Opting out of Christmas

[Mothersruin]

Just sent this out to the family.

Mothersruin said:

Dear all,

Mum hit the nail on the head for her birthday - rather than get her something, donate to a charity.

This festive season, don't buy us gifts - either spend the money on yourselves, or donate it to a charity of your choice.

Get stuff that makes a difference to you.

Let's see how this works.

Lots of love,

J&Pxxx

My mother decided that rather than buy her tat - donate to a Breast Cancer Charity.

We did - very worthy - better than sending her crap

Does this make sense or are we Bah Humbug? I don't care really.

Edited by Mothersruin on Saturday 13th October 01:30

[anonymous-user]

Why not limit presents value ,a tenner, and donate to charities. Best of both worlds really, Xmas true values are giving and receiving, not some consumer expense fest it seems to have become.

Edited by Thesprucegoose on Saturday 13th October 01:45

[underwhelmist]

Good plan. Christmas isn't, and shouldn't be, compulsory. We're off to India over Christmas and new year, for the second year running.

[Steve H]

So you don't want any gifts but you're still respecting different views and buying them for everyone else that does want them?


Or you can't be arsed buying them for everyone and are willing to forgo receiving ten pairs of socks and a medium sized box of Roses in exchange?

[rowley birkin]

Miserable bugger !

[996Keef]

Totally ignoring the event, no tree or decorations, no lattice pork pie, iced fruit cakes or selection boxes allowed? or just not doing gifts?

Seems a shame not to have a gathering and a big dinner, pull crackers and be merry with your nearest & dearest on the birthday of Father Christmas

[KrazyIvan]

996Keef said:

Seems a shame not to have a gathering and a big dinner, pull crackers and be merry with your nearest & dearest on the birthday of Father Christmas

I never get this, you can do the above any time of the year, why do you have to wait till a religious holiday that most don't even believe in!

[anonymous-user]

We do the meal and drinking but haven't shared gifts in our family other than for offspring for years - (why deprive children to make yourself feel smug)

The children stop at 18 too

[KrazyIvan]

keirik said:

We do the meal and drinking but haven't shared gifts in our family other than for offspring for years - (why deprive children to make yourself feel smug)

The children stop at 18 too

Again, you can buy gifts for kids any day or the year, why wait for Christmas?

[996Keef]

Summat to do, innit

It's a day where most people are off work, it's a date everyone knows, and plans ahead to, so a gathering is easier to organise. It's a celebration of the white bearded cnt damaging chimneys across the nation. And the queen speaks to you personally on the tellybox, what's not to like?

[johnwilliams77]

KrazyIvan said:

I never get this, you can do the above any time of the year, why do you have to wait till a religious holiday that most don't even believe in!

Because more people have time off from work.

[anonymous-user]

KrazyIvan said:

keirik said:

We do the meal and drinking but haven't shared gifts in our family other than for offspring for years - (why deprive children to make yourself feel smug)

The children stop at 18 too

Again, you can buy gifts for kids any day or the year, why wait for Christmas?

Because then they don't get bullied at school for being different.

[grumbledoak]

I think that if you have young kids you should get all the family together and bury the kids in presents, whether you believe in Santa or not and regardless of how you feel about the consumerism. Once they are grown up you can have it your own way. Limit the present spending. Get away from it all. Take the kids skiing or something.

[anonymous-user]

KrazyIvan said:

keirik said:

We do the meal and drinking but haven't shared gifts in our family other than for offspring for years - (why deprive children to make yourself feel smug)

The children stop at 18 too

Again, you can buy gifts for kids any day or the year, why wait for Christmas?

Oh and our family is very geographically spread so Christmas is a time when we can all take time off and get together so why not do it then?

[Pericoloso]

I've been opting out for years TBH.
My pics in the show us your Christmas dinner thread provide LOLs for its basicness.

[bloomen]

I retired from Christmas several years ago. I no longer show up anywhere and usually treat it like any other day.

If people don't dig the commercial aspect of it they can still buy presents but limit themselves to a fiver or tenner per person or something.

[DoubleD]

I like Christmas. I like how we all get together and have fun. I like giving presents and I like receiving presents.

[Teddy Lop]

The Mrs is a big kid and I like to spoil her.

Other than that don't really do much, used to visit the sis and take something for her and the nephew but she's had the sulk at me for a couple years now, so it really is just us this year as everyone else that matters is the other side of long haul, the Mrs is trying to float the idea we should go away somewhere coastal for Christmas dinner and a night or two away but it doesn't particularly grab me.

[Coolbanana]

Nanook said:

And stollen.

And mulled wine.

And panettone.

Yeah, screw it, I'm not opting out.

All of that! No way would I opt out. It is a day of family celebration (not Religious) and for me and even more significant given my Family lives all over the World and we have that one festive period to try and get together as much as possible. Even the kids are at different Universities in different countries.

So bring on Christmas! And good food! And gifts!

It's all good

[iphonedyou]

That time of year already for the annual PH thread on not 'doing 'Christmas, eh!

Comes around so quickly.