Would you admit you don’t really like Christmas?

Posted by AdSlow9476@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 389 comments

It’s the kind of thing “Ah you’re a Grinch or Kill Joy” if you say you don’t particularly like Christmas. I haven’t been a fan really for a good few years now there’s no Santa around our house. If I’m honest I’ll be happy when it’s all over. It hit me this year when I was out buying present for people, buying crap they don’t want or need and it gets harder every year, you’re just buying for the sake of it, and no doubt I’ll receive stuff I don’t want or need and it’ll get stuck in the wardrobe until I have the annual clear out for the charity shop. Madness really. And then we have the TV schedule being buggered, a load of films you’ve already seen or don’t want to see anyway, specials from shows you don’t watch anyway looking at you strictly or the masked singer etc. So yeah, not feeling it, not in the Christmas spirit, and what’s going on with that weather? Im in a T-shirt, it’s 14c out.

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Jonoabbo@reddit

Reading through this I'm quite surprised that so many people don't have anything they want for Christmas. Even like... Chocolates? Drinks? Deodorants, aftershave, skincare, showergels? Socks? Things you looked at and thought "Oh that looks cool but I don't know if I want to buy it for myself"? Games that you thought looked cool but couldn't afford to splash out on? You guys seriously own every possible thing you could ever want?

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cohaggloo@reddit

I'd say it's not so much about having everything you could possibly want, and more like: I have everything I really want already and a house full of clutter. I really don't want more stuff I don't really need. There's nothing wrong with giving something you know will have special use or meaning, but too often it's become giving something just for the sake of it.

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movienerd7042@reddit

Yeah it confuses me when people say that they only do Christmas presents for kids because as an adult they can just buy what they want anyway… isn’t it still nice to have someone you love gift it to you?

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RetractableHead@reddit

Not quite, but speaking personally, if there is something I want or need I buy it (I’m fairly low maintenance year-round). Thing is, if I want something but not enough to have bought it myself, I kind of feel like it’s not worth anyone else’s time or money either if that makes sense. And there’s no way I’m asking anyone to buy me the expensive stuff I haven’t bought because I can’t afford it (‘Two weeks snowboarding in Japan’ would be taking the piss a bit). I look at my family’s financial situation a lot of the time and think I’d rather they kept the money for themselves.

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Jonoabbo@reddit

Interesting. There's a lot of things that I want but I don't buy just because I don't need it immediately, even if I would like to have it, so they get added to various lists. When my family then ask what I want for Christmas, I just pass them that list and tell them to pick something from there.

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RetractableHead@reddit

That makes sense. Especially if you’re organised enough to let people know waaaay in advance what’s on your list so they can buy it in a sale or something. I think it was the last time I moved house that did it for me - ever since then, I’ve just replaced things as they’ve worn out or broken and tried not to accrue cruft I’ll have to pack/store/move next time I move 😁

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Jonoabbo@reddit

I've only moved once so far and am fairly sure I will learn this lesson when I come to move again

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RetractableHead@reddit

Ask for a hernia belt for Christmas in preparation.

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pintperson@reddit

Years ago Sean Lock had a joke about how Christmas should be every 4 years like the World Cup. And I would actually support that.

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gnorrn@reddit

Does that mean it would end up in Saudi Arabia?

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Otherwise-Extreme-68@reddit

The Christmas adverts would end up starting a year before 🤣 it's bad enough when it's a month before!

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Great idea that tbh. Might appreciate it more

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

It would just become even more of a commercialised shitfest

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TSC-99@reddit

That would be great

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ENuffSaid01@reddit

Paul Whitehouse said the same on Gone Fishing recently. Got my vote.

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cuppachuppa@reddit

I like the food and the getting together but I don't like the commercialism of xmas. I don't want people to buy me presents - if I wanted it I'd have already bought it. So now I'm obliged to use/wear/display the thing you've bought me because "it's the thought that counts". Xmas is for kids.

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Missing-Caffeine@reddit

Even for children (it's my 1st one as a parent) the whole Elf on the shelf + Christmas eve box + the matching pjs + the photoshoots and it goes on and on and on...... Just to overload them with stuff and parents with more to do.

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Speshal__@reddit

Tell your children that the Elf only visits children Santa isn't sure which list to put them on, no Elf, Santa is sure they're on the nice list. And relax.

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cuppachuppa@reddit

I've known about the elf thing for a few years but actually read-up on it recently after some friends were moaning about having to think up things for the elf to do. It's yet another American thing that we've blindly adopted.

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fishface-1977@reddit

It’s been around for like less than 15 years or something and have friends in their forties who are variously convinced that they did it as children or that it is a centuries old German tradition or something. An absolute triumph of word of mouth marketing but incredibly sinister when you think about it - don’t they spy on the children?

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SuzLouA@reddit

2005 was when it started. The movie Elf is older.

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codemonkeh87@reddit

I remember around 10 years or so ago when it first showed up on social media, with the "you remember elf on a shelf... well..." I was very firmly in the nope, no I do not, that was never a thing, do not tell me I remember something that I definitely remember DID NOT exist camp. Ultimately it comes down to psychology I guess, social proof, if enough people do it others will blindly follow, it's a funny concept when you see it in action and it's rife on social media.

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theivoryserf@reddit

> Ultimately it comes down to psychology I guess, social proof, if enough people do it others will blindly follow, it's a funny concept when you see it in action and it's rife on social media. We have been utterly mesmerised by electronic media, most people don't read books and seem not to have any interesting or eclectic opinions any more.

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RagingSpud@reddit

I mean, so does Santa? I thought Santa can see everything, is that not sinister 😅

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fishface-1977@reddit

Yes indeed it is! Not only that he breaks into your house at night

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fanatic_tarantula@reddit

We've never done the elf on the shelf and I'm soo glad we didn't. Creating a shit load of mess just for me to clean up is not my idea of fun, the kids already create enough mess as it is

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NoIntern6226@reddit

It's easy and barely any effort. Kids love it.

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MopvivII@reddit

My thoughts exactly!! I'm lucky (and grateful) that my other half does the Elf each morning so I bite my tongue / and don't have much right to complain... but I truly don't understand why he's always gotta be doing some messy bullshit. Toilet paper everywhere or baking a cake and other such shit. Don't teach them making a mess is funny :/

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Don_Alosi@reddit

I still have no idea what's that about, and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

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charlescorn@reddit

Same here. I've only been aware of the elf on the shelf thing for a matter of days. No idea what people are talking about, worried if I did find out, it'll be another reason to despair of humanity.

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TheDettiEskimo@reddit

We had never done it (son is now 6) and my exes mother came over with it and got him all excited and then fucking left us with it. To be honest it's pretty fucking easy. The kids aren't on Social Media or YouTube and shit so aren't seeing all the over the top IG shit folk do. Just put him on the tree. Climbing the lights. Eating a pie and the kid is happy. Still I would have preferred it if it didn't happen. About a week and a bit ago we got him to fuck off to the north pole to deliver the letter to Santa and he only came back last night.

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FaeOfTheMallows@reddit

Same, like there isn't enough stuff to do this time of year, I cannot be dealing with coming up with unique scenarios every day just so a company can sell more tat.

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turgottherealbro@reddit

Parents are in control sure, but don’t tell me it’s not hard to explain to a 5yr old why she doesn’t have an elf on the shelf when all her friends do and it’s the talk of the town every morning.

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AceOfSpades532@reddit

Santa trusts her to behave well and be on the good list without needing a personal elf spy to monitor everything she does, but don’t tell her friends or they’ll be jealous

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turgottherealbro@reddit

That’s not going to stop her feeling left out when her friends are talking about how their elf made snowmen or their elf left doughnuts etc.

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Visible-Traffic-5180@reddit

Kids need to learn how to handle mild disappointment. It's definitely doing them a favour in the long run. I had a conversation with mine along the lines of, you know you're good people, you don't need some weird CCTV elf monitoring you for signs of being "undeserving". Kids are smart, Christmas is about love and family, not insecure competitive consumerism and some weird collective idea that they should be behaviourally on edge 24hr/day in their own home in order to earn a reward.

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cloud_designer@reddit

That's exactly what I did. Both my kids believe they are good and on the nice list. It's now a low key threat in my house, 'oooff mate does mummy need to ask Santa to send an elf next year?'

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Substantial_Steak723@reddit

That "idiots" have blindly adopted.

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Bopperz247@reddit

People love self inflicted stress. Gives them something to talk about.

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giraffe_cake@reddit

I knew a bit about the elf, but I didn't know you weren't supposed to touch it or the magic dies in them. Cue me touching the elf when my niece and nephew wanted to show me. The scream that came out of them, I thought someone had died. Fuck me, the crying and the screams. My brother was really quick on his feet and said it didn't count because I didn't know the rules. Managed to calm them down. Christ. That was enough stress 😂

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Dazz316@reddit

People go to hard, they see the stuff on social media where folk spend hours setting up shit. I jsut half arse it in something and they love it. Yeah, it's American but it's fun. Best hit was a stuffed him through a (new) toilet roll and left him in the hall. Took me 20s to think of and about that to do. Have him hanging from stuff is an easy go to, crushed under a present, hanging half out the letter box, cuddling another of my dauighters dolls...dunno but it's so easy and so little effort. It's just a fun and easy surprise each morining without having to do much of anything, I see no downside. Kids young enough to think they're real need VERY LITTLE effort. The ones that go to tons of effort aren't doing it for the kids, they're doing it for social media.

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Pizzagoessplat@reddit

Christmas Eve box? Are you saying kids get presents on Christmas Eve now? I've never heard of it

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Tulcey-Lee@reddit

Congratulations on your first Xmas as a parent. My first little one is due in two months so next year will be my first as a parent. There won’t be Xmas eve boxes or elf on the shelf, no matching PJs for social media photoshoots! Probably makes me sound like a right grinch, but I do quite like Xmas I think you can still keep some of the magic without all of that rubbish.

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PowerApp101@reddit

The fuck is a Christmas Eve box?

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lapodufnal@reddit

Usually has the kids names on and a box prepared for Christmas Eve with new pjs, maybe some chocolates/ hot chocolate kit and a small toy. If it’s at that level it’s quite sweet really, not a big expense just a few early bits to hopefully get them excited to go to bed and maybe even entertain themselves a bit in the morning. I remember being an early riser as a child and taking one gift from an aunt or uncle up to bed with me to open first thing and play with before the house woke up so it’s just this plus fresh pjs

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SelectTrash@reddit

Yeah, my neighbour has always done this and still does with her adult daughter whereas we just open one present on Christmas Eve and that's it

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Rosekernow@reddit

Book, sweets, hot drink mix, pair of PJs. Give to kid and settle them down while you finish off the stuff that needs doing.

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fishface-1977@reddit

How can you possibly have a proper Christmas without one?

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RetractableHead@reddit

And what the fuck is an elf on the shelf? I thought I had loads to do already; turns out there’s all this other bollocks I knew nothing about, and I’ve been half-arsing it 🤷🏽‍♂️

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cloud_designer@reddit

I have convinced my kids that only children who could end up on the naughty list get elves sent by Santa... So both my kids think they are good because we don't have an elf. Neither of them miss it. We don't do a Christmas eve box. No photoshoots except one pic in front of the tree. We do the matching pajamas because it makes my step daughter super happy but if it wasn't for her we wouldn't. I think people put too much pressure on thinking their kid will miss out when in fact they just don't care.

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Don_Alosi@reddit

I do believe you're overdoing it, especially for a 1 year old, relax and enjoy the moment, your kid doesn't really care about Christmas yet, as far as they're concerned it's Christmas every day as long as you're with them.

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Missing-Caffeine@reddit

Ohh I haven't done anything other than wrapping some gifts (and even then she couldn't care less, probably I could just hand over the tv remote and she would be happy lol). Next year I am hoping to resist the peer pressure 😂

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Don_Alosi@reddit

oh my bad! I thought you were DOING all that stuff! :D

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WhaleMeatFantasy@reddit

>Elf on the shelf + Christmas eve box + the matching pjs + the photoshoots Don’t know about any of these. Certainly not English traditions.

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fishface-1977@reddit

Tbh that’s your choice if you get the matching pyjamas and Christmas Eve box etc - all stuff that people who sell shit tell you need but deep down do you need this stuff to have a great Christmas?

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gameofgroans_@reddit

Honestly I may be fucked in the head aha but Christmas is one of the reasons I’m pleased I was born when I was. The whole elf on the shelf and everything is so much now and I see kids just getting more spoilt (not all of them) - when I was a kid we had two Christmases because of family but they were both low key and that was it. Those two days were magical and it kept it to them.

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Throwawaythedocument@reddit

I hate it when people ask what I want, and if I just say, boxers, socks, razors ect and they say no. These are things I want and need, and will get used. Better than a voucher for a shop that doesn't exist near me.

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MalcolmTuckersLuck@reddit

Me and the wife sacked off presents years ago. Best decision ever.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yes this. Commercialism what’s ruined it for me, maybe I’m just imagining it but it seems to get worse every year. I was in a shop this morning and they were in the middle of taking away the Christmas stuff, no doubt to be replaced with Easter crap.

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Bicolore@reddit

You know you can just avoid it all and have a proper Christmas right? It doesn’t feel that hard to me.

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moreidlethanwild@reddit

You can try to avoid it but if family members are into the mass commercialism it’s difficult. They expect you to get onboard because “it’s Christmas” and people like this don’t listen when you say you don’t want to. You then get branded as the Grinch, or worse if you don’t participate.

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t0ppings@reddit

>you get branded as the grinch Oh no? Just let them. I'm sure life will go on, and with the bonus of everyone now aware that you aren't into pointless Christmas shit.

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Substantial-Sun-9971@reddit

Become the grinch, embrace it. A couple of years later it will have just become normal and nobody will have anything to say about it anymore

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moreidlethanwild@reddit

Oh we have, I have for many years and then met my husband who’s mother adores Christmas. Every year we get the guilt trip…. “But you don’t even have a tree?” and “but you used to love Christmas” and other assorted comments. We still receive gifts from her and we don’t celebrate at all on the day. I’m happy if she’s happy to do it, but it seems so pointless. She literally cannot imagine us not opening gifts on Christmas morning.

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Substantial-Sun-9971@reddit

My gran was like this (bless her), she’d still give me a bag of really random presents regardless. It’s more for them being able to give it to you isn’t it. Funny how some people are so attached to the idea of how Christmas should be. I suppose it’s quite sweet really

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moreidlethanwild@reddit

Yes, exactly like this with my MiL. She gives us each a bag with random gifts, a lot of clutter in truth. I get hand cream and Christmas socks every year and never use them 😩

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Substantial-Sun-9971@reddit

Yes! Always the socks and hand cream, usually an old lady fragrance like rose, really random chocolate choice and some sort of wild card item like a charity shop Jilly Cooper book or some shit. This will be the first Christmas without her and Im going to miss that little act of kindness tomorrow, even though it used to do my head in 🥲

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moreidlethanwild@reddit

Ahh I’m so sorry for your loss. Yes you’ve described it exactly! I am sure we get things she’s bought in the discount section or charity shop. Nothing wrong with that in itself but we’ve had really random things over the years. My husband got a Ben Sherman shirt last year - I haven’t seen one since the 1990s!

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Bicolore@reddit

I guess I’m lucky that’s not our family then.

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atomic_mermaid@reddit

If it makes you feel better the majority of people complained it was too commercial back in 1969 too: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/share-of-public-spending-christmas-alone-has-doubled-since-1969-study-finds In fact if anything that number's gone down slightly since then.

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superkinks@reddit

May I recommend non-tangible gifts? I’ve started buying my parents tickets to comedy shows or plays for Christmas presents instead of stuff. They’re in their 60s, they have all the stuff they need already. You can get gift cards for meals out if you know somewhere they’d particularly like to eat, chain restaurants sell them in supermarkets even. A couple of years back my brother and I both gifted them money which they used to book a holiday in Greece off-peak.

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codemonkeh87@reddit

This is the kind of thing I like doing now. Or like consumables rather than plastic Chinese crap off amazon. If someone enjoys whiskey or something but they only ever have famous grouse or something in when you visit, grab them a nice bottle of single malt, that kind of thing

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cloud_designer@reddit

Yup, we are a big fan of home made biscuits and chocolate slabs. Easy, fun and edible.

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codemonkeh87@reddit

That's a nice idea! Keeps more in the spirit of Christmas too I think

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cloud_designer@reddit

We do this! We buy experiences not physical gifts.

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No-Computer-2847@reddit

Gift cards and money are tangible items.

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superkinks@reddit

Okay, you got me on the gift cards. Money can be transferred from one account to another though

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Puzzled-Tip-2912@reddit

We stopped doing presents for adults this year and its made it a far more enjoyable run up to Christmas.

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mcbeef89@reddit

Xmas is also for older people. I'm 51, I'm at my mum's for Christmas and she's loving it. She's gone to insane efforts. We lost my brother last year. Family get-togethers mean a lot.

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chuckie219@reddit

I don’t think it’s the family get-together aspect of it people object to.

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mcbeef89@reddit

Of course not. But it's not just for kids. It's the highlight of my mum's year. She is not a kid.

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cuppachuppa@reddit

Read the first 8 words of my original post.

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mcbeef89@reddit

I did. And the last four.

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Ill-Needleworker-630@reddit

I agree it's for the little ones who still have magic in the veins once that's gone it's just a holiday to either eat and drink yourself sick, spend time with people you don't like and feel guilty for thinking that because there are lonely people out there to. Then the money spent pure crass commercialism, and the social divide widens. The true spirit of Christmas, the unconditional love that it is supposedly represents I don't feel that, but I do feel it within myself now I am free to explore my own personal spirituality, celebrated the Winter Soltice and The first day of Yule, felt more love in those two days than in my entire life in organised religion.

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Affectionate-Boot-12@reddit

Your first sentence is exactly what I said in my head before clicking. Bang on there mate! I love the fun and games that we all have at this time of year and the social aspect. Presents for a 38 year old seem unnecessary because as you said, if I want something I just buy it.

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Mobile_Falcon8639@reddit

Totally agree I'm the same especially presents, I don't need scented candles or more pairs of socks.

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NuclearMaterial@reddit

I actually need socks this year so I asked for them. That was it. When pushed for more ideas I came up with razor blades. I got a car battery for my birthday. Just things that I need at the time are all I want now if that.

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Larnak1@reddit

>I was out buying present for people, buying crap they don’t want or need and it gets harder every year, you’re just buying for the sake of it But that's a you problem, not a Christmas problem. I buy presents for 2 people, and they are both required to send wish lists, and I get maybe 1-2 small things that I find through the year - but that's totally optional. Same the other way round. Just change these things to not be stressful.

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alwaysreadthe@reddit

I grew up in a Christmas wishlist family and my wife grew up in a family where they do not-Secret Santa and wishlists are considered ‘cheating’. I buy and am bought for by my mum & dad, sister & brother in law, and my wife, and it’s always something off their wishlist. They always ask for my wishlist. Everyone therefore enjoys their gifts. It’s a good system! My wife, on the other hand, has been bought a Chinese dropshipped polyester frilly skirted coat (she wouldn’t be caught dead in anything like that) purchased last minute and on sale by her dad, who drew her this year and is terrible at buying gifts. My wife drew her mum to buy for, but her mum consistently despises all gifts so wife had to gamble on buying her fancy champagne. My wife’s brother drew me this year and I sent him my wishlist. I think, thankfully, that doing so means we are banned from all future gatherings with her family for ‘cheating’.

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

Yes, just change other people’s feelings and expectations 🙄. Peak 20 something Redditor comment. Before you come back at me, I’m somebody that has slowly detached myself from the Christmas commercial nightmare, but it’s not easy if you have loved ones that care about this stuff.

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Larnak1@reddit

🤷‍♂️

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JosephRohrbach@reddit

Exact same here. I think a remarkable number of people are genuinely unaware you can just... break with tradition. Do something differently. Make it so you can enjoy it! I'm super picky about what I read, and always have been. Since I was 14 or so, I was reading very specialized (generally academic) non-fiction that was just too niche for a normal person to pick out for me. I didn't enjoy being bought random Waterstone's bestsellers, because they tended not to be relevant to me. Even stuff from "my section" of the shop, I would already own and have read. So I just started giving specific lists of things I wanted that people could choose from. Now I'm guaranteed stuff I will actually enjoy, *and* people get the fun of "picking something out" for me! Similarly, it used to be my family's tradition that we watched *Arthur Christmas* every Christmas Eve. Goodness knows my brother and I liked it as kids, but eventually... it just started to grate on us. So we stopped. One year we just said that we didn't like it that much anymore, and that we'd watch something else. That's way more fun, let me tell you! This year we're going to try out *Die Hard*, which none of the rest of my family has ever seen. Generally, the OP sounds like they're depressed, and get extra depressed when they feel they should be happy. That's understandable, but not really a Christmas problem. It's an OP problem. The other thing is they seem to be locked into doing things they don't enjoy, unaware that they could simply change what they do to things they enjoy more. Tonnes of the comments are the same - a weird mix of mentally ill and bizarrely resigned to things they have complete control over! I'm sympathetic, but it's useful to make explicit that this isn't a Christmas problem - it's a mental health and excessive traditionalism problem.

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Distinct-Owl-7678@reddit

I have to agree. I do something pretty similar, only immediate family get presents and we'll openly talk about exactly what we want or need. We know there are a few things that each one of us can be mega fucking picky over. Like I'm really particular about clothes and everyone respects that so I don't end up with a bunch of shitty t shirts that vaguely fit. That way we get stuff we want and because we just restrict it to each other, the gifts are bigger. So instead of having a massive pile of lynx sets from 20 different people, I'll end up with a really nice bottle of whiskey and a new camping stove because my last one shit the bed. It stops that shit as well where someone knows you're into a hobby but they know nothing about it so they get some cheap tat thinking it'll be handy when in reality, it's useless. Like knowing you're really into fitness because you're a personal trainer so they buy you a set of 2kg rubber dumbbells.

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Pizzagoessplat@reddit

Yeah, of course and I do. I work in hospitality in Ireland and HATE this time of year. There's a lot of self entitlement with "locals" here that only come once a year. Customers really do think they're special I never had that when I worked in England

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Bennjoon@reddit

I fucking love Christmas mostly because my love language is giving gifts so I get huge dopamine gains ✨✨✨✨

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Frankydink@reddit

I've disliked Christmas since I was a kid 😕 I hate when people try to *make* you like it.

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MyDadsGlassesCase@reddit

I sit in a house with people I have nothing in coming with, while I smile politely as they give me presents that I don't want. Bah humbug, for sure

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ChaosControl-@reddit

I just say I don't celebrate it and leave it at that. I don't exchange presents or eat festive food, and I have a small family who I see all the time. I do like the lights, decor, and "cosy" feeling so i not anti-Christmas.

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104thunderduck@reddit

Don't hate it but its gone to commercial plus iv no children around santy age so the magic is gone. Love the break from work though

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daxamiteuk@reddit

Muslim so I don’t celebrate Christmas. Family all have the day off so we do meet up, and we have a big roast meal as a novelty 😂 but there’s no tree or decorations, no presents and no forced cheer so it’s low key and less stressful , just a day to hang out together. Luckily the UK is still slow at targeting the small Muslim market (it is starting though, I’ve seen Morrisons doing “Happy Eid” signs and food that has no link to Eid) so that’s also not a major thing for us (also we don’t have extended family here). Which is a good and bad thing, less stressful but also not something I get hugely excited about either.

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adysheff67@reddit

There are too many empty seats at the dinner table now and too many sad anniversaries around this period. I try but it's not the same....

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Aggressive_Fish461@reddit

I don’t like Christmas. It’s only me and my mum (who I can’t say I have much fun with). I’d much MUCH rather go away by myself for the week and ignore the whole thing, but I’d feel too guilty leaving my mum. My ex partner had a completely different Christmas experience with a huge family get together and lots of fun and games - so I know some people really do have a lovely time. Unfortunately it’s not like that for me!

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thebuttonmonkey@reddit

And after all the effort and expense, I get to spend the day making food I don’t like for people I can’t stand. Fucking hate it.

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fishface-1977@reddit

Don’t invite them then. I stopped bending over for the arseholes in my family years ago and Christmas has never been better

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thebuttonmonkey@reddit

Not an option. Mum’s getting on? been really unwell and wants to see the extended family, she can’t do it herself this year, and my sister is refusing to pull her (considerable) weight.

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Conradus_@reddit

Of course it's an option, you're in charge of who comes in your home. It sounds like you're scared of the fallout, that doesn't mean you've no choice.

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thebuttonmonkey@reddit

I means I wouldn’t dream of not doing something nice for my mum. It doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.

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Conradus_@reddit

You said you don't have an option, I explained how you do.

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VerbalniDelikt@reddit

☝️🤓

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

Don’t listen to them. It might as well be a bot designed to replicate Reddit’s insufferably smug, self centred demographic of smartarses

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thebuttonmonkey@reddit

Thanks! The only place on the internet where ‘I’m doing something I hate to make my mother happy’ could be a hot take.

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_Red_Knight_@reddit

Yeah, usually I agree with the sentiment that you should stop inviting people you don't like, but it makes sense in your case.

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sobrique@reddit

There's bits I like and bits I don't. I can do without most of the stress, and would be truly quite content with a pretty low key double bank holiday with some nice food. But I've had a couple of _miserable_ Christmases, that makes me uneasy that this time might be, and I overthink that. And I get incredible stress and anxiety with the whole buying and giving presents, as I hugely overthink, and end up with the worst of both worlds in terms of spending too much, but also having bought 'just crap' for the sake of having 'more stuff to give'. So with that in mind, I recommend: - Making a 'truce' with all the family who are 'reasonably comfortable' financially. Point out that gift giving is stressful, and pretty fundamentally buying overpriced stuff that you could just buy for yourself if you actually wanted, and in fact ... already did whenever relevant. So you're pretty much by definition spending too much money on stuff that neither person really wanted. And then 'just' buy presents for people who _aren't_ in that position, because there's things they probably want or need that they _can't_ just buy for themselves. E.g. mostly children, but sometimes 'handing down' some generational wealth to someone who would find it useful. - Simplify everything. Don't chase 'tradition'. Figure out which bits of Christmas you _actually enjoy_ in proportion to the effort and stress involved. Do those things and only those things. Your Christmas Dinner can absolutely just be a plate of pigs-in-blankets and some roast potatoes. Or a pizza. Do the bits you like. Hire DVDs of films you want to watch.

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GayWolfey@reddit

I hate it. My wife who had shitty Xmas when growing up goes silly. And i hate it. Has to be all pre organised and fake. The amount of food won’t get eaten is borderline obscene

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Unfair_Welder8108@reddit

I've been firmly on the "Not arsed" road for well over a decade now and I'm OK with it, and I do find that these days it doesn't cause much concern or need much more explaining. I understand what it means to a lot of people who have super close families or kids of their own but that's not me, I just find it very disruptive and chaotic

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ModernAudience@reddit

I like it but hate the over saturation of the songs in particular. Especially if it's the sane ones all the time. I mean I like Mariah...but....cmon

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Indyclone77@reddit

I hate it, the people I want to spend Christmas with are dead or far away.

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1966Royall@reddit

I never deny my dislike of xmas

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goblingorlz@reddit

Christmas is really difficult for people with unhappy families. The worst part is that you can't talk to anyone else about it, because you don't want to spoil their Christmas.

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StonedApeUK@reddit

I do Xmas because I'm keeping up appearances. If it was up to me it would just be another day. Go see your family more regularly, don't wait till Xmas, care for other people regularly, bring joy to the world every single second you can. I feel like Xmas gives people an excuse to not have the same spirit the rest of the year, if we all acted like it was Xmas everyday the world would be much more enjoyable and we could let go of this Christian usurped pagan holiday that is now just another excuse for Capitalism to invade our lives.

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afungalmirror@reddit

Yeah it's fairly shit but I don't mind playing along. If someone directly asks me what I think I'd say that, otherwise I'm not going to go out of my way to bring it up.

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Glad-Group1353@reddit

That’s a good way to do it, no need to try to persuade anyone else about why it’s not good.

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afungalmirror@reddit

They'll come around.

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Arimelldansen@reddit

It's just another day to me. I don't really care or want to bother with it.

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roloem91@reddit

I love Christmas stuff - Christmas films, Christmas nights, Christmas songs… you get it. But Christmas Day sucks. We skipped it last year and went to New York and it was the best Christmas ever.

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TSC-99@reddit

We did that one year and got a Chinese in NY on Xmas day 🤣

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roloem91@reddit

We ate at a diner, I had chicken and waffles 😂

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Farticus79@reddit

Just before Christmas last year, we lost my dad. In November we lost my father in law. The year before my dad died he was really ill (motor neurone disease). I have just lost my job (not a massive disaster, we're ok financially) so yeah, couldn't feel less festive if I tried and my wife is the same. No kids, so no need to force the feeling. We've got the tree up and all that but it just feels like fuss. To all those who DO like it, I truly hope you have a mega time. To those who don't whether it just isn't your cup of tea or, like us, circumstances have soured the season for you, fuck what other people think. You do you.

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nikhkin@reddit

I'm not a fan of Christmas for similar reasons. I just go about my business, but I'm not particularly festive. I obviously don't want to ruin anyone's Christmas, but it does bother me when people say things like "how can you not like Christmas?" as if I'm running their fun, or accuse me of being a "Scrooge" because I don't fancy going to the work Christmas party. I'd rather they just left me to it and continued enjoying their own festivities.

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Laylelo@reddit

Why are you telling them you hate Christmas to begin with? Me: mum died, grandma died, granddad died, made redundant, MIL died… someone say Merry Christmas? Well, merry Christmas to you too. It’s not oppressive. Just deal with your own shit and stop making it a big deal.

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DoNotGoGentle14@reddit

I’m sorry that December seems to be a particularly sucky month for you. I truly hope no more misfortune comes your way and that you and your wife are given a break for the many more Christmas’s to come. And my sincerest condolences for both of your fathers ❤️‍🩹

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Farticus79@reddit

Thank you for your kind wishes.

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digidigitakt@reddit

I hate every damn aspect of it. I try to make it joyful every hear and have decided after spending a fortune taking the family away from Christmas this year, so we can avoid the extended family, that no matter what Christmas is just shite. For me, I know others like it. I don’t see the point. I’m not religious. I don’t need anything. My kids don’t need anything. There is literally zero point other than time off but I’d rather do that in the summer. Christmas is a commercial tacky excuse to do shit you shouldn’t do. Drink too much, eat too much, and buy endless mass manufactured bollocks. Christmas is like a modern housing estate - something to be demolished and long forgotten. So… feel trapped. If I didn’t have kids I’d be able to ignore it entirely.

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Dramatic-Doctor-7386@reddit

Totally. It's introvert hell and many of us don't have good Christmas memories. I'm certain most people are faking liking it - here in the northern hemisphere when it's the suckiest time of year especially.

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Laylelo@reddit

To be honest - what do you get from saying you don’t like Christmas? Would you tell someone on their birthday that you don’t celebrate birthdays? During Ramadan, do you tell people you don’t observe it? If someone gives you a gift you don’t like do you tell them? If you see a painting you don’t like do you get in touch with the artist to tell them so? Are you the kind of person to tweet about how shit a book or movie or show was and tag in the artist or creator just so they know? Just because Christmas is ubiquitous doesn’t mean you need to share you don’t enjoy it if you don’t celebrate. Just because a lot of people like it doesn’t mean you have to. But it doesn’t mean you need to make everyone aware of it. It’s not about you if the vast majority actually has a good time. The world is already full of people who want to “well actually” everything. I don’t see why you really need to shit on people’s happiness by telling them you don’t like it.

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Thatduckiepeeg@reddit

I love buying and receiving gifts, but then again I buy things people actually enjoy. Boardgames, custom bits off etsy like a mini pet portrait or a coaster from their favourite videogame. Redbubble absolutely slaps this side of the year for me. Birthdays this year have involved music or comedy tickets. It's only commercial if you let it be.

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DisapointedVoid@reddit

I regularly say I don't like it to anyone when the question comes up. I've finally managed to convince my in-laws to stop buying me tonnes of stuff; I'm happy with nothing or a couple of books at the most. I'm an adult and buy stuff I want or need through the year. As it is the house is already full of stuff and I always have to fight to get it cleared out. I don't need more junk. I don't enjoy hanging out with family for the most part, don't like the music or traditions. And why would I want to have to take 2 days off at the coldest and wettest time of the year, along with everyone else so everything is super expensive?

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Glad-Group1353@reddit

Yeah, bit sick of it this year. The songs on repeat, enforced fun and commercialisation being the main things. It’s funny that many of the traditions are relatively recent, like Christmas trees.

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Competitive_Ad_5224@reddit

Reddit is gonna fucking love this post

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theivoryserf@reddit

Literally the most miserable fuckers in the country under one digital roof

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Competitive_Ad_5224@reddit

Someone in one of the comments said Christmas songs make them irrationally angry 😂😂 just imagine that

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pablothewizard@reddit

I like Christmas Day. I enjoy seeing my family and eating dinner together. I've always liked watching boxing day football with my Dad. I despise the build up and the pressure to spend, spend, spend on shit. It's so relentless and there's such unnecessary pressure on parents to spoil their children. My son was born three weeks ago and my partner is already feeling guilty she hasn't bought him anything. The little fella wants nothing more than milk.

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lilylady4789@reddit

I admit it all the time. I don't have kids, I'm not religious, I don't like most Christmas food, I don't have money to spend frivolously on presents no one wants, I don't live near my family, Christmas songs are overplayed, and I have enough bad memories of Christmas to keep a therapist busy for a long time. And it's (usually) cold which I hate more than anything. I don't go into all the details with anyone, I just say I don't do Christmas and people, more often than not, respect my decision and leave me alone. Being honest saves a lot of endless conversations and unnecessary fake smiles from me.

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Unusual_Relation3034@reddit

I have admitted that and the stunbed silences/pearl clutching/attempts to change my mind are, frankly, mind boggling and now very irritating and adding to why I don’t like Christmas. Never have to explain why I don’t like stout.

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BunnyReign@reddit

I just send people bugs for presents, that way they know not to fuck with my Christmas joy

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Off1ceb0ss@reddit

I admit it gladly. I get under so much pressure both at work and at home. It’s ridiculous

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Visible-Traffic-5180@reddit

It hit me a couple of years ago that it's a bit creepy?! The same songs, same decorations, same mechanical wheeling out of all the shit and then putting Easter eggs out on 24 Dec in the shops. And everyone claps along in their polyester landfill jumpers, spending time and money on people they often dislike because they feel obliged. I'm not religious, it all means nothing to me. HOWEVER I do enjoy the selective parts I choose to join in with (gifts and decs for the kids, school play, nice meal, making crafts/decs with kids, treating myself etc). I refuse to engage with people who add nothing to my life "because it's Christmas!!". That alone took a lot of pressure off.

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NoIntern6226@reddit

A lot of people are just miserable for miserables sake.

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lithaborn@reddit

It wasn't that I hated Christmas, it was more that my then partner's desperation to get into the seasonal spirit meant she would sneak around and do everything first. I never got any say in present buying, she decided how the tree and house was decorated, she decided when we ate Christmas dinner even though I cooked it, she decided what went on the TV... I was cut out and I hated it. It got to the point where I'd stay up and decorate the tree myself in the dead of night. We've split up amicably since and in the process we had it out about her desperation to force Christmas spirit and how she took everything away from me and last year and this year have been exponentially better.

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Majestic_Carrot9122@reddit

I don’t like it all , if we didn’t have a kid I really wouldn’t bother it’s a pain in the arse

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ArtisticPay5104@reddit

I don’t like it either but I feel awful for it because I know my family is so excited about it. Of course, it gets less fun as you grow up but I had a turning point that came to me after spending a year off-grid where I learnt not to need so much. I returned to normal life and went Christmas shopping with my Mum at a big M&S. I remember being totally overwhelmed with the crowds and I was standing in front of a display of plastic baubles filled with with mini nail varnish and other £5 stocking filler gifts (just made for landfill). As I saw people grabbing them out of panic for last minute gifts something inside me just went out. I’ve always been bothered by waste and overconsumption but that tiny moment was my last straw. Since then I can’t see past the overconsumption. I now eat mostly plant-based so all the extra meat products and food waste makes me sad too. Then there’s the hype that makes people feel inadequate or lonely if they can’t live up to it. And the stress it puts on people who are struggling financially or emotionally. I also resent how stressed it makes the people I love. Especially the women/mothers in our (adult) family who do so much work to make it a good time for everyone. Seeing them frantic with gift buying and then spending all their time in the kitchen makes me sad, even though I know they love giving everyone special memories (I’ve often been the cook and I don’t mind it but I miss the person cooking when I’m the guest) This year we’ve lost loved ones and I’m really struggling with my mental and physical health after burning out. I resent all this extra effort and work to make Christmas a big ‘celebration’ when I can’t even keep up with my regular daily tasks. I don’t want anyone to feel extra stress because they need to get me a gift and I wish that we could all just eat pizza or something simple on Christmas Day so that we can all spend time together without someone having to run around trying to give us the perfect meal. I feel selfish for feeling like this because I’m lucky to have a caring family who want to make it special for everyone but I’m just so tired of it all. If Christmas wasn’t every year it would be so much more special. Thank you for making this post because this is the first time I’ve been able to vent my feelings a bit. But, OP, I feel ya.

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cgknight1@reddit

We have multiple versions of this question - maybe dozen a day but they aren’t really about Christmas, they are just the same question as about 75% of the questions here: why I controlled by society and why don’t have enough of my own agency? To an extent, we all conform to society but the low level at which some are fearful to respond to their own wants and needs is slightly sad.

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theivoryserf@reddit

> why I controlled by society and why don’t I have enough of my own agency? > > Bam. It frequently shocks me how little control people feel they have over their own decisions. Very little is absolutely mandatory in life.

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fishface-1977@reddit

Exactly. The number of people on here who do what they think others want them to and enduring egregious behaviour from others instead of enduring a minor bit of social discomfort in saying ‘no I think we’ll do it differently this year’

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BriefGuava1188@reddit

I have a real problem with Christmas. I hate the excess - the assumption of "it's Christmas!" meaning everyone expects to over-indulge (certainly, in the UK). Getting gifts I don't need (I'm not ungrateful, I'm just lucky that I do not **need** anything). All the waste food, paper, packaging. I have tried for years to tone down Christmas but it always falls on deaf ears; I once suggested everyone make a homemade gift and that went down like a lead balloon. I end up miserable and just wanting it to be over. I want the tree down and decorations away asap. So all in all, I just want to "get it done" and forget about for another year!

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Historical-Fix462@reddit

In a similar position gift wise. I suggested donating the money that would have been spent on my presents to charity. Didn't go down well at all. "You can't have nothing for Christmas!" "That's literally what I asked for. That is what I want. "

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BriefGuava1188@reddit

Well done on trying. I also told people that I wouldn't be sending cards but making a donation to Care4Calais as I knew it would piss off the bigots. (and I did make a donation)

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gameofgroans_@reddit

I love giving myself the excuse to treat myself cause ‘it’s Christmas’. Hate when anyone else tries to tell me I can cause it’s Christmas 😂

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BriefGuava1188@reddit

I would never deny someone else a good Christmas! I hope you have a good one!

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gameofgroans_@reddit

You too!

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CertifiedGumpGrinder@reddit

I admit it freely. I don't really get much flak for it, unless I start shitting on people enjoying it, which I try not to do. Mum died young, so Dad always tried to make it a bigger deal. He died a few years after, I was 19 at the time. After a few years of scrounging up money to make sure I could buy random tat people didn't need, just to get random tat back I didn't need, I realised I just really didn't care for the whole thing. So I told everyone I packed it in. Don't get me anything, I won't get you anything. Christmas as a whole makes me kind of... uncomfortable? There's no real redeeming quality for me. Of course if someone else likes it, I'm happy for them, as long as they respect it's not something I want to partake in. Walking through London the other day I saw families all huddled together, laughing and having fun. It warmed my heart! I only really resent Christmas when people seem to tell me I HAVE to love it, but that hasn't happened in years. It's just another day to me, now!

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SamVimesBootTheory@reddit

Honestly in a conversation where I could speak openly about it yes I'm not really feeling Christmas this year due to a bunch of really annoying personal things that kind of have made it even harder to get into the mood for it. Like I'm not being a grinch, I have a complicated relationship with Christmas I don't hate it but this is probably the neurodivergence speaking but even though my family does Christmas very low key but I still feel some degree of pressure about it like it's the social standard and going against that causes friction so I feel the pressure to 'mask' and it's exhausting. I'm also not a fan of the way that Christmas stuff starts creeping in late summer and drowns out Halloween like can we just have one holiday at a time please Also working in retail has not helped.

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Queenoftheunicorns93@reddit

I hate Christmas and have done for years. I work in healthcare. The last Christmas my grandmother was alive I was working 13 hours on Christmas Day, the entire family except me got to spend the day with her. She died 3 days later.

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NuclearMaterial@reddit

Yeah, I get it. Working close to 50 plus hours this week, not feeling it. Cannot remember the last Christmas that was "untainted" by healthcare work. Hearing "merry Christmas" feel so hollow for the longest time.

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skelly890@reddit

At least healthcare work is essential. I’m in 4.00am Boxing Day morning because people just *have* to shop on that day, don’t they? Management, of course, get the day off. Xmas dinner is OK because I get to see relatives I actually like, but no drink for me this year because I’ve got to be in bed by 6.00. At least the roads should be quiet.

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NuclearMaterial@reddit

Sack it off! COVID positive, migraine, whatever you can come up with. I'm sure your managers will be understanding (lol).

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Evo_ukcar@reddit

Sorry for your loss 😔

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

If someone isn’t religious I don’t even know what they’re celebrating !! It’s as meaningless to me as whitsun or Diwali. I like a few days off but that’s it. Glad when everywhere goes back to normal (not charging double , closing early etc )

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Pythagorean8391@reddit

I'm also not in the Christmas spirit this year Maybe it should be socially acceptable to withdraw from Christmas if you want. But then your family will dislike you.

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MalcolmTuckersLuck@reddit

I like the “Christmas period” but Xmas day itself can get in the bin. The “Merrineum” is the best bit.

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Mundane_Revolution46@reddit

I like the food parts (cheeseboard being acceptable at any time of day - yes please). But really, I don't mind Xmas most years as an adult, but this year im struggling. For the past 8 years, my partner and I have satisfied ourselves at home and have a great day, just the two of us. We have champagne breakfast, do presents to each other, eat a good meal and hunker down for a film. This year he is away working, so I am at my parents, who are both struggling more as they get older but refuse to admit it. It causes friction and strife, I can hear mum right now muttering about dad. If she isn't doing this, she's drinking (lifetime issue with alcohol but refused to admit it) or asking me the same thing over and over. It's not a happy atmosphere and I'd rather be alone, but you can't say that and instead it's forced jollity. I went for a long walk earlier today to clear my head, which helped, but this year, I really don't like Christmas.

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F1nut92@reddit

I'm not a fan these days to be honest, not saying anyone who loves it is wrong of course, but like yourself OP, the constant need to buy more stuff people don't need, just so they have something to open on Christmas Day drives me up the wall, I'm not even against buying people something they want, but when I just have to buy something? It just annoys me. Working in retail for over a decade doesn't help either.... 😂

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

The thing is if you ask them what they want they rarely tell you so you just have to wing it

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F1nut92@reddit

Yeah, this is my folks all over, asking them for weeks beforehand and all I get is "oh, I don't know, surprise me/us", they buy whatever they want/need throughout the year so even something thoughtful they mention offhand earlier in the year you can't store away in a note for a Christmas present either.

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IndigoIgnacio@reddit

I hate it. I get two weeks off at christmas and I feel exhausted by the end. End up wanting to go back to work. My families largely dead in the past ten years aside from my mum, so its just my partners family who are lovely, and my friends who I'm close to. But I'm so back to back with bloody last minute plans that everyone is too polite to say no to, and everywhere's heaving with people, all films going on that I've seen to death (if I can die without seeing home alone or elf again I'll die happy). No to mention I need to put on a great show of enjoying everything or people will get pissy. I'd happily skip this month of the year every single year.

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engineerogthings@reddit

I’m upvoting just about every comment here because I feel exactly the same

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VarplunkLabs@reddit

There is no reason for you to be struggling to buy people presents. Just get some presents if you see something they like and don't if you don't see anything. Tell them beforehand your plan and then it's easier for everyone. As to the TV schedule being messed up, why are you just sitting around watching TV the whole time? Do something you want to do.

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matti-san@reddit

> There is no reason for you to be struggling to buy people presents. Just get some presents if you see something they like and don't if you don't see anything. Tell them beforehand your plan and then it's easier for everyone. I agree. Far too many people are saying they're just buying tat or buying things people don't want or need. What? These people know you can just ask people what they would like, right? Like, just ask them for a list of things they might like and I'm sure people can at least mention something - and if not, then a voucher for a store they like. Christmas really isn't that hard if you just think about it and don't leave it to the last minute. Plan with your family/close friends (if you're buying for them too). Me and my siblings do a secret santa for each other, and we have to make a list of 5 things up to £50 (that's our limit). And then we just have to buy for our parents and they have to give us a shared list and then we just tell each other what we're going for - and they subsidise it by saying where they'd take vouchers from. Grandparents are a joint gift from all of us and, luckily, us and our uncles and aunts mutually decided we didn't have to bother.

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Otherwise-Extreme-68@reddit

I have no interest in Christmas. I'm not religious, and very much dislike the way the capitalist machine has turned it into a money generating machine. I'll be glad when it's fucked off for another year

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Ry_White@reddit

I hate it. I have to work all but the two big days, of which I’m dragged to in-laws that I don’t really like (and don’t like me) to pretend I want to be there, followed by day two driving all around the south east making “visits”; and no, I don’t have kids. It’s shite.

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Sea_Puddle@reddit

I fking hate it and wish I could just fast forward or skip it every year.

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

I wouldn't. But then I don't feel that way so it would be a strange thing to admit. Two weeks off work, an excuse to spend time with family, what's not to love? As a family we ditched the whole "buying tatt" approach as well. Now we just buy one or two meaningful things, which is a lot less stressful. Got my Christmas shopping done in town today in about half hour.

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Sister_Ray_@reddit

Who gets two weeks off work at Christmas? Most people only get the three bank holidays, if that. I don't have the choice of only getting "one or two meaningful things", my family aren't on board with that philosophy and I would get accused of being a Grinch or miserly if I did that. So what's not to love? Being stuck indoors at the grimmest darkest time of year with nothing to do other than overeat. A month of frantic rammed shops and town centres beforehand. Having to panic buy useless tat for people to fit in with social expectations

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Mikumiku33@reddit

Teachers?

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matti-san@reddit

> Having to panic buy useless tat for people to fit in with social expectations Christ. Literally just ask people what they'd like? Nobody's forcing you to buy 'useless tat'.

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

In the United Kingdom, a full time worker is entitled to at least twenty days of holiday. I use some of mine at Christmas. It sounds like you and I live different lives. Hope that helps.

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

This was an incredibly condescending way to not answer the question.

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

If people are gonna be stupid, it deserves a condescending response. Only an idiot would assume someone thinks everyone gets two weeks off.

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Sister_Ray_@reddit

I'm aware of the law on holiday entitlements. I save mine up for the summer when it's actually useful and I can do something fun outdoors. Of course you can book it off at Christmas if you like, but your original post implied two weeks off is somehow an inherent part of Christmas when it most definitely isn't. What do you mean different lives? Care to elaborate?

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

>Of course you can book it off at Christmas if you like, but your original post implied two weeks off is somehow an inherent part of Christmas when it most definitely isn't. No I didn't. >What do you mean different lives? Care to elaborate? I mean that you seem to think everyone speaks about a shared life experience, even though you are also aware you use annual leave differently to me. I guess what I'm saying is I think your reading comprehension is poor or you have a misunderstanding of how life works.

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Obvious-Code-7547@reddit

It absolutely reads that you imply everyone gets two weeks off - also if you do have two weeks off why are you only doing your shopping today? Have you worked retail at Xmas time 😬

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

OP asked about whether individuals would admit to not liking Christmas. I don't know anyone else's experience to speak for them. It does seem to be a problem on here that people assume posters are doing so in generalities. As for the shopping, I never know what to get my mum and nan. My wife I get everything for in November. But it took me just over an hour, including 16 mins trains each way, to get my bits this morning. Town was dead, it was great.

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

You fucking did

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imaginary__dave@reddit

TBF it did read like everyone gets two weeks off.

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wales-bloke@reddit

Yup. Looking forward to going back to work tbh. It's the boredom that gets me. Trapped in the house with bickering young children. I know it won't always be like this, but for the moment it sucks.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

I feel you. I’m only on day 2 of being off, not back till 6th lol

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thegasman2000@reddit

When I was 15 my mother committed suicide. My grandparents turned her off on Xmas day. Since then I have dreaded the countdown to the day. Since I had kids I make an effort for them but they know I need to stay busy cooking etc. when people say why are you not in the Xmas mood I explain the situation and people get it. People have called me a grinch in the past until I explain and they get it.

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RichieLT@reddit

That’s awful 😞and understandable why you’re not to enamoured with it.

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Tildatots@reddit

I openly hate it - except the food.

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charlescorn@reddit

Just seen a couple of ADULT women wearing Xmas pyjamas in fucking Sainsbury's, closely followed by a middle aged woman wearing plastic antlers, surrounded by hordes of people buying cheap plastic tat and whiny kids crying because dad's not buying them x, y or z. I just despair of humanity at this time of year.

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RichieLT@reddit

Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing Middle Aged people dancing and singing for Christmas.lol

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matti-san@reddit

Lots of people saying they're buying things other people don't want or need. Who the hell are you buying for? If you like them enough to want to buy them something and still don't know what they'd like - have you tried quite literally just asking them what they want? Throughout the year, I keep a list of things I see and like and I bookmark it in a folder called 'wishlist' - these are usually things that I like the sound of but aren't exactly sure I'd like or not something I'd like to spend my own money on - like a book or a kitchen gadget etc. Then, when Christmas comes around, I use that to make the list that people ask me for. If you can't think of an item, then at least get them something like a voucher for a shop you know they frequent -- e.g., my mum likes shopping at John Lewis or my sister likes Cult Beauty.

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aredditusername69@reddit

I enjoy Christmas but also find it quite hard work. We host, and we have my mum and dad who have been divorced for years and don't get on, no-one particularly helps out so my wife is just constantly running around and I'm cooking all the time. We've also just had a missed miscarriage (confirmed with a scan this morning), so making it a bit harder.

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marxistopportunist@reddit

Sorry to hear that, it won't be any consolation that 95% of comments don't have kids

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aredditusername69@reddit

Thank you. We do have an amazing 3 year old already who is very excited to spend time with his family and get spoiled rotten!

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marxistopportunist@reddit

There's only one grandchild so far among 3 siblings over the age of 30, so that's where our xmases will be as of next year!

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1dontknowanythingy@reddit

Yeah all the fucking time, I hate christmas.

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_Lady_jigglypuff_@reddit

Yeah I have no problem admitting it. It’s a time for families to be together - but when your family is fractious like mine then it’s stark reminder of what you don’t have.

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Academic_Rip_8908@reddit

I hate Christmas, it's always a massive stress, and it just becomes some weird pissing contest for people to show off that they have big families, and who can have the bigger and better Christmas. I lost my dad last month, and my mum last year. I don't have any family left, so I'm spending Christmas with some other family-less gay friends, and we're going to have a merry time together.

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carbonvectorstore@reddit

I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm glad you have people to share it with. I hope you haven't told anyone else your Christmas plans. Anyone completely alone for Christmas who heard that you are spending it with friends, might assume you are engaging in a pissing contest.

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Academic_Rip_8908@reddit

If someone assumes that after I've lost both of my parents in 12 months, and I've not even hit 30, then they can frankly go and fuck themselves.

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AdPrior1417@reddit

Sorry for your loss. It sucks to read stories like that. I'm sure your friends appreciate that, and hopefully you all just have a chill time.

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FaithlessnessDry3771@reddit

> It hit me this year when I was out buying present for people, buying crap they don’t want or need and it gets harder every year, you’re just buying for the sake of it, and no doubt I’ll receive stuff I don’t want or need and it’ll get stuck in the wardrobe until I have the annual clear out for the charity shop. Madness really. You could always... not do this? Not sure it's really a problem with Christmas itself, because many people buy thoughtful gifts that are gratefully received.

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Puzzleheaded-Fix8182@reddit

Since my dad died in December 2020, it's not the same. Don't love it so much anymore.

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nothingnew09876@reddit

Yeah I'm happy to admit that I don't like Christmas, I don't like having to take time off work in winter when the weather's shit. I don't like having to buy presents which most likely aren't needed or wanted and probably end up in the bin. I absolutely hate the same 20 songs being played on repeat for 2 fucking months of every bastard year on every sodding radio station. However, I don't resent other people enjoying it, each to their own. It's just not for me, baa humbug!

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yes I’d much rather have a couple of days off then use my leave for like summer but in this country apart from retail or health a lot of places just close for like 2 weeks so you’ve no real choice but to be off

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catchcatchhorrortaxi@reddit

>close for like 2 weeks Not really the case anymore.

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nothingnew09876@reddit

In the past I've gone on holiday over Christmas to get a bit of sun. It's one of the peak times though and prices go up every year. I don't get holiday pay, so every day I'm off work I'm losing money.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Ah I guess I’m lucky to be getting paid then for sitting on my arse I guess

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automatic_shark@reddit

There's a Brian Clough quote that sums up my feelings on Christmas. "Don't send me flowers when I'm dead. If you like me, send them while I'm alive." I feel the same about Christmas. I'll get someone something if I think they'll like it. Gifts for gifts sake is just a bit much for me

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Empty_Low_1068@reddit

On the one hand, yes it's perfectly valid to not like Christmas, it's a very tough time of year for a lot of people. Personally though, my own enjoyment of Christmas has grown over the years as I've realised I don't *have* to do most of the things that weren't making it fun. There are all sorts of things you could do on Christmas day instead of watching TV - go out for a run, do some volunteering, play games, whatever you enjoy doing. Prefer a curry to a turkey dinner? Knock yourself out.

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JosephRohrbach@reddit

Right. Lots of people in here have internalized social pressure *hard*, and seem to be unaware you can just... change things. Do them your way! Enjoy yourself! It's honestly not that hard to do.

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sanbikinoraion@reddit

Guessing you don't have kids then.

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murderouslady@reddit

I'm happy to tell people I don't like christmas

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selfdestructingslow@reddit

I don’t enjoy Christmas it’s a constant headache. Im supposed to be happy and joyous when im really not. I make an effort for the kids as a single parent. However they only care about presents. To me it’s just another day of stress I can easily do without.

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Greedy-Sherbet3916@reddit

Once the magic of Christmas wore off I loathed it for many years until I had my son. The magic is now back for at-least a few more years 💜

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gameofgroans_@reddit

I really struggle with the forced happiness this time of the year. Every day is a struggle, I’m feeling shit and having constant tests to find out why and people are overwhelming yet I have to walk around with this fake smile on my face like everything is fantastic. Everyone is struggling atm and whilst I kinda like the idea of there being one day where it’s stress free that isn’t how it works. I’m so exhausted and can’t wait for a long sleep once this week of weird socialising and not knowing what day it is is over. The best thing is the food haha.

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morganselah@reddit

Yes. The forced cheer actually makes me feel a little down. It's like I'm unconsciously balancing out the forced cheer by feeling the opposite! I don't tell anyone how I'm feeling- don't want to bring anyone else down with me- but I wonder how many other people are feeling the same and also not telling anyone?

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CMDoet@reddit

🙋‍♂️

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Othersideofthemirror@reddit

My first son, who was born sleeping, was due at Christmas. For years we didn't celebrate Christmas, even going for an Indian on Xmas day. Whenever people started to berate me or make Scrooge comments I shifted the conversation to dead babies. Sort of a "Fuck you im going to make you feel bad. You need some awareness that not everyone is in the same situation"

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crayonista92@reddit

I don't not like it, but now that I'm approaching my 32nd Xmas I've found I much prefer to put as little effort in to it as possible. The most I have done is buy and send one Xmas card, and also buy myself some food and drink for Xmas day. I'm not travelling to see family and we've agreed not to do presents at all and it's honestly taken all the stress away from it so I can look forward to relaxing on my extra day off. If there were children in our family then yea, I'd make an effort so they could enjoy it like I once did, but buying gifts for adults who are perfectly capable of buying their own things does feel a bit pointless. To be honest I do enjoy certain aspects such as the food and drinks and the markets and Xmas lights and things, it makes the darkest days of the year feel a bit brighter and more bearable, but the commercial side and the expectation to see all of your family and give everyone gifts and have the perfect time is just exhausting to me these days.

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Gazado@reddit

I don't hate it, but I'm not overly excited like some people get. I like seeing family, having time off work and the food and drink. I absolutely detest the music and for years I equated Christmas with the music so dreaded it's impending arrival every year. When I managed to grow up a bit and separate what I like from what I dislike, it became enjoyable. The music though, and Christmas TV episodes, good god I wish I could nuke them from orbit.

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Substantial_Steak723@reddit

It's a big wank thing if you let yourself get pulled around. So don't. People get used to you not being there, thus the "expectation, tantrum demands etc soon fall by the wayside, because you are not there to be demanded of nor " entertain"

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melligator@reddit

Make it how you want it. All the decorating and expenditures are missing the point, which is some quiet time and seeing the friends and family you want. All the set dressing and riutal is just something a lot of people to do for the sake of something to do to try and make meaning.

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buy_me_a_pint@reddit

I don't like the stress of it.

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SignalFirefighter372@reddit

Happily. It fries my noodle that with all that’s going on in the world, companies are spending millions trying to convince us that the only way to be happy is to spend money we can ill afford on plastic crap we don’t need. So yeah, call me Grinch or Scrooge or whatever you want, but the most valuable thing I have that I can give to others is my time. To listen. To be a father, a husband, a friend. To help out or just to be there.

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FlouncingWillow@reddit

I'm not feeling it this year, it's been a really hard couple of years but I've got two young kids so you have to, don't you? I am looking forward to seeing them open their presents though :) my oldest knows the Santa deal now but he keeps it up for my youngest. It just doesn't feel the same anymore it's been such a hard time for most since covid.

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karennotkaren1891@reddit

I openly tell all adults I don't like Christmas. I don't put a tree up, it's a lot of faff and creates mess I don't need. I don't drink so spending time with drunk people isn't my thing. I don't like turkey. Roast potatoes for me are better cooked in oil than goose fat. And the whole present malarkey is silly. Some people seem to think it's a competition. I do however have a neice and nephew who are young and I love spending time with them, any time of year!

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andrewscool101@reddit

Spending time with drunk people is hell, worst part of Christmas. And yeah, turkey is such a crap meat. It's absolutely tasteless, and the only way I can tolerate eating it is if it's swimming in gravy so it actually tastes of something.

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RetractableHead@reddit

Turkey’s the cheapest meat you can buy at any other time of the year too. For two weeks of the year, it’s more expensive per kilo than saffron. Isn’t it an American import anyway? It’s just an excuse to sell us their leftover Thanksgiving ‘thunder chicken’.

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LowarnFox@reddit

I'm a teacher, so I'm really lucky with the amount of time I get off work, but it feels inevitable now (basically every year I've been teaching) that I end up ill at the start of the Christmas holidays. Right now I've got a sore throat and a cough that's keeping me up at night, so I feel pretty rubbish and just want to rest- but no, I've got to sort out loads of stuff for Christmas. The other thing is I usually have to schedule non-essential appointments for the holidays, but that's pretty difficult at this time of year. Plus chasing around to pick up parcels and so on... I've never been religious, and I sort of wish I could knock the whole thing on the head!

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LagerBitterCider197@reddit

I dislike it, and I especially hate Secret Santa with a fucking passion I feel hard to put into words - it's about as fun as having a car parked on your face. I actually booked the 19th off work so I didn't have to partake.

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Fit_Entrepreneur3868@reddit

I have gotten used to not participating in Xmas. It upset me for a couple of years, but that’s it! I returned to UK after growing up in Australia. In the 35 years I lived back in UK, my English family only invited me 1 time to share it with them. That one time, I didn’t have enough money to get the bus to London and then to them in Kent. Never mind gifts or nice food. The funniest is that for a few years when family and friends asked where I was at Xmas, and then were upset I had spent it alone. So I lied about where I was so they were soothed and they believed I was celebrating Xmas. I am not at all religious and without small children, so it is a meaningless day for me. My partner grew up Muslim, so also didn’t celebrate Xmas. The joy in December is for the winter solstice. It is a joyful day, as the days will now get longer and sunnier. And eventually the cold weather will go too. It is only going to get better! ⛅️🌤️☀️🌞

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lapodufnal@reddit

I love Christmas. I’ve got the gift giving down to about 7 people (mostly kids) and spend limits with the adults. I’m lucky enough to get Christmas to New Year off work as well as my partner so we have a week of spending time with family and friends, eating and sleeping. We don’t have kids so we get to show up and be super good fun for 3 hours at family events then go home and play games and watch films. I think having the focus being on the time together with family has made it more special for us and less of a hassle

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Parable-Arable@reddit

It’s a lot less fun when you’re expected to buy the presents. Presents can mean less when you get older. Also since no one is buying them for you, it sounds less fun.

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AdPrior1417@reddit

I've joined r/ihatechristmas so I can bitch about how much I hate Christmas with other people who also joined who hate Christmas. I hate it. Gluttonous materialistic farcical pretentious holiday for the feeble minded sheep who blindly partake in a huge transfer of wealth to appease people they almost certainly don't care about as much as they pretend to. It's all so dire and repetitive year after year, it never changes. Tue sings are shit and the "big dinner" is a glorified Sunday roast. Christmas is shit.

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JohnCasey3306@reddit

I hate it; we're under pressure to spend money we can't spare on shit we don't really need ... my kids absolutely love it though so I enjoy that they enjoy it I guess

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Mel-but@reddit

Christmas stuff pisses me off. Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas trees etc it all annoys me, it’s just grating and cheesy and awful and I hate it. Christmas food is glorious though, cranberry sauce (or even better Lingonberry from Sweden), stuffing, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puddings, mince pies etc, it all tastes so good and should be sold all year round. Actual Christmas Day is great, I absolutely love spending time with all my family and giving out gifts and seeing them all happy, it’s genuinely really lovely. So in the run up to Christmas I hate Christmas, on Christmas Day I love Christmas basically.

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Conradus_@reddit

It's the music that pisses me off the most, how anyone can enjoy listening to the same old songs over, and over, and over again, every single year, I'll never know.

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Historical-Fix462@reddit

Not really, everyone around me loves it and gets excited by it. I'm in my mid 40's and have always found it tiring, alienating and confusing. Telling people I don't enjoy it has just led to them trying to jolly me into it. Now I just suck it up, try to enjoy their enjoyment and do what's expected of me. It will all be over in couple of days and life returns back to normal.

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DevOfTheTimes@reddit

It’s just the money aspect that kills me off, I’m a generous man so I end up shelling out a lot

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RagingSpud@reddit

I used to like it but as I'm getting older all aspects I used to like are disappearing. I don't live near my family so it's in laws place for Xmas and while it's nice, it doesn't feel Christmassy to me. I used to like getting gifts but now I earn decent money I buy what I want for myself and don't want more stuff. Everyone else does that too so options for gifts are limited and it's stressful. Used to like food and drinking but now after 2-3 days of that I feel disgusting. Much prefer being in my routine, eating normal food, keeping active, etc. Finally I enjoy having time off but as per the above I'm spending it doing stuff I don't like 😅 so yeah I'm a Grinch and happy to admit it. I just don't know what's so exciting about Xmas that some people seem to live for it.

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pajmage@reddit

Live alone, have done for 14 years now. Worked in Retail for 20 years at a local Sainsburys. I \*despise\* this time of year. I hate the commercialism - My first shift back on Boxing Day we reduced stuff by 2/3 of their original price, felt it was criminal to inflate things just because its christmas. The general public are fucking scum when shopping at this time of year and I wouldnt spit on them if they were on fire. Theres so much plastic shite thats sold as well, fake trees, decorations, cheap toys made by forced labour in China and 3rd world countries (yes thats an issue year round but its heightened at this time of year). Everywhere rushing to generate sales, Capitalism rules all, Xmas stuff goes on sale October, Hell, theres goddamn Easter Eggs on sale now... Easter is 4 months away but hey, got to get the sales in! I hate the false joy and goodwill - Everyone says 'Tis the season etc. My response is "Why do you need one single fucking day in the year to be nice and make merry with friends and family? Why not do that whenever you feel like it?" I hate the bullshit around religion and it being some demi-gods birthday. Their entire religion is a complete mess and a blight on modern society - hell they cant even agree amongst themselves, thats why we have Roman Catholics, Jehovas Witnesses, Church of England etc etc. Lets ignore the fact that their religion stole already existing celebrations etc and slammed a biblical cross over them. Theres now fuckwits complaining that people are celebrating the winter solstice instead of Jesus' Birthday FFS... I hate the waste - food, packaging, electricity etc. How much paper, plastic et al is just dumped into landfill at this time of year? Cheap plastic cutlery, foil trays that get chucked and end up in landfill or littering the streets. Not a single company does anything remotely responsible in terms of waste etc over this period. Id be more than happy if it was completely banned tbh. Now this may be because I dont have children I just dont get the "magic of Xmas" but all I really remember as a kid are arguments and shouting from over-stressed parents, and my family wasnt ever in a position to struggle over xmas like a lot of families are. Roll on January 2nd imo, get this and the farce that is New Years over and done with and we can go back to some semblance of normality for the other 360-odd days of the year.

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Evo_ukcar@reddit

I hate it. Just faff and hassle for no good reason. Dreading going to my brothers tomorrow for Xmas dinner. The radiators will be on full blast, it'll be noisy and my neices will be hyper, unwrapping loads of shit that they won't play with. Then there'll be the inevitable argument or 2 thrown in for good measure. They haven't been to my house at all this year but I'm expected to make the effort..

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Conradus_@reddit

Learning to say no to events I don't want to go to was one of the best changes I have ever made, if someone gets upset that I don't want to do what they want, fuck em.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

All comes here and the wife always insists on lighting the fire even though it’s not cold, by about 5pm the windows are open as we’re put out with heat

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undercovergloss@reddit

I say things like ‘Christmas has lost its magic’ or ‘Christmas doesn’t feel like it did when I was a child’. But I won’t openly admit I hate Christmas (and my birthday). I have a son so I try and make it as magical for him though and will never let him see that I hate it. I was in an abusive relationship a few years back and my abuser had to ensure all happy occasions for me were ruined - birthdays, Christmas, work promotions etc. So now on these occasions I associate them with nothing but negativity and trauma. It’s horrible, because as a kid Christmas was my favourite time of the year and now each Christmas I live in this constant state of stress, anxiety and ptsd

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Borsti17@reddit

Yes, easy. Everyone around me knows.

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JakeGrey@reddit

I'd probably like it more if I had anyone to spend it with, but I live alone, I'm not on good terms witth my family and all my local friends have other commitments. Giving a shit about Christmas would be an act of self-harm on my part.

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deadeye-ry-ry@reddit

I haven't liked Christmas since being a kid and no longer believing in Santa. As an adult I find Christmas awful for a few reasons: The expectation of buying people presents Inflated prices on food/ presents The large amount of food waste/ rubbish that comes with opening gifts etc Xmas is such a stressful time of year and it only lasts a single day 🙄 And if you have kids you're expected to spend hundreds on presents for them otherwise other kids might bully them/ call them for only having a couple of gifts

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dwair@reddit

I'm happy to admit I'm not a fan of Christmas. I don't get it. I'm not a Christian, (atheist) and I have spent most of my life in non Christian countries where for the most part it's not a big deal. I join in but there is a disconnect between me and what ever the hell goes on at this time of year. Would I miss it? No. I can do the great time with family and friends any time during the year without the all the December silliness.

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thecornflake21@reddit

I hate Christmas and will happily admit it. I'd rather just go on holiday for 2 weeks somewhere that doesn't really celebrate it. We do normally go away over new year mainly to break up the horrible period between.

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AlwaysPlantin@reddit

This year, definitely. I just cannot be bothered with it. It's just like a longer weekend, and the only big difference for me is that everything's shut for a while.

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Mouse_Nightshirt@reddit

I like Christmas but I hate the work I have to put into it. Christmas happens in our house because I go to the effort to make it something. All the decorations, all the food shopping, all the cooking, all the cleaning up afterwards, putting all the decorations away, wrapping all the presents. There's no point pressing the other half to do more because that's a hiding to nothing. I would have given more credit for some of the gift shopping in the past, but less so now when it's all ordered online from the sofa. On top of that, both my spouse and I are in healthcare so actually having Christmas on Christmas day is a rarity. For some miracle, this is our second Christmas in a row on Christmas day, but every other year, one of us has been working. The kids are kids, so I keep going to make it special for the family, but once they're grown up and gone, I'm going to be putting a lot less effort into it.

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

Once it lost the magic and I could buy my own stuff it was over for me. Not even seeing kids get excited for it brings back that feeling for me. It's nice to get pissed up and eat a shit lot though

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HeartBeetz@reddit

I hate Christmas. Wish I could hibernate December through to mid-January. Christmas pretty much wasn't a thing when I grew up and I saw others kids at school having the who she-bang. As an adult, my domestic situation and how things have turned out for me, means again, I watch as others go all out. The only difference being I have my own kids so have to seriously fake it to make it.

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The_Banned_Account@reddit

Yup! Fucking hate it. It’s pointless just like Easter, Valentines, Halloween, basically all of them. There’s a reason I work Christmas Day happily

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Jughead_91@reddit

I used to love it but my family kind of imploded and now it just depresses me and reminds me of how much worse my future prospects are than when I was a kid. Especially since I can’t afford to have kids of my own, it all feels a bit pointless, like going through the motions. And it’s always such a performance with all the decorations and food, and everyone gets in a bad mood cause they do too much, and you say “let’s just get a small tree” and they’re like “NO it’s CHRISTMAS.” We’re not even religious!! Honestly I can’t be arsed. I like it better when it’s just me and my partner hanging out and having a low key Christmas that’s just watching movies and eating some low effort tasty food.

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dread-sweet@reddit

Christmas is a very "meh" time for me. I get that people find it fun and exciting and joyful and spend time together. I'm all for that if they do. But me personally... I have no kids, I tend to work Christmas, and I'm just grateful for the extra bank holidays to sleep on 😂 I think people go WAY crazy buying stuff.. Food. Gifts. Drinks. People getting themselves in debt for christmas makes me sad. People being along or having nothing to give their children makes me sad. People being cold and hungry when there is so much over consumption makes me sad.

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Ururuipuin@reddit

A few years ago, newly single and free of abuse me and the kids had a good talk about what we like and don't like about christmas. So now there's no turkey, but loads of pigs in blankets, a lovely veg box delivered from a local community garden, no stocking fillers except choccy, lots of cosy fairy lights and an annual family computer game this year it's Mario Party Jamboree which is excellent, christmas eve wrapping sessions where the recipient stays in one room and the others wrap their presents. It's all very cosy and relaxed and just the way we want it to be.

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WhyCheezoidExist@reddit

Does my fucking nut and I would opt out entirely in a heartbeat if I wouldn’t be given endless grief for that choice

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TSC-99@reddit

I’m wanting to opt out next year. I’ll be happy home alone.

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snxzeh@reddit

If no one bought me a gift ever again I'd be more than happy, hate the dance you have to do, asking what someone wants for weeks, them telling you they'll have a think, and then just buying some shite in a panic a week before christmas

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TSC-99@reddit

We do a secret Santa app now where you make a short list of what you want. Easy and you get something good.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yep do the same myself

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BabyAlibi@reddit

I do, every year. A parent died at Christmas and it's never been the same since. That gets me out of people calling me a grinch

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TSC-99@reddit

I don’t like it. Too stressful. I hate the chaos. Can’t wait till the 27th.

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GarethGazzGravey@reddit

I’ll gladly admit that I hate Christmas, everything about it gets under my skin, and I’m more than happy when it’s all over

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mootrun@reddit

Stop buying the presents. Next year let people know that you're not doing presents this year. They will probably be relieved that they won't have to buy you something you probably don't want and that you're not going to give them something they don't want. I love Christmas but I don't do a lot of gift giving (other than for my kids and nieces/nephews who I genuinely enjoy buying for). I make time for friends I don't see often enough, take walks around the town to enjoy the lights, and eat a ton of food that only appears in shops at Christmas time. Take the bits of the season you enjoy and dump the bits you don't. Even if it's just Florentines.

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Mac88uk@reddit

It's the songs for me, Having to sit an office and explain that I actually don't hate Christmas I just don't want to listen to the same fucking awful songs every day from the middle of October onwards.

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roninzorz187@reddit

I admitted it the other day at the office to someone. The look on their face was if I slapped a child across the mouth.

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andy_why@reddit

I haven't enjoyed Christmas for over a decade. I think it's for kids, which is great if you have a family or you spend time with family that have kids. It's overly commercialised to make you spent money needlessly. I'm also at the point now where I have just about everything I need in life so I never have any ideas of what people can get me. That results in just receiving tat or pointless gifts I'd never use. I'm not one to give pointless gifts and I don't want to receive them either. It's a waste of money in an era where money is not exactly abundant for many but they still feel obligated to contribute. I would probably think differently if I had a family or spent it with kids in my family, but I don't, so for me personally, I dislike Christmas now.

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absolutetriangle@reddit

Weirdly I kinda liked it when I worked in hospitality but not so much nowadays. Feels like an unnecessary month of stress during the darkest month of the year. Saved up a bit of cash this year so I’m pushing the boat out one last time then making a consumable-gifts-only pact with my side of the family.

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Melodic_Arm_387@reddit

Yes. As a childfree adult it just isn’t that great. I neither have the excitement of when I was a kid, nor do I have kids to make it special and exciting for. Both my parents and my in-laws are divorced, so there is a hell of a lot of co-ordinating between different family obligations so I get very little time to relax. I’m autistic and introverted and find all the big gatherings overstimulating sometimes, especially when there are so many of them and I don’t get chance to recharge from all the different gatherings before being expected at another one. I do like the food, and Christmas lights, but most of it is just effort, stress of planning and expensive with a soundtrack of the same 10 songs for 2 months.

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TheDaveofDaves@reddit

Always.

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ELiTERENNO@reddit

Yes. I hate it.

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OkChildhood2261@reddit

Wait stop. TV _shedule_? Is that still a thing? This is gonna sound like a Reddit troll but I'm 100% serious. I barely watch TV and if I do it's on a streaming service. Like people want to watch a show so have to sit down at a certain time on a certain day to watch it? On a thing called a channel? Do they still exist? That's fucking _wild_. I kind of assumed that was all dead now. I walked past a store selling videogames on actual plastic discs like it's the 90's and had to remind myself some people still do that. I haven't bought a physical game in about 20 years.

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PM_ME_VAPORWAVE@reddit

Hey look, it’s the annual I hate Christmas post!

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hutchipoos@reddit

Lost my sister two years ago today, which was also the day before her birthday. Also broke up with my partner after 12 years earlier this year. Was never a massive fan of Christmas due to my parents being arses, but this year and last year really not interested. Christmas day 2022 (the day after she died) was spent trying desperately to be normal for my niece and nephew and turned out surprisingly ok as it was like it wasn't real. I've tried explaining to people that some people find Christmas difficult without going into detail so I don't make them feel uncomfortable and they just accuse me of being a Grinch. You're not allowed an opinion or feelings in December apparently.

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oglop121@reddit

It's very meh. I live in Korea now though where it's not really a thing like in the West. My wife isn't bothered about roast dinners just like I'm not, so we'll probably just eat pizza or whatever for dinner. Next year, my son will be a little older, so we'll do something more festive just for him

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Dry_Conclusion_2700@reddit

Yup. Fucking hate every single aspect of it and love to remind people that Christmas isn’t a happy time for everyone. For some of us it is filled with trauma and can be an unneeded financial burden on people who are already struggling. I’m generally a pretty positive person - I try to make the best out of every situation. But I’m a staunch anti-capitalist and Christmas is just one big capitalist con. Not for me thank you!

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RaedwaldRex@reddit

I do like Christmas. I love the time off, love the getting together with family. Not so fussed about presents. We don't do all the Christmas eve boxes (don't know what they are, or know it was a "thing") we have an elf for the youngest but more hide and seek thing, we don't make a mess and the older two help. They love it.

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Sea_Pangolin3840@reddit

I love it for the excitement of my young grandchildren but that's all .I will have a houseful and willl smile my way through it it's just one day .My hubby loves Christmas and as we are getting on in years I wonder how many more we will have left together so I will pretend to enjoy it for him and my family.

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ladams07@reddit

This year has been the breaking point for me. Not a fan at all to be honest. It costs way too much money and I don’t even have kids. We’re staying over at my sisters tonight. I’d rather just stay at home and drive up there on Christmas morning. I’ve managed to negotiate home on Christmas Day night time, but I imagine I’d be strong armed into another nights stay then. To sum up everything around Christmas is just overkill. Too much food, too many presents, too much alcohol. Bring on the Boxing Day football fixtures.

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TwirlipoftheMists@reddit

I was never very keen on it. The waste and overconsumption and forced merriness and the same dreadful songs over and over, and any religious aspect doesn’t have any meaning to me. I do like all the pagan symbolism though, inasmuch as it relates to the cycle of the seasons and so on. Some years ago I started observing the Solstices and Equinoxes, so I’m marking the Winter Solstice; most people are just a few days late for some reason. I’ll be doing basically the same thing for the Spring Equinox - feast, decorate, have a few drinks, put some lights and candles up.

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StrongLikeBull3@reddit

No one minds if you don’t like Christmas, but you do seem like a killjoy if you bring it up as a reply to someone talking about their plans. It also kind of stops the conversation dead in its tracks.

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LakesRed@reddit

It's more than I have mixed feelings about Christmas. Love the day itself, just chilling with family, eating, drinking etc. It's also a much needed break from work, in my sector. So I don't go full Grinch. I've even enjoyed sending a few small gifts across to my partner as we know what each other enjoy and still have ideas (for now!) and I love his reactions and we don't go nuts with it. What I will happily tell you I don't like: * The RELENTLESS pushing of it from September onwards * The whole feeling of being "programmed/conditioned" by corporate powers through Christmas music on repeat in the shops (always the most "come on and buy stuff" songs chosen) and other things like this subtle and not so subtle * The same damn Christmas songs from "Christmas hits 1986" over and over and over and over and over and over and over * The chaos in the shops * The appalling state of driving in the country being 10x worse for the run up * General commercialism * The religious stuff too (bring back "being a Pagan thing" if you ask me) What I will tell you if you're not one of the annual gift recipients because it's too easy to turn into a "oh so THAT'S how you feel" huffy thing: * Pressure to buy buy buy just for the sake of it for people you've been buying gifts for for 20+ years or more distant family you don't really feel that close to. Yes at the moment I enjoy getting a couple of things for my partner (my decision to, even) - we've not been together long, it's sweet and fun and it's things I know he'll enjoy so won't go to waste. If we stick together a while? After a few years it'll probably start feeling forced like with everyone else. Once it's just buying stuff you're not sure the recipient will even like, and receiving stuff you're not bothered about either, it's all just a mountain of waste that the world is struggling to sustain.

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geth1962@reddit

Yeah. I've told everyone not to expect me to celebrate this year. Don't buy me presents, I won't buy you and give money to charity instead of buying cards.

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shabirdie@reddit

I have autism and anxiety, as well as chronic fatigue due to a couple of lifelong conditions. I find Christmas anxiety inducing at best, harrowing at worst. I get called 'scrooge' and 'grinch', people say 'bah humbug' to me etc etc. I'm tired of having to explain.

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Equivalent-Night-581@reddit

I love the season. I love Christmas lights, Christmas music, ice skating, Christmas markets…. I HATE the day itself. My family are hard work (to put it mildly) though, so that’s why. Spent it with my in laws last year. Had a fab time for the first time ever. It’s a shame.

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Bownzinho@reddit

Working in retail destroyed my love of Christmas and it’s not really recovered since I moved into a completely different industry.

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InternetNarrow@reddit

I absolutely hate it and don’t hide it 😅

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tinatarantino@reddit

Yes, and I do. I hate crowds, I have a special, particular hatred for Christmas music, and the social expectations around gifting have been nightmare fuel since I was a young child.

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BeatificBanana@reddit

I love Christmas, but it's because I do it MY way and don't feel the need to conform to traditions if it's going to add unnecessary stress. My husband and I do gifts for a *very* limited number of people - our 3 closest friends (because we know each other well enough to get gifts we actually like) and my husband's 3 little sisters (because they're kids). We don't exchange Christmas gifts with casual friends, or the adult members of our famililies - we remind them every year to not get us gifts. We just do cards and spend quality time with each other. My husband and I just buy each other 1 main agreed-upon present, then a few little consumables (chocolates, sweets, soaps, nice coffee etc), so we don't end up with loads of "stuff". Christmas day is completely stress free because we spend it alone every year. JUST me and my husband - this is non-negotiable! We do not go out anywhere, we do not host people at our house. We don't even need to get dressed if we don't want to. We can get up when we want, make Christmas dinner when and how we want it. No stress, no socialising, no expectations. We see our friends a few days before, husband's family a few days after, my family usually in the new year. And as for TV, we tune in if there's something on that we want to watch, but if not we just stream whatever we want.

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magicalthinker@reddit

No, because I love it!

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Ok_Complaint_9700@reddit

I hate it tbh. I don’t have any family that I would like to see for Christmas except my siblings. I won’t be able to see my siblings because we were split up and put in different families when our mum died. I have to spend the day feeling like an outsider with the family that I live with. I just hate it.

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Nuclear_Geek@reddit

I'm fairly ambivalent about Christmas overall, but I suppose I do hide that by focusing on the stuff I do like. Dislikes include the incessantly repeated music, being expected to make a fuss over pointless decorations, and people apparently going insane because the supermarket will be shut for two days. However, I do like finding nice stuff to gift to others, and having an excuse to eat and drink too much. I'd say I'm actually looking forward to it this year, I think I found some fun gifts and will get some good reactions.

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ElvishMystical@reddit

I can't be arsed with it, and it's been that way for years. Hard to believe that what it amounts to is roughly six weeks of skiving off all for a couple of days holiday, together with the crass commercialisation, cheap and tacky stuff, cheap and tacky promotions, and people stressed out or boozed up over God knows what. I just stay out of the way until the madness is over.

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danziger79@reddit

I like the idea of it, and have happy memories of the past. But I lost my mum earlier this year and don’t have other family or any close friends nearby so will be alone, feeling overwhelmed by grief, and even though I don’t go out that much, have had to deal with SO many people cheerily asking what I’m doing for Christmas, if I’m ready for Christmas etc. I wish I’d just burst into tears each time rather than tried to be polite tbh.

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mythofmeritocracy12@reddit

So sorry for your loss!

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Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit

Hell yeah, I openly tell people I don't like how shallow and consumerist Christmas is.

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marcdk217@reddit

I openly admit that I don't like Christmas. I put the tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down on Boxing day, or close to it. I don't put up any other decorations, or listen to Christmas music, or watch Christmas movies (Unless it's something like Violent Night, Die Hard or Gremlins) I agree that buying family members gifts just causes massive stress and anxiety because I don't know what they want, don't know them well enough to know what they would like, and I hate wasting money on things and yet I feel obligated to do so. The stupid thing is, I have enough money, if I knew something they wanted/needed I'd happily spend money on it, but I'm left trapsing round town looking at Boots 3 for 2 gifts, or boxes of chocolates, so most family members end up having about a tenner spent on them. In fact, this year most of the gifts I've given out are things I got from Amazon to review, and then re-boxed. Technically each person is probably getting £50-£100 of stuff, but I didn't pay for it, so I don't know if that's considered cheap or not, but it's a win-win, they get new stuff, I get shelf space back. The only person I've really gone to a lot of effort with is my daughter. I budgeted to spend £200, but I've ended up spending over £300 on her because the £200 haul looked really measly due to two items taking up the whole £200. Even at £300 it isn't a massive haul but hopefully she will be happy.

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sanbikinoraion@reddit

Gift bags. Either cloth drawstring ones, or paper ones that you put the gift in then stick down with a sticker or a built in sticky strip. Game changer.

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marcdk217@reddit

I have thought about it. This year I started keeping my Amazon boxes a couple of months ago, and have put most of the presents for people into those boxes so everything is rectangular, and there are less things to wrap, like I have about 10 presents for my brother and his girlfriend all in one box, another 10 for my sister's kids in another. I didn't do that for my daughter since it wouldn't be much fun for her to open 1 present under the tree.

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sanbikinoraion@reddit

Seriously, gift bags turn wrapping into a seconds-per-item activity.

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CuppaT87@reddit

Not liked it since I was 12. My Mum was ill on Christmas Day & died in January, so I've never really liked it since then. Plus my whole routine gets disrupted so that also messes with me slightly.

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New_Expectations5808@reddit

Yes, I find it a big fuss over nothing much

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PepperSpree@reddit

Yes, wholeheartedly, and I don’t give a ferret’s pecker who judges me for it — friend, family, acquaintance, no one’s spared. I do NIL cards, presents, dinners, parties, cringey pleasantries — none of it. And I make it clear that I don’t expect nor want anything in return. All I want is my peace, sanity and minimalistic lifestyle. Why so much noise, chaos and actual crap that no one truly needs? I also look forward to each Christmas Day when I can go walking through the streets with pretty much the whole city to myself, whilst most are cooped up indoors stuffing themselves with the same old predictable stuff, some obliged to pretend to adore the presents they got and the company they’re yet again having to endure. An example of a self-imposed death sentence, if you ask me. *I know you’re not asking, but if you were …* Merry Christmas everyone 💀

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SquidgeSquadge@reddit

I love and hate it. My mum works so hard to make things wonderful, but with that she gets so stressed, angry and snappy we have had so many fall outs because she is literally screaming at us for not putting the right plate down on the table. If we say anything against her she breaks down saying shes trying so hard but she rarely lets anyone help or make things easier. My sister doesn't help, she loves Christmas but expects my mum to do a blow out Christmas every year. She knows my mum loves to do it but also she just doesn't want to host herself. My husband and I would but we don't have a house and live miles away, my sister's wife is very keen to help but they do a cocktail party instead before Christmas as my sister just doesn't want the responsibility. My stepdad, SIL and myself will help mum when allowed to (mum spends most of the time barking orders to my stepdad). I love Christmas but I hate the bickering, but then that happens all year, just more intense at Christmas

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BaseballFuryThurman@reddit

> TV schedule Are you a time traveller from the 90s? Who watches scheduled TV in 2024?

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fishface-1977@reddit

What??! You mean you don’t buy the Christmas radio times and circle all the programmes and films you want to watch?

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Sister_Ray_@reddit

My mum still does this, utterly baffling

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

You get sick of on demand and the pain in the arse having to find something to watch, you just want to stick the tv on and something watchable be on.

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Fraggle_ninja@reddit

I hate it, so have always over compensated or hidden from it. I now have to try properly for my husband and I get that it’s the middle of winter and we need fun and sparkly lights help but I’d rather just hibernate if I could.

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SavingsFeature504@reddit

Never liked Christmas for the past 20 years (I'm 33 now) I make an effort because my partner likes it but she knows I'm not a huge fan.. First year in a new job this Christmas and they all wanted me to do secret Santa. I swiftly declined.

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Ted_Hitchcox@reddit

I havn't 'done' christmas for about 15 years and before that patricipated begrudgingly.

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AdventurousFrame332@reddit

I don’t really get the point of it. We’re not religious and we’re not in touch with extended family much (no bad feeling, just geographical distance) so it’s just, I don’t know… what is it we’re celebrating exactly? Why am I doing this? I don’t like it because I don’t get what it’s for.

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Ashalax@reddit

All my family is back is my home country and I have no one here. If I do not go to visit them - I do not really feel like celebrating. Little bit better when I do not have to go to my in laws for holidays - do not have to forcefully be cheerful or get comments why you not smiling? - TV programs are crap from December 1st. Nothing else just holiday shopping, cooking and all other crap. Nothing to watch and I can not wait for this fake thing to be over. - For me buying gifts is torture. We grow up poor - 1x small present for each. Now - 3,4 presents and half of it is crap. Do not see a point waisting money. I always ask for vouchers so I can use them for that I need but I still get crap witch I donate or trow away after Christmas. - songs. Torture after 3 days when you have to listen same ones for 2 months.

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Don_Alosi@reddit

In my 20s and 30s I hated Christmas, I mean, I'm not a particular fan even now BUT The older I get the more I see it as the only time of the year where people for once pretend to care about people instead of profits, and where the focus is personal relationships. Is it all marketing? Yes, absolutely, but it's the last thing we have left that feels like a break from capitalism, and I'm not sure I'm ready to let that go.

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focalac@reddit

I used to not like it but I’ve come around again. I didn’t really have anything much to look forward to regarding it, so I started to resent how busy everywhere got and the commercialism and the stupid songs, so I get it. However these days it me and the mrs and we have our little traditions. We go away for the first or second week of December and buy a couple of ornaments for the tree. We now have a tree full of things with little stories attached. I also have some of my mum and grandparents’ old ornaments, so the whole thing becomes nostalgic about where we’ve been and remembering family etc. Sounds a bit maudlin when I write it out, but we’re not actively reminiscing, or anything, it’s actually really nice having little reminders around the place. So I think Christmas is what you make it, really. It doesn’t have to be shitty tv specials if you don’t want it to be. There’s an awful lot to not like as well.

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uncleAnwar@reddit

Nobody thinks you mean it when you say “don’t buy me anything”. I love Christmas, but can we eliminate all the spending and waste? Crackers? A brief second of excitement in the pulling, then sweep all that shit straight into the bin once the meal is over. Christmas jumpers? Fuck off am I buying an item of clothing that might be worn for two weeks of the year.

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Hoth617@reddit

I.just don't like it. The forced enjoyment, the pressure to spend spend spend. the overt and intoxicating literal panic as people rush around shops buying stuff". It's just so hard to escape this stuff now.

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External-Piccolo-626@reddit

I like the idea of it but that’s about it. You only have to open your eyes after auto see just the amount of absolute rubbish people buy.

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JohnnyRyallsDentist@reddit

I have an uncle who, about 10 years ago, announced to everyone "I don't like Christmas, and I don't like having to buy crap for everyone, and I don't want any presents. So from now on, I'm out. Leave me alone this Christmas, I'll have a pint on Christmas Eve and that'll do me". Our family all kicked up a fuss about this. He was labelled a Scrooge and a Grinch etc. The first year, he got presents anyway. But then, after a couple of years when everyone realised he was serious and entitled to his choice, we left him to it. A few years ago, I followed his example. My wife and my daughter get presents. Everyone else can just leave me alone, thank you. No elf nonsense here. Our tree goes up a week before and comes down the day after boxing day. Done. I have as much nicer Christmas as a result.

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Successful_Buy3825@reddit

I don’t go round shouting about it (especially not on the day), but I’m known to be quite grinch-y. I’m really not in to the forced commercialisation aspect, I’d much rather my family just save their money that spend it all of pointless tut for the sake of saying they bought something. I’m also not enthused by a lot of the food - my grandparents are quite “traditional”, and will insist on having things nobody really wants (they are not the ones cooking), because “it’s Christmas, and this is what we eat at Christmas”

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Capable_Change_6159@reddit

As a single middle aged bloke without children, I’m not really feeling in the Christmas spirit, I did do some decorations this year but noticed the light made a significant dig into my electric meter so they’re not going on anymore!! Close family get a few consumable gifts, chocolate and booze and it’s a nice family meal on the day, where I’m also the designated driver so I can get my elderly parents out. I’m not even looking forward to the time off as everywhere will be busy, and it comes out of my holiday allowance. So I’ll try to look happy over the next few days but really I’ll just looking forward to January now

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Dumbusernamesuggest@reddit

I made a stand this year about gift buying, it’s too much and as you say you end up with crap you don’t need and vice versa. We have a toddler so all our energy has gone into the fun of the festivities for him so I asked that instead of us adults (grandparents/parents/aunts/uncles) buying for each other this year that we spent the money on an outing with the kids so we could enjoy it all together. It’s been really lovely.

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astronemma@reddit

I’d like it more if it didn’t feel so performative

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croissant530@reddit

This is where I feel grateful for being relatively involved in my local church (I’m not religious but I help out with the music). Advent has a real purpose, and the focus is on charity, reflection, and festive vibes, rather than consumerism. And the liturgical music is banging.

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EatingCoooolo@reddit

I don’t like valentine’s day but anything that gives me a break from working is my jam. I only buy 4 presents and cook and get drunk. What’s not to like?

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confettihopphopp@reddit

I don't like it and I don't take part. It has been a long process to pull myself out of it. Life hack: When you're single and people ask you what you're doing for Christmas, say you're visiting family. Otherwise they will pity you for being alone and invite you to be their Christmas pet.

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GrouchyAlps612@reddit

I enjoy Christmas but I get so much stick for saying I hate New Year’s Eve and that period

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PabloMarmite@reddit

I’m not a fan, and no, I don’t voice it because it always gets a bad reaction. It’s just a reminder of how few people I have left in my life. I don’t mind the day itself, but I’d much prefer the build-up starting the week before instead of November.

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Dax_Thrushbane@reddit

I don't believe the Christian BS behind xmas. I dislike the commercialism that has sprung up around it to promote sales. I find the people where I used to live crass for.putting up decorations far too early and leave them up way too long. I dislike most of my side of the family as they're all cunts .. wife's side is joyous, but I see them outside of xmas too. I do tell people this who care to ask ....Barr humbug

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MyCatIsAFknIdiot@reddit

Hate the commercial part of it.

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polly-esther@reddit

I have a six year old that has enabled me to enjoy it and not feel the burden of joy anymore. I’m dreading the day we no longer have any magical elements.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yes once the magic goes it’s a big pain in the ass

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polly-esther@reddit

I’m having to tell him where Santa is every 15 mins, he is excitement personified and I love it. Fingers crossed for next year still having the big guy!

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frowawayakounts@reddit

My daughter is almost ten and she still believes in the magic, it’s honestly worth the hassle to see them so happy and make memories they’ll remember in the future

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polly-esther@reddit

This makes me happy. It’s my favourite part of being a parent.

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Griffon2112@reddit

I do, frequently and often. However this is mostly fuelled by the hypocrisy of Christian's.

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NorthernBibliophile@reddit

I hate it. I feel sad and overwhelmed by the whole thing.

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pjberlov@reddit

I like christmas. But the parts of christmas I don’t like are far louder, far more public, very ubiquitous and therefore pose far more of a personal risk of me being called a Grinch if i complain about them.

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Ruadhan2300@reddit

Nope, wife loves Christmas and makes a big to-do about it. If I admit to not being in the Christmas Spirit I will get *The Look*. I'm.. kind of ambivalent about it. On the one hand, I feel very much like you do, a lot of disruption to my routines and the obligation of finding *something* to gift to people is incredibly wearing and stressful. On the other hand, I like the break, and the ready-made excuse to be lazy and/or not look after myself. Have a pack of sweets? Why not, it's Christmas! Buy that video game I've been eying up for months? It's Crimbo, Treat-yo-self. Plus, Wife is happy, which makes me happy. I don't care about the TV Schedule, I've not had any scheduled TV that I've cared about in a decade or more. Streaming services have completely superseded broadcast TV for me. In terms of gift-giving.. I have several broad categories: * Requested Items - The person said what they want, and I got it for them. Easy, but kind of underwhelming as gifts. * Thoughtful Gifts - I'm close enough to the person to realistically judge what they'll like, and gift them something thoughtful and appreciated. Best option if possible. * Consumables - Something that can be enjoyed on the day, or when opportunity comes up, and once enjoyed are done. Food, Sweets, Alcohol, funny little christmas-day toys and mini-games, things like that. Easy and safe option, if a little impersonal. * Cheap/Funny Gifts - Things that they'll enjoy on the day, and probably get rid of fairly quickly, but it will have served its purpose.

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Substantial-Sun-9971@reddit

Yep. I stopped doing presents a few years back. It went down like a lead balloon at first, I told the family I’m not giving any and don’t expect any buying for me. To begin with they still did gifts between themselves and it felt a bit weird. The second year they imposed a £20 limit, then the 3rd everyone stopped doing presents completely. They’ve all said now how much they prefer not having to bother. It removes the financial stress and wastefulness. I buy for a few of my friends’ kids (there are none in my family), the dog and that’s it. Not a massive fan of the rest of Christmas either tbh but once you remove the consumerist aspect it’s not nearly as bad. We’re not religious either so I don’t really see the point of it but I try to think of it as a midwinter festival just to break things up a bit, and remove any other expectations about it

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bumder9891@reddit

Besides the food, I don't like any of it

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NoPersonality177@reddit

Christmas isn't for you, or for the kids. It's one big PAY DAY for BUSINESS and CORPORATIONS, for SHAREHOLDERS to see VALUE in their shares and PROFITS to rise. It hasn't been for you or the kids since the 70s. Remember folks, BUY things to prove you love people close to you.

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LJM_1991@reddit

I state I don’t like Christmas all the time, I wouldn’t even call it admitting it to be honest. It’s so over commercialised by this point and goes hand in hand with rising debt culture. We do the bare minimum. If my elderly mother needs something I’ll get her it in the guise of a Christmas present (though if it’s any other time of year she’d get it simply as a gift). I also bring her round for some food on the day (she comes round all the time anyway). Other than that though, me and my partner have completely opted out.

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H1ghlyVolatile@reddit

Yeah I hate it. The run up is bad enough, as I can’t stand the forced work parties that I don’t want to go to. Then you get the day itself where I’m bored to tears. I’m glad when it’s over.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

I’m kinda looking forward to Thursday, it might feel semi normal again.

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H1ghlyVolatile@reddit

Yeah that’s true, although I’ve got the run up to a NYE party that I can’t be bothered with, so the 3rd January is normal for me!

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Comprehensive-Two888@reddit

I’ll admit it. It’s annoying and shit.

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Mobile_Falcon8639@reddit

Yes I hate Cristmas it's an awful disruptive time of year. Furthermore I don't know anyone who actually like Christmas.

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BaseballFuryThurman@reddit

Misery loves company

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PilzEtosis@reddit

I don't massively enjoy Christmas. I love that other people do, and I will always wish them a merry Christmas with genuine enthusiasm, but it's not something I celebrate. I've worked Christmas day every year for almost the last decade too - I have colleagues with kids, whereas I don't, and I'd rather they had the time to spend with them. I'm a child of divorce who then went through a fairly traumatic financial experience in my 20s - so I have bad memories of Christmas *and* spending copious amounts of cash. I'm sure one day I'll talk to a therapist about it, but honestly, I don't mind not sharing in Christmas too much. I'll spend it with my partner and she's quite happy doing up the tree and wrapping presents, then going to spend the first half of Christmas with her family while I work. We'll eat and watch a film or two in the evening, have some drinks, go to bed and then that'll be it for another year!

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red-fish-yellow-fish@reddit

We go away for Christmas. Sure, we have a Christmas dinner and it’s very nice. But we don’t do any of the work. Best time to go. We actually do a traditional Christmas every 4 years or so, and usually regret not going somewhere warm. I just think 2 months of endless Christmas music is irritating and the whole thing a bit tiring

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This_Suit8791@reddit

For my kids I try to make it special for them and I enjoy the dinner but I enjoy a Sunday roast anytime. But me personally I can see for what it really is, an event made up some retailers can get people spending more than they should be. Why do you have to wait for one day to be kind and give a gift? Xmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter are all there for the same reason for people to make money and no other reason.

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Fenpunx@reddit

I'm not concerned about admitting it. I dreaded it as a child, but since having my own kids, we try and make it everything it should be, for them. I try every year and always start out pretty excited, but with the extensive media campaign, I'm over it halfway through December, and then after that, I'm just going through the motions. Boxing day always feels pretty good, though.

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DrH1983@reddit

Yes, but there's a difference between admitting you don't like something and being one of those bores who feels compelled to keep going on about just how much you hate Christmas. And sure the commercialisation is tedious but it's astonishingly easy to just ignore that side of if things.

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moreidlethanwild@reddit

I don’t do Christmas. I haven’t since I was a young adult. As a kid, our christmases were all about family and food, they were not commercial. I got some nice toys and gifts but nothing huge, no stocking. Decorations only went up on the 24th and down on the 6th. I looked forward to seeing my extended family and that we had “Christmas cheese” and “Christmas nuts” and other things we didn’t usually have. When I first got my own place at 18 I had no money and it seemed stupid to waste it on “Christmas” things. I didn’t get a tree then and haven’t since. I don’t “celebrate” Christmas. The first year away from family I did my own thing with friends as a non Christmas - and it was like my christmases. Myself, 4 friends, we cooked our own dinner and had a lot of laughs, a lot of drinks and watched the TV. We didn’t need anything more. During the following years, some years I have had a Christmas lunch with partners, some years I have gone away. I really disliked the years with partners families that were really commercial with mountains of presents, then “table gifts” (wtf?) and lots of activities like attending mass when nobody is religious. It strikes me as odd. Some years I have volunteered on Christmas Day - soup kitchens and community lunches. Now, my husband and I see it as just another day. I am happy for those that enjoy Christmas and celebrate, especially children. I hate the commercialism. I hate the Christmas adverts full of large families having a wonderful time when in reality it’s not like that for most people. I hate that some families get themselves in debt for gifts. I hate that some kids will get nothing for Christmas and they don’t have enough to eat when other families will post endless photos on Facebook of their kids with mountains of gifts. The social media part of Christmas is awful. I am happy when it’s all over in truth. I have two step daughters. They’re adults now, when they were kids we did a small Christmas for them. Tomorrow they’ll get a few essentials in a stocking (literally things like chocolates, lip balm, hair bands, phone charger, socks, gloves, etc). We have no cards or decorations. We’re having the day almost as normal - a nice long walk followed by drinks in the bar then home to dinner - no turkey. We’ve asked the kids and they really don’t mind. I’m hopeful that as they get older they’ll reflect on the importance of time with friends and family over gifts at Christmas.

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LondonCycling@reddit

On the whole I like it, but.. I have real anxiety about presents, both giving and receiving. When I was growing up my single mum was working 3 jobs. She did that so she could afford to give us things which she wouldn't be able to afford to with the one job. I'm very grateful for that, but it leaves we with nagging guilt whenever I receive presents. I don't want people to stretch to buy me gifts which they can't necessarily afford. This is made somewhat worse by the reverse situation. I'm fortunate now to earn a high income. It means I buy things as and when I need/want them, so I don't really have a Christmas list. But when it comes to buying for other people, I feel guilty if I buy something they won't use as it reminds me of some of the tat (let's be honest) my mum used to spend hard earned money on to bulk out of presents. Similarly I feel bad buying expensive gifts because I don't want people who I know are relying on benefits or barely above minimum wage to feel like theirs has to match. In recent years I've taken to making gifts, as these are perceived as inexpensive money wise, but high time wise. It is hard though because if I'm out and about and I see something I think someone will like, I don't hesitate to buy it. Idk, I just have a bad relationship with gift giving/receiving and I should probably speak to a counsellor about it as it does stress me out every Christmas. I enjoy pretty much everything else about Christmas - the food, the drink, the decorations, the tacky Christmas films, the weather (I live in Scotland so more snow), etc, but the gift thing puts a downer on it for me.

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9999LW@reddit

Love the getting together, food, games, drinks, family, time off. However, I work for a company that specialises in Christmas lighting, so the build up is a bit hellish (and this starts in September!) - always a big sigh of relief when we get a few days away from Christmas and people stop buying. We also stopped buying adult presents a couple of years ago and now I only buy for a few kids (niece, nephew, stepdaughter). Me & the other half just combine the money we would’ve spent on each other and put it towards a weekend break in the Lakes in the new year. The latter has certainly been a bit of a godsend.

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Hot_Price_2808@reddit

I enjoy the time off and the run-up to Christmas so all the social staff and free bars that I go to but I have zero passion for the actual day itself as I don’t really do much.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yeah I think I’m the same, I liked the build up to it, but once I got off from work and thr big day got closer I’m like meh na can’t be arsed with this

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Dissidant@reddit

I think its fine. Christmas can be a difficult time for people for various reasons.. plus it doesn't generally mean you don't want others to have a nice time.

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Waltuh_Whitey@reddit

Hate the rampant consumerism and capitalism. Hate the feeling of ‘having’ to buy for people to show them how much I love them. Hence this year, we have sort of knocked it on its head gift wise. Just looking forward to some time off and a short break from work and the dinner with family - most important thing!

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itsableeder@reddit

I worked in retail - and specifically for a chocolate shop - for too long to really enjoy Christmas. It sounds dramatic to say I have trauma from it but honestly it was hell on earth and I ended up very ill as a result of stress and massive fatigue more than once. It's been close to a decade since I worked in that environment (or in bars) now so I'm slowly learning to enjoy it more but I definitely have moments of anxiety around it, even if it's just horribly stressful dreams about a job I haven't done in years in the days running up to Christmas. I also work for myself these days so while I'm able to take time off it's hard to fully switch off, but that's a problem of my own making and is still leagues better than being forced to work 14 hour shifts in the days before and after Christmas!

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ConsistentCatch2104@reddit

Hate Christmas. Can’t wait for 2 January. Have to put on as much as an act as I can though as have two teenagers.

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AdSlow9476@reddit (OP)

Yes this, it gets tiring

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SebastianVanCartier@reddit

Yeah I’ll Grinch out with you. I don’t really like Christmas either. I appreciate the time off and I like the odd mince pie. Beyond that — nah.

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SpecialUnitt@reddit

I started to like Christmas when I didn’t succumb to what other people think Christmas should be.

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DoNotGoGentle14@reddit

Admit it? “Admit” implies that I should feel shame about not liking Christmas. My exact reason for not liking Christmas is exactly this. Being told how I SHOULD feel. It’s not a joyful season for a lot of people and nobody should be made to feel guilty for not liking those festive month.

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preaxhpeacj@reddit

I enjoy Christmas for about 3 days (xmas eve, xmas day, boxing day) before/after that I can not be arsed with it and am getting increasingly annoyed with seeing xmas related stuff appearing from 1st September

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coffeewalnut05@reddit

I love Christmas

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cheandbis@reddit

I like Christmas, but the day itself (i.e. the food, drink, festivities etc) and not arsed about the presents any more, other than my daughter. Seeing her so happy makes it all worth while. My partner and I have agreed that we'll spend £20 on each other and then go out and have a nice meal or night away or something in the new year. With my family, we have done a secret santa this year so we all buy something for one person from a list they compiled. It means we save money and everyone gets something that they want rather than lots of bits that they didn't. Make it a day that works for you and sod what everyone else does.

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JourneyThiefer@reddit

I just like going out to the pub and spending time with family/friends and the big dinner. I’m 25 now and the whole present receiving and giving in kinda over, cbb with that sort of Christmas anymore, just feels like a waste of money unless it’s for kids

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underwater-sunlight@reddit

I love parts of Christmas. The time off The food As a kid, the presents were great, but as an adult, the excitement of getting something when you don't really want anything and having to buy for others in the same situation as yourself. With a 5yo, the excitement of the big day is back though

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Commercial-Stick-718@reddit

I openly admit to not liking xmas, my wife doesn't either- it's just an overabundance of commericalism that doesn't sit well with me. We don't have kids so it feels acceptable.

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