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

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

I completely recognise this. It will be really hard for many this year with the current economic crisis and such a shame that people feel under pressure to buy beyond what they can afford all for one bloody day, it is madness.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango if people spend more than they can afford then that's on them. Sorry - but people need to take responsibility for their spending.
Also if you are thinking of Christmas as "one bloody day" you are doing Christmas a bit wrong. Advent is 24 days, Christmas is 12. So 36 days in total really 😂

I agree with this.
And the one day thing!

I also agree with @Needmorelego

I presume that the OP's daft idea would only apply to Christmas, other religious celebrations would be excused, can you imagine the outcry if someone suggested Ramadan every four yeats for instance?

If it was someone who keeps Ramadan, it would be exactly the same. With other people who keep Ramadan saying "nooo" or "actually yes, but can we do it for winter months only"...

You need to chill.

Other religious festivals don't dominate ONE THIRD of the year. It's overkill. Every year. Total overkill.

And I say this as someone who loves Christmas, has 100s of fairy lights in the garden, a 7 foot Christmas tree, decorations everywhere on my property, and goes to every service at the Church and Parish Hall. Christingle, Carol Service, Carol concert, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Holy Communion on Christmas day etc etc etc... In short - I am a Christian.

Christmas does not need to be every 4 years, and should be every year, but it needs to be peddled out later than late August/early September!!! It should not be mentioned on TV til November, and there should not be anything Christmassy in the shops til around October 17th. That gives people ten weeks to buy their stuff. PLENTY of time.

No need for it at alI! Having Christmas on the TV, four or more months before it - is daft and pointless and annoying.

I even saw B & M and Wilkos putting Christmas stuff up in MID AUGUST this year. When I asked if they have any solar lights, (in Wilkos) the assistant looked at me as if I had got 3 heads. 'Wrong time of year' she said. It was the 11th of AUGUST.

No. Absolutely not! I absolute adore the build up to it. I’m catholic too. We ice skate and visit all the markets. The kids love it, we host dinner every year for any friends/family who wants to come. We play charades, monopoly and drink mulled wine and egg nog. We watch films, take the dogs for a walk. The kids keep themselves busy with their stuff. We love the picking out of the Christmas tree. As a family we take turns on what sort of decorations to put up. The kids have small trees in their own rooms, that they decorate with baubles they choose yearly. My son has 8 and and daughter 6 (they get to pick one every year) Christmas is what you make of it - I hope you have a lovely Christmas OP. 🎄

No way. Christmas gets a lot of people through Winter. Once you hit January 1st there are only 6 weeks until it’s not quite dark at 5.30pm (my colleagues and I spent a Jan/Feb checking this).
I like it, it’s when I use up the rest of my leave, go to the Theatre, eat lots of lovely food and sing Christmas songs.

If only it was just one or two days! I’m not ‘doing Christmas wrong’ (a comment that makes those of us who don’t have the family etc to ‘do it right’ feel like shit) - I just want to hibernate away from it.

For adults this would sort of make sense but kids would miss enjoying Christmas at various ages as they grew up. They'd only get two or three Christmasses in before they stopped believing in Father Christmas and the magic was gone, which would be a huge loss.

How about we just don't buy presents for adults or do anything other than have a relaxing day off/religious stuff if religious unless there are children involved? Essentially, make it into a children's festival for those not celebrating in a religious way.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen what I meant was the people that say all the stuff that comes before (shopping, cooking, fairs, jumper days, crafting, decorations etc) is a "lot of fuss for one day" - when those 'preparations' are actually part of the whole season.
Obviously if you don't enjoy any of that - you don't have to do it.
To be fair - there isn't a right or wrong way to do Christmas... it's what you want it to be. If you want it to be just 1 or 2 days - just do that then.
For me personally the nicest parts of Christmas come way before the 25th - I like making home made decorations for example which need to be done in advance. A trip to Hobbycraft in November/December is part of the celebration of Christmas for me.
If that all makes sense....

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen also it's doing something physical and creative like making a tree decoration is what stops me from wanting to hibernate away.
In the time of my life where I didn't have the time or encouragement to do these type of things I was quite depressed and unhappy.

Makes sense. I just hate any kind of craft (except cooking).

I dislike Christmas for numerous reasons.
I’m sorry to hear you were depressed.
I am not.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen yes people can dislike Christmas for many reasons. No one has to take part and it is easy to avoid/blank out.
It's just the bizarre idea it should only be celebrated every 4 years ("like the Olympics") that the OP suggested is silly incase not everyone enjoys it. I actually dislike the Olympics (well not really just dislike - but just zero interest) so I just ignore it.

Shall we also make Easter every 3 years, Diwali every 5, Ramadan every 2.5 years and only celebrate New Years on alternate years!
Give over and stop being so bloody boring! If YOU don't like Christmas, don't partake! Simple!

If only I could block it out or ignore but … family expectations, love and guilt.

I am surprised that so many on here think it binary (‘hate it? Ignore it!’) but it’s not as easy as ignoring the Olympics as per your comment.

One can adore one’s parents, hate spending Christmas with them AND feel guilty.

Yes Christmas is JUST the same as Diwali. All the Diwali stuff started appearing in the shops around May. Constant Diwali movies on the telly for last month, DIwali adverts and Diwali songs on the radio. Same as Ramadan, the build-up starts months and months before with whole aisles of shops given over to plastic tat which people are pressured into buying.

Oh wait...

Not if you’re a Christian it’s not.

YABVU. The expense, the commercialisation and the OTT crap isn’t mandatory you know. You’re an adult, exercise some self control.

Exactly

Totally up for it! Every 4 years or every 1 year if it doesn't start til December.

Pmsl at everyone getting arsey with the OP on a light hearted thread.

Of course it's not easy to avoid/blank out.

What a ridiculous statement.

The only person who is 'pressuring you to buy' is you.

Supermarkets sell thousands of items and you've probably never looked at or thought about buying most of them.

Christmas stuff is exactly the same. If you're not interested just miss the aisle and move on. No more thought required.

Christmas for adults once every 3 or 4 years.

Christmas for children every year.