Opting out of the Entire Christmas period

[Good2Goooooo]

I am absolutely certain about one thing in 2026, I’m opting out of being here for Christmas.
Im a woman in her 50’s who has had enough of everything Christmas.
Im not going into the small details of why but suffice to say it’s the usual reasons most people hate this time of year , family, expectations, consumerism, etc
Has anyone opted out of Christmas & gone abroad not to celebrate it somewhere else but do something completely different?
Im perhaps thinking of Volunteering?
Has anyone any ideas , experiences of this , anything?
Luckily for me my kids are all independent adults & I’ve a supportive husband of my ideas
Thank you & I wish you well over the next weeks.

Good for you! We once had a lovely non-Christmas in Morocco, but it was just a holiday, so perhaps not adventurous enough?

We have young kids now, so feel we have to do the Christmas thing, but before they were born we used to go away on our main annual holiday over Christmas - always to countries that are not majority or culturally Christian so Christmas was not a huge deal. I think everywhere we went the tourist areas had some kind of Christmas decorations or events on, so we didn’t avoid it totally but did dodge most of it.

I understand completely. Hubby has been genuinely out of action for the last 4 days with a really awful cold. I'm hoping I'll catch it just in time for Christmas day so I can opt out and leave them all to it. Not so much a a sniffle so far but 🤞🤞🤞

Walk the Camino?

Id like to do something worthwhile not just be a tourist.
Good luck with the sniffles Rosealae! 😆

Just be aware that with voluntary work overseas, you need to work out what is genuinely helpful vs set up to make western would be donors feel good (but actually aren’t helping people at all). Staying as a tourist in a locally owned hotel employing locals can be better for that country than well meaning would be volunteers - they call it voluntourism for a reason - that’s unless you have a specific skill that can be used for 2-3 weeks eg specialist surgeons or engineers

Volunteering would be a wonderful thing to do.

My parents both opt out of Christmas. My dad goes for a long run in the hills, mum volunteers.

I hate the commercial pressure to be 'joyous' at this time of year - it's constantly on the tv and in the shops, you can't escape it 😔 we've had the worst year as a family and still dealing with lots of problems, I'm so tired and just want to go to bed and wake up in January!

I think if you've got a supportive husband and children and you can do something different, that's lovely and you should go for it!

This year also in my 50s for the first time I have left the UK to go to the Alps - this is perfect for me, not overly Christmassy but I like it’s cold and snowy on the mountains and I prefer a cold Christmas. Christmas Day we might eat out as here they celebrate on Xmas eve so it’s actually good value. Shops aren’t full of tat and playing 24-7 Christmas music

So we’re doing more a celebration of winter - no pressure just do what we want. It’s so good now I want to do it again next year.

Go for it.
i opted out of Christmas one year and spent Christmas Day on a flight to Australia. Then spent 20 days travelling solo, ignored Christmas and was very happy.

I opted out over a decade ago. I did voluntary work on 25 December for the first few years, but found the atmosphere and chatter to be solely about Christmas which was the very thing I was trying to ignore/escape. Now I just stay at home and enjoy a couple of days off work, resting, reading, and watching TV. I don't want to go away just in case I encounter the usual Christmas bollocks 😄

You definitely aren’t the only one. You only see the people who do Christmas. My dad will have a vaguely nice dinner and open his one present and go for a long walk. He is not lonely and it’s not sad! I would join you in doing nothing if I didn’t still have DC at home.

Sounds wonderful, I’m looking into opting out next year too! Following for ideas….

Not opting out fully. Still have a ds (12). However we've scaled back over the years. We have our tree and minimal decorations. We open presents and stay in. Only buy presents for our boys and immediate family. This year we're having our dinner on Christmas eve, it will be pizzas and party food on 25th. Boxing day we've started going to the cinema.
It's small, quiet and not stressful. Just how we like it 🙂

Thank you for your ideas of what you do & what I could do. Unfortunately my 3 adult children are in conflict & I feel like a mental punch bag right now . I feel I need to do something for me but I’m not one to lie on a beach & drink cocktails….

Fly to Australia on Christmas Day. Cheap tickets and lovely weather when you get there.

My sister is alone in Egypt for 3 weeks and, so far, very much enjoying her non Christmas Christmas!

Oh that sounds great. Is she on a tour or a relaxing holiday?

Do the things you enjoy. Get up late, drink expensive coffee, go for a walk, run a bubble bath, read a book with a glass of fizz and watch a favourite non- chrismassy movie. You don't need to go anywhere to enjoy the day non christmas related.

Sounds like a plan & I definitely think doing a tour would be a good idea too. Thanks Ladies

I often go away and like it very, very much.