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

[MerryChristmasyouarsehole]

Christmas…

Neither. I don't do it.

I have all the other years but I just don’t know just not feeling it this year.

it’s only me and my child who is ten. I enjoy of course all the excitement on Xmas Eve and the opening of presents etc. I do like however that tomorrow is my last day of work until next Thursday so spending quality time together.

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think next year I will book somewhere like centre parcs or butlins and spend a Christmas away so I don’t need to organise our lunch and lots of presents the break away will be our present.

Too tired to enjoy it today but come Sunday, I am sure I will perk up, especially as I am a guest this year so can be relaxed and not in charge, after 36 years of cooking Xmas dinners, this will be a treat, Christmas with my DS and DinL.

❤️❤️❤️ it

It's stressful. Unaffordable. Over quickly etc etc but I still love it. Totally

Love it, but it's low-key and we only do what suits us. It's just the 2 of us and we really enjoy spending a few days together without work or anything or anyone expecting anything of us. Neither of us like much traditional Xmas food so we have a lovely meal on Xmas eve and then just pick at cold cuts, salady stuff, fresh bread etc over the next couple of days.

We go for walks, snuggle in front of the fire, prepare meals and wash-up together, drink hot chocolate and port, read and listen to stories. This year we're planning on going for a swim in 26th. TV doesn't feature much, maybe a film in the evening. Lots of lights and lots of xmasy smells around the house - clove, orange, cinamon.
After many years of crazy present buying, we realised how daft it all is. Were at the stage that if we need anything we'd buy it ourselves so now presents are max £20 for each other, the rest of the money goes into the holiday fund. No-one visits and we don't visit anyone. I bloody love it!

I hate most of it. I don't even pretend to like it other than for the children. It is just so stressful. There is far too much to do. It makes me feel burnt out, exhausted and never on top of anything. It just puts me in a tired, bad mood. It's so expensive too.

I like seeing the kids excited. But, there will always be points where something is wrong and their not happy. My favourite part is seeing the children's Christmas performances by far.

It would be great if I actually had time to sit and watch Christmas films ect but in reality it never happens because I am too busy keeping on top of everything. That's all life seems to be really. Keeping on top of everything and yet nothing is ever done.

Now only DS has left home and mainly because I'm working on the big day, it will be just another Sunday but with a turkey roast. Have bought no presents this year and sent no cards (family likewise). I'm not bah humbug about it just have no need to get excited anymore.

Fake it - have done for as long as I can remember.

But thats the truth, you are set for Christmas if that's your plan. I used to do the same.
Now my DH always wants to spend time with family which means I have to fake it a bit. Conversations around Christmas for me usually include something about 'the lights were lovely at ......' because I do actually like the light displays.

I absolutely hate it and definitely don't hide it, why should I? (Rhetorical question, I don't need an answer coz I'll never pretend I like it for anyone)

Yeh not sure why you have to fake it around adults.
There are bah humbug hats after all..

And those that are scrooge but deep down don't mind it as much as they say rolls eyes 👀

I can't be bothered with it. I like the time off work but cannot doing with the rest of it. I've always felt this way. Christmas was a non-event in my house growing up and I'd prefer to carry on that tradition.

I do go along with making it nice for my immediate family and I'm generous in the present giving department but inside I'm longing for it to be over.

I’m not remotely religious or churchy, but this is such a lovely post it made me feel a bit emotional. You can feel the happiness and genuine Christmas spirit in it.

I do love Christmas but for me it’s actually become much more enjoyable as all the kids in my family have grown older. It’s so much simpler now. We don’t do adult gifts, so there’s hardly any present buying these days (I hate the shops at this time of year), we’re not overwhelmed with tat and wrapping, and nobody gets up at the crack of dawn. That alone relieves a huge amount of pressure and also means I don’t have to engage with all the consumerism and waste, which I loathe.

It’s still definitely a shedload of work, but most of it I find pleasurable, and I’ve binned off all the stuff I hated in the past - so no Christmas cards and no awkward relatives who cause tension.

Now it’s just my sister’s family and mine and our dad. We have nice food, play silly games, and all enjoy spending a couple of days together, which is enough. I absolutely love making the house cosy, putting up fairy lights, bringing in loads of greenery, lighting candles, and I feel genuinely happy seeing everyone chatting and laughing round the table - especially knowing how much it means to my dad (we lost my mum in 2020).

My heart goes out to everyone who finds this time of year difficult or sad ❤️

Your Christmas sounds gorgeous 🙂

Not feeling it this year but my Instagram tells a different story so I feel a fraud.

Why do you paint a different picture online?

Enjoy it usually with my own family but find some of the wider celebrations tedious so fake those a bit - mainly as we have some tricky relatives. We’ve had a tough year this year so this made us have a much slower start this Christmas but earlier this week we just decided to throw ourselves into it and went off to get a tree and a turkey etc. I suspect we will feel some ups and downs but we are thankful for what we have .

Interesting! Why do you do that?

I absolutely love it from the decorations & lights, the cheesy films and music and the lovely time spent with my DC (DH is usually working). Oh and the food of course!

I used to dread it every year - was absolutely thrilled when it was all over. Now I don't buy gifts it's so much better. I hate gifts!

I do like it a lot.

But when someone says 'have the most wonderful time' what is really that spectacular about it? It's more something I'd expect someone to say to me if I was going on an exotic holiday, getting married etc

@Aquarius1234

Yeh not sure why you have to fake it around adults.
There are bah humbug hats after all..
And those that are scrooge but deep down don't mind it as much as they say rolls eyes 👀

You may not believe that I hate xmas, that's your prerogative, but when I say I hate something, I actually mean it.

Top 3 hates on my list are;:

1. My mother
2. My sister
3. Xmas

And yes, I truly DO mean HATE for them all, so I will be switching my phone off at 5pm today, tripling my pain meds in hopes of being able to sleep through tomorrow.

Oh wow lol.
The drama of families eh

I'm struggling to fake most of it, I hate:

• Shopping- I hate it full stop, add in the extra people, trying to figure out what to buy and then all the wrapping.
• The stress that people may not like what I get them as their happiness may be fake.
• People insist they buy for me when I don't actually want anything, I often tell them not to stress about it but they insist they've got to get me something because Its Christmas.
• I hate the excess boozing and eating because it's Christmas - it's just so over the top
• The Christmas Jumper days, the buffet days the party nights - just more over the top stuff - OH! and the bl**dy secret santa as well

I just often want to scream at the top of my voice to anyone who dares suggesting any of the above because it's Christmas to stop ramming it down my flipping throat and to back the bleep off.

I do actually love Christmas I just don't like all of the above which is unfortunately what most seem to do whether they like it or not!

There was me thinking it could be ok this Xmas.
I hate my Dad.