants me to pretend I like Turkey and Christmas music and spending the day masking them fact I am feeling upset and triggered!

People need to accept it's just not for everyone 🤷🏻‍♀️

Christmas should be like the olympics or World Cup. Once every 4 years.

Toxic family environment growing up so not much fond nostalgia to draw on.

Atheist so no spiritual meaning.

The consumerist aspect is fairly grim to me.

Homogeneous twee decorations not my bag, aesthetically. I'm perfectly able to feel joy without tinsel and lights.

DP and I do our own thing on Xmas Day which has nothing to do with any of the above and I enjoy it a lot.

Also very happy to do the rounds and make merry at Xmas parties, but that applies to parties all year long tbh. I don't really need the excuse of Christmas to have a knees-up.