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?

Work parties and crackers.

That's two things, but I dislike both equally.

That's what we've said to our DS. We've made it clear he's free to do what he wants and go where he wants, and that there's no expectation of him having to come to ours. We both had the "emotional blackmail" of our respective parents requiring us to be "home" at Christmas, which caused us real problems when we first got together as we ended up in separate places! No way were we going to impose that kind of stupidity on our son!

In the laws. They ruined Xmas for me with their meanness and lack of joy

Slade.

I agree with eliminating gifts, but not altogether, I think the obligation to get a gift should be eliminated. The stress I've had in the past trying to think of what to get someone that isn't a close family member has been unreal.

For now its just family only and actually cut back spending, amount given as well.

I’d eliminate:
presents for anyone who isn’t one of my own children.
Christmas markets (just a load of tat)
Turkey, mince pies, pigs in blankets (gross)
Themed clothing (wasteful and usually incredibly tacky)
And lastly, I know it was only meant to be one thing but I’m in a roll now, thin see through wrapping paper!

Get rid of Christmas and skip straight to the 27th, that’s when I start to enjoy it.

Working !

Yep, I'm with you on this one, OP, gifts are not exactly necessary and people end up giving out/getting stuff they won't find a proper use for. Making christmas slideshows with music, photos and christmassy pictures and adding your wishes there, then having a good time just catching up and sharing a meal would be a much more joyful experience.

I would like to stop all the absolute junk presents kids receive. Ideally I would like a written proposal from each family member a month prior to Christmas with photos of the proposed gift/s and the right to veto anything I deem unfit 😆 Absolutely hate all the unsuitable plastic crap that ends up in landfill. I feel so indebted to the people who buy it and end up bringing it home and trying to squeeze it into my small house before it inevitably falls apart and needs to be binned.

Most of it to be honest 😆

The unnecessary consumerism of it - from presents to "special" foods, the work events (I like my team, but not that much that I want to go out with them!), to the forced fun of it all.

Alone and loneliness are different things.

My grandmother chose to spend her Christmases alone. On Xmas eve she would have an 'open house' so people just called in as and when they wanted and then she had the actual day to herself.

Adult gifts, other than consumables. Honestly it's a massive faff.

I’d make it every other year so that it’s more of an event and it’d give people a break from all the stress and pressure every other year!

Just don't do presents for anyone other than your own kids.

My answer to the OP would be meat. I'd ban the consumption of animal flesh.

I agree with earlier posters about not expecting adult DC to come home. I suffered from that when I was younger and vowed I would never inflict it on any future children.

We love seeing our DC and their partners but any time of year will do. This year DS and DIL are going abroad for a warm Christmas, we will see them another time.

Very prudent I think^^. Agree totally with this! The less pressure the better for everyone!

We don't have any of that. Sure we attend the end of term carols at DC secondary school and eat a mince pie afterwards, but that's it.

I have no work Xmas party, no Xmas lunches. I did before DC in my 20s but nothing now I'm in my 40s.

I also agree with PPs about making sure DC know there is no obligation to spend the day with us. Ever.

The tat. We try and be a tat free zone but DD is an adult and I imagine it’s harder for those who have young kids. It’s not appreciated and very quickly heads to landfill.

Examples include:

Crap bought for teacher and TA’s. A fifteenth best teacher mug or various concoctions in cellophane. Same for Brownie/Cub leaders, swimming teacher, football coaches. They don’t want this stuff. Stop inflicting it on them.

Shiny bits to add to wrapping

Crackers and everything inside them

A lot of “stocking fillers” think Poundland. Probably be forgotten before breakfast.

Brand new decorations every year.

A lot of cards but the glitter ones are the worst.

I think thoughtful gifts are lovely but if Christmas is as many parents seem to think about the children maybe stop trashing the planet future generations will have to live on once you are dead.

I will be torn to pieces by the MN wolves of course but 🤷🏻‍♀️

The idea that you have to do Christmas with a big family and everyone feels sorry if you say it's just you, DH and DD.

I love the present part. But I admit, I only buy for parents and DH. DD only gets presents from us and the grandparents so it's easy.

I love December and Christmassy things, I just do as much as I want and not what people tell me to do.

Some of us actually like being alone.

The increase in loan adverts on tv. It absolutely boils my piss imagining less well off people so sucked into the hype that they have to consider high interest loans, and the loan companies taking advantage of that.

I think the poster was referring to people who are alone, feel unhappy about it and would like company. People who like and want solitude aren’t lonely they are just alone.

Sorry my poster was a reply to this comment.

Falling at peak cold and flu season. Everything else about Christmas I love!