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

I doubt the op will be back.

i suspect she thought we would all clamber to agree

hope fully it will galvanise her to change her type of Christmas, because it sounds bleak

Well if you only want to celebrate it every 4 years, go ahead, nobody is stopping you! Are you proposing that everyone who enjoys celebrating it every year should be banned from doing so?

It was Narnia where it was always winter but never Christmas!

If Christmas 2020 didn’t make you realise what the real meaning was for you OP, then yes, please feel free to ignore it.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Count me in! Hate it. Awful and depressing event.

I am saying a definite NO. Every other year would be good with me though, as it just comes around too fast. Though I doubt everyone's children will agree!!! Also as a pp said, for some people it's a religious holiday - and they want it every year, and they have every right to it.

The problem is though that unlike religious festivals in other cultures, Christmas dominates EVERYTHING for virtually 4 months. As soon as September kicks in, Christmas stuff starts popping up everywhere - all over the shops and all over the TV. I LOVE Christmas, and even I find it annoying. So yep, every other year would suit me.

Also agree with a pp that it doesn't have to be costly. People make it that way, society has made it that way, the media makes it that way. Same as weddings. NOBODY needs to spend £25K to £30K on a fucking wedding. NOBODY.

We used to spend LOADS (on Christmas) when the (2) kids were younger- and feel stupid about it now. The Christmases around 2003-2007, we spent around £1500 on Christmas. It was all so unnecessary ... And that was 15-20 years ago! Probably would translate to around £2300-£2500 now.

We barely crack the £500 barrier now, and that includes everyone's gifts (including ours,) all the booze, all the food, and any extra trimmings and any lights we may need replacing, and a Christmas meal out with family.

Same here.

Remember the grunt work is not 100% women's work. In a 2 adult household 50% of the prep should be shouldered by each. Then the 'stress' is not down to one person. Don't introduce 'traditions' that are labour intensive and seem like a good idea one year and become a burden for the next 20. Spread the relatives out over a week. I love Christmas, it's a time to get together and laugh and also remember those not with us any more.

Christmas is a midwinter festival first and foremost. People were celebrating midwinter long before the Christians. We need something to brighten the darkest days of the year.

If you stopped doing it every year you would soon miss it. Just tone it down if your own Christmas is too much for you.

Why is it like this? For you that is

I like my Christmas.

They are what you make of it, innit

It's not a bad idea but I think just not letting it turn into a circus every year would be better. It should be one day. Not 6 months!

I hate Christmas. Even having a low-key, budget Christmas annoys me. I have to spend it with my in-laws, and I have no spiritual connection with it at all. But I don't want it every 4 years because it's important to some people either culturally or religiously, and I'm not that much of a to deny that to anyone, just because I'd rather spend the day alone with a good book.

I love Christmas but I wish it was kept to December. No food/decorations in the shops I'm bloody August, Xmas trees and home decs up for December not Mid-november etc.

No one “forces” anyone to do this.

I don’t

hence loving

Why is it so dreaded for you? What makes it such a big chore? Are you running in between various houses or doing all the houses or is everything down to you? You can have a perfectly lovely Christmas if you want it to be.
We stay have young dc so stay home. People are welcome to visit, but we are not carting our dc around and making it about pleasing various people. We have hosted but only if everyone brings a meal. Christmas deco and tree takes a day to put up. We don't buy gifts for everyone just kids and that's easy enough to order in advance and take advantage of the tons of specials. Are you a Martyr of sort?

Of course you're unreasonable. It's a festival just change your expectations/traditions/mindset. It's not stressful to us and we certainly don't feel inadequate

Well they do actually. It's in the shops, it's on the radio, it's everywhere. You can't avoid it. And God, forbid you work I'm retail, the opening to Last Christmas will make you suicidal

And miss my kids dressed up for nativity at church? No way. Best time of the year for our family.

Not remotely on board with this. I love Christmas it is my favourite time of year. And that reason has nothing to do with presents, or decorations or any other commercialisation of Christmas. But two things.

1. You get to spend time with the people you love. Friends I struggle to see throughout the year will always make an effort for a Christmas meet up. You get to spend fun time as a,family and with your family.
2. Everyone is so much nicer at Christmas. I know I am. People give more of their time, are more understanding, more charitable.

No way I want those things every 4 years thanks!

Because family issues and expectations that are inescapable due to serious illness. And the also inescapable onslaught of ‘happy family’ images (real and created) compound what that. I survive Christmas and am very very pleased come the 27th and it’s all over.

Because it’s in the shop, it “forces” you to have a “circus” of a Christmas?

not me!

I would get suicidally depressed in winter if I didn't at least have the one bright spot of Christmas to look forward to.

Yes. I wish the rest of the world could have Winterval and just let us get on with our faith in a suitable way.

You know full well that OP is referring to the commercial celebrations and not the religious festival. It's obvious that this thread is not going to be calling for a ban on midnight carols for goodness' sake. Missing the point entirely.

People saying you can just celebrate once every four years if you want, but there's so much pressure around Christmas from other people, family and friends as well as wider society. DP and I barely celebrate and don't tend to use it to visit family, and although it's accepted (or not talked about, anyway) I do still feel a subtle underlying pressure about it. And I get so tired of the Christmas TV ads, shop decor, naff songs every time you put the radio on, people in their jolly jumpers from about October 25th etc. If it was only every four years I'd find it a relief.