docsquid Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 OK...we have a Christmas Thread. Is there anybody who definitely isn't getting into the Christmas spirit? I don't mind Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but I absolutely loathe, detest and avoid all the pre-amble. Why does Christmas have to start on 1st October? I get or make a few small presents, but don't get stressed about it. I order a turkey from the local farm because MIL comes to stay and expects it - otherwise, I would just have a simple meal. I put up the decorations on Christmas Eve and take them down the day after New Year. I don't want clutter in my room for a whole month or longer. I like to celebrate the solstice and the days getting longer, but really detest the commercialism of the whole thing, and the fact that it is rammed down our throats from the start of October, or even earlier. I enjoy the quiet break to go out into the countryside, do outdoor work and tasks, and generally get away from it all. And don't get me started on the Sales.... Any other grumpy old folk who want to join me in a Bah Humbug? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I quite agree. I love Christmas, but it can't occupy a whole quarter of the year - thats just wrong!! If you spread the excitement out over 3 months (rather than just December) it is spread too thin. When 1st December comes, I will start thinking about Christmas (and not before) [i will allow people with friends/relatives abroad to be a bit more organised and start before though!!] H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I too love christmas for what it is supposed to be the birth of Christ, not the commercialism . Christmas enters my house some time christmas week and leaves it early in the new year , I hate having a tree in the house but love the lights and other decs. (When OH isn't home i don't put a tree up) I have been busy gathering my pressis quietly for a month and most are done. I usually do lots of cooking which the family love and i hate the waste . with OH home this year we are eating out Christmas day ......no mountain of left overs to end up in the bin ....will be worth every penny...as is not having to do all the prep and endless hours of actually cooking it. Modest menu planned for boxing day and new years as everyone eats all their goodies , food is only given a brief glance mostly by the children and the adults prefer a sandwich due to an overload of chocolate , we do however enjoy the wonderful cheese that is on offer as our evening snack followed by yet more chocolate . I am determined to not over stock the fridge this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I'm with you on that - I like things to be in their proper time,and celebrated when they ought to be, not drawn out and overly commercialised. I have 10 people for c'mas day and really love it but as I am always working until the last minute, I don;t do much about it until the week beforehand. Being skint/saving for building work, we don't really buy lots of presents either... last year Rosie and Phil gave me 'time' as a present and I had a day when they did everything and I could relax with my feet up - an alien concept for me but I loved the whole thought behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I used to love it when the boys were small and enjoyed buying presents for them and decorating the house (but not till a week before Christmas!). Now I could quite happily hibernate through the whole thing . I hate how "Christmas" starts in October (or even earlier ) and really don't like the spend, spend, spend attitude everyone is encouraged to have. I do put up a tree and decorations but they are the same ones we've used for 20 years. I don't see the point in buying new decorations when they only stay up a week or two. I like using things the boys made when they were little. We'll go up to my in-laws, exchange a few presents and have a nice meal at their house. I do love a turkey dinner . Roll on spring . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I hate the pushy commercialism of Christmas and the fact that the shops start pushing it earlier and earlier each year. It just makes me want to opt out of the shopping thing altogether ( I actually buy very little in the way of pressies - I make most of them myself) as for going to the supermarket don't get me started. Every year I do the same - do a mega shop at the begining of December and then try to manage by just going to our little shop up the road. I refuse to buy mince pies ( or mincemeat) Christmas puds and Christmas cake and make them myself. A lot of the real meaning of Christmas has been lost in the whole commercial thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I love Christmas even though our 2 eldest are 17 & 20, they still join in the festivities. I enjoy it because we are a small closeknit family and we enjoy tweaking things each year to keep it fresh and fun. I don't however enjoy the commercial side of things like others, so I start my shopping early to get it over and done with and then come December, enjoy the more traditional events and know I don't have to 'do crowds'.......so starting early does have it's advantages! I've got all our presents, just to need to wrap them and most of the Christmas food apart from our Ocado delivery on 20th and fresh things from the farm shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I normally love Christmas but only get into it about a week before the big day. I hate being bombarded with adverts and Christmas music from early Autumn! I love making presents for people and decorating the tree but find writing all the cards a real chore- always put it off till the last minute... I'm dreading it this year- having just lost my Mum, it's going to be very difficult. Her birthday would have been on Boxing day too, so it's going to be a hard few days. We've got my Dad coming to stay with us because he can't bear the thought of having the family as usual without my Mum being there. I think that we're just going to have to get through it this year- roll on 2012!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Oh, this is nice, some kindred spirits. I am not anti Christmas, but everything has a proper time and place. For me, Christmas is Carols from Kings on Christmas Eve, reading Box of Delights and A Christmas Carol. It is loving not knowing when my present is going to arrive in the week before Christmas and still being able to get excited about the anticipation (a real Christmas tree on the patio with twinkly lights, from OH, who is allergic to the resin and has to have a plastic one indoors). Love the solstice and the knowledge that the world is tipping gently into Spring. That said, love doing the DDs stockings and giving them a special Christmas Eve tea. Hate the rest of it - what a load of old tat. Not sure who invented tinsel, but it seems the most useless invention ever. Mrs P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Yo Squiddy! Yep,yep and a thousand times yep! See my siggy!! I'd like a black hat from the garden centre with "bah humbug" on it! I don't feel Christmassy and I dread having to hunt for presents for people who already have everything they need or want. It was always much more fun when the children were young, but it's not the same when they move away, have their own agendas and pretty much buy the things they want as they all work now. Family feuds make things difficult. In laws are a pain - well MIL is. My mum has "accepted an invitation elsewhere" when really she means she is going to stay with my brother (yep we aren't talking). The weather is too warm so you can't really sing "the weather outside is frightful" because you are putting the chickens away with your t-shirt on! The shops start up at the end of August, but most definitely September the Christmas tat goes on sale. Actually I always perk up around the 21st because summer's on it's way! Oh pooh! Haven't even thought about sending cards to the rellies across the pond! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I have a foot in both camps! I hate to see all the tat arrive in the shops in August and all the hype for months. I don't put any decorations up until the weekend before Christmas and the present giving side is always fairly low-key, we enjoy being together with family more than anything else. BUT.....I became a single parent when my two were aged 3 and 1........36 years ago ..... and I've never gone into debt over Christmas. I used to put money away in a toyshop club when they were little and now I still keep presents small, personal and hand-made where I can and that takes planning. I have to start early to keep on top of it all. I like to enjoy this part of it so I do start feeling Christmassy early on......but only in a small way, the Christmassy smells of cooking and wrapping something I've made etc. I'll read both threads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Brilliantly put, Lesley - and yes, I will read both threads, too! I start planning Christmas early just because I dislike the commercialism; if you want to make your own presents, you can't leave it till December. I think it's possible to enjoy Christmas without being sucked into the commercial side of it. Groovychook, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mum - it will be a hard Christmas for you all, but I hope that within the sadness you can remember happy times. My mum loved Christmas, and after she died I was very 'bah, humbug' about it - I wouldn't even put decorations up, the first year - but as time moved on I've been able to think about the lovely family Christmases when we were children, and now I really enjoy it again. I'm very conscious that Christmas is not a happy time for a lot of people. On the basis that it's better to light a candle than curse the darkness, I always give a donation to charity instead of sending cards to people I see regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I dread Christmas and never more so than this year. We normally have the family feuds developing because someone said "oh don't buy me anything just give me one of your Christmas cakes" and then when you do they get all huffy because you didn't buy them a Christmas present. Combine all that with the fact that we found out that my grandmother had breast cancer on the 22 of December and spent all of that Christmas terrified about what the treatments were going to be and this year my aunt has terminal cancer. Christmas is something to be got through here at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 OH has announced that we aren't getting presents for each other - are WE! Well fine, just adds to the spirit of things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I like being organised, so always endeavour to buy presents starting at the end of October and try to finish by Dec 1st. However.... I agree that festivities should not start until advent has begun. Some of my neighbours have had Christmas lights on their houses for a couple of weeks... That makes me so mad... I too love the solstice, knowing that summer is on its way. With it just being OH and I, we don't tend to bother with many decorations, a simple small tree that is put up in Dec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Not quite Bah Humbug but the build up time to Christmas is when I like to read Ghost/Horror stories. It's like sorbet after a heavy, rich meal. I love Christmas but sometimes the whole build-up can be a bit overwhelming. I like the summer solstice, knowing that winter is on its way cheers me up. What a weirdo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Oh dear, Jingle bells, Jingle bells............................ Sorry to hear you're having a rough time Woodcat. When I worked on the old folks ward at our local hospital I always kept an area free of Xmas for those who found it particularly hard. People who have had a lot of losses take it in such different ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I agree that the hype all starts far too early, and so it's definitely bah humbug to that...It is such a shame that the real meaning of christmas is being buried underneath the drive for sales..but I can't disapprove of Christmas generally, for me the really special thing is the opportunity to spend a couple of days with my family...so precious these days. Oh...and how can you not love all those sparkly lights...its all very pagan!! I am being glib because I do understand that for many people Christmas is a very sad and/or lonely time....and my heart goes out to those, and to all those who have lost someone this year.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Oh dear, Jingle bells, Jingle bells............................ Sorry to hear you're having a rough time Woodcat. When I worked on the old folks ward at our local hospital I always kept an area free of Xmas for those who found it particularly hard. People who have had a lot of losses take it in such different ways. Thanks Plum. We will get there i just hate having to fake joy and pretend that it's all fine and dandy just because it's Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I am not a lover of Christmas - it all so commercialised now. Most people have everything they need and you end up buying things for the sake of it. Having said all that - I firmly believe in keeping the magic of Christmas for young children. I have two Grandchildren aged 3 and 9 so it might be the last year the 9 year old believes. I will have to put on a jolly face this Christmas as it will be the first one without my mum who died in August but she loved making Christmas special for the kids and buying lots of little things for them to open and I will carry that on. Also we are due to complete on our new house purchase next week so I am in the middle of truing to pack things up as well...... phew it doesnt bear thinking about!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I've just found out that my 'little' job (6 hours a week) is to end on December 23rd. I'm not entitled to jobseekers either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Snowberry - so sorry to hear that For me it feels the time goes so quickly - more so every year! It really feels like I have just put the tree away and now it has to come out again. Fills me with dread!! I still remember where all the decorations went too! I think Christmas should be every two years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Oh I am sorry snowberry. That really puts the dampner on things I love the idea of light in the dark (a bit like Indian Diwali) and the idea of celebrating the solstice to encourage light to return again (a real pagan here) and I used to just love all the Christmas run up (from December 1st) with advent calenders, carols, Christmas food stalls, late night shopping and people hurrying home with parcels in the frosty twilight . . . but this year I admit that I'm dreading it big time. This is because last year I had my worst Xmas ever and now I dread it being like that again. It is not that anything really bad happened just that with the freeze I was pretty well stuck at home with a family who have too much 'stuff' anyway and who just kept saying how much they hated Christmas and that it is for children only. I had spent a year of very hard work and no holiday and at last I had time off but it all went blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I know that I've already posted about losing my job on 23rd Dec but this really bugs me! I had an email today from my recruitment agency asking for my timesheet. It said "I hope that you're looking forward & ready for Christmas". Do I send her a little note back to say I'm not & also her siggy is in the name of my previous 'recruiter' (who was rubbish & left)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Another member of the Bah Humbug Club here too...love Christmas but it's too commercial nowadays and starts way too early Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
