Xmas Sadness

I dont mean stuff
I mean that at Christmas time people really quantify and prioritise and express who matters most to them... there are winners and losers in that. Its just not an issue at Halloween, I think that contributes to the rise in popularity of it.

Bluesky I always cry at christmas carols,don`t know why,in particular Once in Royal David City i cry at the christmas song by John Lennon So this is Christmas

Sorry, notanan that I misunderstood your meaning.

I'm not recently bereaved,both parents died more than 10 years ago.Many friends have died and I miss them all. Especially at Christmas.
I still have children and grandchildren and a husband,so try to remember it's special for them.I do my best to put on a good show.

I love Christmas! But it's not without its downsides, for me. When I was younger, I used to 'Springclean' the house for Christmas. Everything was done, and the house was absolutely spotless throughout. Last job - scrubbing the kitchen floor on Christmas Eve, before the onslaught of guests arriving on Christmas Day. (Sometimes to stay over until New Year.) Such a lot of work for me - I was often exhausted!
I can't manage all that work now - and it hurts me that I can't. (Silly, I know.) I do my best. But now there isn't an 'onslaught' any more. My sister and brother-in-law have died, my brother has moved to Spain ...
I still 'do' Christmas Day for my children and grandchildren. But I miss a full house over the Christmas period (even though I know I couldn't cope with it now).
So, for me, Christmas is tinged with sadness for what once was.
I still love it, though. And yes I cry when walking through town and hearing the Salvation Army Band playing carols. Yes! Still go to Midnight Mass, and am moved at the mystique of it all.
The only thing I loathe is people writing 'X' where 'Christ' should be!

Lyndiloo 'Xmas' is not as bad as people believe, there is a reason for this spelling, see Wikipedia Xmas. Usually I do spell it Christmas but in this thread I didn't and I have had people telling me off...

I don’t decorate, don’t watch tv , don’t put cards up, don’t shop. Just get through the day.

I can guarantee I'll be groping for the tissues during Gdd's pre school Nativity play. She's only 3, and a lot of very little ones singing Away In A Manger is quite enough to set me off.

I do love traditional carols, too, they can make me a bit teary when sung beautifully. Also love the Sally Army brass bands. However I really don't like trad. ones set to non trad tunes.
Once went to a big carol singalong in a cathedral with friends - they were all either non traditional, or else trad. ones sung to non trad tunes. So disappointing! The very last one was The Holly and the Ivy, so I was really hoping that would be with the 'right' tune, but no, not even that.

I’d enjoy Christmas if the shops would just STOP playing loud Christmas tunes on repeat for the whole season. It makes me want to avoid actual shopping so I shop online,with the exception of the supermarket which can’t be avoided.

Abit harsh Monica I feel sad for family who have gone before yes we all die obviously but the memories you have become precious.more so at Christmas. It's nice to remember good times past.

Nothing harsh about it at all. I remember all my family no longer with us a lot of the time. We were discussing some memories of Christmas today, which involved my mother and sister, both deceased. There was nothing sad about any of those memories.

My sister died on Easter Sunday, we always remember her date of death as Easter rather than a specific date. Of course for a few years after, Easter was overhung by what happened Easter last year, 2 years ago, 3 years ago, but by about 5 years while always remembering her at Easter, it no longer acted as a damper to our spirits. We remembered the happy things and pushed the horror of the one day in a lifetime of Easters to the back of our minds.

Witzend - Yes, me too. It started for me long ago at my first school as a teacher. We were all excitedly decorating and planning then we had a concert. The reception children began to sing Away in a Manger and, to my surprise, I welled up. Nowadays Salvation Army brass bands can also bring a tear.

The Christmas after DM died I was miserably drooping around when DD shook me out of it. She pointed out that her late GM loved Christmas and certainly wouldn't have wanted us to remember her by being sad about it. Suddenly I was out looking for holly and other traditional non-essentials and we did all the things we'd always done at Christmas. We remembered previous Christmases with joy instead of sorrow.

I Hate Christmas.it just brings back to many painful memories of people that I no longer here.I have spent the last three Christmases on my own which I hate. makes me feel really down.

Brendaj So sorry that you've spent Christmas alone. Is there a charity in your area where you can volunteer to help serve Christmas lunch to the homeless? (Or something like that.)
OK, that may not sound like an attractive alternative to spending Christmas on your own. But I wouldn't mind betting that it would bring a lot of joy to you.
If you're not able to do this, physically, or for some other reason, look around for other charities who are looking for help over the Christmas period, to which you could contribute.
Don't be sad. Search around for something to get you out and about, and meeting other people. (You could join your local church?)