Christmas every four years only - who’s up for it?

[MuttsNutts]

Ok, so inspired by another thread but not wishing to hijack, I’ve decided it would be a great idea to have Christmas just once every four years.

Every year is just too much work, expense and forced jollity that leaves far too many people feeling inadequate, lonely and skint.

The ridiculous lead-up means that for over a quarter of the year, every single bloody year, we have it rammed down our throats at every turn.

So, as with the Olympics or World Cup, I’ve decided to campaign for it changing to just once every four years. I think even I could maybe get on board with it then.

Who’s with me?

#christmaseveryfouryearsismorethanenough

Christmas is a religious festival for some of us. No one is forcing anyone to spend too much money and see people they don't like.

You can’t force Christians to only celebrate Christmas every four years. They will celebrate regardless.

no way! Christmas gets me through the year😁gives me something to look forward too. Without it it would be a miserable long winter.

Sorry but no. Because of the way holidays work, it's the only time of year my whole family can get together (note - not always on the actual day but over the Christmas/New Year period)

No thanks. But you can skip it.

I think Christians would take issue with the plan

Hell no. I love Christmas. Best time of year.

Your type of Christmas sounds a bit shit, so no wonder you want a 4 year break.

mine is lovely and I love love love. So annually is perfect

I think it’s a great idea to have commercial Christmas every 4 years.

Christians can still have their religious Christmas every year.

Yes! I hate Christmas but I think if it only came around every few years I would be able to feel more positive about it and enjoy it and that there would be less pressure around it every year too.

Agree Christmas is a religious festival first and foremost. I don't like how commercialised it is and wish shops were banned from getting Christmas stock in before at least mid-November. But you can't just tell a whole religion that one of their festivals is now every 4 years.

Why don’t you just not partake/ have it every 4 years? I don’t think it needs to be a globally decided thing for you to change your own habits.

What I don’t understand is why people put so much pressure on themselves at this time of year, spend what you can afford and spend time with the people you love and want to spend time with.

last year both our teens were working on Christmas Day, we had a roast dinner just dh and I with a relaxing afternoon watching tv, we then had Boxing Day lunch with my mum and spent some of boxing night with the in-laws.

relaxing, inexpensive and fun.

Christmas is what you make it. People bend over backwards to accommodate a meal for 20 odd family members and then get upset when they feel under appreciated etc. We stick to a small gathering and don't commit to any particular side of the family and there's far less drama involved.

Noooo. That would mean I would only have my family every 8 years as have to share with in laws.

No, but you can do whatever you like.

What is a “commercial Christmas”

my Christmas involves extended family together time, time off work, good food, long walks, Christmas films, love watching my children open presents, love Christmas carols, love Christmas panto, love decorating the tree.

not a whiff of religion about it. So presumably falls in to your definition of a “commercial Christmas”

Surely you can just celebrate once every four years if you fancy it?

It's a religious thing rather than just a time of year too, that happens every year. Can you just not take part in the bits that annoy you?

No way! I prefer for Christmas and look forward to it all year in the same way people do their summer holiday. It's the highlight of my year!

What you do at Christmas is up to you, nobody is forcing you to overspend or be jolly. Personally I go to church so it's a religious festival first and foremost, and it's a traditional feast day - the gifts (and we do have gifts) are incidental to the main celebrations. Dd are I were looking at where to go for midnight mass only yesterday (decision based on whether muggins here is staying off the booze or not as her preferred option means driving!)

Unreasonable

Christmas is what you make it. You can have a truly traditional Christmas, attend church, do some community work, eat together (doesn't have to be expensive) and spend time with family, especially children and elderly.

You don't have to blow a ton of money, even if you have kids. Quality time is more important. We have been sold this idea that it's only Christmas when we splurge, but that's not true. It's not about the stuff and the tat it's about family and goodwill. If you have that you're fortunate

You do know that it's already optional? Do what you feel like and ignore the rest. No-one will care, even if they do notice. And if they do care, they can arrange/do/pay for it themselves.

OK, if you have DC, you should probably get them some presents, make sure they have a Christmas Dinner and an outing or two, but there's no need for much else unless you want to.

I enjoy the time off work, going out for walks, lots of TV and nice food and drink. I don't enjoy all the crap the shops want me to buy, so I don't buy it.

No thanks. Winter is dark, cold and miserable. Christmas helps brighten it up and give many people a reason to actually get up and be involved and look forward to things.
I mean we could stop calling it 'Christmas' but the act of putting up pretty lights makes the darkness nicer. Or eating warm cosy food is because it's winter and you want warm cosy food. Planning stuff (getting together with family, maybe giving each other gifts) and going to social events (carol concerts, craft fairs etc) are things that basically stop people from giving up over winter and essentially hibernating for a few months.
Giving people something to 'do' is very important for mental health.
Christmas gives people something to do.
But none of it's is compulsory. You only need to do the parts you enjoy.
Don't enjoy any of it? Fine - don't join in. But leave it alone for the rest of us.

Don’t no why you need to campaign for it, if you want to do it once every 4 years just do
it. Obviously everyone has different preferences and most will do it every year. You being a humbug doesn’t need a campaign just crack on with it!

No you're okay! I don't need to force 'jollity'! We love Christmas and all it entails thanks!