anyone else not like xmas much?

[Tortington]

i know bit predictable from the doom and gloom merchant of mumsnet but anyone else cant wait to get the damned thing over with?

always seems like such an anticlimax

I love christmas because it doesn't happen in our house!

We go skiing every year from the 20th to the 30th.
The teens used to get a stocking and £100. this year it will just be money as they don't want a stocking anymore, sad I know!

I love the fact that I don't have to rush around buying food,(too much of ) have cards up, which I hate as they always fall over, decorations, or a tree, I hate the needles as they hang around for ever.

It's relaxed, everything is done for us, we have a really healthy time, lots of fresh air, and come back fitter and sometimes a bit lighter. It doesn't cost us anymore than staying at home as we always spend too much on presents and food and booze.

We've been going away for the last 8 years, no fights over who's going to whose either!

Yeahhh - and so blooming commercialised - we are so-o-o broke and yet still end up having to spend at least £20 a head - plus this year it's our turn to be the hosts so we have to buy food and drink for 8 people as well !! No new clothes for me then !

I hate Christmas! Bah, humbug, etc. Sad as I should enjoy it as a Christian but there you go. It's like a big competition to see who can buy the best presents, who sends most cards, who cooks the best dinner, who drinks most alcohol, etc. Any mention of Christmas before 1 December should be illegal. Just call me Mrs Tolerant tonight. Not.

OK, I repent of being such a killjoy. Today I was in town with my kids, 6 and 3, and the wonder with which they gazed at the decorations and lights was really sweet.

Alibubbles I am so so jealous. Every year dp and I end up rowing over when the tree goes up, when the decorations go up and why I never put the damn cards up (same reason as you they ALWAYS fall down aaaggh). Dp will then get sulky because I won't help putting the decs up which also always fall down and I end up getting strangled by streamers. I'm trying to get excited for the sake of ds but he'll have so many presents that he won't be interested in opening (there'll be nowhere to put then when they are opened either) because he'll open the first one and play with it forever. When we eventually get them all opened you can guarantee his favourite will the loudest one with the flashing lights (thanks Dad). I'll be the one doing everything while dp will entertain ds with a drink in his hand. The more glasses of wine I have whilst making dinner will just make me even more reluctant to do it and there will be no takeaways open for back up. I wish I could just crawl into bed and wake up when its all over.

Oh yes I forgot playing Christmas songs in shops should be banned. I lose track over which shop I'm in because there are so many people pushing and its the same songs over and over and over .....

bahh humbug, i agree megg, i actually had carol singers at the door two days ago. i went to the door and they just stood there and said " we are carol singers" and then expected money so i asked them to sing they sung two carols and started on mistletoe and wine when i paid then the spare change of one pences i had by the door to go away aaaaaargh - cant believe i have to go buy tangerines for carol singers already. tut

I like it but not starting in November, it just gets more silly each year. And everyone (friends, work, playgroup etc) have meals out (stodgy, expensive food) all within 2 weeks so you end up totally broke and stuffed. I am not going to any meals out this year because we are a bit skint and I can honestly say I really don't care. And I've not been near a shop for quite awhile now or switched the TV on, and have really managed to escape most of it so far.

Just at the moment custardo couldn't agree more. Like XAusted am feeling guilty because I shoudl be overjoyed. Have decided am suffering from a severe bout of PCSS (Pre Christmas Stress Syndrome). PILs arrive in a little over 2 weeks for the holiday period! Both have dietary restrictions! Have moved into new appartment with unfamiliar cooking facilties and no oven! DS (14mo) is running me ragged and there are 2 playgroup parties next week so need to find 2 small presents under a fiver, 2 plates of food and 2 Christmas costumes (you have got to be joking)!!!!!. Don't know what to get PIL, MIL, DH, DS for Christmas and all DH says is "It'll work out fine - don't worry" Aaaaaagh!

Rant over - am feeling a little better now. Will probably have a ball when it comes down it.

Oh what a shame ... I feel sorry for you all ... I love Christmas with my family ... but then again I only have one DS who is still little and I have never had to 'host' a load of people at my house. My mum and dad always have it at theirs and it is just lovely ... very boozy and fattening! I have a big family (2 brothers and 1 sister) and everyone has kids ... my mum never seems stressed - she loves having everyone around and we all muck in.
I have had two christmases with my In-Laws however, and hated every minute ... everyone stressed, everyone arguing, major atmosphere ... last year I smiled through it and then went to bed early and cried myself to sleep!
One Christmas, DH and I had xmas at home on our own and it was lovely too ...
I think that the reason people get stressed is the pressure put on people about where to go for xmas ... I don't see the point in feeling you HAVE to go somewhere or feeling you HAVE to host the family because it is your turn ... Why can't people do what they want?
The reason our xmases are so relaxed is that my parents never 'expect' us or put pressure on any of us to go there. If we want to go there then they are delighted but if we want to do something else then that is cool too ... that is probably why we all go there - because we WANT to!
Blimey ... got verbal diarrhoea today ... sorry ...
Basically ... don't let anyone pressure you ... just do your own thing and everyone can go hang!
Easy for me to say I know but ...
Have a Happy Xmas everyone!

I'm not sure how I feel about Christmas this year. My Dad died on the 21st Dec last year and it is obviously still quite raw. We kind of went through the motions last year because I think we were basically in shock. It was also sad as it was my ds' first Christmas (he was my Dads only grandchild). This year I think I am partly in denial (no shopping yet, trying not to think about it etc.) It is a shame because my memories of childhood Christmas' are very happy and I want my ds to have a similar memories. I guess each year it will get a bit better. Better stop writing as it still makes me cry

Oh boy was I pleased to read that I'm not the only one who's not keen on Christmas! I have to admit that it will be a bit better this year (dd 21 months and already oohing and aahing at lights and Rudolfs and snowmen etc etc) but it will still be a major pain in the a*&e. Unfortunately, dh is 'into' Christmas in a big way , so I feel obliged to grin and bear it to a certain extent .... mil will be staying with us, my parents will be sulking because it's not their turn, I don't know what to buy for dh, I'll spend too much, eat too much etc etc aaarrrgghhh!! I'll be glad when it's all over and I can go back to work ..... mutter mutter rant rant

I don't want an xmas, so I'm hoping to run away to the carribean for two weeks. I really want Christmas not to be happening following two bereavements this yeay. The emptiness of Christmas day, the big hole...the lack, would be unbearable if I were to attempt to go through the motions of celebrating. So I'm off to the sunshine. I used to love Christmas, and last year was just about my best. Not this year

Caribbean I meant.

Keepingmum - I heard a great piece of advice the other day on the radio. It was in response to someone who had lost their best friend close to Christmas, and they didn't know how to celebrate Christmas without them. The DJ suggested having a special decoration in memory of the friend, to remind her of their memory. Also he said that the friend would not want her to be feeling sad and unhappy at Christmas. The best way sometimes of dealing with it, is to enjoy yourself without any guilt, because it would mean more to them that you are happy, and that the memory of them is still sacred to you, than if you sat there all miserable.

My nana died a couple of years ago, in late January. And I always think of her at Christmas and on her birthday. This Christmas there was a charity in town selling tags that you could hang up on a tree, with the name of your loved one on it. The money went to that charity (Cancer care I think it was). So I put my nana's name on the tag and now everytime I'm in town and see the tree I think of her. I always say "Merry Christmas" to her and I remember the fun we used to have at Christmas. Remembering the happy times rather than the sad does help to ease the pain. I hope that helps.

Thanks Rhubarb for your kind advice, last year we had a toast to him, and also at my sisters wedding which was in Sept. It means you get a couple of moments when everyone can reflect and remember together.

KeepingMum, I know just how you feel. My dad died very suddenly this year. It's his birthday at Christmas and really I've not been looking forward to it either (only just started my Christmas shopping). I've decided I will still get him a present, so have got the gift aid(?) catalogue - where you can get a gift in someones name which is then donated to various areas(eg you can buy a herd of chickens for a village in Africa). I hope that in a few years time there will be a whole village living much better because of my dad

Berries, I am really sorry to hear that your Dad died this year, its very hard coming to terms with it especially when it is sudden. I think that the Gift Aid idea is perfect, how lovely to think that someone else will benefit and your Dad will be remembered. We all had presents for my Dad last year as he died so close to Christmas, my Mum opened them and kept them. I also had a birthday present as his birthday was in January which I have in my box of memories of him. I hope you can get through Christmas with happy memories of him, though its bound to be a sad time as well. I will be thinking of you.

Berries and Rhubarb, what nice ideas. I'll look into those. My father also died last Christmas - I last saw him on Boxing Day when I videoed him watching my ds opening the present he had 'bought' for him ie. we bought it, he gave us the money because he couldn't shop. I still have the envelopes of money he gave us with his very distinctive writing on - I can't bring myself to spend them - and the bottle of wine he gave me. Strange time of year, Christmas - it's so emotionally loaded whether it's big things or small that bring you down. Too much work, too much spending, too much pressure to be perfect.
And my son's school has two evening performances (adults only) of the Christmas play, one morning dress rehearsal (for pre-schoolers to attend), one party, and one carol service - all within nine days!!

Bit off the subject of Christmas but it we have been invited to a family golden wedding party in Jan and they have specified no presents and while I feel like I should respect their wishes I would like to mark the occasion so this Gift Aid idea sounds just right. How do I get the information? Is there a website or I notice Berries mentions a catologue?

Bozza - it's here

Thanks Gill. Thats brilliant