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.

We bloody lovely Christmas!! Our first one with DD this year which makes it more magical, and yes we know she has no idea what’s happening. But we do and that matters to us.

We buy into it all, spend a lot on presents - but not giftset stuff. Everyone does a list, my parents included. Everyone has a pile of presents.

DHs birthday is just before Christmas, he loves it so the whole of December is crazy for us, we also work Panto so it’s non stop. Once New Year’s Day hits, that’s it done for me - I want the tree down 2/3rd Jan latest.

We fucking love Christmas, it does our mental health wonders tbh, it just is a great time for all of us and we look forward to it. We aren’t rich, we only just earn the UK average which is a joke because we work two full time jobs each to manage that. But we save all year for anything we want. We make it happen.

If you hate Christmas, just don’t do it? FIL doesn’t!

I agree but Christmas dinner is just a Sunday dinner with pigs in blankets (which you can now get all year round).

Agree it’s mad to have stuff in the shops in September for an end of December festival. Get Halloween over with first (which has also go ridiculously out of hand now).
It’s all about profit for the shops and manufacturers, but you don’t have to buy in to it and still have a nice Christmas.

Some years ago, I was made homeless by divorce and ex H, starting again with very little,met guy now DH,he had a big family,2 brothers and a sister,I'm an only child, and by the time 30 plus of us got together Christmas it was presents for children only. No-one was upset or offended. We got into debt with a credit card, so come October I would be stressed crying at work. 6 months to pay off the debt,to cap it, his brother only bought presents for our DD, not my DKs from my previous marriage! His mother went completely overboard, but they Same was expected. One year, we both had enough, said we weren't buying any presents,mil was beyond furious! Same with having to attend the Christmas day meal, I was night nursing busy general hospital, I just wanted to go to bed, I did in the end! Bil kept ringing telling us to make up with mother, because she was driving him mad. We asked our did about tree, decorating etc, they weren't bothered. Mil killed Christmas. Friends used to say just take her presents,say we didn't get you anything, I couldn't do that, I was actually brought up in a church going family,then you are with someone with traditions going back over 30 years,it's extremely difficult. Went NC 16 years ago,best decision ever!

I have mixed feelings about Christmas. I love to buy a gift for DH, children and young Grandchildren & parents when they were around but that's all. It can become overwhelming so I try to minimise the effects by ignoring the parts that annoy me such as the loud Christmas music in supermarkets & the constant Christmas themed TV adverts. I hated doing loads and loads of Christmas cards, people changing addresses etc so I decided enough was enough & stamps cost a fortune. I now donate a small amount to charity instead of sending cards.

Sorry but how ridiculous! I don’t know anyone who goes into debt for Christmas - anyone (or at least the majority!) who does is making a choice because they care about what other people think and outward appearances more. It’s about spending time with your family and loved ones and making memories. If you want to get into debt over it knock yourself out but don’t complain about it when it’s an active choice you’ve made!

Its the best time of the year!
I think you're making it way to big - it's a season of pretty tree lights, hearty meals, shitty music and an excuse for a cheese board more regularly. Stop taking it so seriously.

Usually you’re with more people and you reflect on the good times you’ve had that year though so it is a bit different to a usual Sunday roast (which I doubt many families still do ?)

You have to make it what you want it to be I think. Celebrate those things you like and ignore the things you don’t.

I am not massively religious but I find it helpful to remember it’s meant to be a religious festival, not all the American bollocks we seem to have imported.

I like carols and Christmas lights. I’m quite partial to Christmas food and drink too!

The thing I don’t like about Christmas is all the inevitable bastard illnesses.

Santa doesn't bring technology in our house. He brings less expensive games and toys etc. Christmas is only a huge expense if you let it be. I never get into debt, buy what I can afford and do what we can afford. The whole showy stuff on Facebook in my experience is normally done by parents for the wrong reasons

I love Christmas!! 🎄There's nothing wrong with me, thanks😂

Seeing the magic and excitement on my kids' faces is just the best, especially the little one as she still believes in Santa 🎅🏻

I love the festive activities and the build up, this year we are going to a different Santa's grotto that we've never seen before and to see a festive lights trail, very excited about that.

We don't get into any debt - we buy what we can afford and spread Christmas present costs out over a few months (usually starting in September), so we have never found that aspect stressful.

A PP said it's about snuggling on the sofa and chilling with family, I agree!! A chance to take a breather and slow down. I love everything about it - this thread has made me excited for it 😁🩷

You don’t need to get into debt. Start looking in charity shops now. Always done it and found some very good, very cheap toys and books for kids. Adults don’t need gifts.

Take your kids around the neighbourhood on Christmas Eve to look at the lights. Hot chocolate and marshmallows with liebkuchen from Lidl before bed and Christmas carols on the radio on Christmas Day. Lovely 😃

The thing I don’t like about Christmas is all the inevitable bastard illnesses.

Ahh yes, this is the only downside for me too.

Dread it? Why no one makes you get involved. As Andy Williams says 'its the most wonderful time of the year, With the kids jingle belling, And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all!'
and MN does the Christmas emojis🎅🧑‍🎄! Love it!

Thanks @ilovesooty and @Ger1atricMillennial appreciate it.

Although so many posters since you have written ‘just do the bits you want!’ that I believe you to be in the minority!

I’d LOVE to go away but I love my elderly parents more and so even though it is a difficult day and time, I stay to give them some semblance of celebration (and try not to curse my ‘we’re staying with our little family’ sisters too much…)

edited to add: post above mine is a case in point! 😂

It seems to have been much worse the past few years!

I stop going into shops round about now, then won't be back in any until January. The amount of tat for Halloween and Christmas, largely made by underpaid workers in China, gives me the rage.

The exception is Waitrose for fresh fruit and veg. We have enough of everything else to see us through, or go without.

I send a very few cards to older people but will cut up and recycle some we have received in earlier years. I bought a few stamps in June when I needed one for a birthday card.

Personally I think there should be a decree that only men are allowed to organise Christmas one year, women are not allowed to do anything at all. It might be quite an eye opener in some families.

I think the poster was referencing the make up of the meal. Rather than the sentiment that surrounds it.

Dd works in a card shop, the abuse she is getting because the Christmas stuff is out already is extraordinary. Nobody wants it yet.
I suppose someone, somewhere thinks it’s a good idea to push Christmas in September.

I kove Christmas. Im Christian so we emphasis the meaning of Christmas.

The big present doesn't come from Santa in my house, and when my kids gets older I won't have them expecting expensive presents either. They can wait for birthdays.

Never gone into debt for Christmas and I still by gifts for close family.

I don't do Christmas because I am not Christian.So very relieved! I do Diwali but that doesn't involve gifting or much cooking.

Sorry if that sounds smug. Some of my non Christian friends still do Christmas because their kids want to, but I have flatly refused.

Not my Christmas and I expect it's the same for a lot of people. Life isn't always a supermarket Christmas advert or a Mumsnet ideal.

I love Christmas and that “fantasy”. There is nothing wrong with me. Looks like you are the one with some issues

Are you a daily mail journalist op ?

I've never once got into to debt over Christmas. If I can't afford it I can't afford it. It's not all about the gifts, for us it's an excuse to catch up with family and have a massive roast.
I love it!