Do You Hate Christmas And All The Fuss That Goes With It?

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 7:26pm #1

I was wondering if there were many posters out there who hate Christmas and all the fuss and expenditure that goes with it? I'm sort of old school and liked the old traditional Christmas where I would make home decorations with my brothers and sisters for the Christmas tree go to midnight mass with my family and go on the wren the next day to make some pocket money. I just feel all does old traditions have died away over the past twenty years due to the commercial interests of big companies and Christmas starting on the 1st of November as soon as Halloweenn is over. So what do you think am I the Grinch or do you agree?

A Little Pony · 29-11-2017 7:27pm

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 29-11-2017 7:30pm

There should be no talk at all about Christmas until December, no Christmas lights, no trees, no Santa talk or anything.

I think Christmas should really only be about good food and drink, with family and friends. Everything else should be ignored about it.

donegaLroad · 29-11-2017 7:32pm

This year in particular, it has arrived 2 weeks earlier than normal. I'm already tortured with it and it's only November. There are still pumpkins in the house.

If there was any way I could bugger off for a couple of months and avoid it, I would be gone tonight.

Dr Crayfish · 29-11-2017 7:34pm

The utter destructiveness of it is what's getting to me lately. Just mass consumerism, buying absolute rubbish made from plastic from places like Tiger, that'll end up in a landfill, or the sea, in a few months!

King George VI · 29-11-2017 7:41pm

I think you're a fair bit of a grinch lol but I do understand what you mean, that the intensity of it can be too much sometimes. I always joke about if I had my way Christmas would start in June, but I'm truly sick of how early it gets every year. If I'm not mistaken Brown Thomas had Christmas ads in June this years? WTF?! Christmas should be in December and not a second before.

But as soon as December 1st hits, don me now our gay Christmas jumpers and cover my jowls in tinsel because I'm about to get all festive on your grinchy asses!

Noveight · 29-11-2017 7:41pm

You can make of Christmas what you want. Some people buy in to it at great expense, kicking things off in mid-November and blowing hundreds of euro. For more people it just means seeing a bit more red and green around the place for a few weeks. I think it's a nice holiday that has unfortunately been turned up to 11 by companies out to make a killing. I don't buy in to it hugely, but appreciate how special a time it can be - especially for the smaller kids with Santa.

freshpopcorn · 29-11-2017 7:42pm

donegaLroad wrote: »

This year in particular, it has arrived 2 weeks earlier than normal. I'm already tortured with it and it's only November. There are still pumpkins in the house.

If there was any way I could bugger off for a couple of months and avoid it, I would be gone tonight.

What city are you in?
I found the lights were switched on a few days later this year than last year.

Ipso · 29-11-2017 7:42pm

Noveight wrote: »

You can make of Christmas what you want. Some people buy in to it at great expense, kicking things off in mid-November and blowing hundreds of euro. For more people it just means seeing a bit more red and green around the place for a few weeks. I think it's a nice holiday that has unfortunately been turned up to 11 by companies out to make a killing. I don't buy in to it hugely, but appreciate how special a time it can be - especially for the smaller kids with Santa.

Yes, they should never forget the reason for celebrating his birth.

MysticMonk · 29-11-2017 7:42pm

Yes..as a single man with no kids i find it utterly depressing. This is why i'm buggering off to Malta for the holidays.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 7:44pm

A Little Pony wrote: »

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

I suppose it's the one time of the year where family and friends get together and remember loved ones that are no longer with us but i just think the true spirit of Christmas has been forgotten about because of the pressure parents are put under by big companies advertising their products for all kids to see and may not be able to afford to buy the present or presents they want due to financial constraints.

The_Valeyard · 29-11-2017 7:44pm

Ted_YNWA · 29-11-2017 7:47pm

It's gone way too commercialised.

People feel forced to buy stuff for people they don't like with money they don't have.

Your Face · 29-11-2017 7:50pm

Im not edgy enough to say I hate Christmas

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 7:50pm

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

There should be no talk at all about Christmas until December, no Christmas lights, no trees, no Santa talk or anything.

I think Christmas should really only be about good food and drink, with family and friends. Everything else should be ignored about it.

I would agree with you Christmas should only start in December because by the time the big day arrives I do be fed up with festive songs,adds and movies and just want the whole thing over.

Speedwell · 29-11-2017 7:53pm

When I was a kid in America, my family and all my friends' families would wait till about two weeks before Christmas to put up the tree. Many families did it on Christmas Eve. When I left America about 5 years ago, I think most people were doing it on Black Friday or that weekend.

Now, I used to work for a craft "supermarket", and we sold Christmas stuff for making Christmas crafts starting in July or August, so I got really sick of it before actual Christmas came around. Same with the choir practice in school, when you started practising for the Christmas concert in September. By the time the actual day came around, it felt like light at the end of the tunnel.

Lately, now that I'm 50, I find myself getting sick of it earlier and earlier. So this year I am putting a few battery-operated candles in the window instead of a house full of lights, cleaning the house well and putting up stockings in place of a tree, and having steak and lobster for dinner on the day itself like we do on our anniversary. I have all the gifts bought for the kids and token but decent stuff for the adults (thanks, nice Hong Kong folks on eBay). I don't mind humming along with the occasional Christmas tune, if you don't mind when I hum idly while I'm waiting in a queue... I don't realise I'm doing it, honestly. Church isn't my scene and God isn't my thing. But having a glass of wine in the corner, that's all I need.

Mint Sauce · 29-11-2017 7:53pm

Its all about the kids and consumerism to be honest these days. At present, I am not too bothered about it, have bought a few of the presents, and drinks/snacks for the day. Would rather not see any decorations, or hear any Xmas songs till December, but since having a couple of stressful weeks, and having it thrown at you since Halloween, with only a couple days left of November, still not feeling any excitement about the whole thing.

Noveight · 29-11-2017 7:54pm

Ipso wrote: »

Yes, they should never forget the reason for celebrating his birth.

Exactly! Three year old's out there getting too big for their boots!

Shenshen · 29-11-2017 7:55pm

I do like it, but I'm very selective about it to be fair.
I've stopped travelling home for christmas a few years ago, the hassle and the aggravation just weren't worth it. These days, it's just the hubby and me, having a few lovely slow and cozy days, maybe having friends over on one of the nights for some good and special food, a few drinks, watching telly while sitting in front of the fire.
We don't go big on presents, and nobody in my our families does, either, so there's little pressure there.
I have some decorations, and I still do the German christmas Plaetzchen (because it's not christmas without them), as well as some Gluehwein, but that's really it.

That said, I do find that I'm legging it out of shops much quicker in the run-up to christmas, as those endless christmas songs just drive me insane. I suppose that's a good blocker, I never get to spend as much money as I might like because I can't stay in the shop as long as I'd like

Speedwell · 29-11-2017 7:56pm

A Little Pony wrote: »

Think the world needs Christmas more now than ever before because of the political matters going on in the world, Americans probably more so..

Yeah, all we Yanks need is MOAR RELIGION. We haven't got enough of the stuff. It isn't yet being supplied to us in the drinking water and mandated injections at the free public health cent... wait, they don't have those.

freshpopcorn · 29-11-2017 7:57pm

I like Christmas but I don't decorate at home until the 8th of December and I believe decorations should stay up until the 6th of January.

Lots of people complain about retail having Christmas stock out to early/etc but I don't really blame them with the massive rent/rated they have to pay they might as well make the most of it.
If the shops did go down the route of only bringing Christmas stock out on the 1st of December they'd be otter chaos in the weeks before Christmas because it has changed so much over the year. I also like the fact that people pick up little jobs because of the Christmas rush.
I often spoke to my mother about Christmases when she was younger and they had trees/decorations/lights(When they got electricity)/chocolates/biscuits/gifts weren't as extravagant but they products simply weren't there.
The main difference with Christmas was people used go to mass more/Advent ceremonies/etc. Suggest now a days and you'd be laughed at by people.

Tom Mann Centuria · 29-11-2017 7:59pm

I love it, having something to look forward to helps break up the slog of work. I'm working Christmas day this year but will still enjoy the rest of the time. I was the same before I had kids and their enjoyment of it all is just an added bonus. My decorations are going up Friday/Saturday.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 8:04pm

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Its all about the kids and consumerism to be honest these days. At present, I am not too bothered about it, have bought a few of the presents, and drinks/snacks for the day. Would rather not see any decorations, or hear any Xmas songs till December, but since having a couple of stressful weeks, and having it thrown at you since Halloween, with only a couple days left of November, still not feeling any excitement about the whole thing.

The kids side of Christmas I can understand in one sense because of the excitement it brings to them on the day and God knows it won't be long before they face the world of today and all the hurt and pain it brings and Christmas meomeries is all they will have to share with their kids.

Bellerstring · 29-11-2017 8:04pm

I hate Tubridy & the fukin Toy Show....

billyhead · 29-11-2017 8:05pm

Think its a load of boll*x myself. To commercialized and false. Its really only for children and the talk of the only time of the ear when families get together. Why leave it until Christmas to do this and do it throughout the year instead.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 8:08pm

Bellerstring wrote: »

I hate Tubridy & the fukin Toy Show....

I used to watch it with my children when Gabo persented it and when the toys back then weren't so expensive but now it's just a big advertisment for the major toy companies to push their products on to people who are struggling to pay their weekly bills.

freshpopcorn · 29-11-2017 8:16pm

Louie Small Tailspin wrote: »

I used to watch it with my children when Gabo persented it and when the toys back then weren't so expensive but now it's just a big advertisment for the major toy companies to push their products on to people who are struggling to pay their weekly bills.

Back when Gay Byrne presented The Toy Show there was expensive toys and reasonable priced toys same as Today. During the mid 2000's there was the odd crazy item on it but there was demand for it to be shown.
During every Toy Show that aired they have always being struggling families watching it.

Delphinium · 29-11-2017 8:27pm

I mostly ignore it. Hate all the consumerism attached and how families cause such stress about who goes where to celebrate. Not religious so it has no spiritual meaning for me either. I do give gifts to close family and children but don't get drawn in to seasonal spending.
I prefer to surprise people during the year with an unexpected treat. My friends know and agree to donate to Crumlin Hospital instead of buying me something I don't need. Sometimes we go for lunch mid November to collect the funds ( which are kept secret ) and wish each other a sane and sensible Christmas.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 29-11-2017 8:28pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Back when Gay Byrne presented The Toy Show there was expensive toys and reasonable priced toys same as Today. During the mid 2000's there was the odd crazy item on it but there was demand for it to be shown.
During every Toy Show that aired they have always being struggling families watching it.

Yes there were plenty of families back then who had been struggling but the advertising of toys were not on TV the start of November and ran through right up to Christmas Eve back then. I don't think parents felt they had to spend a fortune as there was not as much choice as there is today.

kenmc · 29-11-2017 8:34pm

Speedwell wrote: »

Yeah, all we Yanks need is MOAR RELIGION. We haven't got enough of the stuff. It isn't yet being supplied to us in the drinking water and mandated injections at the free public health cent... wait, they don't have those.

What on earth does religion have to do with Xmas?

Galwayguy35 · 29-11-2017 8:44pm

I don't hate it but wouldn't be someone who gets all excited about it either.

The pub does be good craic on christmas eve though.

Do You Hate Christmas And All The Fuss That Goes With It?

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