Do you think Christmas as an event as had its day & will it look very different in 5 or 10 years?

[NalPolishRemover]

Reading through MN over the past few days it's struck me how many threads are so negative about Christmas, too much work, too much stress, spending time with people you don't like, hating the gifts you've received, hating buying gifts, hating the traditional foods, taking decorations down on boxing day, erasing all signs of Christmas as soon as possible, not doing Santa, or if doing Santa doing it as minimally as possible etc etc

It got me thinking, most of us have sort of trundled from one year to the next doing what we've always done in terms of our own family culture/ tradition but covid has disrupted everything. It's broken lots of cycles for people. Do you think it's perhaps started a decline in Christmas and over the next 5 - 10 years Christmas will no longer be recognizable?

Given how much everyone was (claiming to be ) longing for their traditional family Christmas gatherings last year, I thought this year the boards would be full of happiness & joy but they seem overwhelmed by frustration.& disappointment instead.

Maybe Christmas is actually over?

I love Christmas for so many reasons, yea it's a lot of work but good planning makes all the difference.
I think people tend to start threads when they are stressed or worried, most of us wouldn't start a thread boasting about how organised and under control we are, so you're probably seeing a very skewed view

Don't be ridiculous!

Hahahahaha, really??

Of course not!

I suspect it's more that after the disappointment last year, the pressure to "make up for it" this year may have backfired for some people.

Once covid loses its grip on peoppe Christmas will be back to its usual wonder.

I think this year is an exceptionally difficult one.
I am not convinced there are more awful family/too much pressure threads than usual. There are always lots but this year we also have the extra family tensions where people differ about covid related things like testing and jabs, on top of all the people who are miserable because actually they had been looking forward to seeing family and it has been messed up by covid.
You might well be right that people are going to be a bit more flexible in future as a result of having tried different ways but it’s a bit strong to think that means Christmas is over.

Depends on the person. Some love it, some don't. Those who don't will be stressed as they may see all the prep and faff as a total pain. Those who do revel in it.

Horses for courses, but Christmas is here to stay as a holiday season, whether you join in or not is up to you. But the forced jollity and "having" to put on a performance is hard for many too.

I just get on with it, can take it or leave it really, but that's just me, and I am so glad that to all intents and purposes it is over now for another year.

Hopefully it will be ended by then, its a grim over hyped commercialised nightmare that always leaves me feeling depressed for the whole of January.

I think the last two years may make more people realise it’s fine to spend the day with just your immediate household and that you don’t need to spend time visiting everyone just because of the date.

People will still value Christmas though

I think the secular 'perfect' Christmas is set up to fail, because nothing can ever be perfect. It is always going to fall short. For some people, minor imperfections take on an disproportionate significance, and Christmas is spoiled/disastrous.

The 'perfect' Christmas relies on other people playing along, as well as nature doing its thing. If relatives don't have the same sense of Christmas, then it's a disaster in some people's eyes. At the end of the day, you can only control your own behaviour and expectations.

In the past, I have found gift buying to be a chore and something to be put off to the last minute. That meant that I bought the 3-for-2 gift packs from Boots for everyone. Nice in themselves, but not very environmental or particularly thoughtful.

This year, I was determined to be really thoughtful and buy gifts that would make a difference, so basically a tat-free zone. I didn't particularly have a budget as we didn't spend anything last year (Christmas Eve shopper during lockdown).

I'd say we have had the most satisfying Christmas ever in terms of gifts given and received.

I am in my room now as I type, but listening to the lovely sounds of 5 kids and 2 DILs playing board games together.

I had Delia turkey plans for today, but am not in the mood, and everyone agreed that they would graze (and I think they all preferred to do this). For me, this makes a perfect Christmas.

People like a good moan. I enjoy reading those threads and having a bit of a moan too.

I still like Christmas. It does feel a bit odd having zero religious element to it, though we did have carols on at volume 11 because my Mum is quite hard of hearing now.

I don't think I'm being ridiculous to consider the fact that so many of the traditional aspects of Christmas are being dropped that it will look different over time?

And to wonder if a global pandemic & it's legacy will accelerate this?

Many many people could not have imagined spending the day without large family gatherings but then had to & some have enjoyed it etc

We've always just had our wee family of three on Christmas Day - that's what Christmas has looked like for us ever since DH and I got together.

I suspect there are millions of people like us, they're just not posting on MN about the stresses of the day because - let's face it - roasting a chicken for three isn't exactly stressy!

lol

I had a lovely Christmas Day. No point posting about it, really.

I think that for many, especially those with small children, it'll still be special. The original religious celebration is waning for many but still important for some and will continue to be so but the whole idea of excited children waiting for 🎅 will continue.

We stopped celebrating a traditional Christmas years ago... and now with the DC not believing in Santa anymore it's more like a long weekend to us. DC still get presents, but more of the useful type like clothes. We have a small tree to keep up appearances but that's all the decorations there is.

Christmas has turned into a retail feast with the real reason for the festivities lost under a mountain of plastic tat.
But I really can't see anything change in the near future at all.

@Sirzy

I think the last two years may make more people realise it’s fine to spend the day with just your immediate household and that you don’t need to spend time visiting everyone just because of the date.

People will still value Christmas though

Absolutely agree. While we're going to have to live with covid for the duration and it's going to affect everyday life less and less, I think that the uncertainties it has imposed may well have left people realising that there's not so much wrong with keeping a smaller Christmas.

Everything changes over time even if we don't notice it until we look back. I would be more surprised if nothing had changed 10 years from now.

The people having a great time are less likely to be posting, because they're busy having a great time and don't need to vent.

Is that not a bit like thinking marriage will no longer exist in 5 years based on reading the Relationships board?

Posters don’t generally start individual threads to say how much they’re looking forward to a catch up with MIL or that they quite enjoy gift shopping yet that would be true for many. People post on MN to unload but it doesn’t mean those threads are widely representative.

Hopefully it will be ended by then, its a grim over hyped commercialised nightmare that always leaves me feeling depressed for the whole of January.

How about, if you don't like it, just don't do it. Why must something end or be spoiled for everyone just because some people think it's too 'commercialised'. Take some responsibility for yourself. If some aspect(s) male you depressed it's on you to proactively find ways to avoid these things/do Christmas in your own way.

I bloody hate the MN sentiment that just because certain individuals don't like certain holidays/celebrations/traditions they hope they die out for everyone

I don’t think the retail world will let us forget Christmas but I do think there will be a section of society that will push back against that to varying degrees - from mates not giving each other gifts for the sake of it, to adult families doing a secret Santa (us for the past few years), to people boycotting wrapping, cards, and other wasteful/environmentally damaging aspects.

My Christmas has changed to be smaller - partly consciously, and partly through circumstance as my family die and aren’t being replaced by babies. I don’t over extend myself in terms of time, don’t over-buy, or over-gift, and use the time to recharge and reconnect with friends. I’m (a bad) catholic so I do spend time thinking about it as a religious festival too.

I agree with you NailPolishRemover.
I enjoy Christmas well enough.
I have grown up children and myself and my husband share the load with him doing slightly more in terms of shopping and cooking. The kids are a great help too, no partners to consider yet, so it's just us 6.
But I'm bored of it now...
Would love to go abroad some year..maybe next?

This is my 63rd Christmas - none of them have been exactly the same, but some things never change - being with the people I love (even last year - there aren't that many people I love!) and eating all the good food. Society has changed in many ways during my lifetime, but the essential elements of Christmas (I'm not religious) are constants.

No I really don't think so . Look at the Christmases of ww2 when rationing was in place many Family either fighting or dead , or bombed out . I just think so many people are brats about presents . Or too much pressure put onto one family to do Christmas . I think the younger generation need to pull their finger out and stop laying it all at the feet of Parents .

I still think Christmas & how it's celebrated has changed a lot since my own childhood & given what I read here that change is ever accelerating & it will change how we & our children experience Christmas.

Lots of dropping traditional foods in favour of alternative meals, the religious aspect not celebrated by so many, no gift rules etc

I just found it interesting to think what an average Christmas might look like in 10 years time.

Mn is always the same ever year