I hate Christmas. Who's with me?

BarryBlue

I went to a meeting of some members of a forum where I post this morning (Not MSE;)) and on the way there I saw a house decked out with christmas lights at 9.30am. On arrival at the chosen pub for breakfast, we were subjected to background music of the usual seasonal dross.:(

It is still November, I despair!:doh:

Primrose

[QUOTE=Nargleblast;69613279

I do like the season, but hate the hype. And people who put decorations up in November should have their Christmas trees surgically implanted in an awkward place. Bah Humbug![/QUOTE]

This is not as bad as people who leave their external Christmas lights decorations up outside their house and working all year as one house I occasionally drive past does. Actually after about two years they have finally disappeared so maybe the embarrassed home now has a new owner.

BarryBlue

adindas wrote: »

Well Christmas for many people means a break from work ….
Who did not like it?? I can only think the people who hane holiday every day because they do not work …

So I am not with you sorry ....

Not entirely the case at all. My wife is forced to take two days off at Christmas when she would much rather be able to work, and have the days at other times to use for a holiday at a better time of year.

It's the same at Easter, which is an absolutely nothing event for most people. These 'tied' holidays are a waste when you just want to go on holiday as often as possible.

Petra_70

BarryBlue wrote: »

I went to a meeting of some members of a forum where I post this morning (Not MSE;)) and on the way there I saw a house decked out with christmas lights at 9.30am. On arrival at the chosen pub for breakfast, we were subjected to background music of the usual seasonal dross.:(

It is still November, I despair!:doh:

I have seen THREE houses near me, with lights and decorations up; one legit since 15th November. I mean whyyyyyyyy?

calicocat

adindas wrote: »

Well Christmas for many people means a break from work ….
Who did not like it?? I can only think the people who hane holiday every day because they do not work …

So I am not with you sorry ....

And for many working in the NHS, other care services or emergency services not having xmas off to spend with family....whats not to like?! . Having to balance work and family, and the stress this can sometimes have being pulled from all directions and feeling that you are letting people down somehow. Retail I guess too and hospitality.


Anyhow, on a more vile note. Someone from work has text asking if I want to be one of the ones going into town to buy 20 - 40 odd presents for the patients.................Noooooooooo...!!!!.

I once did the buy all sorts of c.r.a.p. food for over the hols for the ward....never again. I rang the manager screaming " I'm a.........Get Me Outa Here"...when I needed the taxi back, and she thought I was an AWOL patient..... :rotfl:

Pollycat

Petra_70 wrote: »

I have seen THREE houses near me, with lights and decorations up; one legit since 15th November. I mean whyyyyyyyy?

That's late. Posted on 11th November:

Pollycat wrote: »

Just closed the curtains in the study and the house across the way has got Christmas lights in their window. :eek:

Nargleblast

Today we have arranged for our neighbours and their two kids to come to us at teatime the Sunday before Christmas for a Winter Solstice/Yule celebration. Our decorations will be up a couple of days before then and the downstairs will be festooned with lights and greenery. I am thinking of doing a buffet of Northern European/Scandinavian style food e.g. sliced German Bratwurst, Jarlsberg cheese, smoked salmon, potato rosti, salady bits, with home made gingerbread men and chocolate Yule log. Something fruity and sparkling to drink, and shots of chilled home made redcurrant vodka.

Some of the stuff will be home made, some I have in stock already, and the rest I can get from the German supermarket. It will be a light hearted celebration of the solstice, of the children breaking up from school and of the beginning of the Christmas season. That to me is what the season should be about, informal gatherings of family and friends where you put on a nice spread without being a martyr in the kitchen.

I certainly think that more and more people are becoming disillusioned with the commercialism that causes so much stress. If you are happy dossing around Christmas Day with a tin of chocolates and watching the telly, instead of being in a houseful of assorted relatives with the tensions that can sometimes bring, then all well and good. If Christmas is a time of stress for you then something needs to change.

Zola.

margaretclare

Nargleblast wrote: »

Today we have arranged for our neighbours and their two kids to come to us at teatime the Sunday before Christmas for a Winter Solstice/Yule celebration. Our decorations will be up a couple of days before then and the downstairs will be festooned with lights and greenery. I am thinking of doing a buffet of Northern European/Scandinavian style food e.g. sliced German Bratwurst, Jarlsberg cheese, smoked salmon, potato rosti, salady bits, with home made gingerbread men and chocolate Yule log. Something fruity and sparkling to drink, and shots of chilled home made redcurrant vodka.

Some of the stuff will be home made, some I have in stock already, and the rest I can get from the German supermarket. It will be a light hearted celebration of the solstice, of the children breaking up from school and of the beginning of the Christmas season. That to me is what the season should be about, informal gatherings of family and friends where you put on a nice spread without being a martyr in the kitchen.

I certainly think that more and more people are becoming disillusioned with the commercialism that causes so much stress. If you are happy dossing around Christmas Day with a tin of chocolates and watching the telly, instead of being in a houseful of assorted relatives with the tensions that can sometimes bring, then all well and good. If Christmas is a time of stress for you then something needs to change.

I am happy 'dossing around' doing my own thing, not necessarily with the TV and certainly not with a tin of chocolates. DH and I go to church Christmas morning and may go down the seafront later. Other than that, none of the tensions that you describe - a recipe for hell IMHO.

How many red-nosed reindeer were there in that stable at Bethlehem? How many tins of Cadbury's chocolates did the three wise men bring with them?

ALIBOBSY

I have to admit to being a Christmas fan myself, BUT I do agree with alot of the sentiments in this thread around the commercialisation of Christmas.

I have in fact had to buy a new fridge freezer last month and then last week a new oven, but both were because they had gone kaput an were unfixable by me and OH- the oven has had a few new parts over the years as have many of our white goods.

The idea of buying large items specifically for christmas and no other reason is crazy.

We are all Christians and have 4 kids so a big part of the pleasure for me is nativities, carol services etc and simply spending time as a family.

We are in some ways quite unconventional tho, e.g our turkey is running around a field with his mates at a friends at the mo and will be hand plucked by one of us on the 18th. Most of the food we eat will come from our lovely local farm shops and markets and will be cooked from scratch by myself assisted by the whole family. For us its all about being together and sharing a celebration.

Ali x