Happy Christmad or Just Another Day?

[Bigmallly]

How do you celebrate Christmad? Tree, Trimmings, The Works or is it just another day? I used to love it when the kids were toddlers but as they are now adults I find it's just another day, I've even gone fishing on Christmad day...............Am I just a modern day Scrooge?..........Is it too commercialised or is the festive spirit still out there?

[veggiechicken]

Too commercialised!
It should start 12 days before and end on Boxing Day.
I'm fed up with it already and its only October

[Martin H]

Far too commercialised!
It should start on Christmas Eve and end on Twelfth Night.
Don't even start thinking about it until Advent (29th November this year).

[Bigmallly]

Thank god it's not only me...................

[Bren In Pots]

Its not only you BM the last couple of years we've not even bothered with a tree, most we do now is to decorate the mantle piece with holly and candles. One year we had meat and potato pie for dinner because we'd invited a friend and that was his choice of meal.

[Lumpy]

I agree with you BM that Christmas is great when there are small children around but for us we normally have a trip out somewhere so we can mooch about in peace and then home to whatever has been voted for dinner.

2 years ago we went to Lincoln expecting a quiet bimble around the Cathedral quater. There were people everywhere - it was a surprise. Many of them were doing a treasure hunt. The cathedral insiders were belting out carols and the family of 11 from Newcastle had us in stitches.

I think this years dinner could be egg and chips.

[Kirk]

Usually just another day, has been so for years.

Many years back I suggested to an archery club that they held a Boxing Day shoot, everyone looked in sort of horror at the idea with cries of "But it is Boxing Day" within a week after the same were muttering that Christmas is much overdone and they were bored by Boxing Day and wished they had something to have done.

So Christmas falls into being a "special" day and equally a "not much to do day".

Now I tend to make a list of things to do, couple of walks, towns/places to visit, mountain bike rides.

[Scarlet]

I love Christmas!! ..........but I don't want it starting too early. I usually get a real tree, so that's often bought about a week before the day itself. I have two trees, one for the living room, and one pot grown for the dining room . I don't have loads of decorations/trimmings but I love foliage, greenery, holly etc. love having a wreath on the front door and lots of candles. I have a few special decorations, a lovely old Santa that sits on the fireplace and I do love twinkly lights!

The day itself is relaxed, my neighbours pop round for drinks around 12, and we pass around presents - little things, no more than a fiver spent. This has been a yearly thing for 10 years or more, their kids used to bring their boyfriend now their OH's. I often make little bags up for peeps that pop in unexpectedly, chilli oils, vinegars, chutney, mini xmas puds. I really love making it all and giving it out. I drop off xmas wreaths or candle and flower arrangements for friends. I never spend much money, I pick up pots and containers cheaply through the year and pick all the foliage.I just love the whole build up.
The last few years my brothers and families turn up around 4, we all walk the dogs, then have a few drinks, we don't really "do" proper presents - it's all food and drink. We all eat around 7 with the kids, pulling crackers and telling jokes. We usually stay at the dinner table and play games that the kids get out until bed. Its a special day for me.

[bearded bloke]

I've even gone fishing on Christmad day

Please convince Mrs.BB that I should be doing that as well BM Sadly she likes THAT day

[craftymarie]

I get exactly what you mean about it being commercialized and it feels that way because of how most of the shops behave putting Christmas things out months before they really need to. I mean, I doubt if many people need to start buying cards as early as August - even if you're sending to Australia that's well OTT!

However, we love Christmas. Traditionally it was because it was the only time of year I got to spend a decent chunk of time with OH. However he retired this year so that's no longer an issue. We always have a big family meal and enjoy time with members of the family who we don't see often because they live far away. We have young kids in the family too.

The shops really kind of spoil things by ramming Christmas down everyone's throats until they're sick of it. I get why so many people are becoming anti-Christmas. It will never happen to me though as I love any excuse for an occasion

[bearded bloke]

What's more .............

[mrswadders]

we're away in the van again, last year we only went for 4 days this year we're going away for 9! We'll have the tree up in the awning and decorate the van with lights and decs,we're going on xmas eve sso I think it'll be really festive this year,warm mulled wine and xmas songs playing.It'll be a 3 bird roast or something similar as there's no way I could get a turkey in the van's oven!

[scarey55]

Lovely idea Mrs W

We don't normally do anything special on the day. Being so far away from family and just the two of us, we don't bother. A couple of years ago we did have our Christmad dinner in the camper but it was only in the front garden

[Jay22]

Och bah humbug you lot!! I love it, love it, love it! My kids are all grown up now, no grandchildren yet, but I still go for the tree, outside lights...You can see my OH saying to himself 'oh god, here we go with these bl@@dy lights again!...Christmas dinner at our house,even though I can't cook everyone just puts up with it! I hate the gift giving side but everything else I love! Best Christmas was waking up on Christmas morning to about a foot of snow...I was in my element!

[Jay22]

What I mean by 'I hate the gift giving side of it' is not that I am too mean to give gifts but that I don't like the commercialisation side of it. Just thought I'd clear that up...don't want to be known as the mean Scotswoman.