Those of you who LOVE Christmas - can you tell me why?

[nearlyreadyforstatelyhomes]

Child of divorced parents here so I suspect that's why I'm not a huge fan.....

This year I've been really trying to get in the spirit of things but today I've struggled. It all seems so random and pointless and stressful and expensive.

A couple of my besties simply love Christmas and I am genuinely surprised that it brings them this much joy and excitement. I suspect that if I ever experienced their Christmases first hand it would just make me feel sad that mine haven't been or aren't like they are supposed to be that.

What is it about Christmas that's so great?

Escaping to where it is green and beautiful and recharging

Thanks all. You all sound v excited and I hope you have great Christmases!!

It's really hard trying to fit everyone in amicably and evenly so I guess that simply overshadows all of the lovely things you've jut mentioned above. There's always a sense of guilt lurking somewhere about having leaving someone out / having a fun time whilst one set of parents are on their own. Just feels lose-lose.

This year, our first as a family of four, we've opted to spend Christmas Day on our own because it feels the easiest solution. Boxing Day will be spent running around to see the three sets of parents. Even that's been tricky to arrange because they all have "timeslots" and at least one set is unhappy about their slot.

I'd love to get excited about all the things you guys mention above but with a whopping great It's Impossible To Please Everyone But Hey Let's Flog This Dead Horse Anyway cloud hanging over since November it's hard.

I'd like to cry for 3 days solid.

momb that's a lovely post, especially the bit about the coat and the old lady. Merry Christmas

Nearlyready, I don't suppose people could come to you on Boxing Day instead of you running around visiting three separate families? Too late for this year, I guess, but would it be a thought for next?

I love the idea of Christmas. Every year I get so excited at the beginning of December. It's a combination of things, the music, the food, the smells, spending time with friends, but most of all the idea that everyone is happy and cheerful and nice to each other as it's Christmas. In reality, it's never anything like that and I'm always disappointed. I see other people with big extended families who all get on and want to spend time together and I'm so envious of their family Christmas'. My parents are divorced, my mum is a narc, my brother died 6 years ago aged 27 and my dad, lovely as he is, spends most of it in the pub. DH tries his best to make it special and I have 13 month old DD now, and 12 weeks pregnant with DC2 so I'm aiming for big, happy family Christmas' in the future!