Will I get lynched

Chardy so pefectly said. Total hypocrites and probably using the situation as a chance to brag about their wonderful life/family/Christmas etc.

NittWitt

^I don't like the sickly " Did you have a good Christmas". Especially if asked in February!^

I just answer - 'It was great. I mostly ignored it.'

We used to 'do xmas' when we had kids but one year we had egg & chips for Xmas dinner because that's what the kids wanted.

Yes. Their faces look like they can't quite compute.

Of course you won't get lynched !
Each to their own .
For me ,Christmas is a special time to celebrate the birth of Christ .

Have a happy day-.whatever you do .
Your choice .
Take care ,
Love ,
Esmay .

Chardy
You nailed it

It's the fake smiles and joviality from people who can't be bothered with you all year that gets me.

I don't like the sickly " Did you have a good Christmas". Especially if asked in February!

I just answer - 'It was great. I mostly ignored it.'

We used to 'do xmas' when we had kids but one year we had egg & chips for Xmas dinner because that's what the kids wanted.

So happy to see this thread.
I usually answer "I don't bother with any of that." if someone asks if I'm 'All set for Christmas?' or suchlike.
They often look a bit put out. 🤷

Tizliz, THANK YOU!

I'm Atheist and don't do Christmas at all, also!

I'm ensconced at home with a tin of Ambrosia Rice Pudding and a banana for breakfast, washed down with a mug of Strawberry Moo Milk, catching up on some reading.... I'm on From The Dark House, Ten Tales of Terror by Guy.N.Smith... and for dinner I'll be having a microwave Bisto Bangers Mash Peas and Gravy with a glass of Baileys or 2 and during various parts of the day scoffing Walnut Whips!

Some time tonight I'll set up my laptop and binge watch horror movies! And for some eye candy I'll watch something with Erik Estrada and Gary Busey in it!

So, worry not, there's no lynching and banning from GN for you or any other member!

I hope all of you here have a brilliant day no matter what you're doing!

Christmas is for kids. When all the little ones have grown up you can do whatever you want. Over the years my decorations have shrunk to just a candle arch in the window, lunch with my daughter's family and half a dozen cards to faraway friends.
Enjoy whatever you do.

Hat off to you. It’s 8.30am, breakfast done, presents unwrapped, it’s going to be a long day. I’m all alone, husband’s in heaven, eldest son in London, youngest son lives in Switzerland and my beautiful doggy companion has gone over the rainbow bridge. Friends have their own families around them. I’ve bought fresh salmon for lunch and an individual Christmas pudding and will watch the rubbish on the television. Christmas is great if spent with family and children, not so great when alone. The only good thing is that I have control of the remote and can eat chocolate all day if I want to (I won’t).

No sooner stop saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to one and all, then it’s ’Happy New Year’ to be said.

The tin opener is important, my fil forgot to open the tin once and it took the oven door off - nice reminder of him, I was very fond of him.

I used to do the same when I was single :-) I found going on holiday was a good option! (Cheap flight somewhere and staying with people). When I was first divorced many years ago, I shocked my entire family by saying I wasn't doing Christmas presents, just cards. I just didn't have the money and was going through a phase of just wanting to avoid familiar type things that reminded me of being married. I was very clear it wasn't personal it was just the way my life was. It still caused a lot of shock. After a few years they all got used to it!

I don't have a big family even now so am lucky not to get caught up in the mass present giving and buying etc. And just the one child (teenager) to buy for. OH and I just do token presents as it's all we can afford. His best present one year was a spider catcher! It was very cheap but caused a lot of fun and hilarity and it's one of the most useful things in the house.

It can feel like a long day and I feel forced to sit at home and watch TV which annoys me ha ha.

It's partly why this year we're going out for Christmas lunch and then away for a few days. Then just New Year to get out of the way and then back to normal.

I hope to do the same again next year! I've hardly had any food to buy and no cooking :-)

A friend of mine goes to the coast with a flask of soup and sandwiches on Christmas Day,

It's a big pressure and people can feel like they're missing out if they don't have big families (or families they don't get on with).

Enjoy your sausage and mash. I once had a Fray Bentos tinned pie on Christmas Day, which I shared with complete strangers in a hostel in Geneva, having arrived the night before! I took the pie with me (and a tin opener) as knew all the shops would be shut that day!

I only ‘do’ Christmas because of family. I’d much rather ignore the whole thing

I go to bed before midnight on New Year’s Eve and get grumpy when the fireworks wake me up!

I love 1st January and 12 months to look forward to before I have to go through it all again 😁

I'm not religious but I "do" Christmas for the family (mainly GC). They all have Christmas day with their kids, so my husband and I will have curry, naans, samosas, pakoras and lagers tomorrow.

you are not alone for doing what a lot of others may be doing!.. have a nice day!

Enjoy the day your way tizliz.

We can all choose. We’ll have a traditional meal because our son loves to cook it, he’d be hurt if we didn’t join him and we’d regret not spending time with him and his daughters. When their lives move on and it’s just the two of us my wish is to be wrapped up on the beach with hot soup and a cheese sandwich. If it’s too rough for that to sit in the car watching the waves while we picnic. Not sure Mr C would go along with it though.

Another here who has never really understood the New Year stuff. Sometimes watch the fireworks on tv sitting up in bed, often asleep.

Each to their own for sure.

I spent ine Christmas day fitting cushion floor in my kitchen.
It wasn't the most thrilling time, I have to say.

Do what suits you Tizliz , no recriminations from me.
Most people who celebrate Christmas in a big way just enjoy the family parties atmosphere and are not religious which is the real meaning of Christmas.

Spend it how you like Tizliz.
One sister and husband have had bacon and eggs for Christmas dinner for as long as I can remember.
They do celebrate Christmas, the services and the gifts, but don’t like the overeating that is often involved.

I always loved Christmas, young people celebrate and get together and families meet up but best of all the build up for little children .Now I feel sad inside fir what I have lost but don't show it,, its all behind me, my husband died at Christmas and my daughter doesn't speak to me.
You and everyone else spend the day as it suits you, no one should judge and so what if they do.

Desdemona

I really don't enjoy Christmas at all.

When people ask me "Are you all ready for Christmas?" - my heart sinks.

I am glad when it's over.

I don't like the sickly " Did you have a good Christmas". Especially if asked in February!

I really don't enjoy Christmas at all.

When people ask me "Are you all ready for Christmas?" - my heart sinks.

I am glad when it's over.

I will wash my hair and have the washing machine running tomorrow. If there is anything decent on TV, fine, if not I can amuse myself here.

For the second week running, an acquaintance asked me why I was not going away for Christmas. My friends live many miles away, and I would rather have my bed in my house.

I have not spent much but the food I have is what I enjoy.

Very minimal celebrations here. The weather forecast is unusually good for the time of year: no rain, snow, ice, floods or gales. So as much time as possible will be spent outdoors with DH.

Family visits next week, when adult DC and partners are not working or with other families. There is never any pressure to be with us, I can't understand that mentality.