Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What’s the one thing you hate?

96 replies

Michelle1964 · 19/12/2022 19:17

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?

What’s the one thing you hate?
OP posts:
Flapjackquack · 19/12/2022 21:13

I used to hate spending all of Christmas Eve and half of Christmas Day traipsing round the M25 on the obligatory visits, but I sacked that off years ago.

Now it’s the excessive amount of gifts my family give. Yes I know that sounds ungrateful but it’s ridiculous and half of it goes straight to the charity shop. It’s all for show and it just makes me really uncomfortable. I’d rather 1 or 2 nice gifts than 30 pound shop stocking stuffers. Any request for change is met with offence. They think DC is borderline neglected because we have only bought him 6 gifts this year. He is 2 ffs.

Flapjackquack · 19/12/2022 21:14

doodlejump1980 · 19/12/2022 21:05

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

Ohhhh, I thought it meant they drunk too much 😂

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 19/12/2022 21:14

That bloody Mariah Carey song. Ugh.

lovemycbf · 19/12/2022 21:14

Families that don't bother with each other throughout the year (looking at you DMIL) that suddenly act like the waltons in others company

Adviceneeded200 · 19/12/2022 21:24

How long it goes on for.

Quite happy for three Christmassy days. Done.

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 19/12/2022 21:25

SIL and BIL Christmas morning visit.

They fly around different family members all day and we get a specific time a lot (anytime between 8 and 11 usually) that we aren't told about until maybe half an hour beforehand.

So early Christmas morning I have to make sure I'm dressed, bra on, makeup on just so they can come round and throw a gazillion presents at DD and a handful at DS (DH isn't DS bio dad although he calls him Dad, he was 18 months old when I met him and real dad has nothing to do with him) they still, after 18 years, can't treat them equally.

I find it so stressful. Plus I can't stand BIL. He's a smarmy bastard.

DanseAvecLesLoups · 19/12/2022 21:28

I just don't like Christmas generally, ironically though I cook a phenomenal Christmas lunch so I am happy to hide in the kitchen all day with music and wine and leave the family to squabble over trivial dispute and green quality street triangles.

LouLou900 · 19/12/2022 21:30

Fladdermus · 19/12/2022 19:30

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!

This.

Username6194 · 19/12/2022 21:36

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 19/12/2022 21:25

SIL and BIL Christmas morning visit.

They fly around different family members all day and we get a specific time a lot (anytime between 8 and 11 usually) that we aren't told about until maybe half an hour beforehand.

So early Christmas morning I have to make sure I'm dressed, bra on, makeup on just so they can come round and throw a gazillion presents at DD and a handful at DS (DH isn't DS bio dad although he calls him Dad, he was 18 months old when I met him and real dad has nothing to do with him) they still, after 18 years, can't treat them equally.

I find it so stressful. Plus I can't stand BIL. He's a smarmy bastard.

This sounds awful. Why have you not put a stop to this

RedDiamond · 19/12/2022 21:37

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 19/12/2022 20:56

What does that mean please?

Show quote history

Fish start to smell after three days...

Andsoforth · 19/12/2022 21:40

The timing of it - it comes at the worst possible time of year. Of all the mad pagan festivals to hold onto, why did it have to be the mid winter one that stuck?

Brightstarowl · 19/12/2022 21:41

CookieDoughKid · 19/12/2022 20:53

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.

Wishing your partners folks dead at Christmas....Nice.

That can't be great for your karma.

Mañanarama · 19/12/2022 21:44

The obligation / guilt of doing the same thing every year. Bring back the lockdowns!

Wonnle · 19/12/2022 21:54

StiggyZardust · 19/12/2022 21:02

All of it.

Yep , the hype starts late October if you're lucky and just keeps on going

Flapjackquack · 19/12/2022 22:02

We waited this year and only bought the tree about a week ago. I have enjoyed having more of December Christmas free. It hasn’t felt like there was a really long build up, and now I am very excited for the weekend. It’s felt more special somehow. Will definitely be doing this in future.

katepilar · 19/12/2022 22:03

I just hate the whole thing.

The only bit I do like is that everyone at work are off which means they will not bother me.

JaneJeffer · 19/12/2022 22:05

Christmas Day. Once that's over it's ok except for New Year's Eve which is terrible.

Minniem2020 · 19/12/2022 22:06

The fact that as well as making sure I don't forget anything for the Christmas dinner, I still have to do the usual shop and think about what we're eating on all the other days around it.

MoltenLasagne · 19/12/2022 22:06

BIL - he will always upset DMIL somehow and she'll pretend not to be hurt but she is. He enjoys being an arse and normally we call him out on it but at Christmas doing so would just upset DMIL further.

So we have to put up with him for the sake of his kids and run interventions that never quite work and try our hardest to make DMIL feel special to counteract the inevitable.

DuchessOfDisco · 19/12/2022 22:10

Turkey. Overpriced, dry and bland. I always cook gammon and if my parents want to join us and have Turkey then they can bring it (and they do - every year. My dad cooks it that morning then they come over for lunch. We are lucky to live so close)

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 19/12/2022 22:11

@Username6194 I have tried and tried over the years. Unfortunately SIL is golden child over my DH and her and BIL can do no wrong.

I did cut them out completely for a few years but it just wasn't worth the aggro that DH got. So now DS hides in the kitchen with me to "help" and we have a Buck's Fizz, roll our eyes a lot, have a generally fun morning and let DH deal with them.

Thankfully they are only here an hour and we rarely see them the rest of the year.

livelollove · 19/12/2022 22:11

Buying presents for the sake of it. I wouldn't do it 11 months of the year why am I doing it now?
I'm going to buy presents throughout the year in 2023 so they'll be things people actually want and means not one big splurge in December!

RedToothBrush · 19/12/2022 22:19

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 19/12/2022 21:12

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.

Have to see them for a whole day.

BIL has to demonstrate he is top dog (a pretentious wanker with not great taste anyway. He has to outdo his brother - DH. Mensa quiz books in the guest toilet do not hint at modesty).

He doesn't buy gifts. SIL does. We've previously said to stop buying for adults which was ignored (of course we hadn't brought anything... But they got to prove how amazing they were that year) We specifically said for years don't buy anything big as we havent the same amount of space (we lived in a small 2 bed - they were in a 5 bed detached) so they ignored that and are currently still doing the same for his sister. But yes they get to prove they buy the biggest presents, bigger than mummy and daddy... After asking what their girls would like which was books, it was then not just any books but a 'whole book set as otherwise it gets annoying'. We've asked for books for DS in response. He never gets any. He gets the gift that BIL would like to buy for a son himself, or whatever is on offer on Amazon cos they can't be arsed.

So yeah. It's all about showing off lifestyle and social status. All brands and ideas we just think are bullshit. We drive practical, efficient cars which are unfashionable. They buy the right brand of coat. We buy outdoor gear suitable for the activity cos DH needs proper gear for the conditions not a fashion coat. We do community and make a point of supporting local businesses. They go to the trendy chains.

DHs sister on the other had has a organisational brainpass where she insists she has asked us about plans but doesn't and then tells us what to do, which is utterly impossible for us to make. Or she just doesn't tell us and then gets the hump when we make alternative plans - cos after the third time of trying to get a straight answer we don't get a response. She gets the hump over everything tbh. But then doesn't tell you, but just holds it against you indefinitely. But she and her husband at least do share a taste for similar beers. However since having kids, she cannot leave the house at certain hours (middle of the day) and has to be back to the minute of the baby's schedule. DS was just plopped in a carrier and got on with sleeping in it. She can not mess up the precious schedule otherwise her children turn into pumpkins or rats or something. It dictates all known life on the planet.

And then there's the PIL. Who are just plain weird but at least have had the grace to fuck off on holidays for the last 7 Christmass (bar covid) after getting upset no one asked them for Christmas (we had no space - BIL who does has his in laws for the week which is the source of problems). They will be here next year so no doubt we will be summoned on a date we can't make or they will complain about missing out on DS when he was very small and how my parents were chosen instead (we've been NC with my parents for a number of years which they've been told and saw the in laws when they could be bothered - they forgot they were supposed to come one time). Last time they visited they came for an hour then went to pick up glasses!

Honestly it's tiresome bollocks. We can never do right and they deliberately try to put DH down as much as pos.

As i say, leaving it to Dh to sort out next year....

SillySausage81 · 19/12/2022 22:20

Andsoforth · 19/12/2022 21:40

The timing of it - it comes at the worst possible time of year. Of all the mad pagan festivals to hold onto, why did it have to be the mid winter one that stuck?

What? The time of year is the BEST thing about it... I think it's essential to have a bit of light and cheer in the darkest, grimmest part of the year so people don't get too depressed and have something to look forward to.

Puzzledstill · 19/12/2022 22:26

I’m with @CornishGem1975