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.

One other unpopular opinion on here. Father Christmas is wonderful and magical for little children. Once they are over eight or so, they really do not believe in him and should not be encouraged to. I remember one of my children asking if he was real or not at about this age. My answer was: “ what do you think?” It gave him the reassurance and relief that it was fine to admit his disbelief. It did not ruin the “magic” of Christmas. The magic was still there but in a more grown up, different way.

I work in a shop and the order for the easter eggs has gone through already

We are not a religious household, so for us Christmas is the Midwinter Festival, where the true meaning of Christmas is to eat until you can't move, laugh until your sides hurt and buckle up for the worst of winter which is usually yet to come.

But I do really enjoy shopping for presents and tend to overspend horribly, even though almost everyone in the family is adult, because I love finding just the right thing that I know someone will love. Fortunately I can afford a wee overspend so I'm not in penury for the whole of January.

I love to set the table and decorate . But Xmas dinner is a rush to get the food out hot to everyone. And nobody sits at my table in velvet dresses or fancy clothes . No room to light candles. Christmas crackers a waste of paper . And then we wash up .

Nope.

Edit: I am quick to take it down after Christmas though because it makes me sad once they season is over. It typically all comes down by new year's eve.

that you have to be happy at Christmas; yes one time i would be turning cartwheels for my kids and grandkids but now i am having to spend time alone with dog so no i do not want to be happy, i do not eat a festive lunch and to be honest you can keep your ho ho ho.
Christmas gift guides i do like seeing some lovely gift ideas and occasionally treat myself but sadly no one to buy for, all my grandchildren prefer cash so its a frantic saving before the time to give them what they want

It may be over for you but to authoritatively state "the season is over" like it's an objective fact is irritating for those of us who celebrate the twelve days of Christmas and treat it as a season.

I use the reusable gift bags with a built-in drawstring ribbon so the presents are completely wrapped and not visible, and done in a fraction of the time it takes to faff around with a big roll of wrapping paper, scissors and sellotape. We reuse them every year.

I am a bit of a grinch. I LOATHE all the loud up-tempo cheery festive bouncy music, especially when it’s booming out of the radio in November.

However I keep my crocheted nativity set on the mantelpiece all year round, simply because I love it and it makes me smile.

I don't like shops opening on boxing day. You can just have sales the day after.

That a flavour of the year is added to everything - one year it was prosecco - even saw procecco flavoured crisps!! I like prossecco and i like crisps but not together.

Stocking fillers that cost £50. Thats not a filler thats a proper present!

I hate parents who redecorate the tree after their kids have gone to bed so it fits their aesthetic. Takes all the joy away in my opinion! (Although I do admit my girls have a little tree in their bedroom with tinsel because I hate the stuff!)

Turkey is the worst meat, and Christmas pudding is awful. Apart from that, it’s the absolute best time of the year!

I can well believe that. No word of a lie, my sister was in Poundland on 23rd Dec last year, and they had Easter eggs on the shelves. She sent us a photo.

Our local Card Factory has Christmas cards in by August. Might even been July. Either way it riles me. I love Christmas, but not in August. Some shops were already stocking the tubs of chocolates, and this was during the bloody heatwave this year!🤨

For me Christmas is all about being with friends and family and the magic with the kids. We don’t go big on light shows, days out, grottos but we have all the traditions, decorating the tree together, christmas eve movie, making decorations or shortbread. boxing day walk and hot chocolate. I’m not big on the huge piles of presents, plastic and spending but they get plenty. For me it’s about switching off, time at home and thinking of others. Also Baileys and cheeseboards!!

How is that an ‘unpopular’ Christmas opinion?

This. I do suffer from SAD and the lights and decorations help a lot in November and December to get me through the dark weeks.

I just stopped myself from buying a magazine with Christmas bakes, cakes, biscuits and chocolates. I have plenty of baking books but they all looked so good.

When people are really proud that their child still believes in Father Christmas at the age of 11, I secretly think “Is your child maybe a bit thick?”

I would of course never say that and I’m fully aware it’s cynical and uncharitable but inwardly I find it quite weird that a child over the age of about seven would literally and fervently believe all that. Much as I would find it weird if a child thought, eg, Beauty And The Beast was a true story.

I feel similar. I am not sure that Christmas Day is an anticlimax but I feel as if it is pressured, whereas Christmas Eve and Boxing Day always feel so laid back.

That made me giggle!

Ed to say I tend to think that the parents are a bit gullible and their kids just do a great job of pretending, knowing that 'believing in santa' = more presents 🤣

In our house believing or not believing will make no difference at all, everything will remain the same!

Yes, true, was the same in mine when kids were small. But I still stand my belief that it's a rare child over 7 or 8 that doesn't just go along with the idea to please their parents.

I was 10/11 when I realised Father Christmas didn’t exist. I think in my case it was down to being extremely naive which could be the case for some children. Not so
much these days though. I work with year fives and I don’t think for a minute any of them still believe in him.

I grew up in simpler times and a lot of that has translated into how I do Christmas. I think it can be a bit more challenging with children but I think people put too much pressure on themselves and feel that they have to do this, that and the other, year in and year out. Pick and choose the aspects that you like and stick to those. If you decide further down the line something isn’t working, ditch it. You don’t have to buy into what you think you should be doing.

Someone upthread mentioned Christmas PJs for kids being a waste as they won’t fit next year…they just wear them into Jan, Feb and beyond as long as they still fit and are not too warm.

Rather than a Christmas Eve box, why not do one at the first of December?

I guess what I don’t like about Christmas is people feeling pressured to buy certain things, or partake in certain activities and I hate it when those who can ill afford it get themselves into debt or financial difficulties.

My own personal hate is being blasted with Christmas music in the supermarket and it’s even worse before December. IMO all shops should only have it as background music and have certain times (preferably each day) when the store is suitable for those with noise sensitivity.

I am not so keen on this modern trend of the tree going up so early and then down before the leftovers have been eaten. But other than missing seeing lights if I am out walking after dark, it doesn’t impact me directly. So I guess each to their own.

Agree on the build up, although I do like Christmas Day. For me Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are the best. Boxing Day, everyone chills, watches movies, plays games, watch football, cook some picky bits and left overs for dinner.

I dont like cinnamon and its in EVERYTHING at christmas. Also dont like christmas cake, mince pies, mulled wine etc.