Christmas - I just don’t get it?

[BasinHaircut]

I am 40 years old and I still don’t get why people go mad for Christmas.

Im not talking about religious aspects, and of course kids love the idea of Santa etc, but for everyone else I just don’t get it.

I try really hard every year to get into the spirit but I haven’t yet found something that ignites a spark.

I go through the motions for my son and we have our ‘traditions’ like going to the panto, seeing the lights etc, but I just cannot get excited about any of it.

Is it just me?

I think emotions run very high. I now feel I can’t and don’t want to do this mass commercialism version ever again. For me it’s such an empty feeling. A huge build up for a few gifts and a glorified roast. That’s all it boils down to. Yes you can add a few family and friends here and there, but I prefer the summer months outside for carefree catering and bbqs and not the high octane, combustible stress that comes with Christmas.

I love the fact for so many they enjoy an extra rest, and holiday together. If you have young children it can be so magical. Maybe that’s the exception.

I am wholesale changing next year. I’m can’t do this again.

I’m the same. I really appreciated the two covid Christmases where lockdown rules meant I had a good excuse to just stay at home and ignore the day.

Aw, this is sad.

You don’t know what you’re missing!

A Christmas done properly is magical.

I think too much is made of it and that only leads to disappointment.
I think if the whole thing was simplified it would be far more enjoyable.
Of course, now that Christmas is in November it has only become more intense.
People need to chill out about it...but they absolutely won't.

Yep don't get it either lol However, this year I have had a lovely relaxing Xmas, no dramas, no arguments and lots of food 🙂 I stopped putting pressure on myself and went with the flow and it actually worked 👍

For various reasons we (three adults - two with LTCs) decided to opt out of doing Christmas several years ago. We had a nice meal yesterday but otherwise we spend the day as we please.

'A Christmas done properly is magical'

But see, there's a problem straight away, because everyone's idea of a 'proper' Christmas will be different. I had a very nice Christmas day this year but I wouldn't describe any of it as 'magical' - I'm fine with that. I would prefer low key and relaxed to 'magical'.

Totally agree. I don't get it, and that kind of makes me feel even sadder too that I'm missing he point of it!

A bit is nice, some lights up. I do more for my kids but not all the awful food. Years I haven been in the UK have been a lot easier and far more low key. It does seem like massive consumerism and eating.

Table decorations
Christmas crockery
matching pyjamas
Time
Bannister decorations
Front door decorations
Front garden decorations
Expense
Christmas Eve boxes
The bloody elf
The tree
The gifts
Time
The wrapping paper
The choice of meats
Three desserts
Expense
Crackers that contain useless tat
Stocking fillers
Visiting the shops
Ordering online
Time
Organising a slot
Online food shop
Expense
Wrapping
The panto
The Christmas market
Santa's grotto
Christmas party
New outfits
Time
A birthday in December
Expense
People staying over
Staying over somewhere else
Petrol
And on
And on

And now it all starts in November so you can cram in more.

I try to blot it all out and stick to what we can manage but when you're having this shit fired at you constantly for weeks it does become tiresome as fuck.

'A Christmas done properly is magical'

What does 'properly' really mean though.

I have been in the Caribbean for Christmas once and they celebrated on the eve with a massive feast rather than on the 25th and it was lovely. Went for a snorkel on the actual day.

That would have been awful for some families but for us that was magical.

A lovely thing has become a monster.

I had a lovely day yesterday with my adult DC and DGC but I am glad it is over if I am honest .
Still in my jammies !

I’m fairly similar. Staying with family. My boyfriend lives other side of London and it was too soon really to do Christmas stuff with them.

Its for kids I think really.

All of that is ridiculous and unnecessary, maybe a few of those things is good but the rest it places so much expectation on people and to get it right.

This is why I've pissed off to the Canaries. I would highly recommend!

I feel like it’s all a massive build up and then it’s an anticlimax on the actual day.

'This is why I've pissed off to the Canaries. I would highly recommend!'

Ah, we've often thought of doing this, but never managed it. Tell me, is there Christmas shit EVERYWHERE like there is at home, or is it all a lot more low key?

I enjoy Christmas, but if it wasn't for the kids I'd be perfectly happy to skip it.

I do kind of see what you mean, I think the retail aspect is too much, a bit grabby.

I do still remember how excited I used to get as a child, so I think if you have kids then I understand people doing the whole Santa's grotto etc.

I don't have kids so I am a bit meh about the whole festive period!

I agree @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain and of course I'm over-egging the pudding to make a point...but yeah. It seems so frantic and extortionate now. Exhausting for those who also have to hold down and perform in, a full time job.

Much less Christmas shit.
Some tasteful but minimal bits around the hotel. And some folk wearing santa hats on the beach, which was actually quite comical.

That sounds fantastic, I'm so doing that once vulnerable in-laws have popped their clogs.

I absolutely adore Xmas, but we have a small non-drama fueled family, tiny income and no credit cards, realistic expectations on our DDs about budget and go to lengths to make it about everything else- fav foods, no bedtime schedules, me not working (work closes as it does for DH). We are extremely laid back and do not buy in to the excess. Although gift buying is something I love.

The narrative from November is - perfection, spend loadsa money, see family regardless of relationship and eat yourself fat. Christmas really is whatever you make it. I don't like the Summer and feel it is way too hyped up in the UK - and people still moan anyway. I just get on with it and make it how I want without pressure.

Consumer culture/marketing has a large hand in how we are made to feel about things I think.

That sounds great @shonapop . Hope you have a fantastic time! Is there a decent range of restaurants open? Could you go out for pizza or curry, for example, on Christmas Day?

🤣🤣