Christmas unpopular opinions.

[Kickinthenostalgia]

Can we try to keep this lighthearted as I know some people can pretty savage on this site.
I was on the bus earlier today and I overheard a conversation between 2 ladies about thier Christmas shopping they needed to get. One said she needed to get wrapping paper and another said she doesn’t wrap presents but uses gift bags instead, how it’s saves so much time etc. Now don’t get me wrong obviously everyone’s situation is different but for me gift bags are so anti climactic. For me opening presents isn’t even really about the actual present it’s the anticipation of what’s underneath the paper as your opening it. I couldn’t imagine giving my kids or anyone for that matter, an unwrapped gift. To watch kids faces opening thier present on birthdays or Christmas makes me feel excited for them, even if I know what’s under it.

People not letting thier kids help decorate the tree, this leaves a bitter taste, trust me, as someone whose dad would change the tree around after we went to bed and thought we never noticed. It’s actually a bit soul destroying.

I often see on social media people absolutely ripping into people about how much they do and don’t spend. Christmas isn’t a competition. You do what suits your family. You don’t have to break the bank but equally people should be free to spend whatever they want on thier friends and family. I’m not sorry my kids get more than thier friends. I work hard for my money. I’ll spend it how I want, on who I want.

As a Canadian, it was a new concept for me too but you can just Google and learn about stuff

I love wrapping presents and buying them. I try and file away ideas for nice presents for my friends throughout the year. I know lots of people seem not so keen on presents for adults, but I like getting things that I think they'll like. I think having a little present from a friend is a lovely way to feel special (though obviously not the only way)

I think second hand things are fine for kids for Christmas.it's so wasteful to buy so many plastic toys new !

Oh wrapping in tissue and then in a gift bag! It's a life saver, still get to unwrap but no tape needed.

Absolutely! That's what I do. No waste either.

@MsAmerica

guy fulks tried to blow up parliament back in the 1600

so we celebrate this act annually by having a bonfire with a stuffed “guy” and fireworks on the anniversary

so some people have back garden displays other go to organised events at schools, rugby clubs, town events

we have sausages and burgers etc and hold sparklers

I absolutely love Christmas. I have actual ocd though and suffer mentally every year with an intrusive thought that something bad will happen and absolutely ruin it, as in I’ll die and ruin it for my child. So that thought working away in my head is what I hate personally.

I don’t like the social media performative side of Christmas, I firmly believe some of what has ruined Christmas is the constant comparisons, and yes taking the tree down on Boxing Day has come from social media and again it’s such a performance act because why else do they all post about it.

I will join you on the barricades 💪🏼

I really dislike giving and receiving Christmas presents. I buy for small children and my adult children only. And we open presents on Boxing Day when we stay home, watch tv and drink margaritas. That makes our Christmas a 3 day celebration.

As a family we dislike Christmas cake and mince pies and trifle. We have a Colin Caterpillar, home made brownies and ice cream instead.

I LOVE hosting a big family dinner on Christmas Day with games and karaoke afterwards. I love turkey sandwiches, crisps and salad on Boxing Day and I really, really love lighting the fire and having fairy lights in every room.

You are totally entitled to feel the ick but did you know the origin of the word? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

I dislike
Sprouts
pigs in blankets
christmas cake
christmas pudding
flavoured cream
real christmas trees indoors

I can’t stand the sanctimonious people who say things such as ‘I’d rather spend money on experiences with my children instead of so many gifts’ - Yeah, some of us do both.

‘All those presents under the tree are just ‘tat’. No, they’re not. I don’t buy tat.

‘They’ll never appreciate them or understand the value of money, they’ll be spoiled’. No, you’re wrong.

I have a completely irrational hatred of plastic trees. A dead pine is the ONLY kind of Christmas tree to me. I'm a ridiculously over the top recycler, rarely buy myself new clothes Vs used, have a compost bin and wormery and grow a lot of my own veg. I genuinely care about waste. Logically, I know cutting down a tree (that drops jabby needles near my kids toes) every Christmas for a couple of weeks is crazy and wasteful. But every year, getting the horrible plastic, scentless, soulless bit of tat out the loft kills a little bit of my Christmas spirit. Stupid things.

Agree with you about gift bags. Even a badly wrapped present looks more exciting.

Presents for colleagues, teachers, the bin men, sectret santa etc
"It's just a gesture,"

Multiple gestures cost multiple ££. I do not have an inexhaustible supply of ££.
Can we stop please?

It's a personal choice, surely?

People do criticise Xmas a lot, on here and IRL.

Overall I really like the build up and the day itself, although it's become harder now my parents have health problems and I am trying to meet their needs as well as those of my teenage dc and depressed DH.

I don't like how festive events are horribly busy, and it's often cold, rainy and dark. I find it hard to plan when the best time is to go to a light trail or whatever because of having to book so far ahead.

I also don't like alcohol being added to puddings eg sherry trifle. When I see 'boozy' in the description of a dessert, my heart sinks. I do actually like booze, I just prefer it as a drink and not in a pudding where the taste overpowers everything else!

Yes. I’m now self employed and I realise I miss a company Christmas party.

> You do what suits your family
Like use gift bags instead of wrapping, or put up and decorate the tree when the kids are at school so it is a surprise when they get home?

I hate the anti-climax of Christmas Day TV when the ads for Summer holidays and furniture sales start. I’m always a bit “was that it?” (And normally I’m happy as Larry!)

I also don't like gift bags, particularly where there are several items within a bag and you see them all at once so there is no anticipation! Yes, I know, I am an adult and shouldn't care!

I love traditional Christmas carols. Christmas pop music on the other hand.......poop

Putting presents in bags has changed my christmas for the better! I don't use open bags with handles though.
https://amzn.eu/d/0eGCKFj1

They make wrapping so fast - an hour to do 30 presents vs 3-4 hours. You stick or tie them shut. Then afterwards, you smooth them flat, peel the tape and stickers off and they are good to go for next year. Mine have been going for 6 years now.
Wrapping paper can't be recycled for the most part, and we used to have 2-3 garbage bags full at the end of christmas day.

People getting into debt for Christmas.

I love Christmas. But I hate how it starts so early now and finishes so quickly. The reason why you are fed up of your tree and ripping it all down on Boxing Day is because you have had it up since about June (hyperbole but ykwim). Christmas is for December. Commercialism and social media has made it start too early and I think that it is actually making people dislike it more. You know that song about wishing it could be Christmas every day? But we all know that if it was, it wouldn't actually be special anymore. That is what we are in danger of moving towards. I hate how shops have all decided that there has to be something 'seasonal' out all year round e.g. as soon as Christmas is over it will be Valentine's and Easter. There is no need. Let's just keep things special.

I like the build up to Christmas but it starts too early. I love Christmas carols . A lady in Morrisons laughed at me because a group of reception children singing “Away in a. Manger” made me teary. My adult family and close friends still buy gifts but limit it to about £10 . I keep my eyes and ears open and love finding the perfect gift . I use all my loyalty points etc at Christmas. My adult children are excellent cooks so I love when it’s their turn to host but most of all I just love having my family together.