What do you think is the best thing about Christmas

[NotEnoughTime]

and what do you think is the worst?

I'm really looking forward to Christmas Eve usually ~ 6 /7pm when it it is time to settle down to the Snowman and the Snowman and the Snowdog, then putting out "bits" for Santa and his reindeer, reading "A Night Before Christmas" etc etc and of course Christmas morning.

The worst part for me is having to drive hundreds of miles over the Festive season and shelling out money we haven't got on hotel accommodation. I find it really stressful but I do it so the children will see their grandparents/cousins etc as they will never come to us as "they like spending Christmas at home"

What do you like the most/least?

I love spending the day with DH and DC watching Christmas TV eating yummy food.

I love it all

I love Christmas, two and a half weeks off work , seeing my family, cooking, relaxing, recharging my batteries, walk on the beach on xmas eve with soup flasks. We have moved within 50 miles of all my family this year so no long drives.

If I had to choose one thing it would just be the time I spend with people I only get to see at Christmas.

I'm not Christian, but I love the slowdown at work as people start to wind down for the end of the year. I also loved Christmas lunches in the office - it's a real novelty for me.

Worst thing? That people overspend and go into debt for unnecessary stuff.

I love the planning, the feeling that it might snow.
Even the big food shop, buying a few extra nice things.
Using all my crockery and serving dishes.

This year it'll be DH, myself and the teenage DC. (I'm going to see my DParents for New Year, the travelling is way too much for them. DB is working over Christmas so him and DSiL can't come here)

I like being in the kitchen, getting all the food ready, writing everything on the kitchen blackboard.

And seeing what utterly shit Christmases they have on the soaps

Like least? Getting into lazy habits so I'm working between Christmas/New Year then travelling and spending time with DParents (busy) before a couple of days at home (DC will be back to school) to get things back to normal.

The first nice bits of christmas food and drink in December (sick of it by the 25th).

Although I'm not a Christian, I work in a Christian organisation and the lead up is lovely, lots of carols, the local schools come in and do their nativity, the advent crown is lit every week etc etc.

At home, I love having friends and family around and feeling cosy.
I really dislike the whole commercial aspect of Christmas and people spending too much on Stuff which is not needed or wanted.

Completely agree with all the gratuitous spending, thneeds in Lorax terms.

What is really lovely is that we have friends from all over the world, from all walks of life and religions (or not), who, because the way we work in the UK, get time to meet us when they wouldn't normally.

The best thing about Christmas is Jesus. I love that this amazing, kind, phenomenal and loving person who changed the whole world, was born into a refugee family, in poverty. And He grew up to be the most influential person the world has ever seen!!! His message was and is groundbreaking!!!!! I love Him.

The worst thing?? Putting toys (that cost the size of a small country that I as Mum bought) together late Christmas Eve and pretending they are from a man!!!!

Also: carols! I love them! I've dragged poor DH to two already and there's another this weekend. Bonus if there are mince pies after. I'm the worst Jew ever.

Thanks everyone.

It is good to hear what everyone else is looking forward to... and not looking forward to.

Boxing Day is my favourite, all the pressure of Christmas is over and I can just relax with do and our children watching TVs and eating left overs!

Spending time with family where we don't try to do DIY or paperwork or anything, but just devote a few days to games and feasting and walks. Apart from a summer holiday it's the only real time that happens.

Hate people buying tat they struggle to afford for people who don't really want it anyway. And people feeling forced to spend Christmas with people they don't wamt to be with.

I love the build up. I love Christmas Eve films, music and lovely treats. I love exchanging presents and just the general happiness of the day.

I absolutely hate Boxing Day. It's just a "meh" day and a reminder that Christmas is over.

This year I am determined to enjoy the week between Christmas and New Year - I'm trying to plan lots already.

I do love Christmas a lot

The best thing is DH's company shut down for two weeks over Christmas so we get to spend time together as a family. He works long hours and travels abroad frequently, during the week we hardly see him and weekends always seem to fly by in a blur of activity.

The worst thing this year is my stepfather's failing health and worrying if he'll be able to make it to ours for Christmas dinner. Him and my mum only live thirty minutes away at most but he's been very ill recently. I offered to host so my mum doesn't have to do anything, but if SF is too ill to leave the house I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I could take everything to my mum's house but then she ends up with all the mess and disruption again which is what I wanted to avoid in the first place.