If you could eliminate one thing about Christmas what would it be?

[Nonplusultra]

I think if I could change one thing I’d eliminate the presents - just have a lovely season of coming together for meals and companionship, without the stress and expense of buying gifts for a certain day.

I quite like giving gifts - I’d just rather do it as and when, instead of trying to find something thoughtful by a certain date within a strict price range.

What one aspect of Christmas would you change?

Same as you OP.

The expectation that you have to spend an absolute fortune on children. It becomes ridiculous. Hearing friends brag on how much they've spent on their child and asking you what you got your child and how much you've spent. It just grows arms and legs doesn't it?

For me it's about the Christmas music, food, helping each other in the kitchen, movies, games, drinks. Ah it's just so magical. Can do without the gifts.

The expectation to do things certain way. There seems to beca lot of pressure, especially on women, that everything has to be perfect. The joy seems to have been lost.

I'd eliminate loneliness. No clue how but it always makes me sad to think of people alone.

Merry Christmas by Slade blaring out in every single shop.

Yes OP, Christmas presents.

Also if it could just start in December (the adverts and decorations and Christmas music) - that would be perfect too.

Christmas music in all the shops

The starting too early (saw things in August), then ending too early because everyone's tired of it. Start in December as Lindor said.

Mariah fucking Carey

Presents as well. Everyone spending money they can't afford. It's also the most stressful part of Christmas

It is too early and too big. It should start at the beginning of December, not before. Gifts should be something like a book, or a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, some nice coffee and biscuits, even for family members - a nice treat, not this overblown, extravagant, unaffordable mess we have now.

Presents here too.
I have a big family and they mostly get vouchers now but it’s still expensive.

The drunk squealing noises at Christmas do's and sellotape - both equally annoying so I can't choose between them.

Presents and having to spend days with people who are grumpy all the time and sit in silence at Christmas dinner (my in laws). So grim. I have to meditate beforehand.

Christmas dinner.

Having to visit the in laws! 😭

This...

Growing up I would have said I would eliminate spending the day (and Boxing Day) with extended family- namely aunts and uncles I did not like when the family dynamics were shitty. My mother would be a total bitch leading up to it as she was so stressed about it then would cry for days afterwards because it had all gone as expected.

I moved continents to get away from that.

I would currently remove all expectations about this or that. Just boil it down to 'here is a great day, let's celebrate'.

Christmas.

Presents, definitely presents, I think everyone should treat themselves to something nice but it just adds another layer of strain on the whole thing.

This year we’ve almost entirely eliminated gift giving.

DD is early twenties and a broke student so we’re giving her money, a book because it’s traditional and then chocolate.

Myself, DH and MIL have decided that we’ll split the cost of the Christmas food in lieu of gifts.

We’ve agreed that MIL is will pay for the meat and we’ll pay for everything else. She’s delighted with that arrangement and so are we.

Actually I've changed my mind, I would change the environmental aspect. We're all slaving over recycling these days, washing every yoghurt pot, sorting every last thing possible and then come December (or August) it all goes out of the window!

Aisle after aisle of plastic tat in Home Bargains, cards that can't be recycled because they have glitter or foil, same for wrapping paper. You would have thought these obvious things that could be changed easily would have been by now. I mean just simple steps that could be taken without affecting the celebration, haven't been. So I'd eliminate things that easily could be environmentally friendly, but aren't.

I agree so hard about the starting too early : I don’t mind Christmas stock appearing in shops but I don’t want to hear Christmas music until December and I definitely don’t want to see twinkly lights before Hallowe’en.

@WaitingfortheTardis 😂 yes! Squealing and sellotape!

@Noicant I love that idea.

Keep Christmas in December.

The cost!
but that’s on me I need to budget better!

The insane amount of work it involves for possibly one person - me! All the presents, wrapping, shopping and cooking.