Christmas alone

[sapphiresandemeralds]

I’ve done it before but in every case I’ve got through it by working and it’s just been a totally normal day with shops closed.

I’d like it to feel like Christmas but am I kidding myself that this can be done?

Are you alone for the whole period/parts of it/all Christmas Day?

I’m just wondering. I’m also alone, but from Xmas eve through to 3pm on Christmas Day as my dd is at her dads this year. It’s my first alone and I’m unsure what I’m going to do too.

I’ll be alone for a couple of weeks.

Just to be clear - are you planning to work at all Christmas Day this year? What sort of area are you in rural or city?

It can be done but it depends on what your image of Christmas Day is; if you are someone who enjoys big, noisy gatherings with lots of friends or family it will be hard. But if your idea of a lovely Christmas Day is a peaceful Church service, a brisk walk and spoiling yourself with a delicious home cooked meal and a nice bottle of wine, and watching your own choice of TV/film or reading a really good new book in peace - it should be a nice day. I know which I would prefer.

Some people actually prefer Christmas alone ... And not just as something to ‘get through’.

So peaceful. So relaxing. Zero stress.

Luxury, music, FaceTime, sea or mountains or even just a ridiculously cosy afternoon (hotel or at home) weeping over Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth.

Seriously, anything else is punishment.

I’d need to take a second job to work this year - my organisation closes for two weeks

I do understand what you’re saying ragwort but I’m not religious and that’s just every Saturday and Sunday you’ve described there. Maybe if you’re in a house filled to the max some downtime sounds good and I get that. But two whole weeks of it might be tricky.

Can you get some good books? Download some good christmassy films? The children’s ones are my favourite - the grinch and the such like. A leisurely get up, a hot bath, a nice meal followed by an afternoon of films and reading? Christmas night tv is always good. Do you have anyone you could visit just for an hour too?

So can you afford to go ‘away’ for all or part of that time? Lovely thing to plan if you can.

I assumed you were just referring to one day, two weeks is a long tome to fill. I work in retail so the most I would ever get off is two days which is enough for me despite having a family. My DH has to have nearly 2 weeks off & it's not always a great time of year to have an enforced holiday. Can you get away youth hosteling or similar. I hate to mention volunteering as many people sneer at it but charity shops will be open most of Christmas and would welcome some help, even if only short term.

See, I’m in Birmingham, so my suggestion for getting in the Christmas spirit would be to go to the German market in the evening, buy some food from the stalls and wander round looking at the lights. The cathedral has a lot of carol concerts you can just pop into, it’s a lot more singing than preaching and to me feels more traditional than particularly religious. I’d also go and see a Christmas film and go to the pie shop afterwards. None of these things involve relaxing quietly, but if you live rurally might be more difficult. If you’re in London you will have even more options!

I really don’t think I want to go away alone - I can’t quite explain why but it’s just not for me I suppose, and it’s pretty expensive to do activity based things like skiing which is the only thing I’d want to do. Unless anyone knows any budget deals.

I’m a long way from my youth ragwort

Go to a pantomime! Lots of loud christmasness going on!

...I’d also see if I could get to a National Trust property - they decorate them beautifully.

Or cinema? Our local arts cinema is showing it’s a wonderful life and muppets Christmas carol on Christmas Eve / Boxing Day.

So it’s two weeks - but only one of those days is Christmas Day. How would you usually spend a few days off?

I’m sensing you’re not seeing the potential for utter delight ...

Youth hostels aren't just for young people, my 87 year old father still goes 'youth' hosteling, he loves it, gets to meet all sorts of interesting people, he's currently in an email exchange with some twenty some-thing year olds from Norway that he met in one of the London hostels

Why not see if there are any spaces left on something like Ledger coach tours. I have been on a couple to the Xmas markets and people often travel alone. They soon get to know people and all trips etc are organised. They are great value and we have found the experience v positive.
They specifically do Christmas and / or new yr trips and some specifically cater for single travellers. Honestly if I was alone I would do that every year. Great scenery , lots of snow, food and trips all organised and as much or as little company as you want. Sounds perfect to me !

I have a friend who volunteers each Christmas, I think with a homeless charity she supports but maybe there would be other organisations too.

Depending on your location you may find you are close to lots of great free activities.
Christmas markets (tend to be free entry)
Museums
National trust properties
Carol services

I do a lot of baking at Christmas and take the goodies to my elderly neighbours. They love the company and I love checking in on them all.

My local cinema also shows a different classic Christmas films ever afternoon for about £7/8

Lots of places will be looking for volunteers especially Christmas Day.

Boxing day sales if that takes your fancy

Panto

What do you want to do?

I have two teen kids, if I had two weeks off work and alone I would be on a plane to a sunny place with my kindle well stocked. The fact it was Christmas wouldn't bother me.

However I don't think that's what you are after. Do you want company? Do you want to feel like you have a magical Christmas?

How would getting involved with a homeless charity or soup kitchen type venture work for you?

The next village along from us opens the annex of the church building as a homeless shelter for a period in December/ January. They look for volunteers for a wide range of roles, from coordinating, though cooking, sorting clothes, pointing to access for wider help, just sitting and talking, though to cleaning the building, yes that includes the toilets... We all try to do something, and are greatly appreciated but what they really need are people with time to commit. The team spirit amongst the volunteers is quite something.

You would still have some free time, to do some of the lovely Christmassy things PPs have suggested..

if you might be interested, ill pm you a link to the project, though i expect there are similar across tbe UK

Do you have any friends/social groups normally?

Can you volunteer locally on Christmas day there are several charities who put on Christmas dinners/ arrange company for the elderly who are also alone at Christmas? The Marmalade trust, community Christmas are two examples but there are a lot more.

I don’t know butterfly - I honestly, genuinely don’t mean this rudely in any way but if I knew what I wanted I wouldn’t need to post would I

I really don’t think I’d want to do work at a homeless centre though. I have actually done loads of voluntary work and put myself out for people and time and again have had to remind myself that “no good deed goes unpunished” - I am aiming to be a bit more selfish to be honest, as horrible as that probably sounds.

Personally I couldn’t stand any of the fake-jollity stuff: pantomimes, themed tours, Christmas fayres ... And I think charities deserve better than Christmas tourists.

The best thing is to really embrace one’s alone-ness. Walking, whisky and books make the best companions. I’d recommend Edinburgh. Or a cottage on the Scottish coast. Queuing for game at the butchers (or the vegetarian equivalent), playing your entire iTunes / Spotify library, ordering seeds if you have a garden, planning a new wardrobe if not.

Of course, other people might prefer the seeking out new people route ...