I hate Christmas. Who's with me?

pickledonionspaceraider

oooooooooooooooo

Brighton_belle

Christmas would be ok if we could scrap the whole 'presents' thing.
Oh alright, allowed for kids, if you insist

dandelionclock30

I dont like all those naff Christmas songs being belted out in the shops. I used to work somewhere and one of the bosses used to play 1 CD of Christmas songs continually for 3 weeks or so. They were played in the reception area so loud and it used to get on peoples nerves.
When she went out it was turned off straight away.
It was songs like Merry Christmas by Slade,Little Drummer Boy,Jingle Bells etc. Everytime I hear these I feel like swearing. They must bring out tourettes in people.

dandelionclock30

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Christmas would be ok if we could scrap the whole 'presents' thing.
Oh alright, allowed for kids, if you insist

You can just tell everyone, you really seriously dont want a present and that you are not buying for anyone either.
I only buy for a couple of people.Just tell them to buy themselves something nice with their own money.

natjscofield

I agree to a certain extent about homemade gifts - however I don't think we should automatically shun them as awful.

Every year I make my grandparents a hamper basket full of treats. They're not, and have never been, very well off so a bottle of expensive aftershave just seems pointless to them.

Instead I buy (closer to Christmas of course) some nice cheese, a bottle of wine, make my own chutney, home made chocolate brownies, cookies, fudge etc and buy a nice hamper and Christmas-style material to line the basket.

It means that they get some nice treats for the Christmas period and not a pointless present. I'm also of the (maybe old fashioned) opinion that it really does show you care because you've taken the time of make something.

I love Christmas - the tree, songs, family time, games, food.
I do, however, have a 3 year old so it still keeps the magic alive when we watch the Christmas films. I'm sure I'll feel different when she's left home.

I hate the commercial aspect though. Do we really need Christmas songs in November?

pickledonionspaceraider

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

You can just tell everyone, you really seriously dont want a present and that you are not buying for anyone either.
.

We have been doing this for a few years now. It sounds a lot easier than it is. The only xmas presents we buy are family children - no adults.

They still buy for us. They still try to involve us - which in itself is lovely - but you can't always tell other people what to do it seems

Brighton_belle

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

You can just tell everyone, you really seriously dont want a present and that you are not buying for anyone either.
I only buy for a couple of people.Just tell them to buy themselves something nice with their own money.

Already do and don't send cards either. Bliss. Xmas barely register for us, so we experience no negatives about it what so ever other than the marketing hype months before.
I'm thinking more of the endless stress I see others under - drives me mad the ridiculous spend fest culture of stuff nobody wants and many can't afford and peoples inability to do as you have suggested and opt out of the madness.

BarryBlue

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Already do and don't send cards either. Bliss. Xmas barely register for us, so we experience no negatives about it what so ever other than the marketing hype months before.
I'm thinking more of the endless stress I see others under - drives me mad the ridiculous spend fest culture of stuff nobody wants and many can't afford and peoples inability to do as you have suggested and opt out of the madness.

I couldn't agree more.

If there is no meaning to it all then why does everyone bother putting themselves through it all? The sheer waste of money that happens makes me shudder. That includes rubbishy gifts, "party" food - whatever that may be - and the obligatory consumption of booze until you fall over.

natjscofield wrote: »

Instead I buy (closer to Christmas of course) some nice cheese, a bottle of wine, make my own chutney, home made chocolate brownies, cookies, fudge etc and buy a nice hamper and Christmas-style material to line the basket.

Although I hate Christmas, I would be happy to receive something like that, possibly for a birthday. At least the things you mention are likely to get used as opposed to being thrown into a cupboard somewhere.

mumps

natjscofield wrote: »

I agree to a certain extent about homemade gifts - however I don't think we should automatically shun them as awful.

Every year I make my grandparents a hamper basket full of treats. They're not, and have never been, very well off so a bottle of expensive aftershave just seems pointless to them.

Instead I buy (closer to Christmas of course) some nice cheese, a bottle of wine, make my own chutney, home made chocolate brownies, cookies, fudge etc and buy a nice hamper and Christmas-style material to line the basket.

It means that they get some nice treats for the Christmas period and not a pointless present. I'm also of the (maybe old fashioned) opinion that it really does show you care because you've taken the time of make something.

I love Christmas - the tree, songs, family time, games, food.
I do, however, have a 3 year old so it still keeps the magic alive when we watch the Christmas films. I'm sure I'll feel different when she's left home.

I hate the commercial aspect though. Do we really need Christmas songs in November?

As a granny I think that sounds a lovely present. The only thing I would like extra if it was me is a lovely photo of great granddaughter, I only have grandchildren at the moment but I am sure the day will come and I love photos of my grandchildren and I am sure I will feel the same about their babies.

purpleshoes_2

KxMx wrote: »

Call me rude if you want, you are entitled to your opinion.

Just as I am entitled to my opinion that posters making assumptions I am not already trying to help myself out of this situation are not very nice, particularly helpful or supportive.

However well meaning it grates to be told life is what you make it and don't sit there waiting for someone to help etc. When that is actually all you've been doing continually for 8 years. But as usual people assume the worst and it never seemed to enter into anyone's mind I might be doing those things already and still find Christmas hard.

I have very few flash points and such advice however well meaning can be one of them, as is Christmas lol.

I never meant to cause any offence or upset however I did not expect those kind of attitudes to be directed towards me in a thread which is supposed to be about mutual support in disliking Christmas which is why I reacted defensively.

I won't reply again because I don't see that would be helpful. Plenty of assumptions have already been made about me and i've no wish to add further fuel to the fire but did want to make a final reply. So if anyone read this then thank you.

Didnt actually make assumptions about you, you are putting words into my mouth. I didnt direct any attitudes towards you either. Neither did I say you werent trying to help yourself. But if it makes you feel better to point the finger at me then you carry on. And dont refer to people as not nice, what a ridiculous thing to say. You get defensive and are rude to me and somehow its all my fault?

You were just rude for absolutely no reason.