Does anyone else hate xmas?

[grinchapparently]

I don't like Christmas, in fact I totally dread it.
I used to love it as a child, but now all grown up it makes me feel more alone.
It highlights that I have no family around or who care, it throws in my face that I should be happy when I'm not, and I constantly get bombarded on social media pictures of happy families.
(I do know I shouldn't look)
But seriously why is it thrown down our necks?! Heat xmas radio has literally been an option since pissing September. ( i flick through it).
Every time someone mentions xmas or I hear a xmas song I get a lump in my throat. I literally dread this time of year.
Is it just me?

Can’t you tell your husband this and give him tasks to do? I’m on my second husband. Both of them did/do their share. Neither would think of what needs doing themselves, but willingly do what is needed when it’s pointed out to them. Respectfully, you need to do something about this, not just harbour resentment.

Yep I can’t wait for Christmas to be over! Can’t stand the fact so much fuss is made for one day and everyone has to be happy!

Also hate the fact that in-laws insist on giving my kids a (big/expensive) present to open. Feel like there’s competition both sides of family to see who can give what. Bloody hate that.

If I ask for something small/token gesture for the kids eg chocs they don’t like that. But I’m like “they don’t need to be spoilt brats, they have enough”.

Feeling so burnt out by it all.

Everytime it's over, there's a huge sigh of relief. It's always one of the most depressing, lonely, and stressful times of the year.

I truly dread it.

It excludes people but really try to get away or even go.to a spiritual retreat even if not religious.Seeing nuns or monks believing in and living through God changes one.You stop hearing the endless Xmas music and shopping and the obsession with bio families and the reminder that you are excluded.
But also remember the thousands of marriages that are crap and the families that are toxic.In my view every street in the UK should have a community house and community xmases.not all people love family.But I sympathise but don't let it define your life or get into a rubbish relationship cos you feel sad

Do we take our kids with us on this retreat, or leave them to make their own Christmas? Just curious.

Yeah, I have no time for the 'just go on a retreat' types. One of my SILs is like this, so if other SIL and I didn't take turns doing Christmas then BIL (married to retreat SIL) would go with his adult children to 88yo (and with dementia) MILs house and expect her to entertain them. If you 'opt out' then you are often expecting someone else to pick up the slack.

Anyway, I've already got Christmas guests and have my usual Christmas cold and I won't be stopping till the new year.

I enjoyed it pre-children. Now zi find it really stressful and tiring...

I usually love Christmas, but my DH died last April, and I’m dreading it this year.

I’m going to DD’s, but I feel I’m going to have to make a huge effort not to drag my misery over there.

Be glad when it’s over.🙁

I hate it for the fact that you are assumed a “grinch” , “scrooge” or any other negative association with the season if you don’t celebrate or get swept up in the hype of it all.

i used to celebrate it, grew up celebrating it just got disillusioned with it all.

@Zebedee55 I'm so sorry to hear that. ❤️

I don't hate Christmas, but if I did, I would book to go away. It doesn't need to be abroad, it could be a nice cabin in the middle of nowhere with nice food, films and a good book. Have you thought of working/volunteering through Christmas so that you can be with others?

I love it because we do it our way. No dragging kids house to house doing duty visits, no faffing around for hours cooking, no engaging in unnecessary consumerism etc. We spend it at home, I do a lot of meal prep the night before and it take me just over an hour to put on a full spread. Dh cleans up. We then spend the day with our dc, just relaxed and movies, music, delicious food. You make it what you want to be.

I go down a black hole in December due to 'it's christmaaaaaas!' being rammed down my throat. I hate it. It highlights what I don't have. No family around me, no partner. For me, there's really nothing to celebrate. And no one to celebrate with.

At work today people were talking about how they are booked to go out every day/night between now and New Year. I haven't got anywhere to go! I kept my mouth shut as I was so embarrassed.

I breathe a huge sigh of relief when it's all over.

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn don't feel embarrassed! I have nowhere to go and nobody to do it with anyways…my two good friends live far away and I have no family left apart from my children. I’ve done all of Christmas for them for twenty nine years now and I’m so tired of it.
I was disowned when a vulnerable and scared sixteen year old by my family Christmas 1995, never spoken to again; it is a difficult day for me.

Same here me to I'm miserable and teary

It's not actually compulsory people.

I realise it is different if you have children but I just ignore it.

I'm with Christopher Hitchens (RIP) about Xmas.

It's like north Korea, all the music is about the dear leader, all the shops are decorated for the dear leader, the TV is dedicated to the dear leader.

And as Hitch used to say, at least in North Korea you can die.