Anyone else spending Christmas alone?

[Idontknowhatnametochoose]

As the title says. I will be alone on the day, which is fine- I was last year too and ended up watching the first Harry Potter film. It looks likely that i will be alone for every Christmas for the foreseeable as everything is different now my mum has died. I don't mind it as I'm an introvert and enjoy my own company but it's nice to hear from others who will also be alone. I'm not strictly alone as I have my dog and cat.

So...will you be you alone and if so what are your plans fot the day?

OP you can log on to this site at some point in the evening and read the usual threads from the people who’ve had a horrible stressful day caused by other people!

I may be alone this year as my adult DC may visit my ex who will otherwise be alone. I am encouraging it! A new book. M&S food. A long walk. A movie. Time to think. ❤️

I understand that for many people Christmas is all about being with others so they can't relate to wanting to be on their own and still celebrate.

That's fine...it's just another perspective on life.

I wish my mum was still around but even when she was I chose to spend some Christmases alone. I enjoy cooking myself a special dinner and listening to Christmas songs.

It's just nice to know who else plans to be alone too.

I think it’s fine to want to be alone at Christmas . I feel for those who don’t want to be alone but are . I also thinks it’s very different being alone for the day knowing family are coming back later eg children visiting ex partners etc .

I just ignore it. I'm not Christian.

Strangely my grandmother, who did celebrate, always spent the day on her own.

Xmas eve was 'open house' she would set up a buffet and various people would visit, some with presents, others with cards, some with just a smile.

When I was teaching I would get a load of marking done, it is the one day people leave you alone.

Yes, no family no kids. Usually get one or two invites from well meaning friends or neighbours who are more bothered about me being on my own than I am. But there's nothing worse than feeling like a charity case at someone elses Christmas. Doing what I did last year which worked out brilliantly. Booked a cosy self contained airbnb in Devon for 3 nights. Will walk, read, watch films, sleep in, join the local sea swimmers on boxing day and take nice Italian food and nibbles, my non Christmas christmas. Its really just a day.

I spend it alone every year 😊 I think I prefer it ❤️ I spend the day watching movies and stuffing myself with food and I don't have to share with anyone 😊

This attitude of "it makes ME so sad to think of people on their own at Christmas" is so patronising. I've had invites "forced" on me by people like you who think their personal Christmas is so wonderful others would jump to be included, rarely the case ime. Would love to hear your friends version off the record.

She said her friend reached out to her. While it's totally fine for people to feel comfortable spending Christmas alone, it's also true that some people would rather spend it with friends. We are all different.

Yes, I have to say I often feel far lonelier with other people than I do by myself. I spent Christmas 2023 with a male friend who csn be moody and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I wanted to be on my own.

Im another happily solo at Christmas. My family aren't local and pet sitters are hard to come by at Christmas (and I CBA to arrange one...). Even when I lived closer to family I would sometimes choose a solo Christmas day.

I love how quiet the neighborhood is. I just have a relaxing day with my pets. I have treats and presents and, crucially, the Radio Times. Most years I have a tree.

I have a very kind neighbour who brings me Christmas dinner which is fab (to be clear, there's no expectation! She offers, I say she mustn't put herself out. If she didn't I wouldn't starve 😁).

Lots of people wouldn't like to spend christmas alone, so maybe people are just being kind? If you don't mind being alone that is great - it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks

I won't be alone but if I was I would be looking out for anything I really fancy watching or reading and save it for christmas day. I'd get up and have a lovely breakfast of my choice then take my dog for a nice long walk. Have a nice soak in a hot bath and get my comfy clothes on, maybe treat myself to some new lounge wear for it. Then put on some christmas lights and cosy up on the sofa to watch or read whatever I'd chosen and eat all the yummy food i fancied.
I'm also an introvert and prefer my own company, this sounds bliss.
Will you be seeing anyone on the lead up to christmas or boxing day etc op?

Hi,
Not on my own, but I do need alone time on the evening. I enjoy chilling with a hot chocolate and a film 😊
If I was on my own all day, I would eat whatever I wanted, get up when I wanted, go for a nice walk, watch some films with fizz and chocolate, run a lovely hot bath and read a good book. Bliss 😊

Yes I will be with a sibling and her family on Boxing day for a few hours. It's not the same without my mum but im glad to be going there. A friend is taking me.

Part of the enjoyment of spending Christmas alone for me is to spend time cooking my own special dinner, so if someone offered me one I would decline, nice as it is! I just love preparing my own roast and listening to Christmas songs while I do it.

@beansontoast85 asked if the pp was going to acknowledge the significance of the day .....some people (me accepted) are/were happy* *to treat it like a normal day. Sharing views and opinions is what keeps threads like this rolling.

It's my first Christmas alone this year as my mum died 4th January this year.
I'm autistic and my social anxiety is far too great to attend the local meal that's held for the vulnerable or homeless.
Hoping by then my antidepressant increase will be working so I can get through the day okay.

I'm sure you don't mean to sound condescending and patronising but my god - you do!

Why on earth is it anything other than joyful should someone choose to spend a Christmas on their own? Why should there need to be a reason for the choice other than sheer happiness at the thought of spending time alone?

Absolutely agree. And my view and opinion is that its condescending and patronising

I have trouble understanding why adults still think it’s wrong if you dont make Christmas a big thing in your home

I've spent Christmas day alone for the last 8 years. I do have a DD and DGD who I am close to and I always go to their place on Boxing day and stay overnight. It doesn't really bother me being alone (apart from my cat) on Christmas day. After all,it's only one day. I make sure that I've stocked up on some nice food and just spend the day doing nothing much but watching TV.

Exactly.

Declaring something to be “sad” is presumptuous and obnoxious.

It absolutely is. I agree

And the reason it's also condescending and patronising is because its pure projection with the speaker's head tilted slightly to one side and a "saviour" gleam in the speaker's eyes 🙄🤣

I'm sorry if it's feeling a bit daunting, @Trentdarkmore. I’m also sorry for the loss of your mum.

I had my first Christmas alone (with my cat) last year, and in the end I was fine with it. I'm also autistic and the thought of being swept up into someone else's family Christmas is my idea of hell these days. The worst bit was actually people asking what I was doing and then clearly feeling a bit awkward about it. Perhaps we can check in on here nearer the time? I'm sure there'll be a thread for those Chrismassing solo.

I spent 8 Xmas days alone in my 20s through choice. I was a retail manager and was back in Boxing Day. No time to go to visit family 300 miles away...and also declined kind friends invites. I was quite happy alone. Went out Xmas Eve.
In my late 60s now and still enjoy a quiet Xmas. Never host or visit other people