Page 8 | Do you actually enjoy it or do you fake it a bit?

KillingLoneliness · 22/12/2022 19:09

I love it, it’s my favourite time of year, this year hasn’t been as good but that’s due to illness.

dumbstruckdumptruck · 22/12/2022 19:09

@Kenworthington sending you love. I'm so sorry.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 22/12/2022 19:16

Love it!
I used to work in hospitality right up until I had kids so I never really got much Christmas whereas now I get 3 weeks off work, actually have (some) money to spend and get to do all the fun, daft things like making gingerbread houses, mulling wine, making paper chains etc. If it's tacky and I can do it, I'm doing it.

Also love all the food and being around everyone.

Letthesunshineonin · 22/12/2022 19:18

Fake it mainly. I love giving presents out and make a big effort to find the perfect gifts for everyone but I am so happy when everyone leaves on Christmas Day and it’s all calm in the house again.

Kjpt140v · 22/12/2022 19:20

Christmas has been hijacked. It is far too commercialised. We've become greedy monsters, we are not teaching kids the value of anything and,I hate it.

Dahliasandtea · 22/12/2022 19:27

i used to love Christmas but it changed when I was a young adult and became a really unpleasant time for me with my family.….
by the time I got engaged I genuinely didn’t want to ‘do’ Christmas at all. But I was marrying a Christmas Elf apparently. So I wasn’t allowed to not do Christmas. He was kind about it but tried to help me find the fun again rather than letting me just log out. I continued to hate it for the first 9 years of our marriage… and it was a massive source of anxiety and upset for me and massively faked it to the point of panic attacks at Christmas parties and emotional outbursts on the day but now, with an 8 and 6yr old I have started seeing it through their eyes and so enjoy it a bit more. I don’t want to force my dislike onto the family…. And force them not to do Christmas but I genuinely would love to just buy flights to Thailand and go diving for the whole period without even mentioning the C word. And I think we will When the kids are a bit older. i feel like I would be a whole load happier if I didn’t even have to think about it. But it’s everywhere you look and it feels impossible to choose not to partake especially when you have kids.

i think it’s really unfair that people who don’t like Christmas are regarded as party poopers or weird…. Many of us carry emotional scars from past Christmases and suffer PSTD during the build up and throughout. I start having anxiety about it when Christmas products start coming out… so even Halloween now.

GoingOnce · 22/12/2022 19:46

I fake it but nobody would ever know. If I could remove all the commercial crap I’d like it more. Love the food. Love the carols and nativity plays. Love the DC’s excitement. Like the work parties and receiving Christmas cards. All that I like. It’s just the present buying (and receiving!!) I bloody hate.

Mimilamore · 22/12/2022 19:47

It's all the faff beforehand and then the day itself is a bit claustrophobic and then it's over... I too love the 27th, no expectations, nothing to buy, still got some nice edibles about and the shortest day is behind me, soon be daffodils appearing...

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2022 19:48

I like it but have a very excited four year old.

Plus I’m just so glad things are normal this year. It feels a lifetime ago but this time last year I was stressing a party wouldn’t happen.

Twattergy · 22/12/2022 19:48

I like putting up the tree and small number of decorations, Xmas tv specials and nice food on the 25th. The rest of it (presents, parties, dragging it out for days on end, over consumption, drinking and waste) don't like. I was brought up with no Christmas celebrations due to religion and that's why I'm a bit take it or leave it.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/12/2022 19:53

I do like the lights and coziness and music in the streets etc ,I'm not a huge fan of the type of food that everyone seems to expect- and I get a little fed up of my FIL who is actually a nice and very generous old chap of 83. He stays for quite a few days and does go on about other very sick relatives and their treatment/care- I've told my H to 'have a word' if it gets out of hand as I've had a few issues myself this year and it really brings me down as a constant topic of conversation

Tonysopranosghost · 22/12/2022 19:54

I used to love it. Now that so much of the stressful boring shit falls to me I've grown to hate it. Currently in the process of splitting with (almost) exdp so hopefully next year will be better.

One thing it has done this year is remind me of all the reasons i want to break up. Since ending things we've been getting on better and i was doubting myself. Nope, he's still a selfish twat.

whynotwhatknot · 22/12/2022 19:59

my dm died 2 weeks before xmas so im happy for the kids i see but apart from that miserable

AnnieSnap · 22/12/2022 20:02

I went through several years of hating it after my adult son became no contact with me when I divorced his father and moved in with my now husband. I found the day so upsetting that I went to bed in tears by the afternoon. It happened 14-years-ago now though and I’ve adjusted and accepted the situation. I’m not a huge fan. I find the hysterical over-the-top mania in the weeks before Christmas grating. I was in the in M&S and Sainsbury's yesterday and there was an uncomfortable stressed vibe, with many women (all women) saying in alarmed tones “they’ve sold out” or “the dates are too short”! I was desperate to get away from them!

DH and I enjoy going to one of my daughter’s for Christmas Day. There is no dodgy conflict between anyone. Her children are lovely adults now and we have a little great grandson. Other than that we are at home with our dogs and cats, doing our own thing.

whynotwhatknot · 22/12/2022 20:05

GYNisaliarWTF · 22/12/2022 18:15

I fucking love you let’s live together

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make room for me

babybabybabyblue · 22/12/2022 20:19

This reply has been deleted

We've had to remove this posts as it contains mention of suicide methods which we don't allow on the boards.

Burgoo · 22/12/2022 20:21

Fake it 90% of the time. Its a chore, a faff and a waste of energy.
I only like the 10% for my child, seeing her smiles. Though we could probably have that without the festive misery.

Harls1969 · 22/12/2022 20:25

I love it. I put the tree up the first weekend in December, have Christmas wallpaper on my phone and constant Christmas songs on in the car. I wear Christmas earrings and dresses and I still have an advent calendar. It's the sitting watching festive films with fairy lights twinkling when it's cold and dark outside, getting excited about seeing loved ones opening gifts, traditions, food(!) and I have very happy memories of Christmas as a child that still make up for some of the truly rotten ones as an adult. I hate New Year though and I have to give my head a wobble not to get gloomy. Each to their own though

myfaceismyown · 22/12/2022 20:43

@dogrilla same here.

Dinosaurhearmeroar · 22/12/2022 20:49

I think this year it has definitely felt more of a burden than the end of year treat it normally is. Number of reasons I think - last two years Christmas has offered respite from covid etc but this year it just doesn’t sit well with me. All these strikes happening, the war, cost of living - putting all that on hold for a week or so of decadence and laughter seems jarring. Aware I’m being a bit of a Scrooge and am all for those who want to go for it! But I just am not one of them this year - Christmas is just another added stress.

Wombatbum · 22/12/2022 20:50

I don’t massively enjoy it, I’m not sad about it just not that excited, I put on a bit of a front for the kids. I find the whole run up stressful and then there’s only us and my mum. I used to wish we had a big extended family to party with but actually I’m quite happy just in my pjs at home.

Whytheego · 22/12/2022 20:55

I often fake it , I think my reason is quite selfish as I know you don’t give to receive and it’s not even that , I just feel I put loads of effort into getting people nice things (things they are into and like etc ) and I just get crap back with no thought some blatantly re gifted , so on the day I feel a little sad , more at the point of the effort I went to than the shit 🤣

every year I say I’ll do less , I’ll care less about the thought gone in and effort and I still do it .

so my own fault really .

PumpkinPie2016 · 22/12/2022 21:14

I enjoy it, but, we have a nice family. I don't tend to have guests staying over (my parents are staying tomorrow for one night but are not awkward guests!).

There is me, DH and our 9 year old son at home. DS is at a nice age and we will have a lovely Christmas morning then go to SiL for dinner and evening which will be nice - I'm lucky that SiL is lovely and very much ĺike a sister to me.

I enjoy my time off work and catching up with family/friends. I enjoy time with DH and DS.

We buy gifts but don't go crazy or get into debt.

I don't do things like matching pj's/Christmas bedding so that makes it easier.

For some reason, I don't like new year. No particular reason but I have never liked it, since my early teens. So, I don't really celebrate that.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 22/12/2022 21:15

dogrilla · 21/12/2022 20:41

I find it really fucking stressful. Just a whole load more to organise, host and buy on top of an already stressful workload and kids (one with SN). I like the idea of Xmas until I realise it's all down to me.

Exactly this....every year....the whole thing leaves me exhausted and skint.

Chittering · 22/12/2022 21:32

The excess of food, drink and spending upsets me. I don't like it but I can't seem to get out of it. We do usually have a good day but i dream of a sunny Christmas away