Do you actually enjoy it or do you fake it a bit?

[MerryChristmasyouarsehole]

Christmas…

I've got no interest in Christmas whatsoever

My parents split up when I was still quite young and both sides of my family have never been close so I never see any of them at all

I spend Christmas Day with the IL's and just go along with it

I really enjoyed it during lockdown when it was just our family and none of the bollocks of what my mother thinks is appropriate and her endless judgement on every tiny detail. "Don't you think that's a bit tacky?" Yes, I do, that's why I've done it because you won't like it....

I love Christmas but it gets harder each year when the number of people around the table gets less and less. It makes you realise how lucky you are each year to spend it with the people that mean the most to you, never knowing what will happen from one year to the next. It doesn’t need to be extravagant, expensive or over the top, it’s the memories that matter (and I understand that it’s not good for everyone).

Everyone talks about hating or loving 'it'. What IS 'it'?

Christmas is a different thing for different people on different years depending on what they need. 2012, my mum had just suddenly died and my dad dealt with it by cooking an uncharacteristic 7 course lunch. Intervening years were all a bit weird and I spent Christmas single/child free with new partner. 2020, it was just me, DH and DS: Suprisingly lovely, sometimes boring. 2021 we were with family we hadn't seen for years because of covid: Brilliant, joyful, quite intense. This year there's a new family breakup to navigate. So it will be all for the kids and the adults will suck up inconvenient behaviour from certain family members because its understandable.

The idea that Christmas is A Thing baffles me. Surely it's about enjoying whatever it is you and your family / friends need that year. I guess what everyone needs is sometimes in conflict. Finding a way to play the hand you're dealt in harmony with others is the definition of Christmas spirit.

Can't stand it and could do without it. Only bother because of the p children

This! My partner doesn’t even get it when I say, look what you got for your kids this year! Next year will be different. I’ve told him.

I have generally really enjoyed Christmas whether single, childfree or with children. But as I get older I am less excited and bothered. I can see by the time I am 70 just not bothering at all.

God what a load of whinging miserable sods on this thread.
Well I don't give a shit...I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
I love the build up, I love the giving of presents, I love my dds joy when she opens her presents, I love the food, the drink, the Christmas specials on tv, spending time with my beautiful friends and lovely family, the absolute joy of it all.
I'm sorry for all of you that hate it...and I know some of you have very valid reasons to dislike it...but I think it's an incredible time of year!

Well, this is pleasant! Way to make people who find it stressful feel like even more of a failure.

I like it, even enjoy it, but I wouldn't say I love it. I have a small immediate family, no children and my brother refuses to come home for Christmas since my mother died in 2010. So I see my closest friends for drinks and presents and have a quiet one with my dad and my DH, and that's enough for me.

Exactly that.. that's what was in my head.

This is a fake year, but I've had amazing years as well, they are all different not one collective happy day.

I think its weird when middle aged or 60 somethings get excited about it.
They just love to compete with who can buy the most presents / food/ drink/ company.

I love the Advent season. The lights, the decorations, the music. I could do without the stress of feeling too much money has been spent, coupled with the sense that not enough presents have been bought with that money.
I'd keep the tree and decorations up to see our way through bastard January if I had my way. I never get the urge to tidy all that away.

I LOVE Xmas Eve. All the kids, even the grown up ones and Son IL come and watch Muppets Xmas Carol, a tradition since it was made when DC1 was small. We have a drink and eat an easy supper of open rolls and all those Xmassy snacks and cheesy nips.

Its fun and light hearted and nice.

I would cheerfully skip the day itself now the kids are all older, or rather I wouldskip the bit between presents (8am sharp) and everyone relaxing enough to be silly (usually about 4pm) as its just too much like hard work, even if someone else is hosting. The PRESSURE!!!!

My perfect day would be get up, Xmas Pant Head then mooch about, do presents about 4 ish and then a whole trifle to myself for my tea...... as long as my mother made the trifle!

Me too…….

I enjoy it more now that we have simplified it. No big tree, no presents for extended family, simplified meal (I'm American so we have Thanksgiving for the big turkey extravaganza).

Do you know, I don't actually know. I loved it as a child. I really do not know how I feel now. I was listening to Heart Xmas earlier and thinking do I actually like these songs? I think I might but I don't know? I'm not sure if becoming weary and cynical has skewed my love for Christmas, or if I don't actually like it at all.

I like the time off work so I tend to enjoy that!

Who's 'they'? I'm middle aged and love Christmas. We haven't done adult presents for years. I only see the people who I want to and don't force anyone into my company. I love the lights and decorations. I book Christmas themed stuff, I've done a Christmas soft play party tonight. I did an adult panto, Christmas market/cocktails the other night and have a panto booked for Christmas Eve day. Then catch up drinks in our local pub, once my GC are handed back. The family did a weekend away on the 9th and it was Christmas based. I like Bailey's, the food (I'm not having a Christmas dinner this year though) and changing my going out makeup/clothing and nails. I've got four sets of Christmas bedding that goes on in December and I did Christmas Eve gift bags back in the 80's (I don't do stockings though, I'm second generation immigrant and it wasn't in my family's culture to). I put at least four Christmas trees/decorations up every year for relatives who don't have time to.

I'm not even faking it. December has too many "traumaversaries" for me and this year I just can't bring myself to even try. I literally just told my niece (pregnant, with Covid, and absolutely miserable) that we're allowed to have years when Christmas is just another day. Next year her son will be having his first Christmas and I'll fake it if necessary to make it a good one.

I love Christmas - we always have a fantastic time...but as I get older there is also a growing sense of "How many more of these lovely Christmasses do we have left?". I know it is stupid to let this thought throw a shadow, and it only creeps in at the end of Christmas day really, when we're clearing up the wreckage of having a house full of relatives in who won't be here forever, and I wish they could be.

I'd enjoy it if I had a bit more time off work. We're not allowed to request annual leave for the three weeks around Xmas and just have to work whatever shifts we're given (NHS). I do actually have Xmas off, but I'm working so much around it that I've not had any time to enjoy the run up. Gifts have all been ordered online in a rush, I've felt stressed about getting family's gifts wrapped and delivered beforehand because we won't see them on the day. Visiting family ahead of Xmas to make sure they have their gifts has eaten up the very few days I have off work. I love Xmas, but this year has just felt stressful.

I used to absolutely love it, but not really any more. Our children are grown up and it's just not the same. We used to host my parents and in laws, it was fun, but they're all dead now. I always used to spend time with my best friend but she died a few years ago. If feels like we're just going through the motions every year now, and I would rather go away somewhere remote for a few days instead.

Absolutely hate it but I'm really trying my best for my kids. They're too young to understand it all at the moment though but I do want it to feel magical for them like it did for me as a child

Love it!!! But then usually disappointed as it's over so quick and always seems a bit of an anti-climax