Christmas. It's 25th December this year

DCFC79

margaretclare wrote: »

I don't know why everyone is surprised about Christmas, because as far as I can see we've had it rammed down our throats at every opportunity since Guy Fawkes' Day. Tesco were wishing 'A Merry Christmas' to anyone who went through their doors, that was about Hallowe'en. There is no excuse for anyone to 'forget' about it, even if you want to!

I remember seeing xmas stuff round about late september/early october time.

Wutang_2

margaretclare wrote: »

You and my DH should be brothers. His opinion is 'If you want to buy someone a present you can do if any day of the year, not just wait for a "special occasion" '.

I don't know why everyone is surprised about Christmas, because as far as I can see we've had it rammed down our throats at every opportunity since Guy Fawkes' Day. Tesco were wishing 'A Merry Christmas' to anyone who went through their doors, that was about Hallowe'en. There is no excuse for anyone to 'forget' about it, even if you want to!

My pet hate about Christmas is getting those 'round-robin' letters inside a Christmas card. 'Our eldest has got a first, we've just got back from the Maldives....' you know the kind of thing. There have been some particularly painful occurrences in our family this year - on my side, although some very good news from his side. No one would want to know even if I wrote it all down so why should others think I want to hear all about people I've never met?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20427021

Who or what is 'DH'? DH Lawrence? Whoever he is, he sounds evil.

And this round robin business. What on earth are you talking about?:santa2:

marvin

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Of course you are not alone.

Out of interest, how completely do you not do Christmas?

Ditto (total abstinence) even when I had young children, got really fed up with people saying "but surely you do it for the kids!" No I don't do it for the kids so they can see what sticking to principles means!

I have even more of an excuse these days being in a relationship with a Russian and New Year meaning more to her.

I am a total atheist and avoid Christmas because of the religious element, have no problem with having fun but do not want to celebrate Christ! It goes with me with other things if you keep the peace and go with the flow people think you agree, I don't. I am forced to take part even if I don't want to I am rostered to work December 25th but have to take holiday because where I work is shut. I would rather be working that day.

It saddens me every year to see people spending money on things they do not need and cannot afford for a day they either do not understand or worse still for something they do not believe in.

mumps

margaretclare wrote: »

You and my DH should be brothers. His opinion is 'If you want to buy someone a present you can do if any day of the year, not just wait for a "special occasion" '.

I don't know why everyone is surprised about Christmas, because as far as I can see we've had it rammed down our throats at every opportunity since Guy Fawkes' Day. Tesco were wishing 'A Merry Christmas' to anyone who went through their doors, that was about Hallowe'en. There is no excuse for anyone to 'forget' about it, even if you want to!

My pet hate about Christmas is getting those 'round-robin' letters inside a Christmas card. 'Our eldest has got a first, we've just got back from the Maldives....' you know the kind of thing. There have been some particularly painful occurrences in our family this year - on my side, although some very good news from his side. No one would want to know even if I wrote it all down so why should others think I want to hear all about people I've never met?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20427021

I like getting the "round robin" but I do know the people they are writing about,don't know why I would get them about people I don't know. I only get a couple from a family member and an old friend, I don't get to see either of them that often and a round up of what they and their children have done in the year is great. They do tell me good and bad stuff, wouldn't want to read just a showing off type thing.

sulkisu

Wutang wrote: »

Who or what is 'DH'? DH Lawrence? Whoever he is, he sounds evil.

And this round robin business. What on earth are you talking about?:santa2:

DH - Dear/Darling Husband

Lou67

I have no time for Christmas haters, particularly when they turn their nose up at people who DO celebrate it, like they're some kind of simple-minded sheep, and think they're superior because they're not getting dragged into 'all this commercialised crap.'

We have just finished doing our Christmas grocery shopping, and have bought virtually everything we need - except a tenners worth of stuff. Everything we will need is in the pantry, freezer and fridge. Creams and cheeses are in date til mid January, and so are mince pies and nibbles, so we were able to stock up with virtually everything. Also we have all the booze we want.

There are 3 adults in the house, and we spent £113.00 on our groceries and booze. Even with the extras we need to buy nearer to Christmas day, it will not top £120.00. We don't drink a lot, but like to have some in for when family and friends visit.

Since going bankrupt, we have been frugal and thrifty and buy as little as possible and mostly only buy stuff if we NEED it. So you DON'T need to spend a stupid amount to have a good time, and people who love and celebrate Christmas are not always out to spend a fortune that they cannot afford. Some (like us,) love Christmas because it gives you time with your family and a chance to buy special gifts for them, and a chance to catch up with people you may not have seen for a while, as everyone is always so busy.

What we have so far (groceries and booze,) has come out of our last few weeks salary, and has not been 'borrowed.' We also have some savings which will go towards the 7 or 8 people we buy for. (including several children.) And this amount spent will be less than £120 for all 7. And this will barely put a dent in our savings.

We do know a few who spend shedloads on Christmas, (though most of my friends and family don't.) My next door neighbour spent (on just groceries and booze) a grand total of ONE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS last year! They only have one more person in the family than we do!

TBH, if I split with my husband and met a new man, that would be a deal-breaker for me for sure (if he hated Christmas.) I have known several women of my generation who have had partners who hate Christmas, and they've been with them for 5 to 10 years, and all that time, they didn't have a single bauble in the house, because HE didn't want it. SHE did, but because HE didn't, they never had Christmas in their house.

Then as soon as they split, and found someone else, they had Christmas in every room and lights everywhere. Like I said, if a potential partner of mine detested Christmas - the relationship would end before it got off the ground. I find that Christmas haters are usually the cook-from-scratch brigade, who hate all celebrations, the Royal family, commercial music, popular tv, lpopular modern literature and popular commercial magazines etc etc etc. Because it's all much too 'mainstream' for them

Me personally, I LOVE everything about Christmas; I always have and I always will, and my daughter and husband love it as much as I do!

Apples2

Go for it Lou, get it off your chest lol
:xmastree::rudolf::xmassmile:xmassign::snow_grin:snow_laug:santa2:

fozmcfc

I like Christmas time, because it does generally puts people in a good mood and also what with the weather so bad and early dark nights and then January/February generally things don't improve.

I don't think it is worth getting into long term debt for, by that I mean a more than month or two, if you absolutely have to.

I have no kids and there are normally just 3 of us in the family for Christmas, so I don't go mad/overboard anyway.

I think if you have kids and can avoid getting into debt through it, it is a great time.

worried48

27col wrote: »

Ah! A kindred spirit. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Another one here. We don't do Christmas. Haven't done since 2000. Last year I didn't send a single card - I admit that was the first time I've gone that far. It was a totally liberating experience and I recommend it heartily

Don't forget, everyone:

"He don't see you when you're sleeping
He don't know when you're awake
He don't care if you've been bad or good
Because he is a fake"

Ebenezer.

worried48

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Me neither and, by a strange coincidence , I won't be getting anything.

My husband and I give each other exactly the same thing for Christmas every year. I mean, I gve him exactly the same as he gives me. In fact it's exactly the same thing as we each give for birthdays too