Does anyone else really hate this time of year ?

I can't say that I hate this time of year but I don't love it either. The true meaning has been largely forgotten and it's an excuse to over-indulge with food, drink and presents. However it's nice for families to get together if they can manage it.
I hate crowds so shopping is less enjoyable but there we are.
Only a few more days to go and it'll be all over for another year.

jeanie yep I know exactly what you mean ......
And to maryeliza sounds simple but not quite so easy to do!

For me Christmas is like the proverbial curates egg, good in parts and less good in others . I had a very happy childhood which included many many happy chrismasses. Sadly the people who facilitated those happy times are all now dead, and although we have three lovely DGC, they live 50 miles from us and who spends where with who is, as DGS's get older, and we get more creaky becoming a slightly contentious issue!! The one bright spot is our that our son and his partner always travel a fair distance from their home near London, to take us out to lunch and spend the day with us on the Saturday nearest to his birthday (22nd). They are so kind and so thoughtful and a joy to be with.
I hate the greed and commercialism. I love the carols and the mystery of the nativity whether it's true or not I find it beautiful and comforting.

Over the years, I've watched all the changes that affect everything in our lives....from Christmas, to Halloween, to what we drive, how we communicate, what we eat.....etc. etc. I guess that's how humanity 'progresses' and it's not always to everyone's liking.

As far as all the commercialism goes, I don't let it get to me. Nothing wrong with a good sale or free shipping and if people want to knock themselves out over all of it....it's their choice!

Me? I still celebrate Christmas the 'old fashioned' way. I put up a tree and a nativity, I cook, I visit, go to church and remember that there are those less fortunate among us.

But Aep the two things are not mutually exclusive - you can shop ( don’t know about doing it in triplicate) and plan and enjoy a great Christmas and simultaneously be aware of those who will find it a difficult time of year. The real question is what are we all doing within our possibilities - time/ resources to help those people - reducing your own pleasure does nothing on its own to help them. Hence my hair shirt comment.

Never been a lover of Christmas, my mother spoilt it for me by telling me I was born to near Christmas ( 28th Nov) and only got Christmas presents every second year and birthday present s every second year despite Santa bringing presents to my siblings every year, meant I had to watch them open whilst I got nothing but my stocking.
I succeeded in giving my children great memories of the season even if some stuff was from charity shops, they don't notice when they are young
Now all my children have grown and flown we do Christmas for the grandchildren on the 27th when they get presents from my side of the family but I still have very little money to spend on them but they don't need much as they get far to much from their own parents and their paternal grandparents.
I have fun playing games with them but really have no notion for it. I get round the need to be there with them on Christmas day by going as a volunteer to help out at church serving lunch to people who would otherwise not get Christmas. So a win win all round with little financial pressure.

I'm not a Christian, but I love Christmas! I love choosing presents for my DGC and my other family and friends, and I love the general feeling of goodwill and happiness. However, as a vegan, and a passionate advocate of Animal Rights, I find it devastating and impossible to understand, how the season of love and goodwill can involved the mass slaughter, and suffering beyond the imagination, of countless innocent animals. My Christmas dinner will not involve a tortured and murdered animal. If you are one of those people who believe that in this country, there is such a thing as 'humane slaughter', please have a look on YouTube at the documentary, 'Land of Hope and Glory'.....

You are very brave to be doing that Alygran and he would be proud of you.
I apologise for omitting your name from my post especially as your loss is also recent.
Hattie and I have just come back from a walk up to the village churchyard in the rain “to see Daddy” and I felt I could react in any one of three ways to the lights and house decorations we passed - either in sorrrow at my loss, or dismissal of a load of unnecessary conspicuous consumerism or, to wish the inhabitants of those houses joy with those they love this Christmas.
And good grief, aren’t there worse evils in the world , like famine, poverty and war, to whinge about instead of “this time of year”?
(Apart from the dismal weather. ☔️☔️☔️☔️)

Christmas comes with mixed feeling for me, my mother had a stroke on Christmas Eve in 1968, and died the next February I was a teenager at the time, my father died at the beginning of Jan, 11 years ago, after being ill and at death's door from the Boxing day. I always feel sad on Christmas Eve, and now I dread the start of a new year as I feel unhappy. It doesn't help that my birthday is New Years Eve!!
When the children and grandchildren were younger, I coped and just carried on, but now I just feel empty and sad when everybody else is feeling happy and looking forward to parties etc. It will be a case of 'putting on a brave face' again this year, as no one else in the family seems to make the connection of the dates. Got that off my chest, now HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyone, put the smiles back on...

Jaycee5.
I think it's a very good idea to buy ready prepared, but unfortunately, my DD won't have it.
If it was up to me, yes.
She doesn't like to make things easy for herself or anyone else for that matter.

?

Whitewave I so know what you're going through as my mum and Ma in law both seem to know it's their last Christmas . But we have young grandchildren and need to keep a prospective but I have a knot in my stomach every time I hear a carol very tearful x

Christ has nothing to do with Christmas

Then is it a misnomer lizzyann?

Yes I think it is because it's not the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ it's attached to something that was already there a pagan festival

Agreed lizzyann - we can't really be described as a predominantly Christian country any more, perhaps we should go back to calling it Yule!

Perhaps we should celebrate the real Christ's birth in September and if people want to celebrate Yule or Sol invictus or Saturnalia then it's up to them . I would advise anyone to do some research on the subject of Christmas , then you can decide for yourselves.

The Christian (pagan) calendar meets our needs for festivals in the deep mid winter, the spring, the summer and the autumn. Traditionally, families and friends/work colleagues get together to overindulge in food, drink and frivolity.

Those who dislike the Religious or commercial aspects of Christmas are entirely free to avoid them, so far as they possibly can. Those of us who enjoy celebrating the birth of Jesus on a date fixed arbitrarily to ensure a celebration can take place, can get on and do that. Carols, family get togethers, glorious religious music, jolly compilations and the best Christmas songs ever, food full of sugar, fat and delicious flavours, Boxing Day with the fridge full of food, long walks, dozing on the sofa whilst almost watching a fairly bad film - what's not to like.

MawBroon, you are an inspiration of positivity for which, I thank you .

The advantage of celebrating a festival - whatever we call it - at midwinter, is that most major religions celebrate the winter solstice - so we can all enjoy it together.

So sorry harris, its really painful time of year to be having such worries While everywhere there seems to be so much jolity. Make the best of this christmas , make it one to remember, take a few photos or videos. I wish i had done that 4 christmases ago because my dear mum died a few weeks later.

My husband hates socialising and has just blasted me for agreeing to meet my nephews and brother for tea next week. It makes me so sad . What to do ?

I am a full-up member of the bah humbug club. Used to throw everything at it when kids were young. Now they’re adults and it’s just me making the effort, so I do effort with food etc. But that’s it. Presents are small. Dodgy old tree bought from Asda. Doesn’t help that my mother died shortly before Xmas when I was a child. So has hard memories for me.

Winefride I assume you agreed for YOU to meet your nephews and brother, and didn't agree for your husband to do so also? In which case it's none of his business lol.

My Christmas tree is now decorated, sitting in the hall, with its lights twinkling. I love switching them on in the morning and coming home to them in the evening.

I am not religious but still enjoy some glitter, decoration, meeting up with neighbours, sending cards etc. I love the chats with people.

Well I like Christmas! I like putting up decorations (not too early, only just done it, and they stay up until Epiphany which is a Saturday this year, so handy). I like my Christmas dinner with my DH and DD, and we're going out again this year - so, great! The other DD's in Dubai, so we'll Skype. I like giving presents and opening them too and finds it a nice, happy time. I don't pay attention to the commercial aspect, no need, and I like the Christmas songs in the supermarket. Just glad to be here and able to share it with the people I love best.