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?

you have summed up very well what I have been trying to express

I think people have answered a different question to what you asked tbh!

Maybe it’s just MN as it seems people have tunnel vision on here with regard to how Christmas ‘is’ and they can’t imagine it changing. But I find it odd that people think Christmas when their kids are adults will be the same as what we do now? Technology and societal changes will mean it evolve and change even subtly.

Maybe this year people wanted a Christmas with lots of family, the usual roast etc as they missed out last year but I don’t think that means long term trends won’t change.

Thing is a lot of people do things to please the elder generations but once they die off I think people (especially my age i.e. millennials and younger) will be way more selfish. We’ll have pizza if we want and binge on films all day or fly off on holiday. Or maybe get hello fresh to deliver Christmas dinner in a box instead of having to buy everything separately. People will want convenience and ease. So few of my friends would spend all day slaving in the kitchen to cook for 15 people like my mum and gran would. In fact I’d never invite that many people over in the first place! Sod tradition, I just want to relax.

So yes there will be a Christmas, lights, trees, fun stuff in the run up to Christmas but things will change for sure.

I like it’ll evolve a bit. People will be more likely to do what suits them and be more relaxed about it than stick to traditions just because. They’ll make their own traditions.

I think you have a point OP. We have 3 young adults and they are far more concious of their eco footprints than I ever was at their age.
They detest over buying and conspicuous consumption. Only one of them would identify as being "Christian", and none of them are particularly into drinking and partying.
I don't do cards anymore (gave the money to cancer research and the RNLI) and I've cut right back on gift buying as the DC make me feel a bit guilty about buying what isn't necessary.
I remember a time in the 90s when I would "theme" the decorations and buy new each year, just taking the old ones to the charity.
I think Christmas will survive but in pared down "winter fest" kind of way, which is probably much closer to its original pagan roots!

I am having such a lovely Christmas. It's the first one since my divorce that I've spent it with someone I really love (the man I met a couple of years ago), and in a day or two my adult DC will be here (Covid stopped this last year). I feel so lucky!

I live on my own, so don't have roasts all the time. We've been cooking together, just simple food, and a glass of fizz. My house is cosy and decorated with the tree and twinkly lights.

It's been the absolute highlight of my year, but not lots of work, fuss or commercialism.

YABVU. Mumsnet represents a small minority. I love Christmas and won’t be changing any aspect.

And as Christians, it’ll always represent the birth of Jesus to us - that won’t change regardless of how much atheists alter their commercialised tat fest.

But rough to have a go at atheists for using Christmas as a “commercialised tat fest” when the Christians nicked the Pagan’s winter festival to use for a birthday party for their imaginary friend @VestaTilley.

I think our Christmas will look different next year. As a family none of us enjoyed the stress of having my DParents staying for almost a week.

I didn't particularly enjoy cooking a Christmas Lunch, DD was too excited about playing with her presents to eat, and DMum was bustling about complaining about me using the dishwasher, complaining about the fact I forgot parsnips...it was just hard work.

Next year my sister will host them, we'll be on our own and in 2023, all being well, we'll be away with friends.

The most important thing to remember is that you do you. Don't do anything that makes you unhappy/uncomfortable/anxious/stressed. It's known as the season of goodwill to all men, but to be honest, goodwill to yourself is just as important

I missed church Carols this year so Christmas did have that big element missing. Daughter 2 had covid so she and partner were isolating but overall it was much better than last year. I think what is making things hard over the past two years is the continued spectre of Covid. Not knowing whether Christmas as we each know it will be allowed and worring about relatives and friends who are susceptible for different reasons.

I dont think traditional Christmas will ever look very different but until we are through this difficult time of continual worry and bad news it will ge different.

We had no carols, no school concert.
Not Christmas!