"Christmas is just for the kids really"

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Thank you Nina , there was no malice

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying Christmas, but I find it entirely understandable that people who have suffered in one way or another may no longer be able to enjoy any festival that reminds them of the people they have lost, or whatever else has caused and perhaps still causes them pain.

But I do agree that Christmas is not just for the children - however, if a person is not a practising Christian he or she may not see the point of the festival as a grown-up who is not giving or receiving presents,

Goodness there are some miserable postings on here! Christmas is what you make it and I choose to enjoy it rather than moan about it. Bah humbug

Christmas is about Christ and is for everybody. And no, I'm not a religious nutter, but this was what I was brought up with and is the reason we have Christmas at this time of year - or call it a Winter Festival if you must. I feel it's not just about presents but it is about "giving" - in the sense of being nice to people, appreciating what we have. Joy in our lives. This will be my 3rd Christmas since my husband died and I have now put up my fairy lights, and sent cards to lots of people to thank them for their support, and will get a tree later this week. Bringing in the light!

Anniebach You could not say it at all.

How else can it be worded Jaycee? I meant no unkindness

Easy to condemn those who find no joy in Christmas, Twostep you say you appreciate your family, not everyone has family .

Tennyson comes to mind - But the tender grace of a day that is dead will never come back to me.

Let those who enjoy Christmas do so, let those who do not say so.