Does anyone else really hate this time of year ?

Jaycee, I have respect for people of faith and no faith , why on earth would I want to mock them. I made one comment on the Morning Star to an atheist and you jumped in pretty damn fast . And I do not need your permission to joke about anything I choose .

Our childhood Christmases were dreadful (enough said) so when I had my own children I made a huge effort to make it a special family time.

I now find it all toooooo much in every respect and would love to hide away for a few days.

Though I did thoroughly enjoy my GS's first school Carol concert last Friday. A wonderful atmosphere, lovely music, gorgeous children .... Brought a lump to my throat. Followed by a pantomime at a local theatre. Was such fun, my GS was mesmerised and laughing so much I thought he might explode!

So will buck myself up and remember to keep smiling!!!
Happy Christmas to everyone x

People who take in the lonely for 1 day a year , however well and good their intentions may be, can make the situation worse, because there are 365/366 days in the year. What about the other days? In my experience when you have been in a jolly environment and you return home and shut the door behind you, the contrast makes the feeling of loneliness and isolation worse.

Anniebach Feel free to joke about atheism. Know any good ones?

Absolutely loathe and detest it. I wish I could hibernate f
from mid December to mid January.

Scrooge got it right.

I can't stand the dirgy music. The worst is the xmas pop songs specially the old ones like Dean Martin's White Christmas. Some carols are ok, specially if done by the salvation army brass band (for short periods however). But the way it takes over the broadcast media means there is nothing to watch or listen to for weeks. And it's not just Christmas - after that is the old year/new year stuff like all the programs about "what happened this year?" I watched the news at the time I don't need a revision course!!! And then Nick Abbott's (LBC) alphabet of the year. 3 hours per night for a whole week of people calling in saying "J for Juncker" and "M for Meghan Markle" etc. One year I felt so guilty, there was a news event, and while it was tragic that people's lives were destroyed, in a way it alleviated the Christmas Groundhog Day feeling. If only it wasn't exactly the same every year and for so long. The world goes into limbo for a whole month.

I loathe the over commercialisation of Christmas. We have allowed the mighty hand of capitalism to virtually destroy this festival. The constant advertising aimed to make people spend more than they can afford and the picture painted of some unrealistic ideal of how everyone else spends their day only adds to the pressure. How lovely to simply enjoy the company of our families and friends without paying homage to the retailers.

No, you aren’t alone in hating all the Christmas stuff...and as I’m not religious, it doesn’t mean much to me. But I am happy on the day, partly because there’s family to get together with...and partly because I know it won’t all be rammed down my throat again for another year. The media has a lot to be blamed for! Happy New Year!

Rolande - my first Christmas without paw too. And I may be a wreck or I may find my way through it with the comfort that comes from all being together (his sisters, brother, our nephew too)
But I will not wish away the days as some might want to.

I find Christmas very difficult as it brings back such bad memories of parents arguing whilst I was a child as Mum became a Jehovah's Witness and didn't agree with it and didn't want any of us celebrating it. Consequently the marriage ended but left me feeling that I couldn't enjoy Christmas.
I always made an effort with my own children but found the whole thing so very stressful with working full-time and all the memories. Now that I'm not so busy working I am trying to enjoy it again especially with grandchildren but I've found the best Christmases ever are the one's when I've been away on holiday and the 25th December has just been a normal day with the odd Xmas tree around.

I used to love, LOVE Christmas (except the commercial side to it!) but now I'm estranged from my family it's a heartbreaking time. I'm 'running away' to spend it in a foreign country with strangers!! I can't bear hearing the Christmas music in shops ... it just makes me very, very sad...

Since those closest to me moved to another country that takes twenty four hours travelling for them or myself to be together, and some of our older members have passed on, for me as soon as our clocks go back I could happily hibernate and not emerge until our clocks go forward Bliss.
That way I could escape not only from the dark days and nights but what I am being reminded from as early as October with all the delights ? of xmas appearing in our shops is that the Big Day is just around the corner.
What do children see xmas as ? Nothing more than what presents they are going to get.
Who do we visit or invite to visit ourselves without upsetting others in our family.What is it we are actually celebrating?
25 December was 'chosen' by the early Christian church as the day of Christ's birth.This was an attempt to convert those who were, celebrating around that time the pagan festival of light, into christianity.

I love Christmas, but I think the commercialisation starts much too early. First of December would be soon enough! Whitewave, I know what you’re going through. That was me last year, but with my husband.. This year it will be my first Christmas without him. I’ll try very hard not to be too sad for the sake of my children and grand kids. My DH loved everything about Christmas and he’ll be in our hearts. Happy Christmas everyone!

The foot massage, as I remember, was by Mary Magdalene a symbol of His Death and completely free. If you know your Gospels you will also know that Christ washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. As indeed the Queen washes the feet of pensioners. I have not been offended by your comment, but I think we should all be careful and accurate when we make references to other people's religion.

There are plenty of ways of avoiding the hype, shop on line to avoid the forced jollity, don't watch telly without a plan to enjoy the best of what suits you, read good books walk in the winter weather. I would also avoid the various 'appeals' for money and help, it is just another day and can be treated as such if you want to. Charity can be dealt with any day.

I wish all the Christians the joy of the day, I wish all the parents who are doing it for the kids, the very best of luck, it's not for me but I will be celebrating the mid winter, Yule.

If you are grieving it is hard, but an essential part of that process and nothing changes your pain but time.

We will be here on GN over the holidays so you will not be totally alone unless you want to be.

As from Christmas, the light will begin to return and spring will be on her way, if that's not a reason to celebrate I don't know what is. No hype needed for that no beliefs, no mince pies, just a time to remember how wonderful it all is.

Anyone who has ever bought a single item extra, whether it be food, alcohol or presents, at this time of year has added to the commercial aspect of Christmas because it has told companies you are willing to spend more than normal. Why wouldn't companies take advantage of that; their only function is to make a profit. So, unless you are totally blameless in that respect then please don't complain. However, you don't need to worry because I'm sure after Brexit we'll never have Christmas again. Either that or it will be Trump or maybe even Putin 's fault because everything is, isn't it? It seems that way on this website anyway!

If only the lead up to Christmas could begin just around 4 weeks ahead of it I think many people would not dread it so much. It seems that hardly the kids are back to school in September that the build up begins. It"s the commercialisation of it all that spoils it for many and starts far too soon. I dislike the way it's rammed down our throats so soon and avoid it where I can. It might be good for the economy but not so good for our general well-being and stress levels. In many ways we are to blame for this, if people did"nt buy their Christmas gifts so early maybe shops might just start later and it would be more enjoyable all round.

I used to feel that way, especially with teenagers/young adults in the house. Now I'm able to avoid the glitz - I shop away from the worst of the commercialism and head for carol services and the like. I volunteer at a nature reserve - there's always lots of Christmas escapees there too!

Decs not decks.
And lay off anniebach please (polite request)

inishowen I wonder if it ever will? We seem to have got the balance wrong. I like it but just not so much of it.

And why should my faith be a joke but a atheists non faith not be a joke ?

A reply to a question is not moaning. If someone asked do hate snow and some replied yes are they moaning ?

Anniebach You are very sensitive to anyone making jokes about Christianity but fail to show the same sensitivity to others. Maybe try to turn the other cheek.

Thank you for starting this topic! I am feeling so stressed today as I have hardly any presents bought. I just have to go into Tesco and I feel panic setting in. Last week DH and had a weeks holiday in Lanzarote. Oh what a difference. The hotel had put up a few decorations, one shop had a small Christmas tree, that was it. There seems to be a collective madness here in UK. I want to scream for it all to stop.

Love it or loathe it I think it is wrong to hate any time we have on this earth.
Yes Christmas is over commercialised - but only if you let it.
It is perfectly possible to tune out the TV ads and Christmas specials (literally) , to eat “non festive “food and ignore the turkey extravaganzas, to resist the advertising - again, ignore it.
We are adults with free will and if something bothers you, watch/read /do something else.
I have no great enthusiasm for the “festive jollity”this year but I do welcome th extra effort we will make to meet up with friends and family and Christmas provides that focus.
Feelings of guilt or memories? Those are not only triggered by Christmas anyway. And happy memories are too precious to be packed away with the decks on January 6.
So instead of moaning about something (in the words of that TV programme of my children’s childhood) “Why don’t you ...switch off your TV and do something else?”
In this case, not specifically the TV but the whole caboodle.