Where did it come from, the tradition of visiting or being visited by people you don't see or get along with the rest of the year?
What do you think is so awful about Christmas alone? I've spent some Christmas days alone through choice when single because its more peaceful than visiting friends having never met their families before and not knowing if you'll like each other. It's took some convincing to get some of them to understand it's genuinely what I wanted. I find it's fine, it's not sad or lonely. It's one day of doing whatever I want.
When it comes to family I've got my own now and this year I'm starting a new tradition of Christmas day to ourselves. We can visit or be visited by family and friends before or after Christmas day, but the day itself is ours. No difficult people, no family drama, nobody feeling left out because we're spending it with someone else that year. Just us. I can already feel the relief.
Usually I'm stressed out all December trying to juggle it all and keep everyone else happy. No more. If you're close to your family and can't wait to spend Christmas day with them, that's great, but for everyone who isn't - why do we do it?
I've got halfway through my life without thinking about it and this year realised I couldn't think of a good reason to spend the day in someone else's home, watching their choice of TV, being sniped at or ignored, eating when they decide, feeling unhappy and counting down the time until I can leave. I don't know why I've put up with it on previous years.