How do you really feel about Christmas this year?

[TwinkleLights24]

Are you excited? Feeling meh? Dreading it?

As we are only one week away I was wondering how others feel about Christmas this year.

I’m quite sad to say that it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me. I’ve spoken to people in real life and we all seem to be going through the motions, I can’t help but think there’s so many other things going on and Christmas is an inconvenience.
I’m sure Christmas Day will be enjoyable but as I get older I think about those who are lonely or having a difficult time. I read so many stories on MN from others having a tough time, many of us feel lonely or are unwell and yet Christmas is still happening regardless.

There seems to be very little festive atmosphere around this year. Am I alone in thinking this way and you’re super excited?

I am so fucking excited. My boy is three and the perfect age to be really ‘getting’ Christmas this year, and all that comes with it. I’m stressed and exhausted too, husbands been working away 6 days a week and I’m nearly 30 weeks pregnant but it’ll all be worth it 🥰

I'm so sorry for your loss 💐

I’ve been on a diet most of this year and I’m giving myself two days off so I’m looking forward to that a lot. Also have a whole stack of presents which is nice. I spend Christmas alone so it’s up to me how much effort I put in though.

Ah, this was me Christmas 2008. Lovely. DD2 was born Feb 2009. There was quite a lot of snow that year too, amazingly she was born in a period of a couple of days where there wasn't any and the roads were clear.

Usually I love Christmas but I'm just not feeling it this year.

ds15 is generally quite mardy at the moment, ds19 is home from uni and very lovely, wants to do all the Christmas traditions but is also splitting his time between us, his gf, mates and job so I haven't and won’t see much of him.

Too many people around me are dealing with bereavement or bad news - another friend today learnt that her dad has terminal cancer, a former colleague and friend died a month ago and another close friend is facing her first Christmas without her mum.

We're at the in-laws which is fine, but my mum is 92 and I can't help thinking this might be her last one so I'll be sad if I've not been with her.

I'm trying to be more mindful of picking the parts I like and leaving the parts I don't.

I don't like the consumerism...dh and I agreed to not get each other presents just for the sake of it.

I hate plastic glitter so decorated with greenery / branches etc that came down in storm Darragh...much better.

We are not going to drive all over the country trying to see everyone and getting burnt out.

I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off school / almost 2 weeks off work.

Not getting crackers...more plastic tat.

Not going overboard on food and drink...but will get some nice stuff.

Enjoying elf on the shelf (mostly!) as it might be the last year.

It's my favourite day of the year.

Dd's are 9 and 11 and I know they will be over the moon with their presents so I can't wait to see them open them.

I love Christmas dinner then we all play board games in the evening.
We don't have visitors or go out visiting, it's just a lovely cosy family day.

I'm so very sorry for your loss and that of all on this thread who are grieving the loss of a loved one, my thoughts are with all of us who are struggling. I find this time of year very difficult.

A mixture of emotions. I live overseas but come back for a week, the week before Christmas to spend time with family. I find Christmas in the UK is rammed down your throat everywhere you go - it's not optional. There's Christmas music blaring out in all the shops, Christmas gifts, marketing, adverts, decorations everywhere. I often think that for those that find Christmas a difficult time of the year, it must be really hard not being able to opt in/out when it's constantly rammed down your throat. I think there's so much pressure here surrounding Christmas, expectations of a perfect day with family. When actually it can be quite stressful trying to have a perfect day with family you don't see very often or family you are less keen on.
I love Christmas because I have a 4 year old son and I can't wait to see his face on Christmas day. I do feel guilty about not spending Christmas day with my parents (it's just my son and DH this year) but they are quite set in their ways and only want to do things their way. At the age of 40 I wanted to set my own family traditions and not feel obligated to spend Christmas trying to please everyone else. I've done alot of that in the past.

Same as every year. Sad about missing my parents who have passed. Sad about the circumstances meaning I am NC with my sibling so don't see their kids who I adored but are now adults who I don't know. Childless not by choice and sad that the ex who fucked me over is spending a lovely family Christmas with his wife (who he cheated on me with) and their child. DP thinks I love Christmas because I wear Christmas jumpers every day and put up so many decorations and lights it looks like santa's thrown up in my lounge but the reality is I'm overcompensating for the fact that I just feel sad. Sorry for the pity party, I'll pick myself up again tomorrow and paint a smile on my face when yet another person asks me if I'm ready for Christmas.

It is the biggest thing happening in the lives of many, many people this month. How would there not be lots of posts about it?

That sounds peaceful and beautiful. I am sorry you have had to deal with all of that. I hope celebrating your own things, your way helps your healing.

I'm so sorry for those who are grieving.

I'm just feeling overwhelmed, the house is a riot, stuff that should have made it to the charity shop is still in the house. Half the decorations still need to be done. I still have gifts to buy. Hardly anything is wrapped up.

Works a bit rubbish just now too. I'm going to be forced into job hunting in the new year. Something else I could do without having to do.

@Diversion your bell tent sounds blissful.

I’m so sorry @Goldenboysmum
i can only imagine how unbearably painful this must be for you x

It's a chore that I struggle to get enthusiastic about now. Used to love it when DCs were little, but I'm done with it all now. I wouldn't mind if we never had another Christmas. It's just all so much extra work from start to finish.
I'll be quite happy once the new year starts and we can start to get longer daylight hours again as we move towards spring.

I'm so sorry to all of you who are struggling and grieving, I hope you can find some strength and peace to get through this season

DH and I are retired and childfree which takes the pressure off a bit. But his Dad died on Christmas night last year while we were all together at SILs house, so it's going to be very hard for him and his family. It's the two of us and the cat on Christmas Day (which is also my birthday) and then a family get-together on Boxing Day. I'm really trying to pick out the good bits this year and ignore the rest - concert with my MIL which was lovely, low key decorations and tree, long walks and films. I hope we get some decent frosty weather, but am also looking forward to 3 weeks in the sun in January.

V tired with combination of end of term teaching, toddler and pregnancy but grateful. DS is at a nice age for it and we took ages to get pregnant this time so I'm so pleased I am this Christmas. Also lucky to have lovely families who host us.

I find as I get older I find Christmas a bit melancholy though. I also hate, hate the commercialism and the drive to keep buying stuff! I tried to mitigate it this year by buying loads from charity shops or Vinted.

Very meh.
Work has been awful for the last few months, I missed out on the Christmas do because of a health issue (gutted, I really wanted to go). I finish on Friday until January but the next few days are going to be manic and January will be even worse!
I've done the decorations as normal and they are lovely, I have bought presents but not wrapped them, can't find the motivation but I will have to do them this weekend. Still got a few cards to get and cash to go in them, need to do the full food shop on Christmas eve.....
Overall it feels like I have a lot to do and very little time to enjoy anything!

I think it's not really cold enough tbh

What a heartwrenching story, words escape me

Im feeling really meh. Was loads more stuff I wanted to get the kids but I haven't bothered. They've got what they asked for and I haven't bothered buying gifts for people I did want to get. Dare I say it.. I think I'm looking forward to it being over! I've never ever thought or said that before!!

Christmas 2021 my dad was dying.
Christmas 2022 was the first without dad and FIL
Christmas 2023 was a couple of weeks after MILs funeral.
The run up to this year is dealing with mum's deteriorating alzheimer's.
Not really in the mood TBH.