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

Here's an idea. Why don't you celebrate Christmas every 4 years and allow those of us who love it to celebrate it every year!

But it would be nice to be able to put the radio on, like normal, and not hear the same old Christmas songs as every year. Or watch TV and not see endless ads about happy families having pigs in blankets.
I live in London and sure, I can go out and do whatever I want. But if I decide to go to the cinema, it'll be ads for Xmas films all the way. Sickly-smelling mulled wine infiltrating the air from the cafe. If I go to a museum there'll be special Xmas activities and quite likely a skating rink or a festive market.
Then there's the family thing; I'm sure a lot of Xmas refuseniks have to deal with either guilt trips or PA remarks like 'Well, you have a nice quiet one/a good holiday in the sun; me and your mum/uncle/granny will be perfectly happy with our little slice of turkey and the telly.'
What posters don't seem to be appreciating is that most people don't live in a vacuum; of course it's hard to get away from ads and decorations and shops; of course there are social and family pressure and expectations. For me this is the big problem with the festive period. It's very loaded.

I'd be more up for 4 Christmases in one year than your idea op!

Sickly-smelling mulled wine infiltrating the air from the cafe.

it isn’t carbon monoxide…

Christmas comes round quicker as you get older yes. But for children it will seem like an eternity and they’ll miss out on lots of meaningful memories.

It's my birthday December 25th, 3 years of not buying other people presents for me to give out on MY birthday sounds great....sign me up for that reason alone. 😁

Are you wanting to change the date of it too?

Get a fucking life. Seriously. I can't stand people as miserable as you.

You do you. I've got two small children, and DC1 is just starting to know what Christmas is. I'm looking forward to Christmas for the next few years!

I don't like winter very much. It's dark and cold and wet. Christmas makes me happy. The same old songs and the same old films. Snuggling up at home with the Christmas tree lights on. I think I'd be really very sad if winter didn't have some sparkle.

I don't like summer. Let's cancel that for the next three years, thanks.

The plan just needs nuance.

School holidays would still fall the same, the Bank Holidays could remain. That way people are off work for Jesus' birth celebrations, we'll as much as they are now. Christians could go to church, exchange small gifts to immediate family or donate to charot

All the Pagan stuff would just be 4 yearly. Shops wouldn't advertise

I like Christmas, so no from me. Couldn't care less about the religious connotations. I like the getting together, having a laugh, eating and giving and receiving presents.

😂 Ho ho ho to you too!

The plan just needs nuance.

School holidays would still fall the same, the Bank Holidays could remain. That way people are off work for Jesus' birth celebrations, we'll as much as they are now.

Christians could go to church, exchange small gifts to immediate family or donate to charity, more befitting the Christian ethos that 400 presents per child on IG.

All the Pagan stuff would just be 4 yearly. Shops wouldn't advertise presents or wrapping paper, decorations, food etc put of season. No extra bin collections except on the fouth year

Given how seriously you've taken ops obv lighthearted thread, I'm not sure it's her who needs to get a life...

Just ditch it for all but churches/ other religions that want to acknowledgethe made up/ appropriative bs. Stop shaping the year around it and we could all get on with much better lives!

I'm happy not to observe it at all, so I don't.

It's fine not to want to do Christmas, we are all different, but the reasons many people are giving quite show that the issue aren't Christmas but combination of martyrdom, people pleasing and whatnot....

I have never understood why people have 20 for dinner on Christmas day, what on earth is wrong with just you the children and Grandparents ? It is all pure utter madness. But then some people make their own stress

So why not do it in July when the weather is better ?

So offensive!!! not all of us celebrate Xmas, Easter etc as we love chocolate and material possessions. For some of us it is a highly significant event in our religious calender.
Stuff off with your cancelling people's religion as it doesn't suit you, and you lack education around the significance of the event for many millions around the world.

It's not really easy to opt out because it's culturally huge. I don't think it's really Christmas that people want to avoid so much as the immense pressure to spend money they don't have and to see everyone on Christmas Day and make it 'magical'.
The lights and decorations and carols etc are all lovely, it's just the weight of expectations that cone with it all that's hard.

YANBU although biannually would be fine for me. It has to be everyone on board for it to work though! The endless consumerism in the shops is the worst part and it really is everywhere. I don't want to avoid shops for 3 months of the year to get away from it.

I don't mind actual Christmas but it is rather repetitive and requires a lot of preparation even if we do re use decorations etc. I loathe wrapping presents. I often relax with my family and enjoy a roast dinner and a board game so there isn't much novelty about doing that. Even if you go 'low key' there is still a lot of expectation. I want my children to have happy memories and the excitement so I still have to make it nice for them. And I work in a school so there is no avoidance there! Every year I feel a sense of relief on boxing day that the build up is over.

Every two years would make it much more enjoyable.

Christmas brings me lots of happiness, so I'm not on board!

No thanks.

Others can skip years if they want to but I'd rather not. I'm not religious as such but like the festivities.

It's only a lot of work and effort if you choose for it to be.

It's not for us and never had been. Gifts bought for more immediate family and friends only, out for a meal with family or friends in the day, family time for three days. No work for any of us do a proper time out from all that too.