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 but the build up starts too soon

You do know it’s not compulsory, right?

Do the bits you like. Drop the bits you don’t. Never overspend.

It’s a quarter of a year away. If you’re getting wound up about it already, that’s on you, OP.

Oh, and YABU - the worst part of the year is February. It’s been dark for about a million years, it’s soggy or frozen outside and there’s nothing to look forward to for at least 6 more weeks. Bloody ghastly time of year.

I have SAD, too. Have you tried the Lumie lamp? I have one and it's helpful. It's a big dampener, I agree, but we're in the UK and I'm not going to let grey skies ruin half of the year for me.

When it's dark and cold outside, I like to make inside warm and cosy and a nice place to be. It's lovely when DH lights a fire and the candles, and we sit and have dinner when the kids are in bed.

DH and I also work from home most of the time. We just like each other's company, so we look forward to the extended periods without work calls.

I can understand the losses - my dad loved Christmas and my mum died in December when I was young. But they liked the period. Both did their best to make it special. I just try and remember them in the nice things we do.

Not sure how it's expensive, though. It's only as expensive as you make it.

Christmas is what you make it, if it is dragging you into debt then maybe you need to look at yourself and where you feel all the pressure is coming from.

I love Christmas but we never go over the top. Nice decorations, pretty lighting, good food, family, the Christmas service and some classics on TV. We don't even do much in the way of pressies, just a few favourites and something special if we happen to spot something we think will be appreciated.
Love the Christmas music, Vaughan Williams Fantasia On Christmas Carols is my all-time favourite, it was always played when I was little.

Thanks...yes I am getting a lamp this week actually and am looking forward to trying it for the first time!

Oh good luck! It's really worked for me, though it's not the same as proper summer sun. Definitely gives a huge boost in the morning. I've got a cheaper one from Amazon that I use downstairs, and it lights up the room. Let me know how it goes if we collide in threads again!

Sorry to tag again, it won't let me edit. This is the one I use downstairs. It's worked great!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUINSKY-Settings-Brightness-Stepless-Sunlight/dp/B0BX2DW77V/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_sspa?c=ts&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wDKQViXQ29iV6ZJykz8SLnBnc2XoItwSC7rNwY_9N62VumhnKqBdh0Ys2IWBYWRBvR_N5v_F98n1duGmEcc1eYtyZQC6d7oVm0Ibp0DgfNu-yswMgcFAI8OORbKnkCo0N2gyTJCjHd6wYdRIRr2owPZIuRuovh6JIG6cxhqBb6aMUEiBUzlbcglMHf3jiMjmEX4vjj6ucOvBP8kd41V8xQ.LLr5FUCf0DrQR37XzazD3jZlVkhnd2eZvdLAG9hP44E&dib_tag=se&keywords=SAD+Lights&qid=1727044336&s=drugstore&sr=1-9-spons&ts_id=9897749031&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

I mean you're the one posting about it in September. I fucking love Christmas, I'm a Christmas fiend, but I don't switch on my festive fervour until December 1st. Never been in debt from it, and I won't have Mariah Carey on in my house the shrieking witch. But I love our traditions that we've made as a family. It doesn't have to be all about capitalism and greed and stuff.

Christmas is whatever you make it. You could just not. No one is making you.

I love it and disagree!

I think the lives of many people would be happier if they were to get off social media and stop all the nonsense of keeping up with the electronic Jones's. Let you into a little secret, just because some fatuous idiot on Youtube etc does something it doesn't make it compulsory!

You still have to put up with it going on around you. I hate Christmas. I just have to grit my teeth and accept that I'm in a minority.

The glittery stuff in the shops, the Mariah Carey warbling, the Insta-worthy mounds of presents under a huge tree are not my Christmas. Mine is food, family, indoor greenery, a few nice things to give and receive with the people I love, and some days off work. I am not religious but I might squeeze in a carol service as it reminds me of my childhood.
It's what YOU make of it.
I love it. Well, I love MY Christmas anyway.

Those saying nobody is making you do it are being disingenuous. If you have no children fine. But given this is mumsnet, a lot of us posting on here will have children. And very few of us would choose to do nothing for Christmas and leave our kids without anything.

I have children. They each get a small pile of presents. None of them are obscenely expensive. They get nice food on the days (we have double days as we celebrate the 24th and 25th as a mixed culture family). We do mainly free or cheap activities in the build up.

They're not going without. They love Christmas. Nobody makes me do it. I do it because I like it, but I'm not breaking the bank for it either because flashy presents, excessive food, and glittery supermarket decor isn't what Christmas is about for me.

if you love Christmas, there must be something seriously wrong with you.

Well I will gladly say that there is something seriously wrong with me then as it’s my favourite time of year.

Christmas films, music, decorating the house, time off work, catching up with friends and family, not knowing what day of the week it is. I love it and guess what it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

I buy and receive limited presents as it’s about spending time together than buying something.

And if we do buy gifts then it tends to be more experiences like tickets to a concert or show than something in a box

Obviously it’s hard when you have lost people and we have this year so yes it will be tough, but if anything it makes me appreciate the people that are still here and that’s what makes Christmas special for me

This. No-one is forced into buying into the consumerism part of it. I do agree that it is thrust down our throats far too early however.

YABU.
Maybe it's killing your mental health, but it does wonders for mine, I love it! Always have done.
Something magical about it.
We don't "all get in debt"either, I think it's ridiculous if anyone does.
You don't need a lot of money.
Track Santa on Christmas Eve on the NORAD website, see when he's close and run to bed.... 😬
Make paper chains as fun things to do if you've got small kids.
Buy a massive bag of popcorn from Holland and Barrett for about 3 quid and have endless Christmas movie nights and popcorn (dvds from CEX or whack Channel 5 on, always playing some Christmas film 😬)
I always say it's how you make it that matters.
So YABU for saying it's killing parents mental health and finances.
Maybe some yes, if you hate Christmas fair enough.
Finances though?! Ridiculous to spend shitloads
Can still have a great time without. Kids remember good times, not how much money was or wasn't spent imo.

There is a big difference between making Christmas special for your children and going into debt for it. Surely grown adults can apply a bit of common sense!

Yes, agree with this- as much as I love Christmas, there is no bloody need for the likes of Card Factory having Christmas cards displays in August or newsagents stocking Christmas editions of magazines when September hasn't even fecking started properly yet!! 🤫😂

This is the problem. It's going on around you much earlier every year too.

Without fail someone's putting their Christmas tree and decs up in November and apparently everybody else shouldn't care because it doesn't affect them. But it does,as does as the other stuff appearing in the shops at the end of summer.

If as everyone is arguing, it's just a nice time for food family and friends, there's no need to have the massive build up. In years gone by Christmas was just as amazing (if not more so) than now.

It’s a choice rather than obligation. You don’t have to go down the Christmas aisles in shops if you’re really hellbent on avoiding it until December. You also don’t have to buy into the consumerist side of Christmas if it isn’t for you. Nobody is forcing you to even celebrate Christmas if you detest it so much.

Agree with a lot of the other posts, no one is forcing you to do it . Nor is anyone forcing you to spend an inordinate amount of money.

I like Christmas because of the sentiment of spending time with family and making them feel special and appreciated.

Anyone spouting capitalism etc etc isn’t really understanding the underlying concept.

In relation to the music ok it can be annoying, but so is any Westlife song and I occasionally have to hear shops playing that.

Bah humbug. You don't need to go overboard or get into debt

'You still have to put up with it going on around you. I hate Christmas. I just have to grit my teeth and accept that I'm in a minority.'

@ilovesooty

I have to put up with summer and all the unnecessary BBQing, summer fayres, festivals etc - I do this by simply not taking part!

I also have to listen to people bang on about the 'nice weathers on its way', well it might be nice for you but I don't like it!