Best and worst things about christmas

AMKC

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

The best thing about Christmas is the lead in to it. Meeting friends, the lights in town, everyone full of bonhomie. That's the great bit.

Then the reality of it all....Christmas Day is something to be endured really, and I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade either, it is the reality for most of us who don't have young children.

Cooped up all day in a very warm house. Nowhere to escape to. And yes I know we can get out for a walk, followed by "where do you think you're going, we have to pull the crackers etc" LOL.

But it is OK, just a day of slightly forced jollity.

If people were very honest they would say they are relieved when CD is over! But as long as we try to enjoy it as best we can that's all good.

I don,t try to enjoy I do enjoy it eating good food and watching a good film with the family after the dinner is over.

Rosie Rant wrote: »

Best: spending time picking out presents for loved ones that I know they will like.
Worst: wrapping said presents, losing the end of the tape about 47 million times and almost crying with frustration cause the paper just won't fold the way I want it to.

Best: FOOD!! So much food!!!
Worst: ugh.. food. Too much food..

Best: seeing family and spending time with them. Having a laugh.
Worst: the inevitable arguments over the telly amid loud, earth-shattering snores from whoever has dozed off in front of the fire due to eating and drinking too much.

Best: going through the Christmas RTE Guide, picking out what to watch.
Worst: ending up watching the Mrs. Brown Christmas Special anyway.

Awe but Mrs. Browns Boys is brilliant.

Worst: the inevitable arguments over the telly amid loud, earth-shattering snores from whoever has dozed off in front of the fire due to eating and drinking too much.

That's why I am bringing my laptop with me this year and now that I know how to stream shows online I have thousands of programs to watch so if we can not agree on something we all want to watch on TV and its something I do not like I will be watching something I want o watch online.

wakka12 wrote: »

Im not at all religious. Completely atheist as are my whole family
But I like going, nice getting dressed up. 10am mass stops us from sleeping in late so we make the most of the day. I think a nice bit of slightly boring mass and standing and kneeling to prayers gives some balance to a day of completely gluttony and pleasure
And the hymns and choir are beautiful to listen to.
Its something Ill be doing every christmas till the end of my life!

Whatever they always just sound like crows to me.

Or until there is no more priests to say mass you mean.

Me am not bothered really. Parents asked this evening and the truth I don,t like it never have so doubt I will go. Why would I want to listen to some old fellow telling me a story of something that is supposed to have happened over 2 millennia ago. I think they are stuck in the past move on get over it.

P_1 wrote: »

Best: Town being absolutely deserted

Worst: The guilt trip you get for deciding to enjoy deserted town

I love that too. No need to feel guilty just enjoy it the silence and the quietness is heaven.

FTA69 wrote: »

The f*cking soaps. Honest to Jesus, an hour of Corrie, an hour of miserable f*cking Eastenders, f*cking Fair City to add to the total ludicrousness of it all and then stupid Emmerdale afterward. Worst still, with catch up now we have to watch them all back to back. My family are mostly women obsessed with that sh*te so we can’t even have a proper chat anywhere without being shushed and shouted at for interrupting Ian f*cking Beale or Zac Dingle or who the f*ck ever.

It really boils my p*ss And is the one thing that turns me off the day. This year I’ve a telly secured and it’ll be wall to wall Die Hard in the spare room with loads of cans and Xanax. Pure bliss.

Yes and all of it is the same **** over and over so boring and all so badly done too. How them shows are still going is beyond me a waste of money the lot of them.
A good film or a show has a beginning a middle and on ending. Them shows have none of that so they are just trash.

Looking forward to watching some good movies myself.

wetlandsboy

Best: time with family and the nights out.

Worst: that strange trend in mens’ fashion which seems to manifest itself on Christmas nights out where young men seem to think that wearing cheap Top Men/River Island sports jackets constitutes the height of fashion. Surprisingly ubiquitous in country pubs for some reason.

MadDog76

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

The best thing about Christmas is the lead in to it. Meeting friends, the lights in town, everyone full of bonhomie. That's the great bit.

Then the reality of it all....Christmas Day is something to be endured really, and I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade either, it is the reality for most of us who don't have young children.

Cooped up all day in a very warm house. Nowhere to escape to. And yes I know we can get out for a walk, followed by "where do you think you're going, we have to pull the crackers etc" LOL.

But it is OK, just a day of slightly forced jollity.

If people were very honest they would say they are relieved when CD is over! But as long as we try to enjoy it as best we can that's all good.

Which people are these that you're speaking for on their behalf?

Or are you just talking about yourself??

MadDog76

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Also I don't know one person in my area that goes to mass, so it wouldn't be much of a community thing for me! I think outside of Dublin mass etc is more popular though.

We'll all be going to Mass .......... from Dublin and no where near 60 yet!!!

fryup

Grandeeod wrote: »

I'm with you on that score. It's up there with the worst aspect for me. Non believers, half believers and don't know's, packing into the church on Christmas Day. It's just part of the Christmas "atmosphere" for them. A routine even. I hardly believe. I don't go. End of story. I don't need it to make Christmas Day a bit special. If you don't believe and profess to being an aethiest and still attend mass on Christmas Day, you need to take a long hard look at yourself.

totally agree its the height of hypocrisy, people pretending to be religious for the day.. come the rest of the year you never see them next to near a church, if you don't believe in it don't go

come to think of it christmas is the season of hypocrisy a time to celebrate the birth of christ and yet half of us don't believe in it

mojesius

Best: chilling out in PJ's eating chocolate for breakfast watching 80s or 90s films

Worst: zombie hoards losing all sense of common decency in the shopping areas (I lived off Henry Street for a few years so there was no escaping it). It's also a bit of a downer personally having divorced parents, you only get to enjoy most of the day with one parent, even as an adult it makes you have feeling s of guilt, dread, sadness as you have to inevitably 'choose' one or the other.

Dr Crayfish

MadDog76 wrote: »

We'll all be going to Mass .......... from Dublin and no where near 60 yet!!!

Well lucky you going to heaven and all

Clonmel1000

stargazing123 wrote: »

Best part is spending time with family.Everyone gathered around the christmas tree opening presents,then heading to the kitchen for the Christmas dinner.Worst part is the fact that many people are still homeless or very lonely at this time of year and we also need to think about them.x

People are lonely and homeless all year.

JCX BXC

The boredom that is Christmas Eve. (Followed by more boredom over the next 2 days).

dok_golf

Best thing, my kids faces when they open their presents
Worst thing, the build up of stress getting everything ready and the constant tiredness. ( or maybe I'm just getting old)

Soulsun

Best the joy on our kids faces and watching some cracking tv
Worst all the hype

TPD

Best: meeting the friends for a few pints in the local on Christmas eve, free pint from the barman, heading home at midnight, into bed then to be up bright and early. Tea to wake folks in the morning, then on to bucks fizz as the presents are being opened. Tasty food all day. Overdoing it on everything, guilt free. Seeing all the friends who've come home for the holidays.

Worst: trying to figure out what to get people. And Christmas music.

Roger Hassenforder

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Well lucky you going to heaven and all

Its not too late to save yourself Dr.

jester77

Best:
The Christmas markets
The excitement of the kids
Good food and company

Worst:
Nothing really, a second fridge maybe. Not so much place for beer, so having to always put 1 in when I take one out.
A tiny bit of planning takes away all the stress, all shopping done online. Recipes picked out and meat, vedge, fruit and herbs freshly delivered from local farmers market yesterday.

NollagShona

Worst First Xmas without my nan, she loved Christmas

Best remembering her this Christmas and celebrating it in her honour. Robins everywhere

Neames

Best things
Time off from work
Spending time relaxing with family and friends
Nice gifts
Lovely grub and drinks

Worse things
Tis only once a year

MadDog76

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Well lucky you going to heaven and all

Didn't say I was going to heaven, I said I was going to Mass.

eviltwin

I love Christmas so I love EVERYTHING about it. But mostly seeing family and friends, presents, food and just being together.

The only think I dislike are having to work because I'm in a sector where we work all year and this year, my daughter being away it's not the same without her but I'm having a great time all the same

holy guacamole

Best:

• Spending time with people you don't see enough of throughout the year.
• The food.
• Lots of live sport on the telly.
• Giving and receiving presents.

Worst:

• It can be lonely if you're not where you want to be in life.
• It's a time for reflection which can be painful in of itself.
• All that excitement and anticipation leads to an inevitable slump in the New Year where everyone is a bit fed up and sad.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

freshpopcorn

I often find people talk about lonely people at Christmas and how terrible it is etc. These people often have sibling/relatives/etc who are alone at Christmas and they have no intention of inviting them over for Christmas because the have done nasty things over the years but everybody else is the worst in the world for not inviting people over.
I will admit they are people out there with no where to go and that is sad.

MSVforever

Best: Christmas 1986 when I got a Commodore 64 (were playing all day / night), kids opening their presents

Worst: Stress, Rush before Xmas

TerrorFirmer

Best - fact that I drink a full bottle of rum with extra wine, consume about 15,000 calories, and don't feel even the vaguest tinge of guilt and just generally have an amazing family day.

Worst - the bleak, despondent black hole that is the first day back at work post Christmas.

heldel00

Best: Due baby 11th January
Worst: Due baby 11th January

(I'm rolling round the place like a big bale of hay trying my best to be festive. Worst bit of my Christmas eve was when even the maternity jeans wouldn't fit this morning)

wakka12

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I often find people talk about lonely people at Christmas and how terrible it is etc. These people often have sibling/relatives/etc who are alone at Christmas and they have no intention of inviting them over for Christmas because the have done nasty things over the years but everybody else is the worst in the world for not inviting people over.
I will admit they are people out there with no where to go and that is sad.

Well yeh. But which is worse lonely or inviting over family you don't get along with for a tense evening of constant on the brink of fighting fun

Roger_007

Otherwise rational adults talking to each other about 'Santa'!

freshpopcorn

wakka12 wrote: »

Well yeh. But which is worse lonely or inviting over family you don't get along with for a tense evening of constant on the brink of fighting fun

Yes that is my point people can be very quick judge other families for leaving somebody alone at Christmas when they do exactly the same thing.

The best for me is my memories. Waking at 5am to see what Santy brought and then running in full of excitement to show mam and dad. The fry up before mass and being full of anticipation to get back home and play with the barbies or some such. Snakes and ladders with my uncle that would go on forever thanks to my "just one more game"

As I got older the only thing that changed was Santy. For once everything else remained the same. Sitting around the table wearing paper crowns and my uncle driving mammy bonkers with his hangover. Candles lighting. Sitting beside the fire reading my book. Daddy listening to the radio and mammy pottering about.

The worst thing is Christmas reminds me of what I have lost. God knows I do try but it's lonely. I'm almost 36 and had maybe hoped for a family of my own by now. Little warm faces waiting eagarly for Santy and wrapping soft arms around my neck full of happiness.
Still in saying all that the people I love are healthy and sure lookit there are people who are facing some awful realities.

Little to be complaining about really

The best thing is family, I don't get to see them as often as I would like. Family, and being a kid again on the sofa in my PJ's watching tv while the real adults do the important Christmas stuff. Eating rubbish for breakfast, then going shopping in the middle of the night with my cousins to restock the rubbish we ate. I don't care what anyone gives me other than memories of us all being together. My dads usual litany of corny Christmas jokes and my mother pretending that she's happy to be in the kitchen when the poor woman finds making toast a challenge.

The worst thing is seeing my parents look older and my grandmother frailer. In my mind they're invincible, I hate to be reminded of the reality. There's also the empty chair at the table where someone extraordinary used to sit, seeing the loss on my parents faces. Then the gut wrenching business of leaving, hoping that next time we'll do the same things, say the same things, and nothing will have changed, but carrying the fear of knowing it can't always be like this.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Best:
Same old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg
Waking up at some ungodly hour at the kids shouting about what they got from Santy and the playing with some silly stuff all morning.
The hugs from the kids at different times, just to say thanks.
The fact we are still here together again.
The fond memories about Christmas when I was a kid.

Worst:
Fairytale of New York, once a year is plenty, never mind 10 times a day.

I love Christmas, plenty of organising just to have stuff sorted for Christmas day but enjoyable all the same. I enjoy sitting down with herself and a glass of wine after the dinner listening to the kids playing with whatever stuff they got and sitting down in the evening watching whatever film is on.

I don't understand the whole quest for perfection where everything has to be just so. We take it as it comes, every year is different so don't sweat the small stuff.

And it will be back again this time next year:)

Day Lewin

Best:
Carols, I love them
Food, yum.
Parlour games - charades, board games, singing round the fire.
Christmas lights - honestly I'm like a kid, I love fairy lights. Especially outside lights: and I like driving round estates just to see Christmas trees a-twinkling in the windows. Actually, I love Christmas trees too.
Cribs, with shepherds, lambs and wonky angels. Extra points for lighted crib.

Worst:
Turkey, Don't care for it. Or mince pies, unless they're my own carefully-made ones
Having to socialise when there is too much to be done at home.
Christmas ending too soon - there's Twelve Days of it, you know! And it doesn't start when the shops start selling, but on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas to you all! Jingle jingle and gee-up, Dancer! On we go-ho-ho!

server down

heldel00 wrote: »

Nope still don't get it. In my opinion you can't be a complete atheist and enjoy a mass.

Yeh you can. An atheist like myself can also enjoy churches, my favourite architecture. Also some religious music.

That said I do skip Christmas mass as I prefer bed.

I'll be escorting my Gran to a candlelight service later, and I'll enjoy it because she loves having me there and I love her and anything that makes her happy is good with me.

I'm in no way religious, but some of my clearest moments come to me in religious/contemplative spaces.

Grandeeod

wakka12 wrote: »

Why? over dramatic much? People could do worse things than be atheists and go to mass.
Nearly everyone over 18 in ireland has been raised in a catholic upbringing so its hardly surprising many people still continue a christmas routine even if they no longer believe in god
I strongly believed in god until my early teens and now I enjoy mass for the nice music and seeing all the happy families and elderly people together on christmas. Its not such a big deal as some posters are making it out to be.

I don't give a fiddlers what or who you believed in until your early teens. It is not justification for what you claim to do. It's just silly really. For the record I'm not being over dramatic. I am merely reacting to a proclaimed non believer who attends mass on Christmas Day for "effect", which was precisely my original point.

Have a lovely Christmas though. I mean that.

Mister Vain

Best: Lots of nice grub and cosy nights in front of the fire watching movies with the family.

Worst: The Christmas party in work and the constant talk about it throughout December. There's always such a big deal over who is and isn't going. Anyone who doesn't go is treated as if they didn't show up to their own wedding. Ridiculous carry on.

bodhrandude

Best: Great family get together, have been to Scotland to see some of them before Xmas and some down in Cork for the Xmas.

Worst: Trying to pay the January's month rent. :eek:

Hector Savage

Best : coming home to the old sod after being away for months !!
I love Christmas in Ireland - it just feels so real and Christmassy !!

Worst : leaving on 3rd/4th January

Mister Vain

Hector Savage wrote: »

Best : coming home to the old sod after being away for months !!
I love Christmas in Ireland - it just feels so real and Christmassy !!

Worst : leaving on 3rd/4th January

Sod of turf?

Hoboo

Worst: Its Christmas. Prep cook clean. Xmas eve till Stephens day. Every day.
Best: The days are getting longer. Roll on summer.

NollagShona

Family.


Family.

Hector Savage

NollagShona wrote: »

Family.


Family.

Brilliant !!

So true tho !!

Im all positive now as I just arrived today, but I'm sure I'll veer toward that 2nd family in the coming days

Del.Monte

Best

Being together as a family.
Getting cards from far away friends that you only hear from once a year.
Seeing family members happy with their presents.
Excuse to over indulge on the food and drink front.

Worst

Christmas hits blaring out of PA systems in town and on the radio.
Battling with the Christmas tree lights - same story every year!
Stress waiting for presents to be delivered from Amazon etc.
Being broke for the first couple of week in January.

On balance I love Christmas despite all the hassle - it's what you make of it.

Happy Christmas Boardsies.

Rjd2

Pac1Man wrote: »

Listening to the 'I hate Christmas' spiel from the usual few is definitely the worst.

I'm meh towards Xmas, some good ones and some crap ones.

However yeah, I can't stand the bore who bangs on about how commercial it is and it is all about spending money as if they were the first person ever to have that realisation. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz:pac:

Stephen15

Best:
Time off work
Seeing people you don't see very often such as extended and friends
Spending time with family

Worst:
Chaotic traffic in the middle of the day during the run up.
Shear bloody chaos in shop particularly annoying in supermarkets when your just trying to get what you usually get
Christmas Music
Work christmas parties
Boredom sitting around the house

I don't hate christmas but prefer other times of the year such the summer when you go away and the weather is good.

kerryjack

only after sitting down now with a nice JD and 7up afrer getting everything sorted for the kids, its about now herself puts on the sexy santa outfit but no sighn of it yet so I still live in hope, happy Christmas to ye all and hope its a good one for ye.

AllForIt

I Just told my family I'm not joining them for xmas. I'm highly proud of myself to take the decision that I won't put up with their crap any longer. They are totally disgusted that they cant control me any longer and that gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction.

crazyguy01

Best- almost everything for Christmas with my wife and I is for our daughter and the best is the happiness on her face, as they say it's all about the kids; also enjoyed just meeting people I hadn't seen in years just walking down the street over the last couple of days.
Worst - missing my mother who we lost 2 years ago and still wanting to share with her, and seeing my dad older and more frail every year.

Adyx

Best: The day off.
Worst: I work in hospitality

uck51js9zml2yt

Best and worst: being up at 2am doing Santa and being on here at 3am.

entropi

Best thing? Cans.

Worst thing? Hangover.