I hate Christmas. Who's with me?

SailorSam

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Maybe you suffer with a bit of that S.A.D - seasonal affective disorder. One of my relatives gets that - I think its lack of sunlight

I'd say S.A.D with me is more 'social anxiety disorder' and Christmas only makes it worse, i'll be happy to draw the curtains and hibernate.

Kim_kim

raven83 wrote: »

I am one of these people that is in the middle when it comes to Christmas, I like all the magic that goes with it and spending time with family etc, but hate all the competitiveness that goes with it, like people to out do you in the present stakes, or people make you feel guilty about how much you spend. Also, hate the post Christmas anti climax, all that stress over one day. Saying that, I am actually looking forward to Crimbo this year, but I do get where you are coming from.

Thats exactly how I feel.
I love the traditional parts of it, carols, mince pies, family & friends getting together & sharing traditional meals & dishes.
Childrens excitement at santa & presents.
I HATE with a passion the commercialism of it all.
Adults stressing over buying other adults presents, usually of the same value, why bother..... shopping, wrapping, stress, money problems.
Just enjoy the simple old fasioned traditions.

System

It is the one day of the year when there are no buses or trains, so being a non-driver that leaves me with the option of staying at home or going out for a walk if the weather is good. I must admit, Christmas is the one day of the year when I feel a bit vulnerable, because if I needed to get to anywhere a taxi would cost a small fortune!

pleasedelete

I now feel like the grinch. I like Christmas just a few bug bears.

Another - homemade gifts. Nobody (ok almost nobody- fellow crafters MAY appreciate it) wants to be given crafty handmade stuff (possible exception anyone under age 11 can gift homemade stuff as long as they actually made it and not their nursery teacher). It is worse that Boots 75% off generic gift as you CANT regift it or give it to charity (in case the giver sees it). You have to keep it or reduce it to tiny bits and smuggle them out to drop at random bins under the cover of darkness.

That goes for homemade food stuff for teachers. They don't eat it (exception possibly if you have a professional catering business or they have visited your home and seen the kitchen) - they bin it (or feed it to their dogs).

Final bugbear (maybe). No-one wants a picture of your child, or a mug or key ring with their picture on. They may be lovely to you (and I am sure they are) but not a suitable gift (possible exception for granny only but I still think they would prefer good quality alcohol)

GoldenShadow

I genuinely love Christmas which is probably a but odd in that when I was growing up it was very rarely a happy time.

I love winter; the dark, cold, wet weather. Christmas just culminates it all for me. Perfect excuse to stay shut up inside (except for going out with the dog) and forget about everyone else, work etc. I'm not one for travelling miles to see family or going anywhere on Xmas day. I feel guilt free doing nothing, only seeing people if I feel like it and spending time with my Mum and OH. I'm not hugely social and don't really do competitive. Also vaguely religious which adds to it I think.

It makes me very sad how some people are foolish enough to get into lots of debt. Christmas really isn't about that to me. I have a big fear of being alone at Xmas and sympathise with anyone who is alone but wishes they weren't. Church is always very welcoming I find.

geri1965_2

avogadro wrote: »

It is the one day of the year when there are no buses or trains, so being a non-driver that leaves me with the option of staying at home or going out for a walk if the weather is good. I must admit, Christmas is the one day of the year when I feel a bit vulnerable, because if I needed to get to anywhere a taxi would cost a small fortune!

Yeah, same here. If I wanted to go to my mum's, she would have to pick me up and drop me home. Either that or I'd have to stay over, which I hate doing.

At least on Boxing Day the shops are open!

Dozey_crow

I am also mixed about Christmas. I am religious but haven't always been so leaving that aside here is what I think.

Things I like are:
1) decorations and lights that help lift the gloom of a dark miserable winter
2) having a family day out at least the thought of it
3) giving presents..I really like this part not because the presents are expensive or excessive but because we have well thought out personal gifts
4) the food. I love Christmas dinner and traditional Christmas fayre..I know you can eat these foods at anytime but it's not the same
5) my favorite part is Christmas Eve where it is just me and my dh..a small buffet, a Christmas film and a bottle of bubbly :-).. Paradise (oh we haven't got kids BTW.. We haven't locked them in the cellar or anything! :rotfl:)

Things I don't like:

1) falseness of being forced into seeing friends/relatives you really don't like either on the day or before because of obligation
2) consumerism... Cannot stand the adverts for a new sofa table/ kitchen/ house/ dinner service/ cooker/ tree for the purposes of entertaining. As for possible presents OMG.
3) people who are so obsessed with buying stuff that they get into debt. I find that incredible. We have had Christmases where we could only afford small gifts out homemade gifts and these were well received because it's not about money for anyone in our family.
4) the'look what I got' Facebook pictures of piles and piles of presents ..bleurgghh.. Crass beyond belief
5) that many people genuinely don't give a thought to anyone outside of their immediate present giving circl. I know of many who reduce charity donations because of the expense of Christmas and don't give anything to those less fortunate. Although I don't volunteer at Christmas I buy presents for disadvantaged people that are distributed though our local church. Before this I used to give to charities food bank collections

So mixed about Christmas.. But New Year I completely and utterly detest 😕

bagpussbear

I used to adore Christmas. But slowly that festive spirit in me has started to die unfortunately.

Once I had lost both my mum and dad, and my son turned into a teenager, Christmas just didn't seem the same any more.

My hubby likes to go visiting relatives and friends down south in the bit between christmas and new year which means I am on my own for 3 days, so I make the most of that time as I can (usually with dvds and the Harvey's Bristol Creme!) but I can feel a little lonely as my son likes to do is own thing in his room on the computer.

I don't hate it. I enjoy the time off work, and a yummy roast dinner (and did I say Harveys Bristol Cream ....). But it just doesn't feel the same as it did years ago.

itzmee

I just refuse to get drawn in. I buy what I need, nothing else. It's just one day and I don't buy loads of rich food or an assortment of alcohol which will just get thrown away in the New Year.


I don't take part in the secret santa at work as I can't be bothered to shop for a nice gift for £5 to get a piece of tat in return that will just get thrown away. I don't bother with cards, except for the kids for school. I don't buy their teacher a present, I don't even buy for every member of my family as there are too many of us. Hell, I don't even buy anything for DH (or vice versa) as he's too awkward to buy for and quite frankly we'd rather save to get something useful for the house! We just buy for the kids and we don't get into debt for it. As long as I have a tin of chocolates and a bottle or two of wine then I'm happy.


I go back to work just after boxing day anyway so I quickly get back to normal and take the decorations down (which were only put up a few days before Xmas). God I sound like a grouch, but honest I do like Xmas

Make-it-3

Count me in! And the fact that posts are already appearing on here about it. Arguments about which relatives get seen when, how much do you spend questions ....

In my book, summer doesn't end till 21st September, I haven't finished my spring cleaning yet and I want to block out thoughts of cold, dark days for as long as possible.

I may summon up a little bit of interest when its December, but anything I do to celebrate Xmas will be very low key.