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Christmas

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

Original poster

Need to rant? Come on over.

448 replies

DontlikeChristmas · 25/12/2025 08:08

I’ll start. We’ve just opened presents. I couldn’t give a fig about presents for myself, but I think if you’re going to spend money on a gift for someone you’d may as well make sure it’s something they will like/use. DH has panic bought me a horrible tie dye jumper two sizes too big. I’ve never worn tie dye in my life. My mother has inexplicably bought me a truly awful outfit clearly meant for a teenager (I’m 50) in a colour I never wear, also in the wrong size. DH has also managed to buy DC a load of stuff they already have because he couldn’t be bothered to check. I feel so deflated by this & think it’s all such a massive waste of money (we probably could have gone out for dinner with the cost of the presents no one is going to wear/use, or made a charity donation).

We now have DHs family coming for dinner, who are lovely people but seem to have ever changing dietary requirements (none of which are due to diagnosed conditions) that it’s impossible to keep up with, so I’ve got to make about 15 different gluten-free/oil free/non-acidic/anti-inflammatory and whatever else dishes (DH ‘doesn’t do cooking’).

I’m over Christmas & it’s not even 8.30. Anyone else?

OP posts:
MCF86 · 27/12/2025 11:18

Twitch1994 · 26/12/2025 20:31

Probably being hugely ungrateful but just have to get it out then move on.

Little one is 4 months old, around October time family started asking what to get her for Christmas, asking us to make a list, which we did. List included things like wooden/sensory type toys for her to have in age appropriate stages over the next year, bigger sized clothes, things like wet wipes we would actually need/use etc and just to get her a couple of things.

MIL then produced 3 enormous (and I mean huge!!) bags of presents for her, all of which are plastic / light up / make noise / from Temu etc. I know I’m probably being ungrateful but we specifically said we didn’t want loads of plastic/noisy stuff and feels like she’s just gone completely against that. There is also SO much of it I genuinely have no idea where I’m going to put it all. DH said to her about it being a bit OTT and she said she’s allowed to spoil her grandchild how she likes…

They can live at her house for when you visit!
Although, I would be worried about how safe the stuff is tbh

Mermaidsarereal · 27/12/2025 12:36

Not really a Christmas rant but I'm so sick of friends who constantly cancel plans yet they message me constantly telling me how much they appreciate my friendship but I barely see them in person! Wouldn't mind if I knew they led a busy life but I know that they don't! Rant over haha

Rewis · 27/12/2025 14:17

My bf just went to shower cause he is annoyed with me
We were watching a show i wanted to watch. Ke kept touching me and kissing me. When I watch my show, we can hold hands, I can lean against im or something. What i dont want is someone grabbing my tits or ass or thigh or showing their face on my face or scathing my face with his beard by giving butterfly kisses or whatever.

Either we have sex or he can leve me alone. He picked leaving me alone 😅
He is very sweet but I just really don't like to be touched when I'm doing something.

manywanderings · 27/12/2025 14:35

So glad this thread was started and I'm not alone! I thought I had it organised and simple this year, and no hard work for me - we had Christmas lunch out - pre-booked a long time ago. What I wasn't expecting was having a teenage couple disrupt my week by ignoring everything I asked for (what are your plans this week?) and doing what they want when they want in my home, turning up on a different day originally said, food plans out of the window, as if I don't live here, and I just wanted a quiet boxing day to have the aftermath of my nice Christmas day. I'm wise to it now though - they are going to lie to get what they want and I'm not having it! Son is so considerate and helpful normally but once it's the pair of them, that goes out of the window. I feel a fool that a 17 year old girl is dictating my home life and I was too polite to tell them to go.

Iloveanicegarden · 27/12/2025 14:45

I'm diabetic and every year from my family in law is some variety of chocolate or Baileys. Duh

ThatBlackCat · 27/12/2025 14:55

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 26/12/2025 19:00

Sorry l had to laugh at the thought of a tie dyed jumper. Which decade is your DH living in? Tell him to take it back immediately and get you something you really want

Tie dyed clothes never go out of fashion!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 27/12/2025 15:19

Mermaidsarereal · 27/12/2025 12:36

Not really a Christmas rant but I'm so sick of friends who constantly cancel plans yet they message me constantly telling me how much they appreciate my friendship but I barely see them in person! Wouldn't mind if I knew they led a busy life but I know that they don't! Rant over haha

I’ve got one of these. Suggested meeting up weeks ago, reminded me we were going to meet up, refused to fix a date. I cracked and told him I didn’t know why he’d suggested meeting at all.

Leavmealone · 27/12/2025 15:49

Leavmealone · 25/12/2025 14:37

3 years ago my sister had her 60th birthday. My younger sister flew in from half a world away, ("well it's a special birthday isn't it so why wouldn't I come over for it"). I picked out a gift that elder sister wanted and she was made a right, royal fuss of. Younger sister is planning to spend time in the UK the year she turns 60 and already the family chat is full of plans to make it "a memorable celebration" for her. Well today is MY 60th and I've had nothing from either of them, no cards, gifts or even a message. So now I know that, as far as they are concerned, my life isn't worthy of celebrating.

Just a little update to all who commented and reacted to the above...for which I'm very grateful by the way.

It turns out that my "D"sisters had a "lovely" catch-up on Christmas day via facetime...something that I was not invited to join. My nieces and nephews were all involved as was my DD (she was the one who told me about it). DD doesn't know how long it lasted for because, after calling them a pair of "selfish fuckers", she left the chat. DD sadly has been working all over Christmas and she and her DH will not be able to visit until the middle of January, but I've been told to put my "best rags on" as I'm being taken out to a very pricey restaurant (that I've always wanted to go to), she's clearly cooking up something else with DP as there have been lots of furtive phone calls between them (DP's phone doesn't have a signal here so she rings mine to speak to him) .I've got no idea what to expect but it will be lovely as the gruesome twosome will be nowhere to be seen. 😄

DilemmaDelilah · 27/12/2025 15:53

A family member had her adult stepdaughter plus step grandchildren cancel at the last minute as 'the children were ill'. When her DH went to drop the presents round on Christmas morning he was greeted by an unknown male in pyjamas (not SD partner or children's father) The children weren't ill at all. Her stepdaughter just wanted to spend Christmas with her new boyfriend but, instead of being adult and letting family member know in good time, she decided to leave it to the last minute and lie about it, so family member went to all the trouble and expense of catering for 3 extra people because stepdaughter couldn't be bothered to let her know.

ElderlyCat · 27/12/2025 16:42

FIL ignored the links to presents that he asked for and bought the kids rubbish. He then text DH’s mum who DH has been NC with for 7 years to say DH wishes you a merry xmas and sends his best. DH then loses it with him understandably as he did not want that passing on. I’m not inviting FIL next year.

Mumof3andamanchild · 27/12/2025 16:50

I know a lot of you will say it’s not over yet but for me it is Christmas that is I’m so glad it’s over I can’t wait to take my tree down and get it all put away in the next day or two Christmas hasn’t been the same for me for over 5 years if i didn’t have to celebrate it I wouldn’t

PullTheBricksDown · 27/12/2025 17:36

Mumof3andamanchild · 27/12/2025 16:50

I know a lot of you will say it’s not over yet but for me it is Christmas that is I’m so glad it’s over I can’t wait to take my tree down and get it all put away in the next day or two Christmas hasn’t been the same for me for over 5 years if i didn’t have to celebrate it I wouldn’t

Who's making you celebrate it?

Iamgettingolderandgrumpier · 27/12/2025 17:37

Pineappleice43 · 25/12/2025 09:05

Most social events my mil and sil drop out last minute due to a mystery illness.....of course they were poorly yesterday when we cooked a lovely lunch for everyone, and dropped out 20 minutes before it started so food was already cooking.

Bil still came and brought a bag of presents with him from the family, but I can see mil has held back presents for grandchildren so she can watch them open them, which is controlling and selfish behaviour.

I’d be tempted to keep making excuses until March. Children don’t mind, they have so many presents.

Mumof3andamanchild · 27/12/2025 17:49

PullTheBricksDown · 27/12/2025 17:36

Who's making you celebrate it?

Show quote history

My children I only do it for them

Gizlotsmum · 27/12/2025 17:54

Been at in laws since Christmas Eve , all good but Husband has turned into a twat today ( we haven’t had sex and he wants too but won’t talk just grabs at me!) He doesn’t hear what I say or half hears and makes it up but then gets annoyed when I say that wasn’t what I said. I am done waiting for him to agree with ideas I have for anything and he can either put up or leave. We are going home tomorrow as have a new dog coming on Monday and lots to get ready I know he will not be ready to leave at the time we agreed and he is currently doing Lego rather than packing! Sorry just had enough of him acting all hard done by when he does nothing and then moans when he isn’t involved I decisions or I have to keep reminding him to do something. Kids are also being snappy and he is much stricter with the younger one but doesn’t see it. Ah that feels better I am letting get on with it and just ignoring him and his short answers.. at least he is leaving me alone!!

notatinydancer · 27/12/2025 18:16

rrrrrreatt · 25/12/2025 11:28

My husband and I agreed to do stockings this year; just a few little bits for each other. I did one for him…he didn’t do one for me because “he didn’t get round to it”. I cried then he looked really sad and I ended up feeling guilty.

No! He should feel guilty.

Gonewiththemoon · 27/12/2025 18:43

Someone on her said to watch the movie ‘Oh What Fun’. I’ve just watched it and it’s made me appreciate the fact that I’m HAPPILY single, after so many years of unhappiness. Doing everything for him and the kids at Xmas, with very little appreciation or reciprocation. I’d have to buy my own gifts, wrap them, and maybe get the money back off ‘him’. I’d have to buy his parents’ presents on bloody Xmas eve because he hadn’t bothered.
this year(and the 4 years since we broke up) have been bliss. Am I skint and in debt? Yes! But I take pride knowing that I did it all, and no other fucker can try and take the credit for it.
take my advice, ladies. He’s shown his true colours, notice this and make a change FOR YOU. Because he sure as hell won’t change

Doubledenim305 · 27/12/2025 19:27

Rewis · 27/12/2025 14:17

My bf just went to shower cause he is annoyed with me
We were watching a show i wanted to watch. Ke kept touching me and kissing me. When I watch my show, we can hold hands, I can lean against im or something. What i dont want is someone grabbing my tits or ass or thigh or showing their face on my face or scathing my face with his beard by giving butterfly kisses or whatever.

Either we have sex or he can leve me alone. He picked leaving me alone 😅
He is very sweet but I just really don't like to be touched when I'm doing something.

Edited

Haha definitely realise I'm at a different stage now.
Absolutely could not be bothered with all that nonsense. P* of and leave me alone. Gross 🤢

Doubledenim305 · 27/12/2025 19:39

bonquiqui · 26/12/2025 18:53

Omg the overreaction at non events is so accurate. My mum will regularly scream “OH MY GOD” and yelp and I’ll run in the kitchen and it’ll be a tea towel has fallen into the sink

Show quote history

🤣🤣🤣 brilliant. Thanks for the laugh.

Theredjellybean · 28/12/2025 14:48

my mother ruined our lovely week long holiday ( which everyone wanted to do) by getting upset over some thing or some slight she perceived, refused to tell me what i had done, told me i was selfish and didnt care about her - was lovely to my brother who has seen her for precisely 2 days this whole year ( she was widowed 18 months ago) . I make sure i see her every week, i pop in , i check on her , we include her in all our family activites, my dds ask her to things at their houses , take her to the garden shows etc - all because we do care and love her.
She sulked and refused to speak to me or my DDs for the last 36 hrs and then drove off not saying goodbye to anyone, she rang my DB for nice chat later though - while i was doing a round trip of 3 hrs to take her bag that she forgot in her strop...
i didn't get a thank you or a nice word about the lovely Christmas i organised for everyone...

so I AM DONE, this isnt the first time she has done this to me, and i do accept she has narcissist tendencies and massively favours my brother - but as she tells me i am selfish and only care about myself , when my actions blatantly show i am not, then i think its time maybe i was !

next year i am going to take my DP, DDs, DSDs and we are going to the bloody Caribbean for christmas and i am not offering to take my mother or my brother.

Doubledenim305 · 28/12/2025 15:14

Theredjellybean · 28/12/2025 14:48

my mother ruined our lovely week long holiday ( which everyone wanted to do) by getting upset over some thing or some slight she perceived, refused to tell me what i had done, told me i was selfish and didnt care about her - was lovely to my brother who has seen her for precisely 2 days this whole year ( she was widowed 18 months ago) . I make sure i see her every week, i pop in , i check on her , we include her in all our family activites, my dds ask her to things at their houses , take her to the garden shows etc - all because we do care and love her.
She sulked and refused to speak to me or my DDs for the last 36 hrs and then drove off not saying goodbye to anyone, she rang my DB for nice chat later though - while i was doing a round trip of 3 hrs to take her bag that she forgot in her strop...
i didn't get a thank you or a nice word about the lovely Christmas i organised for everyone...

so I AM DONE, this isnt the first time she has done this to me, and i do accept she has narcissist tendencies and massively favours my brother - but as she tells me i am selfish and only care about myself , when my actions blatantly show i am not, then i think its time maybe i was !

next year i am going to take my DP, DDs, DSDs and we are going to the bloody Caribbean for christmas and i am not offering to take my mother or my brother.

Awful 😞. I'm so sorry.

ilovesushi · 28/12/2025 15:19

Twitch1994 · 26/12/2025 20:31

Probably being hugely ungrateful but just have to get it out then move on.

Little one is 4 months old, around October time family started asking what to get her for Christmas, asking us to make a list, which we did. List included things like wooden/sensory type toys for her to have in age appropriate stages over the next year, bigger sized clothes, things like wet wipes we would actually need/use etc and just to get her a couple of things.

MIL then produced 3 enormous (and I mean huge!!) bags of presents for her, all of which are plastic / light up / make noise / from Temu etc. I know I’m probably being ungrateful but we specifically said we didn’t want loads of plastic/noisy stuff and feels like she’s just gone completely against that. There is also SO much of it I genuinely have no idea where I’m going to put it all. DH said to her about it being a bit OTT and she said she’s allowed to spoil her grandchild how she likes…

My in laws were like this but a lot of it was plastic tat from charity shops. One Christmas DD got 30 plus My Little Ponies with manky knotted manes in a plastic bag. To curb it, I suggested we keep the gifts at their house so DC had toys to play with when we visited citing lack of space at home. I brought a big plastic crate over and put all future huge plastic gifts in that.

SpinningaCompass · 28/12/2025 15:23

Theredjellybean · 28/12/2025 14:48

my mother ruined our lovely week long holiday ( which everyone wanted to do) by getting upset over some thing or some slight she perceived, refused to tell me what i had done, told me i was selfish and didnt care about her - was lovely to my brother who has seen her for precisely 2 days this whole year ( she was widowed 18 months ago) . I make sure i see her every week, i pop in , i check on her , we include her in all our family activites, my dds ask her to things at their houses , take her to the garden shows etc - all because we do care and love her.
She sulked and refused to speak to me or my DDs for the last 36 hrs and then drove off not saying goodbye to anyone, she rang my DB for nice chat later though - while i was doing a round trip of 3 hrs to take her bag that she forgot in her strop...
i didn't get a thank you or a nice word about the lovely Christmas i organised for everyone...

so I AM DONE, this isnt the first time she has done this to me, and i do accept she has narcissist tendencies and massively favours my brother - but as she tells me i am selfish and only care about myself , when my actions blatantly show i am not, then i think its time maybe i was !

next year i am going to take my DP, DDs, DSDs and we are going to the bloody Caribbean for christmas and i am not offering to take my mother or my brother.

I'm so sorry.

When she deigns to talk to you again because she needs/wants something, tell her you've decided to treat her like her favourite child does as he clearly knows what he's doing. Tell her to pick the 2 days this year she wants to get together to see you, and otherwise, it will be the occasional phone call. Then tell her you've got to go and hang up. Leave her to digest it.

Theredjellybean · 28/12/2025 16:29

@SpinningaCompass and @Doubledenim305 thank you ....i feel better for the rant but some nice solidarity made me stop feeling awful and ruminating too much on it.
I am indeed going to take the advice and step waaaaaaay back and the next time she comments about ' i havent spoken to anyone for 3 days ' ( she has, she has lots of friends and activites and still drives so goes out most days) I shall suggest she calls my brother !
Love the idea of saying sweetly that as he seems to get the relationship just right and never causes her any upset I have learnt my error and will be just like him in 2026...

Doubledenim305 · 28/12/2025 22:53

idontknowhowtodreamyourdreams · 25/12/2025 11:57

I was over Xmas months ago. I've set the bar v low this year and that's helped.

I sorted gifts for DC, wrapped them all, ordered all the food.

I also bought myself a gift, got myself a massage a couple of days back, had a coffee with a friend yesterday, went to a lovely yoga class yesterday, did a solo dog walk and watched the sun come up this morning with a flask of coffee. I do these things for myself because I have decided that I matter and I can't rely on anyone else to do them.

Fuck it all, it will soon be over.

Yes in all honesty setting the bar really really low with literally no expectations is the way to go. And like you I bought myself what I wanted for Christmas🤣 I decided how much work I was willing to do and stuck to it. yes I made Christmas dinner and got presents for folks. Thoughtful but not extravagant. Best Christmas I've had in ages. Everyone was happy and no stress.