Xmas Sadness

No I love Christmas and always have, it would be different if I was alone I guess. I am always a bit melancholic at New Year

Dora the church in this parish is facing closure, no longer a priest, retired priests come to take services , so sad there is no church community now.

Annie, if you belong to a church, is there anyone who can take you to the midnight service? Even if you don’t, perhaps you could contact the vicar/ priest and see if there is someone who could take you. I don’t know if you have moved to a new area,but often local churches will be happy to see a new member. I am not a churchgoer myself, but I know that in my previous home and in this one there are volunteer drivers to take people to church. You write beautifully about the happy memories you have of the midnight service.

I realised that perhaps these posts should have been under The Black Dog Gang? Anybody knows how to move them there?

I prefer to be on my own. Half the family in Australia the other half either entertaining or working so I'm more than happy to do my own thing at my own pace-----still cook myself a Christmas dinner though with enough to use up on Boxing Day.
I enjoy the carol service on TV ( through glazed eyes ) while I think about the poor beggars with children who can't afford Christmas which makes me feel worse. Life isn't fair for them.

Another Scrooge here , I do charity "presents" so don't have to shop , except for the Grand children , who are probably getting to old for my gift of PJs , they get a small donation to their savings . I love the Carols in Church , Midnight Mass (sadly at 8pm on the Eve) and short visits from everyone , I have no idea what I will be doing this year , but it wont be partying . Secretly a day on my own wouldn't bother me , getting used to that

I don’t mind being on my own, am use to it. I really miss going to Midnight Mass, yes the service but after the service the greetings leaving Church, people from all walks of life, the window cleaner, aristocracy, milkmans wife, librarians, GP’s, retired people, young people, for those minutes the true spirit of Christmas is truely felt.

I never do what is expected so do not run round like a maniac, buy vast quantities of food or go to parties, but I do have family who gather round for at least part of the time between Christmas and New Year. They live 100 and 200 miles away respectively, so it is nice for us to be together for 4-5 days during the Christmas period, not necessarily including Christmas Day.

I am not remotely interested in comparing my Christmas with anyone elses. I do what keeps me and my family happy and everybody else is free to do what they want

I do not feel sad thinking about past happy Christmases with those who have died. We all die sooner or later, so why let the death of those who would have predeceased you anyway stop you enjoying anything (except in the immediate aftermath of their death).

If I was on my own, I wold still celebrate Christmas they way i have always done.

I dread Christmas. You are expected to be running round like a maniac buying piles of presents and preparing vast quantities of food for the hordes who are bound to descend on you - when you are not out at a non stop succession of parties yourself. No wonder so many people end up calling help lines when their reality bears no relation to the mad social whirl in which we are supposed to be engaged. We are both retired, our DC live at opposite ends of the globe, we have no siblings and DH and I have spent a horrible Christmas Day at my Mum's nursing home for the last two years. Poor old Mum has now left us so we are free to escape for a week to a remote Scottish cottage with no TV or mobile connection. Sorry to sound like Scrooge!

I don’t feel sad but I don’t feel anything I don’t hate it but I don’t love it it’s just something to get through I think it makes a huge difference if you have a big family around you a big get together but if you’re alone or just one or two it’s a non event really

I can identify with these feelings and I think it’s a mixture of nostalgia for the past- childhood memories of Christmas - sadness for those who have passed away or who are now living too far away to share in Christmas and a feeling of another year gone by. Our youngest daughter lives in Canada and we haven’t seen her for 2 years,the thought of another. Christmas without being able to give her a hug is very upsetting. That said,I do like hearing Christmas carols and sending and receiving cards and usually get into the spirit of the festive season once it gets closer, it’s certainly a time of mixed emotions.

I wouldn't say the carols, shop decorations etc. make me sad, but definitely nostalgic.

It's a time to reflect on Christmas's past, of the laughter, fun and family members and friends who are no longer with us but are always in our hearts and thoughts especially at this festive time of year.

Bluesky i know what you mean. I always find Christmas is tinged with sooo much sadness, loss of parents, and other family members, broken families and all the hurt that arises especially at Christmas, and people who are lonely. Yes it can be a fantastic time, but also very sad.

Oh dear I think it does make some people sad. I do love it but its New Year that takes me that way.