Worst time of the year

[SHxxxxx]

Christmas should stop. It's killing parents mental health and finances. I absolutely hate it. Kids being fed a fantasy of Santa whilst we all get in debt because capitalism is battering us senseless to the awful tunes of Mariah Carey, the Pogues and Wham! I loathe Christmas and are deeply depressed until January arrives.. if you love Christmas, there must be something seriously wrong with you.

I love Christmas. Twinkly lights, wrapped up in scarf and gloves and singing cheesy Christmas songs. I'll do me, you do you.

I don't spend a fortune at Christmas because for me, it's all about spending time with family. Watching movies and drinking hot chocolate. I got to Xmas markets but rarely buy anything other than a hot chocolate but wander round and soak in the atmosphere.

Our Christmas dinner is usually 'posh' pie and chips in between getting sloshed on Tesco bucks fizz (other brands are available) and dissolving into a chocolate coma on the sofa while watching Arthur Christmas (other films are available - I also recommend Christmas Chronicles, 1 not 2).

Boxing day we spend with family and again just taking the time to chill and have a laugh. The rest of the year is so full of work and school and after school clubs etc, it's nice just to stop and take a deep breath.

Food and friends and family. That’s what Christmas is! I am already thinking about my Christmas baking!

I don't celebrate Eid or Hanukkah etc... I somehow have no hate toward those that do I just don't take part. I hope they all have a wonderful time though.

If you don't like Christmas then don't do celebrate it, millions around the world don't (and those that do ALL celebrate differently, theres no one set way with Christmas) but you not not get to shit on other peoples happiness.

YOU are responsible for your own choices. If you stress yourself out and buy into commercialism thats YOUR fault entirely.

"snuggling down with family" 😱

I do consider other people’s wants and preferences. We have a chat with everyone who is going to be here for Christmas Day and decide on a menu we’re all happy with. Maybe you’re more virtuous than me but as I said, there’s no way I’m spending hours cooking a meal I don’t actually like. As a result of that policy, I really enjoy Christmas dinner. As do the rest of the family.
I just think it’s weird to complain about something that generally you have a choice over. You may choose to have a meal you don’t really like, but it’s still a choice.

I LOVE Christmas. But I also love long walks in the rain so there’s definitely something wrong with me 😂

I like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What I do hate is the unnecessary 4 month build up to it, starting in shops at the end of August! People putting their trees up as early as October and the constant pressure to buy gifts which increase in price as the kids get older!

The true meaning of Christmas seems to have gone out of the window now and it’s become all about buying presents and spending money. Just like you op, I’ve really hated it these last few years.

I'm with you on the tree. There was a thread on here recently about one going up in August. May have been for sad reasons, unverified, but still... August!!

I love Christmas and it is good for my mental health. I also don’t go into debt🤷‍♂️. Autumn and winter festivals are designed to keep peoples spirits up during cold and dark days and if it’s not doing that for you, then you are doing it wrong. Do something different.

My son has second hand gifts this year. We don't push santa. Only a small token present for family for Christmas. can't bloody wait!

I could see how to a lot off people it really isnt a nice time of year at all.
For lots of reasons .
And even though I love it I agree it is still stressful trying to juggle everything and we always seem to get some sort of winter bug Christmas week .

Mariah Carey being called a “shrieking witch” made me laugh but actually I don’t mind her and her song - at least it’s well written and she can sing. And there actually quite a lot of beautiful Christmas songs. It’s the awful jolly, supermarket-music ones I can’t stand like Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus is coming to town. Aaaaargh. And fucking Buble - OK he can sing too but he does my head in. I’ve actually left shops when the Buble crooning starts.

I'm autistic and find Xmas very stressful and overwhelming. Spare a thought for us.

I love Christmas! In fact my mental health improves come November when I can start preparing. I love to spoil everyone and start making stockings first then onto the main gifts. Tree and decorations go up on the first weekend of December and the house is filled with joy and anticipation, mostly mine!

I agree OP, I do save and don't go into debt but I just find it so much. DC are a bit older but really into it so I guess we're doing it for a few years more.

Hi Ebenezer, seen Jacob lately?

Regards to Bob.

Why the 😱?
Do you not understand the term or agree with showing affection to your children?
What's shocking about sitting on a sofa with family?

Nobody's forcing you. I have 2 DS, young adult / tween. Never spent more than £200 on xmas, including food etc. Always have a nice time. I never think about it till December either. It's up to you.

Haven't rtft yet but just to add, I think shops can be very narrow minded about this. I know so many people who avoid big stores because they hate the music and prefer to shop online. I don't know anyone who enjoys the music on 4 November yet almost 100% of the shops seem to buy into this. I try to go to my nearest city to support the traders at Christmas and last year there was one shop that didn't have Christmas music. I spent much more time browsing and will be going back. I know not everyone is like me but I think a high proportion of people are.

Not sure about anyone else but I sit on the sofa every day with my kids and dh.

I bloody love Christmas - planning the meal, looking forward to having the extended family over, coming up with thoughtful gifts. It doesn’t have to be a big commercial effort. It’s down to families to set the boundaries on gifts/expenditure.

I do wish it wasn’t anywhere on the radar until November, though and I didn’t have to do the scramble to get the Xmas delivery slot in October.

I've never got into debt due to Christmas, it's not something that creeps up on me, on December 26th I know that in 364 days time it's going to be Christmas day, unless a leap year that is, I get an extra day.

I spread the cost, no need to go over board.

My mam was autistic and LOVED Xmas so its not an 'autistic' thing over all, more a personality thing. You can change it to alleviate the stressors if you figure it out though,

We had amazing childhood xmases, she turned the house into Santas workshop.

Gifting was her love language, she loved finding and buying gifts to make people happy. We however did not have many people around as we had no other family near.

Big house full Xmases would probably really stress me as I have never had that and DH is likely autistic (but not diagnosed) and he does not deal with the stress of lots of people in one space at all either (it gives him anxiety and panic attacks). We keep Xmas just us, the joy of picking out things we think the kids will love but no overwhelming crowd in the house and its perfect.

It is a Christian festival. Why should it stop? Just spend less on it?

Well like everything with autism there is not one rule for “us” as you say. I am autistic and love Christmas

I am so glad my family is relaxed about the day itself and not get bogged down on a certain menu that has to be eaten at the same time every year

At our table sometimes it’s turkey (which we eat at other times of the year), sometimes it’s chicken, sometimes it’s both. And I don’t mean a whole bird of each but instead some breasts and wings

In other years it’s been a Chinese. Sometimes we eat out, others we eat in. In fact one year years ago my sister decided she wanted a pizza so was eating Domino’s while the rest of us had turkey

For me the time in December leading up to it is more fun than the day itself. Seeing lights (for free), making hot chocolate that’s already in the cupboard and putting on a film from the Netflix account that I am already paying for. Even going to the works Christmas get together is fun

But I know that I will not always have the people who make it enjoyable with me, so that’s why I enjoy it now and don’t get stressed about who eats what or what pairs of trainers someone did or did not get. As that’s not what I will remember in the future