Christmas should be every 5 years instead of annually.

[Isometimeswonder]

Obviously I'm being lighthearted.
But I think there's so much build up for Christmas, so many people trying to please everyone, so many stresses and expenditure, it would be better to have Christmas less frequently.
Like every 3, or 5, years.
Could use the money spent on Christmas on other things.
Would probably look forward to it more.
Fewer times I'd have to listen to Christmas music on repeat in shops.
Could avoid certain relatives for longer.
I'm not just kidding. 😀

I’d be up for this. I used to love Christmas but then my mum died and my dad honestly can’t be arsed with it. It’s just sad now. Also England is bone chillingly freezing in December.

I enjoy it a lot and I think I’ll probably be sad when my youngest child stops believing in the magic. That said, it is super stressful and expensive as hell. I think when my DC are all grown up I’ll likely go away most years.

Christmas is all about the kids - and for them a year is an absolute AGE!

It's only about the kids if you've made it all about the presents.

I do hate it when people say that Christmas is for the kids - the world does NOT revolve around them - it is a festival for everybody. Although not religious myself, I think we should remember that Christmas is primarily about celebrating the birth of Jesus, not about a competition for who has the most presents!

So do I - as if childless/childfree adults are not allowed to enjoy it?

No. You can manage your own expectations for how you want it to be.

The rest is marketing hype, which they do for everything.

Make it the BEST Valentines/Easter/Summer/Halloween/Christmas ever…

Ignore that, do your own thing.

For us there is no should, So we only do the things we enjoy which makes the to do list a lot smaller and less stressful. Definitely looking forward to it every year.

Of course they are. But are we really suggesting that adults enjoy Christmas in the same way as children?

We were all kids once, and Christmas was definitely different when we were.

I'd be absolutely gutted to have a maximum of 3 Christmases with my kids. I love Christmas and start thinking about it in January. I've usually done most of my shopping by November, not because I'm organised but because it's the longest I can hold off- I always feel a bit sad when it's all done as picking gifts is one of my favourite things.

My husband always says this! Well ‘like the World Cup, every 4 years.’

I wouldnt care if we never had it and just celebrated birthdays.

The whole thing has been out of hand for years.

People are saying that one should just scale it back etc if it's all too much.
But whatever I choose to do is still impacted by the colossal overwhelmingness of everyone else!
Eg I had to go to the shops today to buy ordinary food as I'm still working up to and including 24th. It took 3 hours because of traffic and queues and mayhem!

Well you are right about that @Isometimeswonder, I went to the gym at lunchtime and traffic was worse than a typical rush hour! Then the gym was really busy because of all the teenagers not at school! I’m a real grinch today and I know it’s my problem but it all really irritated!

You can’t completely ignore the madness but I will be doing my best from now to avoid most of it helped by being at work from now until Boxing Day.

Where do you live that a normal shop took 3 hours? I’ve been to 2 supermarkets today, just buying normal food items for before Xmas. It took the normal amount of time.
Honestly, I can never understand people who get so stressed over Christmas. It’s once a year. Just ride the storm if you have to, in few days time it’ll all be over.

People already lose their shit over the concept of Easter being a moveable feast. They aren't going to cope with Christmas not being every year even if it is on the same date (tbh, plenty still seem surprised that it's happened again every year).

Nah, it’s what you make out of it. You don’t have to see relatives , buy a tonne of stuff, etc. I’m having a relaxing one compared to previous years (I felt after Covid had to do all the stuff but was exhausting). Turned down many invites leading to the holiday so that I don’t burn out (accepted some), bought gifts for people who reciprocate, didn’t go to all the lights, markets etc only the ones I really enjoyed in the past and it’s been very pleasant.

Every 4 years, like the World Cup which I also dislike. I like it OP!

No thanks.
Winter is depressing and I for one need twinkly lights and fun to get through it.

It will be like Narnia...always winter but never Christmas.

I'd have it every year but people should have the option of engaging with it or not. All the ads, forced jollity and endless talk of how "magic" it is since the end of Halloween is very wearing. Not everybody likes it or feels in the mood for it. I wish it was a bit more like Easter, some time off,a nice lunch and no big fuss.

I don't think the Churches would be willing to accept it being changed to every 4 years when it's been every year for so long.

Oh no no no! Christmas is the highlight of the year. I love it. We alternate each year at home and abroad at my sisters (except fur pandemic years and unfortunately this year my son could not get the time off work). So it is different depending where we are. But I love the build up and even though my kids are young adults they love it too. So many of my very best memories are around Christmas.

Those who say it's "just for kids" are usually the ones whose trollies are piled high with booze and food that no child would touch.

So now it's over for this year, have I changed my mind?
No! I had an OK Christmas, a few presents, saw a few people, had some nice food. If only it could be this simple, instead we will get bombarded in around 8 months!
Grr. Bah humbug.
Happy New Year folks! 😉