Do You Hate Christmas And All The Fuss That Goes With It?

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

I was wondering if there were many posters out there who hate Christmas and all the fuss and expenditure that goes with it? I'm sort of old school and liked the old traditional Christmas where I would make home decorations with my brothers and sisters for the Christmas tree go to midnight mass with my family and go on the wren the next day to make some pocket money. I just feel all does old traditions have died away over the past twenty years due to the commercial interests of big companies and Christmas starting on the 1st of November as soon as Halloweenn is over. So what do you think am I the Grinch or do you agree?

A Little Pony

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

There should be no talk at all about Christmas until December, no Christmas lights, no trees, no Santa talk or anything.

I think Christmas should really only be about good food and drink, with family and friends. Everything else should be ignored about it.

donegaLroad

This year in particular, it has arrived 2 weeks earlier than normal. I'm already tortured with it and it's only November. There are still pumpkins in the house.

If there was any way I could bugger off for a couple of months and avoid it, I would be gone tonight.

Dr Crayfish

The utter destructiveness of it is what's getting to me lately. Just mass consumerism, buying absolute rubbish made from plastic from places like Tiger, that'll end up in a landfill, or the sea, in a few months!

King George VI

I think you're a fair bit of a grinch lol but I do understand what you mean, that the intensity of it can be too much sometimes. I always joke about if I had my way Christmas would start in June, but I'm truly sick of how early it gets every year. If I'm not mistaken Brown Thomas had Christmas ads in June this years? WTF?! Christmas should be in December and not a second before.

But as soon as December 1st hits, don me now our gay Christmas jumpers and cover my jowls in tinsel because I'm about to get all festive on your grinchy asses!

Noveight

You can make of Christmas what you want. Some people buy in to it at great expense, kicking things off in mid-November and blowing hundreds of euro. For more people it just means seeing a bit more red and green around the place for a few weeks. I think it's a nice holiday that has unfortunately been turned up to 11 by companies out to make a killing. I don't buy in to it hugely, but appreciate how special a time it can be - especially for the smaller kids with Santa.

freshpopcorn

donegaLroad wrote: »

This year in particular, it has arrived 2 weeks earlier than normal. I'm already tortured with it and it's only November. There are still pumpkins in the house.

If there was any way I could bugger off for a couple of months and avoid it, I would be gone tonight.

What city are you in?
I found the lights were switched on a few days later this year than last year.

Ipso

Noveight wrote: »

You can make of Christmas what you want. Some people buy in to it at great expense, kicking things off in mid-November and blowing hundreds of euro. For more people it just means seeing a bit more red and green around the place for a few weeks. I think it's a nice holiday that has unfortunately been turned up to 11 by companies out to make a killing. I don't buy in to it hugely, but appreciate how special a time it can be - especially for the smaller kids with Santa.

Yes, they should never forget the reason for celebrating his birth.

MysticMonk

Yes..as a single man with no kids i find it utterly depressing. This is why i'm buggering off to Malta for the holidays.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

A Little Pony wrote: »

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

I suppose it's the one time of the year where family and friends get together and remember loved ones that are no longer with us but i just think the true spirit of Christmas has been forgotten about because of the pressure parents are put under by big companies advertising their products for all kids to see and may not be able to afford to buy the present or presents they want due to financial constraints.

The_Valeyard

Ted_YNWA

It's gone way too commercialised.

People feel forced to buy stuff for people they don't like with money they don't have.

Your Face

Im not edgy enough to say I hate Christmas

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

There should be no talk at all about Christmas until December, no Christmas lights, no trees, no Santa talk or anything.

I think Christmas should really only be about good food and drink, with family and friends. Everything else should be ignored about it.

I would agree with you Christmas should only start in December because by the time the big day arrives I do be fed up with festive songs,adds and movies and just want the whole thing over.

Speedwell

When I was a kid in America, my family and all my friends' families would wait till about two weeks before Christmas to put up the tree. Many families did it on Christmas Eve. When I left America about 5 years ago, I think most people were doing it on Black Friday or that weekend.

Now, I used to work for a craft "supermarket", and we sold Christmas stuff for making Christmas crafts starting in July or August, so I got really sick of it before actual Christmas came around. Same with the choir practice in school, when you started practising for the Christmas concert in September. By the time the actual day came around, it felt like light at the end of the tunnel.

Lately, now that I'm 50, I find myself getting sick of it earlier and earlier. So this year I am putting a few battery-operated candles in the window instead of a house full of lights, cleaning the house well and putting up stockings in place of a tree, and having steak and lobster for dinner on the day itself like we do on our anniversary. I have all the gifts bought for the kids and token but decent stuff for the adults (thanks, nice Hong Kong folks on eBay). I don't mind humming along with the occasional Christmas tune, if you don't mind when I hum idly while I'm waiting in a queue... I don't realise I'm doing it, honestly. Church isn't my scene and God isn't my thing. But having a glass of wine in the corner, that's all I need.

Mint Sauce

Its all about the kids and consumerism to be honest these days. At present, I am not too bothered about it, have bought a few of the presents, and drinks/snacks for the day. Would rather not see any decorations, or hear any Xmas songs till December, but since having a couple of stressful weeks, and having it thrown at you since Halloween, with only a couple days left of November, still not feeling any excitement about the whole thing.

Noveight

Ipso wrote: »

Yes, they should never forget the reason for celebrating his birth.

Exactly! Three year old's out there getting too big for their boots!

Shenshen

I do like it, but I'm very selective about it to be fair.
I've stopped travelling home for christmas a few years ago, the hassle and the aggravation just weren't worth it. These days, it's just the hubby and me, having a few lovely slow and cozy days, maybe having friends over on one of the nights for some good and special food, a few drinks, watching telly while sitting in front of the fire.
We don't go big on presents, and nobody in my our families does, either, so there's little pressure there.
I have some decorations, and I still do the German christmas Plaetzchen (because it's not christmas without them), as well as some Gluehwein, but that's really it.

That said, I do find that I'm legging it out of shops much quicker in the run-up to christmas, as those endless christmas songs just drive me insane. I suppose that's a good blocker, I never get to spend as much money as I might like because I can't stay in the shop as long as I'd like

Speedwell

A Little Pony wrote: »

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

Yeah, all we Yanks need is MOAR RELIGION. We haven't got enough of the stuff. It isn't yet being supplied to us in the drinking water and mandated injections at the free public health cent... wait, they don't have those.

freshpopcorn

I like Christmas but I don't decorate at home until the 8th of December and I believe decorations should stay up until the 6th of January.

Lots of people complain about retail having Christmas stock out to early/etc but I don't really blame them with the massive rent/rated they have to pay they might as well make the most of it.
If the shops did go down the route of only bringing Christmas stock out on the 1st of December they'd be otter chaos in the weeks before Christmas because it has changed so much over the year. I also like the fact that people pick up little jobs because of the Christmas rush.
I often spoke to my mother about Christmases when she was younger and they had trees/decorations/lights(When they got electricity)/chocolates/biscuits/gifts weren't as extravagant but they products simply weren't there.
The main difference with Christmas was people used go to mass more/Advent ceremonies/etc. Suggest now a days and you'd be laughed at by people.

Tom Mann Centuria

I love it, having something to look forward to helps break up the slog of work. I'm working Christmas day this year but will still enjoy the rest of the time. I was the same before I had kids and their enjoyment of it all is just an added bonus. My decorations are going up Friday/Saturday.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Its all about the kids and consumerism to be honest these days. At present, I am not too bothered about it, have bought a few of the presents, and drinks/snacks for the day. Would rather not see any decorations, or hear any Xmas songs till December, but since having a couple of stressful weeks, and having it thrown at you since Halloween, with only a couple days left of November, still not feeling any excitement about the whole thing.

The kids side of Christmas I can understand in one sense because of the excitement it brings to them on the day and God knows it won't be long before they face the world of today and all the hurt and pain it brings and Christmas meomeries is all they will have to share with their kids.

Bellerstring

I hate Tubridy & the fukin Toy Show....

billyhead

Think its a load of boll*x myself. To commercialized and false. Its really only for children and the talk of the only time of the ear when families get together. Why leave it until Christmas to do this and do it throughout the year instead.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Bellerstring wrote: »

I hate Tubridy & the fukin Toy Show....

I used to watch it with my children when Gabo persented it and when the toys back then weren't so expensive but now it's just a big advertisment for the major toy companies to push their products on to people who are struggling to pay their weekly bills.

freshpopcorn

Louie Small Tailspin wrote: »

I used to watch it with my children when Gabo persented it and when the toys back then weren't so expensive but now it's just a big advertisment for the major toy companies to push their products on to people who are struggling to pay their weekly bills.

Back when Gay Byrne presented The Toy Show there was expensive toys and reasonable priced toys same as Today. During the mid 2000's there was the odd crazy item on it but there was demand for it to be shown.
During every Toy Show that aired they have always being struggling families watching it.

Delphinium

I mostly ignore it. Hate all the consumerism attached and how families cause such stress about who goes where to celebrate. Not religious so it has no spiritual meaning for me either. I do give gifts to close family and children but don't get drawn in to seasonal spending.
I prefer to surprise people during the year with an unexpected treat. My friends know and agree to donate to Crumlin Hospital instead of buying me something I don't need. Sometimes we go for lunch mid November to collect the funds ( which are kept secret ) and wish each other a sane and sensible Christmas.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Back when Gay Byrne presented The Toy Show there was expensive toys and reasonable priced toys same as Today. During the mid 2000's there was the odd crazy item on it but there was demand for it to be shown.
During every Toy Show that aired they have always being struggling families watching it.

Yes there were plenty of families back then who had been struggling but the advertising of toys were not on TV the start of November and ran through right up to Christmas Eve back then. I don't think parents felt they had to spend a fortune as there was not as much choice as there is today.

kenmc

Speedwell wrote: »

Yeah, all we Yanks need is MOAR RELIGION. We haven't got enough of the stuff. It isn't yet being supplied to us in the drinking water and mandated injections at the free public health cent... wait, they don't have those.

What on earth does religion have to do with Xmas?

Galwayguy35

I don't hate it but wouldn't be someone who gets all excited about it either.

The pub does be good craic on christmas eve though.

indioblack

I think they should only have it once a year.

Ipso

kenmc wrote: »

What on earth does religion have to do with Xmas?

Mithra, Sol Invictus?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Richard Hillman

I don't like the presents part but I do like the general buzz of the festive season. The lights, the music, the food, the booze etc

Vela

Christmas is the one time of the year that my absolutely wonderful Aunty lets me spoil her rotten, and I love that But I don't love the chaos around it AT ALL.

AllForIt

This will be my third successive year doing absolutely nothing for xmas.

I will make just one point. There are a disturbing amount of ppl who are just plain weird about xmas and it's seems to me it's quite common. Ppl who would be reasonably normal otherwise. I can't bear to be around those sorts of ppl any longer, family, friends or anyone else, hence my leave me out of it thanks anyway, attitude.

Nettle Soup

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

It's gone way too commercialised.

People feel forced to buy stuff for people they don't like with money they don't have.

Yeah agree. Consumerism is destroying the population and the planet.

I even hear people are putting old family dogs in the pound now just so they can buy new ones.

Alf Veedersane

I buy presents for 4 nieces/nephews, wife, Dad and daughter. Nothing mad.

It's the run up to Christmas I enjoy. From mid November on. Not sure what it is about it but I just find it an enjoyable time of year. Decorations go up mid December. I like when the tree is up but it's a giant pain in the hole to put up and take down.

Plus for the last few years it's been the only time I've taken an extended holiday.

Tin Foil Hat

The Feast of Waste and Clutter.
Hate it.

Ted_YNWA

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Yeah agree. Consumerism is destroying the population and the planet.

I even hear people are putting old family dogs in the pound now just so they can buy new ones.

If that is true, I'd be putting the people in a home somewhere too.

Oldtree

Goes on far too long. A week or so of it would be more than enough (without the fecking hymns)!

RayM

I wouldn't say I hate it. I have lots of nice memories of childhood Christmases, and I like seeing the lights, decorations, etc around the place. It's a chance to do nothing except eat food and watch TV, guilt-free, for a few days by the fire (or the storage heater if, like me, you live in a hastily-assembled Celtic Tiger apartment). But then, part and parcel of having all those nice memories is the fact that life has moved on and some people are no longer around to enjoy it all, so it's all tinged with sadness and nostalgia.

server down

natashaob6 wrote: »

I used to watch it with my children when Gabo persented it and when the toys back then weren't so expensive but now it's just a big advertisment for the major toy companies to push their products on to people who are struggling to pay their weekly bills.

Toys were always expensive. The toy show has always been one long add for commercial toy manufacturing.

I am a bit bah humbug about Christmas myself these days as I get older but I don’t kid myself that that’s for any other reason than getting older.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Hate it.. (Grinch incoming)

It's been Christmas since the middle of November.

Nearly disowned a friend a few weeks ago when he announced his Christmas shopping was completed.

I hate the repetitive music with a vengeance.

Die hard is not a Christmas movie (its a great movie all year round)

It's too commercialised

It's too crowded , people in a panic over it are morons

Traffic is ****

Have to work most of it

Decorations. People caroling , trees etc can go ask my arse

And I'm in two minds with another poster here of taking a few days off work and pissing off to another country for the few days.


Also , rage against the machine was the best Christmas number 1.

ChunkyLover54

King George VI wrote: »

If I'm not mistaken Brown Thomas had Christmas ads in June this years? WTF?! Christmas should be in December and not a second before.

I know here in Galway BT had their Christmas decorations up before the end of October. A bit premature.

andekwarhola

Everybody has an annoying friend that bores the tits off all and sundry about the 'commercialism' (and other perennial student nuggets) of Christmas and their own strict timeline as to when it's allowed to begin.

It's a pity they all seem to converge on Boards every year.

MadDog76

Things I love about Christmas ........... everything.

Things I hate about Christmas ........... nothing.

wakka12

A Little Pony wrote: »

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

Americans need christmas? Because trumps kinda mean? Well theres people a hell of a lot worse off in a lot of other countries that celebrate christmas than americans, people in favelas in mexico maybe

Lorelli!

I like Christmas. Can't imagine what it would be like if we didn't celebrate it.

Not meaning the religious aspect of it but it is a time of year when the majority of people get some time off and it's not like looking forward to your own holiday break because it's something that most people are also doing and can collectively look forward too.

Rubberchikken

No.
Love the atmosphere. The lights. The tree. The decorations. Christmas dinner. We don't go overboard. Gifts yes. Nothing mad. Christmas dinner is turkey ham and veg and roast potatoes gravy followed by plum pudding. Throw on the usual sandwiches and Christmas cake later and we're happy.
This year I'll be working Christmas night and st stephens night so will bring my sambos and cake with me and leave a roaring fire behind.