[Kerry]

Are you a person who wants to spend Christmas day with every family member possible or can't you abide it? How many people get coerced into spending the day with 15 people around the table or taken to someone elses house to sit as a 15th person around someones table on a stool that has clearly been borrowed from a neighbours neighbour and is 3 foot higher than the actual table (yet you have to smile comfortably)

Or do you prefer the day at home. Either alone or with your very immediate family?

I personally cannot stand how people think that everyone thinks every single family member expects the whole world around at theirs. I LOVE my Christmas day (typo thread - I typed Christams), just the three of us (and our zoo) doing our own thing.

Note - talking about Christmas (crap did it again) DAY. Of course people will socialise otherwise but what do you prefer on Christmas day?

[Pyramid*]

Ahhh,.... now this is the benefit of not having family - including parents / siblings.... you don't get into all that.

Something I really hated in years gone by, having to spend time with relatives that I never seen much of throughout the year (through choice), didn't like that much and having to put on the 'Let's play happy families' act - and listening to them all with the 'who has what, who's got the better job, wage, who's doing better in life' crap - when in reality, they were all thumping hell out of each other during the year and loathing one another. Quite bizarre.

Much preferred spending Christmas, short interval with parents, then with my friends, bunch of 'older girlies' having a good laugh and a good craic together. Lots more fun, much more enjoyable when it's at your own chosing rather than 'what is expected'.

Have a great day when it comes Kerry.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Snowball

Ahhh,.... now this is the benefit of not having family - including parents / siblings.... you don't get into all that.

Something I really hated in years gone by, having to spend time with relatives that I never seen much of throughout the year (through choice), didn't like that much and having to put on the 'Let's play happy families' act - and listening to them all with the 'who has what, who's got the better job, wage, who's doing better in life' crap - when in reality, they were all thumping hell out of each other during the year and loathing one another. Quite bizarre.

Much preferred spending Christmas, short interval with parents, then with my friends, bunch of 'older girlies' having a good laugh and a good craic together. Lots more fun, much more enjoyable when it's at your own chosing rather than 'what is expected'.

Have a great day when it comes Kerry.

Exactly, and thankyou, you too

I find it a bit hypocritical. It may sound 'scrooge-esque' *makes up own word*

I love Christmas, love my family. But if I want to see them I'll see them anytime. Not the most stressful time of the year! I want to relax at home!

[InOne]

No, rather spend it on my own.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scrooge

No, rather spend it on my own.

Really though? Totally on your own?

[InOne]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Really though? Totally on your own?

Yes lol Christmas doesn't mean anything anyway

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scrooge

Yes lol Christmas doesn't mean anything anyway

Not even a tree?

[InOne]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Not even a tree?

No I only live it a little place and I'm not wasting money

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scrooge

No I only live it a little place and I'm not wasting money

Don't blame you. Not if you're not fussed about the whole thing. Horrible time of year for those that aren't. Too much pressure

[InOne]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Don't blame you. Not if you're not fussed about the whole thing. Horrible time of year for those that aren't. Too much pressure

TV is always good I guess, that's a plus.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scrooge

TV is always good I guess, that's a plus.

I find it Marmite TBH. Too many repeats, too many films from 20 years ago and the soaps - too much crying!

[InOne]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

I find it Marmite TBH. Too many repeats, too many films from 20 years ago and the soaps - too much crying!

Well with my sleeping pattern I'll be asleep most of it anyway lol

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Scrooge

Well with my sleeping pattern I'll be asleep most of it anyway lol

I'm always up early Christmas day but will no doubt snooze at some point like the rest of the nation

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Exactly, and thankyou, you too

I find it a bit hypocritical. It may sound 'scrooge-esque' *makes up own word*

I love Christmas, love my family. But if I want to see them I'll see them anytime. Not the most stressful time of the year! I want to relax at home!

I don't think it sounds Scroogesque (great word!) at all. It's called being truthful. You can see and spend time with family all year round when ever you want - I see not a thing wrong in spending the festive season with those you want to spent it with. Especially when so many of us have such busy lives -it's nice to relax in the company that you want around you (or not as the case may be) - rather than be in company that you are 'expected' to be in, and not relaxed.

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Really though? Totally on your own?

Originally Posted by Scrooge

Yes lol Christmas doesn't mean anything anyway

It's a big misconception for many that Christmas HAS to be spent with people - normally from people who enjoy having that around them.

Often, it's one of the rare times that you don't have to be surrounded by people: sometimes it's just great to go do what you have to - do the rounds and then get back home, feet up, relax and take some quality 'me time' out. Many of us live such busy, hectic lives, that a few days of peace and quiet, a major flop out - is simply to die for!!

[Kerry]

Thats just it, my Christmas day I want with my OH and daughter. No one else. One of my cousins came over last year insisting I go over to another family members and she's quite a forceful woman and made me feel awful for actually saying 'No, I want to spend the day at home'. You'd honestly think I'd told her I wanted to attack the family with an axe

I've never been good at saying 'no' to people at the best of times but Christmas just piles pressure on people.

As for people turning up out of the blue... don't get me started.....

[King Gizzard]

It'll be me my mum and my sis this year, get up 10ish, open presents, go down to the beach to watch the christmas swim (people go in at 10am and raise money for charity, have funny costumes and shizzle) then go home and relax for the day. Watch whatevers on the tele and eat our food. All of our extended family lives in yorkshire and Lincolnshire so it isn't an option to see them

Last year I went down to my brothers in London and it was one of my favourite christmas', especially Boxing Day, walking around the gates of the Palace and into the shops with Christmas money

I just find it a day for really relaxing and just being happy as cliche as that is

[King Gizzard]

It'll be me my mum and my sis this year, get up 10ish, open presents, go down to the beach to watch the christmas swim (people go in at 10am and raise money for charity, have funny costumes and shizzle) then go home and relax for the day. Watch whatevers on the tele and eat our food. All of our extended family lives in yorkshire and Lincolnshire so that isn't

Last year I went down to my brothers in London and it was one of my favourite christmas', especially Boxing Day, walking around the gates of the Palace and into the shops with Christmas money

I just find it a day for really relaxing and just being happy as cliche as that is

[Kerry]

I love the actual day - I just don't want to be told/coerced into what to do with it.

[Miss Ivy Balls]

Good thread.

We have this family friend who we've known for years that comes over every Christmas day for dinner, and I'd just like a day where it's just the family.

Me, my parents and brother + sister.

Because it has become the normal now it would be really awkward to not arrange for this friend to come over.

I don't mind too much, but I like to not care how I look and stuff. Just be in my room and do my own thing without having to socialise to that degree.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Miss Ivy Balls

Good thread.

We have this family friend who we've known for years that comes over every Christmas day for dinner, and I'd just like a day where it's just the family.

Me, my parents and brother + sister.

Because it has become the normal now it would be really awkward to not arrange for this friend to come over.

I don't mind too much, but I like to not care how I look and stuff. Just be in my room and do my own thing without having to socialise to that degree.

Don't then. You're your own person. Do what you like

[InOne]

I have a massive family on my dads side but he doesn't bother with them. He's got 6 sisters and doesn't talk to any of them. Plus my mum has never bothered with any of her extended family. So I've never had the whole big family christmas thing, that is probably why I'm not too bothered, if you've never had it you'll never miss it.

[30stone]

See i actually like it, and it may be because i see my family often, my Auntie Uncle and my cousins live a 5 minute walk up the road, my grandparents live 5-6minute drive...

So there is 10 of us including my brother and parents, and then my brothers fiancee, so 11 total, no problem with Chairs (we have 10 ourselves) so no sitting on silly stools, and we have a big dining room seperate from the kitchen with a big table.

This is the first year without my brother waking me up. We usually get up at 8am.. go down and open presents then family comes at 11:30 ish.


And our first year without our great uncle, who we used to visit for a couple of hours every christmas so will be putting flowers on his grave and having a small glass of cherry round it, as thats what hes offered us since we were like 13.

But yeah im quite the opposite i love seeing my family

[30stone]

See i actually like it, and it may be because i see my family often, my Auntie Uncle and my cousins live a 5 minute walk up the road, my grandparents live 5-6minute drive...

So there is 10 of us including my brother and parents, and then my brothers fiancee, so 11 total, no problem with Chairs (we have 10 ourselves) so no sitting on silly stools, and we have a big dining room seperate from the kitchen with a big table.

This is the first year without my brother waking me up. We usually get up at 8am.. go down and open presents then family comes at 11:30 ish.


And our first year without our great uncle, who we used to visit for a couple of hours every christmas so will be putting flowers on his grave and having a small glass of cherry round it, as thats what hes offered us since we were like 13.

But yeah im quite the opposite i love seeing my family

[Stacey.]

I don't like when some of my other family come over, I'd just prefer my close family.. specially on christmas day. On boxing day though I sorta like to see other family, it's the only time we're all together so as it's only one day a year, it's alright.

[MTVN]

I'm not really a fan of big family gatherings, I prefer to spend Christmas with just my parents and brother. We go to my Grans quite a lot for Christmas and that's ok but then she lives near to a lot of my uncles, aunties and cousins so they always end up coming over for a while which can be a bit annoying, I dont like having to make small talk with all of them