How do you all cope with Christmas time stuff?

[helpimitchy]

Enforced jollity, visitors, organisational chaos, noise, smells, pointless rituals, lights, all that kind of thing?

I could quite happily bypass it and usually end up working just to get away. I do make an effort for the dcs, but I wouldn't miss it if it was banned lives in hope

We're supposed to have elderly mil over every year, but it's getting a bit wearing tbh. We just want to veg out in our pjs and eat cheese. I'm working a nightshift this xmas eve.

I hate the shops, so buy gifts online. I hate the waste of having to buy gifts that won't be used. I try to get stuff that will be of some use.

I never send xmas cards, but we do have a real tree.

I've always loved christmas because it is both wonderfully magical (my parents were very good at making it special) and it is exactly the same every year so utterly predictable. The only parts of Christmas I didn't like were Christmas parties at other peoples houses, I hated those. Especially if they had children my age who I was meant to interact with. If it was mostly adults, I could legitimately hide with a book and if it was lots of much younger children I could play with them or read a book. Now i'm an adult I don't have to go to those.

I hate Christmas shopping in the crowds. Much of my family lives overseas, so those gifts are best bought online anyway and for things I have to pick up I try to get them early and with headphones thoroughly plugged in.

All the other things are quite enjoyably: knitting, cooking, baking, christmas carols, decorating, the tree, making/writing/sending cards,...

We basically still have the same Christmas as during my childhood, though the logistics are slightly more complicated and we don't get up quite at the crack of dawn anymore.

I do love christmas!

I love Christmas too. We always do the same thing (same food, same rituals) and we always have a quiet non-chaotic day.

I do Christmas shopping online if I can, the only visitors are family, and I do like that there's no expectation to reply to texts or emails between about 24 - 28 December!!

Plastic tree in dark dark green, almost black colour, and muted lights.

I don't think I'd cope with a bright razzmatazz dancing-Santa-on-the-roof type Christmas but I love the version I do.

As a child I loved the presents naturally, the fact I was off school, the better food and chocolate but I used to feel extremely depressed by tinsel, glitter, the traditional red, gold and green of decorations.

Now I can't stand any of it! I hate that the shops are full of junk that will generally be tossed aside in January. I especially hate gift sets with body lotions! Also hate the present buying of things no one needs.

I'm not doing any of it this year. Just can't afford it. Last year, apart from Christmas day, I got absorbed in the Danish trilogy Borgen. I want to be home with my cat too.

Thought it was appt to bump this as it is now December 1st therefore officially (apparently!) nearly Christmas.

Does anyone have their Christmas tree up yet? I'll be honest, I haven't bothered putting mine up over the past two years as I've been single the past two Christmas's and lived alone so it just seemed pointless. This year I am not single so I might sweet talk someone into putting the tree up for me (ahem!).

I hate the fact that I can't seem to go anyway this time of year. It's just all so noisy and busy and bright . I don't mind staying at home but if I want to go out somewhere then I always have to plan it very carefully so I don't run into lots of people and end up panicking.

I do like gift sets though and I also like the body lotions. Perhaps I'm just weird?

Online shopping has been a life saver for me. Now I can buy presents without having a panic attack or wanting to rip my hair out because people keep touching me when we accidentally knock into each other in crowds.

Oh god, I just don't have the energy to face it sitting room is too small for a tree, ds1 only wants money for xmas, dh is tired and stressed over his elderly mother, sil expects us to have her over on xmas day, I'm working xmas eve, we got rid of the telly and I should be cleaning the house and painting some walls.

I hate xmas

1. I never go to the Christmas Fayre (hell on earth)
2. I don't ever have visitors
3. Do as much of my shopping online as possible
4. I keep away from any school things which involve lots of people

I do actually like Christmas Day but I certainly don't like any of the rest of it.

Exactly like Mia. This year is the first time my parents haven't eaten Christmas Dinner with us and it's been great. My DM wept and wailed last year about me and DB's present issues.