I don't like Christmas.

It's like a drug these days, better buy that just in case, better get two of those in case one isn't enough. Do I have enough, fruit, nuts, booze, chocolates. Must have Brussels even though no one likes them. Better get two types of pudding in case etc etc etc .
Bah humbug.

I seem to be building anxiety into my Xmas run-up. Totally self-inflicted. Here we go again!

I'm also a paid up member of the 'Bah Humbug' club. The run-up to Christmas day seems endless and then when it does come turns out like any other in many respects. Can't even get out for a walk as the meal takes for ages. I will be going to spend it with my sister and her family and will enjoy their company but I do so at any other time of the year.
The best thing about Christmas is that the shortest day has been and gone and the days will start getting longer.
One puzzle to me is who eats all that food I see everyone else piling into their trolleys and why do they need so much ??

I used to love Christmas. The busyness, the last minute food shopping when my kids were young. Then when they got married and still came back home with their children it was an absolute pleasure. But since my eldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumour and operated on just before Christmas 2000 it's all been downhill really. He passed away over 2 years later. My ex husband seemed to make Christmas as miserable as possible. It was such a tussle persuading him to get the Christmas decs down from the loft and in the last few years didn't bother as we'd reached the end of the road and I went to my daughters for Christmas. Now I'm on my own and I've already put up the decs (because I can). I'm even doing a Christmas lunch this Sunday as my younger son & family are away at Christmas, and my daughter's joining us. Once again I shall be going up to hers for the real festivities ..... how the tables turn. However, I know that as soon as I get back home, I'll want to put away those decs and restore my little house to normality. I'd hate to be alone at Christmas but never mind treating New Years eve like any other day.

Tegan, there is an amazing fly fishing shop in Penrith, but DH has to lock me in the car if we are anywhere near it in case I bankrupt us! I hope there might be a little something from their online shop in my Christmas stocking though! I wasn't aware there was a museum. Must look that one up.

I'm looking forward to being by myself this year. My son, no doubt will treat the day like any other and be in his room so I will be left alone with the soaps, chocs and my doggie, bliss. What is so wrong with enjoying your own company? I did the running around to grandparents houses when the children were little, well, until a few years back, from being little myself when all family would turn up at ours so now it is lovely to spend some quiet time on my own. I haven't been allowed to see my DGS's since they were born on Christmas so after 5 years of that I am focusing on myself, and like Jingle says, sod 'em all. Cheers everyone.

Greyduster; have you been to that amazing fly fishing museum/shop in Northumberland..I can't think where it is but it's just off the A1 near Alnwick.

Oh, J52, yes, those appalling magazines! Most of them are appalling all year round but get much worse when it is the December edition.

Drop a dress size before Christmas!
Treat your family to the best Christmas ever!
Don't forget your dog/cat/elderly neighbour at Christmas!
How to hand make beautiful Christmas presents for the whole family!
Crochet your own crackers!

For goodness sake.............

Oh,Kassi, you are not alone. I loved Christmas as a child but now I can't stand all the commercialisation, the horrible Christmas songs played in the shops (Slade has a lot to answer for) and the pressure to produce home made pies, cakes, etc etc (I don't).

This year the family are coming to us and I have bought mince pies and a cake and other goodies from Lidl. My daughter has already been on the phone about the wretched turkey, expressing shock and horror when I said we are getting a frozen one from the supermarket. She has just phoned again to say she is ordering a 'proper', ie fresh, one and it will be delivered to our door at some time on 23/12. Now DH is complaining that he will have to stay in all day waiting for the turkey to turn up.

By Boxing Day evening I am itching to take down the decorations and the bloomin' tree which, despite being an ancient artificial one - also not approved of my DD - still drops needles all over the floor.

And why does Christmas have to go on so long? When we were young it used to stop on Boxing Day. Now it goes on for days after that if you let it. Grr - bah humbug.

There doesn't have to be a 'norm'.

There must be all kinds of Christmasses which are perfectly enjoyable.

One of my best Christmas memories is being alone after a divorce - (son spending day with dad) and enjoying some 'me' time instead of running around like nutcase. I remember sitting with a box of chocs, a bottle of wine and a good film and thinking I should be really sad but actually I felt rather happy. I have since remarried and had several hectic Christmas Days when I remember that day fondly!

I like Christmas but don't like New Year's Eve. DH goes to the pub in fancy dress and I stay at home with a box of chocs and a bottle of Bailey's. I am happy to help him with his costume but have no wish to be with a load of people who have had too much to drink and then when midnight comes there's all that kissing and the rest of the year they hardly have a word to say to me. He likes that pub 'culture' but I only go once in a while as they all stand around having the same conversations over and over again. I do like to cook a nice meal on New Year's Day and have a peaceful day. (Sorry, a bit of a rant off subject.)

Another Christmas hater here, I'm afraid. Can't stand any of it.
There are reasons from my childhood, compounded by my partner leaving me on Christmas Eve five years ago. This Christmas will be terrible, as I am now nursing someone through terminal cancer.
Sorry to be miserable. To those of you who like it, a genuine Happy Christmas to you. (or is it too early to say that?)

I like this thread.
Thought I was a bit bah humbug. But I'm not really. It's just too OTT, Someone mentioned 'christmas anxiety' which kind of rings a bell, but I don't know why that should be.
Everything has always been fine in recent years. A couple of issues in the long distant past with ex which is no longer of any consequence. It's a whole new family setting now of some 15 years.

In case all will not be done I am always away ahead of myself, then wonder what I've missed. Lists about lists.

No decorations up yet. A week before 25th will do.
It's all too long and extended.

I really like gatherings that just happen at short notice.
I am happy to host anything at short notice

Tegan your post at 17.36 really chimed with me. I feel exactly the same this year and have made the decision not to be swept along with the mayhem that Christmas has become. I hate all the conspicuous expenditure, the false jollity and bonhomie and if that makes me sound like Scrooge well O.K. - "Bah humbug"

So, as it is just DH and me here this Christmas Day, we are not putting up the tree or any decorations, I am not sending Christmas cards and we are going to have a lovely quiet day with a nice meal (not turkey) and a bottle of wine. We are not even exchanging presents. It feels very appealing!

We are going to DD's on Christmas Eve for a family meal and will take gifts for them. They are coming to us on New Year's Day and I will make a nice meal (including a veggie meal for DGD). DS and his family are going ski-ing so will not be part of the equation.

Maybe it's just nice to get off the merry-go-round of it all after all these years of being the main provider of Christmas meals, presents etc. Whatever it is, I feel so much calmer and less stressed than I have ever done at this time of year.

We are sort of enjoying Christmas a bit just now as we have two small GDs who are still of an age to think it is a magical time, apart from that, it wouldn't bother us if we never 'celebrated' it again.

All the expectation, commercialism and the pressure of, it's a time for families and stressful preparation completely goes over my head through choice.

DD and both GDs will be at ours for lunch but in that respect, that's a normal occurrence for us throughout the year anyway.

I will cook the roast potatoes, M & S will supply the rest.

Nothing at all weird about the way you feel kassi, you are just being honest and welcome to GN.

[Greyduster] you have just described me to a tee. Not the fishing - but the fear for family at this time of year. Will they be careful in bad weather, what about other people on the roads who might be drunk and crash into them but as you say they are adults. I try to tell myself that nothing has happened in the past and nothing will happen this year but it does not always work.

I haven't made a Christmas pudding
I haven't boiled a ham
I haven't fiddled around with mince pies
I haven't ordered a turkey.

I've sent cards
I've sent presents

I'm not 'bah humbug' either.

No need for extravagant fuss and needless anxiety.

Make of it all what you will, kassi, but ditch the guilt.

I enjoy a day or two marking a winter festival.

A branch of spruce, a candle or two, a simple meal. That'll do me.

I feel exactly the same as Kassi. It's not that I don't like Christmas - I love the music and all the traditional elements of it (though if I had my druthers, I'd rather be up to my twiddly bits in a river on Christmas Day with a fly rod in one hand and a hip flask of Oban malt in the other!). But at this time of year, I get very anxious about people travelling, about weather, about people being safe in the right place at the right time, about all sorts of b****y silly things that normal people don't worry about. DH does not understand this need I have to wrap everyone in cotton wool and lock them in a cupboard and frankly, neither do I. Pathetic. They are grown ups for heavens sake!

I have mixed feelings. I can't really remember an enjoyable Christmas, as a child, mostly as children we were ignored in our household.

Now, I see it as a cosy day, or two at home, hopefully with my family.
Although, I have done 'making the full works'. I now allow the wonderful people at the supermarket to do it. So much better and relaxing.

One of my main dislikes is the 'aren't we all having a jolly time with our six generations of family' portrayal of Christmas. SO unrealistic for most people, who then think they are not 'normal'!

I also hate magazines at this time of year, extolling the virtues of 'The best Christmas ever!' Yuk.

Enjoy time out in whatever way suits you. Best Wishes for whatever you are doing. x

tegan you have just ruined a long held dream. As I get closer to retirement I have been thinking 'oh I will have the time be able to really indulge in the run up to the christmas preparations. oh well bah hum bug club here I come

Oh shysal that sounds like utter bliss to me!

I am joining you in the 'bah humgug' club, kassi. I don't really know why I hate it all, I just go through the motions, all the time wishing I could be alone eating crusty bread with stinky cheese, then taking a brisk walk.

It's the compulsory jollity that tends to get people down. If you want to put Christmas in the fuck it bucket kassi, why should you feel guilty about it?