To be so f*cking over bloody Christmas.

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

Was already feeling like this, muting adverts etc; then yesterday I watched this: (Planet of the Humans by Jeff Gibbs) and I'm so done with the human race now I just want to hide in my little house and forget the world. I've been away from work and just know when I go back on Tuesday we'll already be overrun with fucking xmas music, decorations etc... I have gc and already feel angry about how much crap they have. I would buy them books but they literally don't even read or look after them. I get called scrooge because I only ever put up decorations (if I bother) in the week before, ffs! Is there anywhere on this planet that's xmas free, please?

Is there anywhere you could go to avoid it? You could try Pakistan, or Somalia, neither of them are big on Christmas.

you’ll have to avoid profanity, though.

I’m not mad keen either but I find totally immersing myself in Christmas shit from Halloween onwards means that everyone in my family who loves it gets their fill, taking some of the pressure off the immediate run up in December. So I go all in in small ways, buying Christmas scented cleaning products, putting fairy lights up, putting Christmas movies on after school and all that jazz. It sounds like insanity but to some extent it means there’s not this mad horrible Christmas rush in December, by which point I’m ready to burn everything Christmas related and jet off to Marrakech.
For me it disguises the fact I hate Christmas without bringing everyone down with my scrooge vibes , as well as ensuring that come Boxing Day I’m perfectly justified in packing Christmas away, grinch style and enjoying a minimalist tidy January.

How is it more sustainable than buying one and keeping it in your garden to reuse every year? Is it just so that you don't need to worry about checking up on it and keeping it alive?
(I'm not trying to be snarky btw.)

I understand what you say about Christmas, we have made big efforts to be more sustainable and much less material but I still like celebrating a winter festival with family and friends and will continue to do so.

I do find your post very bitter and angry though, particularly the part about your grandchildren. I was quite taken aback with the vitriol.

I’m in two minds about Christmas.
things I like:
im Christian so I love the magical feeling of going to church on Xmas eve, I still have the same excited feeling I used to get as a child
Christmas carols
christmas tree smell
having an excuse to eat and drink what I like, including champagne 😊.
most of all seeing my childrens excitement on christmas morning and I enjoy buying them gifts
seeing my DC first nativity play.
the snowman on repeat…just love that film!!

things I hate

having to sit awkwardly with rooms full of relatives who stress over Xmas (luckily swerved that this year as just at home with immediate fam)
receiving presents (I know!) I’m rubbish at buying presents for adults and never know what to ask for when people ask me, eg me and my husband are getting eachother a sat nav as we need one! Would ban buying presents for adults 🙈.
the pressure to do Xmas days out and have perfect ‘family time’ eg see a million santas, and all the extra C* like Xmas eve boxes etc that seems to have sprung up, bascially the extra materialism of it all compared to when we were kids in the 80’s.
the extra stuff I have to do and remember like Xmas jumper days at school and nursery, Xmas cards for the class and the zillion other things that just adds to my workload 🙈🙈

We went to New Zealand over Christmas one year. It was amazing. The Christmas-ness was more subtle like a few lights, the odd tree, just less commercial. A hint of Christmas I suppose. Perfect (and it was warm and sunny)

Who awakened the grinch

Went to Timpson's in Asda this morning. All the Asda staff wearing Christmas jumpers and tinsel. Big countdown to Christmas clock. Even the young man in his 20s who served us thought I was a bit OTT before December.

I think the problem is that Xmas has just become too big, too much. There's just me, DH and DD, we put decorations up at the beginning of December, we arrange a meal out with the in-laws in the days after Xmas. We have Xmas day just to us and keep it simple, DDs presents are bought as and when we see them on sale throughout the year, nothing massively extravagant, just things she will like. It's stress free and an opportunity to have a few days chilling out doing low key stuff and enjoying being together.

I see on here and other social media, people planning meals 4 months in advance, stressing out about how they'll cope with 20 visitors half of whom hate each other, on Xmas day, trying to squeeze events in with every person they've ever known over 3 weekends, buying gifts for 4th cousins 3 times removed so they have a list of 300 things to buy and a credit card bill bigger than a months salary. It's over the top and unnecessary.

I don't get it. What frenzy? If you don't like it, don't participate in it. Kids have too many things? Buy vouchers, annual pass or experience. Nobody anywhere is making anybody do anything they don't want to. In the age of internet shopping, it's never been easier to avoid the frenzy.

I love Christmas, but I do it my way.

I like how it's about environment essentially yet there are talks of escaping christmas to other countries and continents🙈

Yes it seem to start earlier and earlier

Much of the third world would probably meet your requirements, OP.

I was an infant teacher for forty years and we had to start learning Christmas songs as soon as we had finished selling the poppies! I tried to keep the “ home” Christmas until mid December.
Im just sucking it up and going with the flow now I’m surrounded by grandchildren !

Me too! I am taking my teens to Iceland for a weekend in December hoping to see the northern lights this year. That is their present this year - more expensive I know than many have to spend on Xmas presents but basically I can’t be bothered with Christmas anymore. That said it is magical for young children and I think you have to let them have it for a few years !

I like all the celebrations of Christmas but I’m with you on buying kids more crap. We have a big family and they all want a toy idea for my 3 DC for Christmas. They have to spend a set amount of money so I have to create an idea for that amount. It drives me up the wall. They don’t need any more bloody toys. None of them get played with and it is a waste and no matter how many times I say it they don’t listen!

I don't really understand the rage about it, why wouldn't you go out of your way to buy sustainable gifts like experiences or whatever?

I think my understanding of how you feel might be better understood if I knew how much you did all year round for the environment eg do you use fuel, plastic, recycle, eat meat, fly etc etc? If not then fair enough but I see too many people on Facebook etc moaning but not doing anything.

Eg an old school friend has put up today about how commercialised Christmas is and how unseasonable the current weather is and the planet is at risk. All true of course. But she's just back from her 3rd holiday abroad.

@Skyedart ive said to relatives (grandparents) this year not to get the kids anything, but it they really want to to give money…they are all fine with that!

@Flapjackquack yes, it was a bit... I do love my gcs! But I also worry what message we're sending to our children; they have months of hype to cope with, to be so excited about one day; about what you'll get; about you got compared to your friends etc. I try to educate them and get them 'presents' they will have memories about but it's like putting my finger in the damn wall.

haha good point about travelling to a different continent! Maybe I can get a boat one day and sail there... (but I've watched 'all is lost' and don't think I can ever try to sail now!)

My perception of other 'third world' countries is that they're getting sucked in? Maybe not; maybe I could go and volunteer there if my health was up to it; it's certainly food for thought! x

Not sure this is the best way to avoid waste and damaging the planet but I hope you enjoy your long haul holiday!

@thaegumathteth I think the rage was strong with me ( :) ) because I'd just watched that film... I do try very hard to be careful; without being too outing I reuse/recycle/repurpose as much as possible. I'm VERY careful what I buy new. I'm vegan. I don't go abroad for holidays. I don't bother with many gadgets, although I admit I probably watch too much TV...

It took a noticeable leap forward in 2020 - because it had been such a terrible year, everyone wanted to start Christmas earlier and hole up in a Christmassy home while lockdowns raged around them.

That was understandable but I think it leapt forwards and has never gone back despite the easing of all restrictions.

My house is Christmas-free and you can come to lunch.

Christmas is awful and the fact it's every year is even worse and in your face from September.

I look forward to the day people see through the fakery and ignore it.
The only good thing about Dec 25 is the lights are getting lighter.

Then I think fair enough, if I were you I'd still make an effort with gifts for my loved ones but just make them sustainable.