How "non-Christmas" are you?

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JustPete
JustPete Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 303 Empowering
in Coffee lounge
Four years ago I had a 'life-experience' that shook me out of my bah-humbug ways.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still not rocking around the christmas tree but am no longer allergic to joy to all men!

Two days ago I was persuaded to join an online christmas quiz with work-colleagues.  Split into 2 groups of about 15 participants my group saved me from the indignity of only being able to answer 2 out of 40 questions about xmas.

How very bah-humbug!  

Comments

  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    I actually like Christmas a lot, I imagine magical things can happen at this time of year, that’s apart from the religious stuff. 

    The life experience which changed your way your way of thinking intrigues me though @JustPete, would you care to divulge some more details? 🤔
  • bg844
    bg844 Online Community Member Posts: 3,891 Championing
    Usually I’m festive around 5 days before, I enjoy the run up from there especially watching people rushing around to pick up last minute gifts but after a blink of an eye it’s all over so I can under why some people don’t really enjoy it. Also a sad time for some too.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    I'm normally very excited.and enjoy the build up 

    Seems very different this year with going away I've not put the decs up no last minute shopping no Xmas food shopping 

    I'm sure will get in the spirit once we arrive in Spain 
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    I love Christmas. I think growing up in a big family and going from being the kid, to seeing kids be born into the family and watch them experience it for the first time, has affirmed my love for it year on year. 
  • Elysium
    Elysium Scope Member Posts: 94 Empowering
    I’ve ‘done xmas’ for everyone for the past 30 years since I was a child and my parents abandoned us. All the prepping, decorating, cleaning, cooking, washing up, buying presents, wrapping presents, debt, pressure, stress etc all on my own with no support. Even when I was married they never helped and everyone just lay around stuffing their faces whilst I slaved to the point of exhaustion. I cried every single Xmas and pretty much hated every minute, had constant Autistic meltdowns in the run-up to Xmas sometimes months beforehand worrying about all the work I was going to have to do and how I was going to be completely financially broke until Easter at least. It was utterly ludicrous. It definitely damaged my mental health & caused huge trauma. As part of my trauma healing & self-love I’ve set the boundary that this year I’m not doing it. My grown up kids are doing it at their houses instead and I’m staying on the boat alone with the animals. It’s the first Xmas Ive been able to enjoy as I know I don’t have to do anything besides walk the dogs and (maybe) make myself a small Xmas dinner or I might just eat mince pies all day. Now I know how most men and kids must feel - Xmas is fun for the first time! I’m not even buying presents just giving cards. It’s a huuuuuuge relief and I’m really looking forward to lying on the sofa with my dogs watching b2b movies and doing whatever the heck I like for the first time ever yippee!!!!
  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 14,166 Championing
    I'm 50 50
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @Elysium I'm so sorry that it's taken so long for you to get a Christmas you'll enjoy. I hope it is the best one for you :)<3 And I'd definitely go with mince pies all day, you can always do a Christmas dinner for yourself on new years when it's less hectic. 
  • JustPete
    JustPete Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 303 Empowering
    @Elysium I am happy to wish you the very best xmas this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • emancherry33
    emancherry33 Online Community Member Posts: 3,640 Trailblazing
    kind of used to like christmas, always busy christmas eve- christmas day, helping with the cooking or doing the cooking, then organising the christmas day actitityies , then the cooking of christmas tea with more games after it then people would go home happy and me collapse on the floor knackered after the days events but since my mums death i dont have the energy or care to do it any more. so i will be just sat watching t.v. rembering what crazyness it all was.
  • Cartini
    Cartini Online Community Member Posts: 1,107 Trailblazing
    I don`t "do" Christmas at all.  To me it`s a grossly over-commercialised religious event that means absolutely nothing to me.
    Even so, it costs me a fortune because my family and close friends do "do" Xmas :s:s
  • GizmoTiddles
    GizmoTiddles Online Community Member Posts: 156 Empowering
    Born in early 1950 the youngest of 7 kids for mum & dad most of all we had hard times.
    Grew our own fruit n veg raised chicken, bartered with other, you get the picture. 

      It was the only real holiday of the year 
    The build up we would make our own decorations crepe paper and lick n stick paper chains or cut old mags in strips. 

    Candles in old kilner jars, we already had (in case the shilling went in the meters. 

    Xmas (Im an atheist) came and we wer greatful to get an apple, orange, a Toblerone 😁 and a Dandy, Beano, or Eagle album which we Swapped around.

    Never short of Xmas grub from what we had in from normal supply's and a family sit down. 
    We'd all muck in dig, prep the bird dad cooking. Us washing up. 

    But I had the benifit of a good schooling. 
     I made sure my kids and more than me, holidays traveling overseas camping self sufficient and they appreciated what they got (they tell me) 

    OK fast forwards a few years 
    and it's prezzies that come from Costa packet! 
    I have grandkids, and they get excited, that anticipation on their face is my Xmas present.

    It's cost me a fortune but well worth it.

    If not for them it's just another day. 
    I'd be quite happy to be sat in my moho enjoying pleasent company in a warmer climate

    Gizmo
  • JustPete
    JustPete Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 303 Empowering
    @GizmoTiddles I think you embody to true meaning of Christmas; you are not 'doing xmas' for yourself, you are doing it for others you care for.  Merry Christmas
  • just4once
    just4once Scope Member Posts: 111 Empowering
    My home and my life are Christmas free it puts too much pressure on people already struggling with different things be that financially emotionally or sensory overloaded on the upside anyone that just needs a cuppa and get away from it all the kettle is in the kitchen 
  • Cartini
    Cartini Online Community Member Posts: 1,107 Trailblazing
    JustPete said:
    @GizmoTiddles I think you embody to true meaning of Christmas; you are not 'doing xmas' for yourself, you are doing it for others you care for.  Merry Christmas
    Please do not think I`m criticising the subjective view of Christmas, that I definitely am not doing (each to their own) but the true meaning of Christmas is: the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
  • just4once
    just4once Scope Member Posts: 111 Empowering
    I do for others I care about for all year round with love and respect especially when least expected or just happens at the right moment and yes ido miss midnight mass the family is grown doing their lives in their style as a sensory overload it is difficult with my medical issues too
  • just4once
    just4once Scope Member Posts: 111 Empowering
    emancherry33 said:
    kind of used to like christmas, always busy christmas eve- christmas day, helping with the cooking or doing the cooking, then organising the christmas day actitityies , then the cooking of christmas tea with more games after it then people would go home happy and me collapse on the floor knackered after the days events but since my mums death i dont have the energy or care to do it any more. so i will be just sat watching t.v. rembering what crazyness it all was.
    emancherry33 said:
    kind of used to like christmas, always busy christmas eve- christmas day, helping with the cooking or doing the cooking, then organising the christmas day actitityies , then the cooking of christmas tea with more games after it then people would go home happy and me collapse on the floor knackered after the days events but since my mums death i dont have the energy or care to do it any more. so i will be just sat watching t.v. rembering what crazyness it all was.
    emancherry33 said:
    kind of used to like christmas, always busy christmas eve- christmas day, helping with the cooking or doing the cooking, then organising the christmas day actitityies , then the cooking of christmas tea with more games after it then people would go home happy and me collapse on the floor knackered after the days events but since my mums death i dont have the energy or care to do it any more. so i will be just sat watching t.v. rembering what crazyness it all was.

  • just4once
    just4once Scope Member Posts: 111 Empowering

    Yes I understand that my mum passed away 16Dec funeral on the 23rd rd December we feel because we love and we are human
  • Taliesen
    Taliesen Online Community Member Posts: 51 Contributor
    I don't celebrate Christmas as I am Pagan so il celebrate the Winter Soltice on Dec 21st  and then the Xmas day is just a normal day to me. 
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Wishing you a peaceful Winter Soltice @Taliesen :)

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