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

DEFTLEFTHAND

You have to go along with it when you've kids.

Personally I like the ecumenical carol service the week before and the midnight mass.
Maybe a drink or 40.


Not a big food guy though. Don't like turkey and ham. Also not into to anthing sweet.

backspin.

I really like Christmas the whole buzz about it helps the winter to go by that bit quicker.

Arghus

I don't hate Christmas but I do hate all the fuss that goes with it.

December is just a junk month that is seemingly all about nothing else, I feel mightily relieved when nice, beautifully boring, and relaxed January comes about.

mountainy man

I don't do xmas in any shape or form, I try to hibernate until its all over. I hate turkey too.
Being snowed in from about now until 3rd or 4th january would suit me down to the ground, you will notice that new years is included in that I'm not that fond of it either lol.

BuboBubo

Christmas = time off work

I don't have kids so Christmas is nice and quiet, a time for rest and overeating.

The one thing that baffles me though is people raving about the "magic" of Christmas. I don't get that at all

_Dara_

I love Christmas because I think winter would be so goddamn long and depressing without it. Having a break from work in mid-winter is perfect for people as I think that's the time of year it's needed the most. I love the decorations, the food, the cosiness and being with loved ones, snuggled up watching films.

However, I do think aspects of it are over the top. It puts a lot of financial strain on a lot of people and that makes me sad. And the consumerism isn't new but I've always thought it too much. I'd actually be perfectly happy for presents to not be part of Christmas. It's not what makes it for me. In addition, I think it's a tough time of year for some. Anyone lonely or bereaved will find it a bit tough.

So yes, I like it, but there are a few negatives.

_Dara_

andekwarhola wrote: »

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.

Many people have interesting things to say about the downsides of Christmas, I think. And many of the people who say they have issues with it seem genuine. It's a big part of our culture so of course there's going to be people who aren't into it.

It is a very commercial event and there's nothing sophomoric about finding that all a bit distasteful. I would be quite happy if gift-giving wasn't a part of Christmas personally. It adds nothing to it for me and isn't the reason I like it. And it heaps stress onto so many people.

KKkitty

When I was younger I loved it. Now that I'm the parent and not the child not so much. I make as much of the day itself that I can but since I don't have my own parents living anymore it takes a lot from it. I'd love giving my parents presents more than my kids. I know that might seem bad but when you know what your parents sacrificed year in year out to make Christmas special for you you don't mind splashing the cash to make them feel special at Christmas time when you're grown up.

Stoner

For as long as I can remember people have been moaning about Christmas starting in "November this year"

Christmas is great.

Zebra3

Utterly despise it.

A real event for losers with nothing else in their lives.

_Dara_

Zebra3 wrote: »

Utterly despise it.

A real event for losers with nothing else in their lives.

What a stupid comment.

I'd say more than 50% of people love Christmas. So, in Ireland, that's more than 2,000,000 people who have "nothing else in their lives"?

At least try to be logical.

_Dara_

Stoner wrote: »

For as long as I can remember people have been moaning about Christmas starting in "November this year"

But when in November? Yeah, people didn't like it kicking into gear in the last week of November. But now it's all of November and that's a recent development, last five years or so.

"Things were exactly the same back then, people just don't remember" is the new "It wasn't like that in my day". Sometimes things do actually change.

freshpopcorn

_Dara_ wrote: »

But when in November? Yeah, people didn't like it kicking into gear in the last week of November. But now it's all of November and that's a recent development, last five years or so.

"Things were exactly the same back then, people just don't remember" is the new "It wasn't like that in my day". Sometimes things do actually change.

I was born in early November 1992 and we kept the papers from the time my mam was in hospital. Toys were advertised to the Christmas market and electrical goods.
The Smyths catalogue used always come out around the last week in September since the late 1990's!
Take for instance the Cork Christmas lights used be tuned on around the 25th of November when I was a child. This year they were switched on the 19th of November and people around my ages were saying they use not be switched until December in my day.

_Dara_

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I was born in early November 1992 and we kept the papers from the time my mam was in hospital. Toys were advertised to the Christmas market and electrical goods.
The Smyths catalogue used always come out around the last week in September since the late 1990's!

That's not quite the same thing as the onslaught there is now. The toy catalogues were the only hint of Christmas until the end of November and their early release was practical for parents to plan the Christmas presents logistics.

Now the Christmas TV ad floodgates open the day after Halloween. What was once a trickle is now a torrent. And you'll see Christmas decoration shops set up in various departments stores from September onwards. These are relatively recent developments.

Optimalprimerib

I can never hate Christmas as I get time off work. But that's all that really gets me through these days.

huddlejonny

Zebra3 wrote: »

Utterly despise it.

A real event for losers with nothing else in their lives.

Orphan alert..

Stoner

_Dara_ wrote:

But when in November? Yeah, people didn't like it kicking into gear in the last week of November. But now it's all of November and that's a recent development, last five years or so.

It's a good example he gave you. The start of November is a 7 week wait until Christmas, that's not that long, certainly kicking things off in early November wouldn't be just in the last 5 years

And compared to 1992 I watch very little TV adds, far less traditional screen time these days that's changed for many

It's different now but Christmas has always started in November
Retailers have always in my memory anyway started it around then and ramped up.

splinter65

Old Catholic Ireland had it going on I must admit.
November was the month of the holy souls. We remembered our dead and your dad swore off the demon drink for the whole month to get plenary indulgences for his dead dad who was languishing in purgatory.
If you remember Ireland in the 70s there wasn’t a word about Christmas in November, except maybe towards the end you would get the smell of it if your mother was mixing a cake and a pudding.
Christmas shopping started in the shops on the Feast if the Immaculate Conception 8 December a holy day of obligation . All the schools, all the civil service and slot of private industries closed that day and the country people went to town preferably Dublin to get shopping and see Santa etc.
It was Advent though not Christmas.
4 Sunday’s at mass getting more and more tense as another candle was lit on the wreath on the altar .
Would the 4 candles ever be lit???Would we ever get to midnight mass?
Primary school was all about the flight into Egypt the Star Herod the baby Jesus the Innkeeper.
The rehearsals for the Nativity play. Making paper decorations.
Drawing holly.
Everyone can draw holly and berries.
Then Christmas Eve . The big build up to going to midnight mass.
Every bloody one went.
So we threw all that out the window and now we’re trying to replace the feeling with the John Lewis ad.
Not working really.

nice_guy80

All the advertising is connected to emotions. Plucking at the heart strings

I mean look at the current Boots ad.
'How did you know'? says one sis
Know what? That I will probably never use the bang average perfume that you just bought me, sis.

Malayalam

I like that the light starts to come back after the Winter Solstice. I like the tree and putting up twinkling lights that I can sit on the couch in the evening and look at, it's peaceful. I like having my children home and everyone goofing about the place for a week or two, mostly in their pyjamas. I like cooking lovely stuff for them all. I am not Catholic but I like the hymns, the carols, the archetype behind ''baby Jesus''.

I hate the buying stuff element. Really, really dislike it - it is stressful, and reminds one of the subtle psychosis of Christmas past when parents struggled to keep up and fell into some kind of manic depression on Stephen's Day. I truly wish Christmas could happen without presents and commercialisation of any sort.

My ideal is to go away somewhere with the family where we can take long, preferably snowy walks, share yummy food, and banter about life and the year gone past over a few drinks in the evening.

Sue Pa Key Pa

I hate everything about it. The decorations, the adverts on TV, the forced fun with work colleagues at parties, the overspending, the overeating, getting and giving shlte because they got you something last year, endless hours confined in small rooms with people who don't get on, money draining away and general stress.

The only good thing is families taking time to be together but all of the above takes away from that. My family now makes a point of all getting together to enjoy the October Break Holiday. Good company, good food, good drinks and no pressure

branie2

Nope! I love Christmas!

Zebra3

Zebra3 wrote: »

Utterly despise it.

A real event for losers with nothing else in their lives.

Allow me to reply through the medium of song.

OldGoat

It's not just Christmas, ALL holidays matter.

Speedwell

branie2 wrote: »

Nope! I love Christmas!

What are you doing on this thread? Don't you have some cranberries to string and tinsel to feed to reindeer?

seamus

Christmas is awesome.

I've been playing Xmas FM for about two weeks now.

splinter65

Zebra3 wrote: »

Utterly despise it.

A real event for losers with nothing else in their lives.

This makes me feel sad for you.
Anyone with even a couple of family or friends wouldn’t feel like this.

Speedwell

splinter65 wrote: »

Christmas shopping started in the shops on the Feast if the Immaculate Conception 8 December a holy day of obligation.

Oh. I was brought up Protestant (in the US) and the churches I went to never really made a thing of the Immaculate Conception day. But the "penny just dropped", as they say, and I realised why, during most of my childhood, the tree didn't go up till partway through December.

Church was cultural camouflage for my family, anyway. My mother was an actual convert, but my father used to refer to his religion as "Spinozan". :rolleyes: We were, in the last analysis, secular Jews. My brother is an American fundamentalist and the white sheep in a family of black sheep, heh.

_Dara_

Stoner wrote: »

It's a good example he gave you. The start of November is a 7 week wait until Christmas, that's not that long, certainly kicking things off in early November wouldn't be just in the last 5 years

And compared to 1992 I watch very little TV adds, far less traditional screen time these days that's changed for many

It's different now but Christmas has always started in November
Retailers have always in my memory anyway started it around then and ramped up.

The dam-burst of ads directly after Halloween absolutely is relatively new (post-2010) as well as Xmas shops being in department stores in September.

7 weeks of constant ads as opposed to 4 weeks. That's almost twice as much.

It is just more intense now. You even say yourself that it's different now. It is, it's very different.

mojesius

We don't but presents for each other in our family, haven't for years as we all see it as a bit of a waste of money buying crap we don't need and have mortgages/rent , and there's no kids, nieces or nephews. I might get OH a stocking present or two but we usually go away in January so keep our cash for that.

We all like a nice dinner and drinks on Xmas day and put a tree up. Go out a few nights to catch up with old friends.

I'll get the dogs a present, mostly because it's hilarious watching them rip the wrapping paper.

I find it crazy that people spend every weekend from late Nov to Dec running around shopping centres like mad eejits with big lists of presents. Used to live near Henry street in Dublin and it was a no go area from Dec 1st...packed to the hilt everyday.

HelgaWard

Female Colleague, in the canteen, mid-November:"Have you your shopping all done?"
Me (also female): "What Shopping?"
Colleague (in a slightly exasperated tone): "Your Christmas Shopping"
Me:"No"
Colleague: "Oh my god, have you nothing done?"
Me:"Nope. The way I see it, it involves one trip to Smyths and one to Lidl/Tesco, I don't get the big fuss"
Colleague: "Well do they at least have their lists done"
Me: "Nope, will wait till after toy show"
Colleague: "Oh my god"
Me: "I take it you've all yours done so?""

She has since asked me every time I see her if I've anything done. Eh, still no. The only people who ask you have you your shopping done are smug over-spenders who have their shopping done.

Leave it to December. Don't talk to kids about it day and night for 2 months.

quickbeam

I have my Christmas shopping constantly 'done'. That's the joy and relief of not partaking. There's never any stress about doing anything so it's always in a state of completeness.

SAMTALK

The older I get the less I;m able for all the stress and fuss.

I like the atmosphere in the build up to Christmas but hate the shops and the panic buying.
I'll put up tree the weekend of the 16th and take down about 2nd/3rd as the dust/dirt will get to me by then

Present buying will all be done local and will be scaled back big time

Looking forward to the break but about 5 days in will be sick of cooking for everyone and cleaning up after them!

Wanderer78

What a scam! Spend, spend, spend, it's good for you and your family! Enjoy your time off folks with your loved ones, and ignore this marketing scam

bnt

I've actually gotten pretty good at ignoring it, letting it all bypass me, so I don't have to hate it as such. Let the kids of all ages have their fun, but it's not for me.

valoren

I see Christmas as important because it happens in the dead of winter, shortly after the shortest day of the year.
Ignoring the religious aspect and the rampant consumerism, it is important to just 'stop' for a while, to take time to socialise and strengthen bonds with friends and family. Meet together and catch up with them. We're social animals and as such to allow time to get together at 'home' whatever and wherever that is, to allow for some time to rest and chill out is important. That's Christmas for me. You can ignore the religious, consumerism aspects easily, you could even eschew it all together and continue to work or do what you do and let it bypass you but to taking a break mentally and physically particularly during the cold, short days and for those inclined they get to spiritually reinforce their beliefs. Christmas is applicable to each of us in our own ways. If we didn't have a focal point such as 'Christmas' then December would just simply be a precursor for January, which for me the most miserable month of the year.

whisky_galore

The time off is good, but if it were up to me, it would be better if I could take those days off some other time of year and just work though it.
Not really invested in it, don't have a large family or anything so that bit is unimportant.

The commercialism/starting Xmas in Nov is just hype-creating by shops, I pity people who have to put themselves into hock just to buy piffling things like expensive kids' presents. The recycled songs every year are annoying, so I turn off music radio and keep the headphones on for an (almost) Xmas free zone.

pilly

I can't stand Christmas anymore and I'll explain why:

1. Extended family fractured, at best tense interactions.
2. My own children grown, 1 in Canada, 2 in Dublin, both will be working over the Christmas
3. Work closes down for 2 weeks in poxy weather forcing us to use 5 days holidays.
4. Bad memories of Christmas past ruined by alcoholic parents/brother/aunts/uncles, to name a few.
5. I don't drink - 99.9% of others do at Christmas
6. Can be a very lonely time when you just go to someone's place for you dinner and go back home. Festive ads with huge families having a great time in don't help.

As a result of all of the above I'm off away again this year, Tenerife. Kind of nervy about it because I will be on my own Christmas day for the 1st time ever but sure it's a new adventure.

And people insulting others who don't like Christmas and calling them Grinches doesn't help matters. Stop doing it. Is it any skin off your nose if someone doesn't like Christmas? NO. Are we trying to cancel Christmas? NO.

You love Christmas, off you go and enjoy it your way. Just don't try to make everyone feel they should enjoy it the same way.

Steve F

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 I heard some thing along the same lines but it was connected to the boom and bust era

We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.

Christmas has an element of "keeping up with the Jones" about it.Not many will admit to it but its a fact

Steve F

pilly wrote: »

I can't stand Christmas anymore and I'll explain why:

1. Extended family fractured, at best tense interactions.
2. My own children grown, 1 in Canada, 2 in Dublin, both will be working over the Christmas
3. Work closes down for 2 weeks in poxy weather forcing us to use 5 days holidays.
4. Bad memories of Christmas past ruined by alcoholic parents/brother/aunts/uncles, to name a few.
5. I don't drink - 99.9% of others do at Christmas
6. Can be a very lonely time when you just go to someone's place for you dinner and go back home. Festive ads with huge families having a great time in don't help.

As a result of all of the above I'm off away again this year, Tenerife. Kind of nervy about it because I will be on my own Christmas day for the 1st time ever but sure it's a new adventure.

And people insulting others who don't like Christmas and calling them Grinches doesn't help matters. Stop doing it. Is it any skin off your nose if someone doesn't like Christmas? NO. Are we trying to cancel Christmas? NO.

You love Christmas, off you go and enjoy it your way. Just don't try to make everyone feel they should enjoy it the same way.

Close the thread now.Tenerife huh.Have a ball whilst the rest of us are freezing our knackers off here :rolleyes:

kingtut

Sick of it already! There has been xmas stuff in some shops since August

Down hill spiral since then! It's purely a money making racket these days and less about spending time with loved ones.

I absolutely love Christmas, it's my favourite time of the year by a long way. I'd be all day listing reasons were I to start.

freshpopcorn

pilly wrote: »

You love Christmas, off you go and enjoy it your way. Just don't try to make everyone feel they should enjoy it the same way.

TI really agree with this but to add if you hate Christmas and give off this vibe don't visit people who enjoy Christmas you really bring down the mood.

pilly

freshpopcorn wrote: »

TI really agree with this but to add if you hate Christmas and give off this vibe don't visit people who enjoy Christmas you really bring down the mood.

Thanks for the tip, I won't be visiting many people in Tenerife, don't worry.

whisky_galore

Going out was fine until the 12 pubs jumper-wearing 'fun' came into vogue.

freshpopcorn

pilly wrote: »

Thanks for the tip, I won't be visiting many people in Tenerife, don't worry.

That wasn't really aimed at you encase you think it was.

castletownman

I hate how it's almost "forced" on you to love everything about it.

Or how you are called a grinch if you have the audacity to criticise even one aspect of it.

In reality, it's lost its mojo on me years ago. I mentioned it on the "things that are over-rated" thread last week, but when you think about it, it really is ridiculous how overblown it has become.

Adults looking forward to the Late Late Toy Show. I mean, come on......

whisky_galore

splinter65 wrote: »

Old Catholic Ireland had it going on I must admit.
November was the month of the holy souls. We remembered our dead and your dad swore off the demon drink for the whole month to get plenary indulgences for his dead dad who was languishing in purgatory.
If you remember Ireland in the 70s there wasn’t a word about Christmas in November, except maybe towards the end you would get the smell of it if your mother was mixing a cake and a pudding.
Christmas shopping started in the shops on the Feast if the Immaculate Conception 8 December a holy day of obligation . All the schools, all the civil service and slot of private industries closed that day and the country people went to town preferably Dublin to get shopping and see Santa etc.
It was Advent though not Christmas.
4 Sunday’s at mass getting more and more tense as another candle was lit on the wreath on the altar .
Would the 4 candles ever be lit???Would we ever get to midnight mass?
Primary school was all about the flight into Egypt the Star Herod the baby Jesus the Innkeeper.
The rehearsals for the Nativity play. Making paper decorations.
Drawing holly.
Everyone can draw holly and berries.
Then Christmas Eve . The big build up to going to midnight mass.
Every bloody one went.
So we threw all that out the window and now we’re trying to replace the feeling with the John Lewis ad.
Not working really.

Perhaps if Old Catholic Ireland didn't try to brush things under the carpet it wouldn't have changed so much?

You reap what you sow.

razorblunt

Love Xmas but M&S and John Lewis definitely peak too early.
I saw the John Lewis advert last night and had forgotten it was out, it already feels like ages ago it was launched.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

I usually plan a few big nights out in the run up to Christmas, one with work, 2 or 3 with friends and family and a few beers Christmas eve too. However, this year, myself and the OH are going to New Zealand on St Stephen's Day for a few weeks, so I'm trying to keep pre-Christmas spending to an absolute minimum, so apart from the work night, I'm hiding. No random nights out, even agreed with the OH not to bother exchanging gifts.

It probably sounds a little dry, but it's making me realise how much I don't care about any of it. I'm not arsed. My favourite part of Christmas was always Christmas eve, where I'd get together with loads of my friends and we'd head to the pub for a few hours, but things change and lads are living in different areas, married or working abroad, so that's a tradition that is more or less finished.