"Christmas is just for the kids really"

We love Christmas! We won't have any of the grandchildren or a big family gathering until 30th but we have invited a friend and may be having a refugee whose host family can't have them over the holidays. Even if there are only three of us, we'll have a good time. I hope you all have a great time, however you choose to celebrate it.

I used to love Christmas but I must be turning into the Grinch as I am finding i really can't be bothered and have to force myself to do jobs I have previously enjoyed.

Why be judgemental about those who think Christmas is for children, it isn't , it is to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child if one is a Christian, but I think many who say it is for children are thinking back to happy times when children's laughter filled their homes, a partner now dead celebrated with them, a partner with dementia is in a home, children have moved to another country.

For me it is a time for each person to think of or spend the day as they choose or perhaps have no choices.

Christmas is first and foremost a Christian festival wbich took over from a pagan one. However much we try to keep it a religious festival it's been taken over by shops and businesses who treat it as a chance to make money ....... and they make millions.
However I don't think Christmas is just for children - I get a lot of pleasure from the whole thing from shopping and cooking to presents and there are many people who think the same way as I do.
Perhaps some people should be visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future so they can discover the joy of planning, shopping, preparing for Christmas Day and sharing it with our families and friends.
I love it - all of it.

We've just enjoyed a Christmassy break away with a group of friends and we really had fun - with not a child in sight!

No its not just for kids...because its a religious festival. Whatever your belief, its what Christmas is all about to me. Its the one time of the year to give and not to receive nothing more. My husband and I do not buy each other gifts, and we ask that our children/grandchildren do not by us gifts. We are just happy to give them gifts and enjoy their company in this busy world. A happy time had by all.

Crustmas dud not take over a pagan festival, this is still celebrated by pagans on 21st December.

Jaycee
Annie asked you a perfectly legitimate question. If she had asked me the same I would see no malice in it.
My answer would be. Thankfully no, but I feel for all those that do. I feel even more for those that have no present to unwrap.

Thank you Nina , there was no malice

Lupatrina
There are those who have no family to buy presents for or to share the day with. Fortunatly I'm not one of them.
I'm not Bah Humbug I think it's a lovely time of year for some

I love Christmas, even the "hated" task of writing cards. I wait for the Postman every morning with anticipation & feel quite cheated if I don't receive at least one card.

I love shopping for presents for family & friends. I'm lucky as DGS1 is 7 & DGS2 will be 7 months at Christmas. Finding silly presents for DD & her OH.

Went shopping in November with DM to buy her present & leaving a small gift for Christmas Day (she's 88 & celebrates on her own)

My decorations go up around the 1st December, I love seeing all the lights in Town & Shops.

I go to DD's for Lunch on the big day & leave to go home at about 3pm, plenty of treats to eat & watch tv, my choice, no-one else to worry about. I do miss my DH but after 5 years as a widow I've learned to cope, he was a "Grinch" which always amused me, still put his Bah Humbug" Hat under the tree

ninathena I did not say there was malice but it was not kind. If your answer is 'thankfully no' then you would not have been asked. No one says 'I don't mean this unkindly' unless they know that it might be taken that way.
It is sad for people to be thoughtless before Christmas but if you think that is ok so be it.

Good post teetime
The true meaning of Christmas is for everybody.

Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive to those spending Christmas alone, or who have lost loved ones. I too lost a big part of my life a few years ago, so I know how it feels, and it's only now that I'm going all guns blazing for Christmas again. It does take a while. I also think that if he was looking down on me, he'd be pleased to see me (well, all of us) trying to enjoy what I still have and raising a glass to him - I feel I owe it to him, if you see what I mean. But then I'm lucky that I do still have family left and I appreciate it's different for those who don't have anyone. Apologies.

Sadly some are visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, and remember much happiness, Christmas present and see isolation not from choice, Christmas future and see no star of promise

Twostep. I didn't think you were being insensitive, just talking about your own situation.

Totally agree with the OP. Imo people who think that Christmas is just for children are.missing the point of it all. If you have faith then Cristmas is important for all of us. For those who don't believe in The Nativity then sure Christmas is about family, giving and sharing. I wish more children were brought up to recognise. The importance of giving and not just receiving at Christmas.

I had lost Christmas for a number of years (Bereavements etc)
But in 2013 I found it again!
My first grandchild was born.
So I enjoy Christmas through the eyes of my 3 little grandsons.

I do love Christmas but somehow the Christmas spirit seems to have evaporated somewhat over the years. I love the build up to it, the lights in the shops and the decorations - I hate thinking about presents and what to buy everyone and to be honest I find it a bit embarrassing receiving them which sounds terribly ungrateful! At the moment I don't feel in the slightest bit festive but hoping this will get better when my family finally arrive tomorrow and I've finished work. I think back to my in-laws who were always a bit bah humbug and eventually just put a string of lights up in the window and gave everyone money and compare them to my own parents who struggled even in their mid 80's to put the whole lot of Christmas decorations up they'd had for years. My mum loved it and always took care with her cards and the presents she bought. In their last years at home we did this together - it just brought home to me how sad it was that her last present to me was a box of Christmas cards we'd bought which she'd got confused over thinking it was a present

I love Christmas, it's definitely not just for children!

As I'm a non-religious person I always think of it as a mid-winter feast, with lots of decoration and festive food. November and December would be hard months without looking forward to Christmas.

However, as an adult, I don't feel the need for loads of presents of which most will end up in the charity shop come January!

Christmas is about families which include the children. It's always given me joy to watch small children on Christmas morning. Why shouldn't GPs have their share of pleasure in the companionship of their DC and DGC? Of course the children turn into teenagers who often have their own agenda, but there's still pleasure for all ages in enjoying the Christmas meal together, pulling crackers and putting on funny hats. It isn't all about presents.

I am sure that we would still be celebrating in December even if the birth of Jesus hadn’t happened because it was an ancient festival long before Christianity. There is some debate about when Jesus was born but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t 25th December according to the experts, it was just linked with the ancient Druidic festival for convenience I believe

I went to a wonderful carol service last week, the only children to be seen - and heard - were in the choir.
Beautiful voices!

Christmas can be a very miserable time for those who have no loving family to share it with. I used to volunteer with Samaritans, and believe me, we were extra busy over the festive season!
Christmas is not just for children, but they certainly add to the joy of it. Their innocence and simplicity is so heartwarming.
I’m sad to think that rather too many little ones won’t have the luxury of warmth, good food and extra toys this year, so I’m extra appreciative of my family’s good fortune, and proud that they share it with those who have nothing.
I’m not a religious person, but I like to think that ‘Peace on earth, goodwill to all men’ still has some meaning.

I am not a religious nutter but I believe Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Christ. So bring on the tree, the gifts and the festive food! Christ's birth is something worth celebrating.