What’s the one thing you hate?

[Michelle1964]

I love Christmas! The advent preparations of cake and pudding making, the gift shopping for family and friends, carol services, Christmas concerts, Christmas eve prep, family buffet tea party, Christmas presents in the morning, the whole Christmas lunch event, the Queen’s (King’s) address, board games, Baileys, communal jigsaw puzzles, Boxing day country walk, village pub lunch. I could go on.

But there’s one thing I’ve always detested and always have. Christmas Crackers. Urrgghh! Just an excuse for creating litter. Pathetic tissue paper hat, bangers that don’t bang more times than they do, a joke your dad would be embarrassed to tell, and a cheap plastic toy that usually adds to the litter generated. They add nothing to the enjoyment or magic of the season. When I’m the host they don’t get a look-in.

What’s the ONE THING you hate about the Christmas festivities?

The kids being over excited and intolerable for weeks beforehand.

Absolutely this.
Slightly better this year but they are giddy, tired, falling out, full of excitement that can lead to meltdowns.

Our bins don’t get collected as per the usual schedule and we always generate too much waste to fit in them, so we end up with full bin bags and piles of recycling by the back door.

Paying for it.

The obligation. People spending faux happy time with people they don't want to be with. Have the Christmas you truly want and stop dancing to other people's tunes!

Turkey dinner 🤮 I mean I can eat it but it certainly isn't special or amazing to me. I grew up in a household that never ever had Turkey we often had steak instead. My dh always wants traditional Turkey. Last yr we had lamb which was nice but this yr we are going to do Turkey and a ham joint. This will keep both of us happy (to an extent) I'd much prefer a Chinese 😂 or even a nice homemade lasagne.

Pigs in blankets. Yuk.

Controversial opinion: Having to visit family, whenI just can't be arsed with the drama and how we just don't have anything in common. Its just painful and noone enjoys it. We go through it because we are supposed to and tbh, I think its a big fat waste of everyone's time.

I'd much rather either spend time at home or with friends I actually like.

I think next year, unless DH arranges it, I won't make the effort.

Its his family anyway.

When it’s over! I absolutely love Christmas, we are so lucky we’ve always had amazing ones and I always have very magical Christmases as a child, too. I hate when it’s all over for another year.

Guests who become fish.

Shopping for Christmas presents, don't mind for DCs or DH but for DPs and family members. Trying to think of what to get when people are able to afford pretty much anything they want. It's just all such a pointless waste of time

I always think you know someone is an adult when they worry about the bins being collected. I've been an adult for a long time and I'm lucky this year, collection is just one day late. It's a win this year for sure.

Same. Having to socialise with people I don't like out of obligation.

I love Christmas crackers and paper hats, when I think about my DF the first image that always comes to mind is him in a Christmas paper hat standing over the cooker making everyone something to eat. Last year my SIL found an old photo of him, her DF and her SDF they were obviously having some sort of Christmas drinks at my brothers, my Dad was there with his paper hat on.

For me it’s how crazy people go stocking up on everything because the supermarkets are closed for 1 bloody day 🤯

The expectation
This year I've been ill since the start of November, as well as been involved in a court tribunal to get wages from a previous job and started a new one.
I've not done tree, Dec's, barely sorted gifts, food shopping not considered and despite there being a 43, 18 and 17 year old I'm the house who could do elements of the Christmas load instead the question is when am I?
Where are the crackers?
When am I making vol au vonts?
Where's the tree?
Well bollocks to it all!

Oh god yes. Completely agree @RedToothBrush. Having to faux civil friendliness and one way small talk with people you have zero interest on or even like. I secretly wait for my inlaws to leave this earth so that I'm not forced to go to their house and see dh's relatives (some i really dislike..and a bit racist) so that I can be released from duty visits.

Alcohol. I hate how it makes otherwise tolerable/nice people into utter bellends and the knock on effect that has on everyone.

What does that mean please?

Finding and buying presents.

Everything else I really do enjoy.

Writing Christmas cards. Hate, hate, hate it.

All of it.

@SnuggleBuggleBoo there’s an old saying that says that guests and fish go off after 4 days.

Where do you want me to start?

Re in law's it's all so dependant isn't it.
Are they kind and nice enough just not your type, are they disinterested in you?

Will you have to stay there for ages or just a few hours? Will they make an effort to get you something you like or just chuck crap at you.
Personally I wouldn't mind anything, as long as the teenisest bit of thought had gone onto it.