Do you have any Christmas-equivalent in your life?
I guess most cultures do have at least some cozy family gathering event.
I am especially fond of the idea of the Chinese moon festival, love the idea of coming together, eating moon shaped pies and admiring the moon together! :-)
We're all atheists, but I usually still visit my brother for Christmas. It's a public holiday so still a rare opportunity to meet up during the year. We usually just laze around, eat, drink and smoke while consuming shitty media or otherwise indulging. We're not actively making a mockery of it, it's just what we do when we have nothing to do.
We even do token Christmas decorations. Like putting random christmas balls on house plants ... or putting santa hats on things.
And regarding the "mockery" and atheists/christians/insert_believe_system_here:
Christmas has imo become mainly a secular event by now, and also somehow heavily mocks itself already, so whatever...
Why? Because I could. Various friends were spending time with their families. I was invited, but politely declined, having made the mistake of accepting in previous years.
It was glorious: pizza, pot noodles, mince pies, cheesecake and whatever I wanted to binge watch, read or listen to for about 4 days solid.
I only accepted the invite from one friend, but did so a couple of times. They were a large and competitive family (I had been warned) who seemed to view family gatherings as part inquisition and part contact sport.
After the first time, I thought that it wouldn't be as bad now that I had met them, but then discovered that they had been holding back out of politeness the first time. I realised the error of my ways after that and could see why my friend was in two minds about going at all.
almost always, i don't have anyone to spend it with and it also isn't something i have much emotional attachment to, so other than sending out a few "merry xmas" type messages i just treat it as a normal day. if there are pretty lights in the park or a cute market or something around that time of year, i will go along to that (but i also do that alone). i don't really know much other way to do it tbh, when i was growing up it was always a hugely stressful thing with everyone angry or upset, so i like mine a lot better now :bc_smilomsweat:
Well, not completely alone, 2 or three of my friends also stayed far from home, so not sure if this counts?
And it was in Munich while living only a few blocks from the Winter Tollwood Festival, which is one of the most interesting "Christmas Markets" (quotes are on purpose...) in Germany which also didn't have its closing day on Christmas Eve already, but stayed open until Three Kings Day.
So, during daytime I was working in a relaxed way basically alone in the office, while during the evenings I was at a slightly crazy place eating exotic food and listening to strange, but top notch live bands.
I had a great time, did this twice or so!
Caveat:
I think that only worked because I am one of the lucky guys who have a stable family bond and also know that.
Gives you the safety to try stuff without fearing some none-recoverable loss.
A few, it was just like any weekend day except I couldn't go shopping.
Christmas doesn't have any significance to me or my mother, so we don't go out of our way to spend time together. In fact she tends to gleefully pick up extra hours at work because they pay her more. If I'm single or my partner is unavailable this results in me spending Christmas alone, which I honestly enjoy. If I'm in a relationship, I usually get sucked into whatever Christmas shenanigans my partner's family gets up to.
I have been married all through the millenium and I don't recall not being with people before that. My wife and I have had xmass just together lots though.
Yes. I typically live far away from family, and may or not not have a significant other or friends to celebrate with any given year. I often get invited by someone, but I don't always take them up on the offer. I'm no longer religious and tend to avoid overtly religious Christmas celebrations. Sometimes friends are inviting me to join their family who I don't know. While I'm grateful for the invite, I would rather relax and not navigate strange family dynamics.
Not Christmas day itself, but days before and after my company is mostly closed with just a few people working. I often volunteer to work those hours. My coworkers who care about Christmas more are grateful so I get first dibs on other popular vacation holidays.
Back when my family still spoke to me I ended up having to spend one Christmas in a lockdown psychiatric facility. Couldn't even contact them. My life is pure chaos and it's only getting worse. The part I fear the most is that I'm only middle-aged.
Lots of people do that every year. Some out of choice, some because they have no choice.
On the other hand, I'm someone who has always been with family. There was only one year where I wasn't for the day itself and that's because I was on nights. It was a little hard to deal with, but I've had worse experiences.
Like, say, the first summer I had a full time job after decades of school and university and suddenly not getting that six-week break. It was like I couldn't breathe.
Or the existential horror of working nights and realising that there's no great reset from one day to the next. You might not even realise you think of time that way until you have to be awake at the "wrong" times. Time's continuous. No break. No fanfare when the weekday changes. Relentless unending time.
So yeah, that Christmas was kind of lonely, but I slept through most of it, and saw family a day or so later.
Most Christmases I spend alone. I used to have a good paying job so I would buy myself a Christmas present. I lost my job because of Trump and Musk cuts to government contractors. Last Christmas, I watched Looney Toons on Internet Archive under a blanket, trying not to think how lonely I am, cold I am, or how hungry I am.
I had knee replacement surgery just before Christmas one year, couldn't get about. So I got a big grocery delivery, and spent the day pigging out, drinking and having video chats with friends and family. It was great.
My partner was away, so I decided to decline invitations from friends, got myself a box of luxury chocolates and just generally treated myself to a nice day.
Sort of. My spouse worked nights in the oncology ICU during COVID times, then slept most of the day. Then back to work. 1 accumulated hour of actual Christmas spent eating breakfast and opening gifts sucked.
Only once, this past year. (Not quite alone tho, my wife was with me.)
I started feeling nauseated and heavily fatigued Christmas Eve, and by Christmas Day I was pretty sure I had some kind of stomach bug. Sucks to be laid out in bed sick on a holiday.
But also kinda nice to defer the celebrations a couple days and spread out those family visits.
42 replies
Many times. Since I don't celebrate Christmas, I'm just cooking and watching LOTR movies.
^ This is exactly how you celebrate Christmas.
Not quite, but just exchange LOTR with "Die Hard" and you are there!
Home Alone!
Um, all of the above, please
Do you have any Christmas-equivalent in your life?
I guess most cultures do have at least some cozy family gathering event.
I am especially fond of the idea of the Chinese moon festival, love the idea of coming together, eating moon shaped pies and admiring the moon together! :-)
I don't. I'm an atheist and went no contact with my family ages ago. But sometimes I meet my partner's family. They are very friendly.
We're all atheists, but I usually still visit my brother for Christmas. It's a public holiday so still a rare opportunity to meet up during the year. We usually just laze around, eat, drink and smoke while consuming shitty media or otherwise indulging. We're not actively making a mockery of it, it's just what we do when we have nothing to do. We even do token Christmas decorations. Like putting random christmas balls on house plants ... or putting santa hats on things.
Sounds dope, and is probably what most are doing.
And regarding the "mockery" and atheists/christians/insert_believe_system_here:
Christmas has imo become mainly a secular event by now, and also somehow heavily mocks itself already, so whatever...
So the pies are spheroid?
Typically circular, but there are some regional variations.
There is a whole Wikipedia article about mooncakes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake
Nice! I do the same thing for Thanksgiving, while pet sitting for my parents
Often. I'm not a christian, I don't observe Christmas, and see my family regularly through the year.
I do enjoy Christmas movies from the 90s though, so I'll usually snuggle up with the cats and watch them while I sip a hot beverage.
Yes, a few times.
Why? Because I could. Various friends were spending time with their families. I was invited, but politely declined, having made the mistake of accepting in previous years.
It was glorious: pizza, pot noodles, mince pies, cheesecake and whatever I wanted to binge watch, read or listen to for about 4 days solid.
Why was it a mistake to accept the invitation in previous years?
I only accepted the invite from one friend, but did so a couple of times. They were a large and competitive family (I had been warned) who seemed to view family gatherings as part inquisition and part contact sport.
After the first time, I thought that it wouldn't be as bad now that I had met them, but then discovered that they had been holding back out of politeness the first time. I realised the error of my ways after that and could see why my friend was in two minds about going at all.
...all the time? It's fine.
almost always, i don't have anyone to spend it with and it also isn't something i have much emotional attachment to, so other than sending out a few "merry xmas" type messages i just treat it as a normal day. if there are pretty lights in the park or a cute market or something around that time of year, i will go along to that (but i also do that alone). i don't really know much other way to do it tbh, when i was growing up it was always a hugely stressful thing with everyone angry or upset, so i like mine a lot better now :bc_smilomsweat:
I usually spend it alone on a snowboard trip, and absolutely love it.
Well, not completely alone, 2 or three of my friends also stayed far from home, so not sure if this counts?
And it was in Munich while living only a few blocks from the Winter Tollwood Festival, which is one of the most interesting "Christmas Markets" (quotes are on purpose...) in Germany which also didn't have its closing day on Christmas Eve already, but stayed open until Three Kings Day.
So, during daytime I was working in a relaxed way basically alone in the office, while during the evenings I was at a slightly crazy place eating exotic food and listening to strange, but top notch live bands.
I had a great time, did this twice or so!
Caveat:
I think that only worked because I am one of the lucky guys who have a stable family bond and also know that.
Gives you the safety to try stuff without fearing some none-recoverable loss.
Every fucking year for the last 15 years. I would have it no other way.
Once, I got a whole pizza pie from the place down the street, and ate it while hanging with my cat and playing some nice single player games.
Another time, a friend of mine surprise ordered me Indian food. Ate it while playing video games with the cat.
Different time, was cat sitting for a friend. She ordered me a pie, which I ate while playing games and chilling with the cat.
All were pretty good, really.
The why was "I'm not that close with my family, don't want to travel, and I'm not seeing anyone who invited me"
A few, it was just like any weekend day except I couldn't go shopping.
Christmas doesn't have any significance to me or my mother, so we don't go out of our way to spend time together. In fact she tends to gleefully pick up extra hours at work because they pay her more. If I'm single or my partner is unavailable this results in me spending Christmas alone, which I honestly enjoy. If I'm in a relationship, I usually get sucked into whatever Christmas shenanigans my partner's family gets up to.
I have been married all through the millenium and I don't recall not being with people before that. My wife and I have had xmass just together lots though.
Yes. I typically live far away from family, and may or not not have a significant other or friends to celebrate with any given year. I often get invited by someone, but I don't always take them up on the offer. I'm no longer religious and tend to avoid overtly religious Christmas celebrations. Sometimes friends are inviting me to join their family who I don't know. While I'm grateful for the invite, I would rather relax and not navigate strange family dynamics.
Not Christmas day itself, but days before and after my company is mostly closed with just a few people working. I often volunteer to work those hours. My coworkers who care about Christmas more are grateful so I get first dibs on other popular vacation holidays.
Back when my family still spoke to me I ended up having to spend one Christmas in a lockdown psychiatric facility. Couldn't even contact them. My life is pure chaos and it's only getting worse. The part I fear the most is that I'm only middle-aged.
I am sorry to hear that. Hope things get better for you soon!
In 1994 I spent Christmas alone in Germany. I joined the US Army in may of 93, did all the training etc and got to Germany in November.
It was a blast and really was the most enjoyment I had at Christmas up until that point in my life.
German Christmas is the best Christmas.
Lots of people do that every year. Some out of choice, some because they have no choice.
On the other hand, I'm someone who has always been with family. There was only one year where I wasn't for the day itself and that's because I was on nights. It was a little hard to deal with, but I've had worse experiences.
Like, say, the first summer I had a full time job after decades of school and university and suddenly not getting that six-week break. It was like I couldn't breathe.
Or the existential horror of working nights and realising that there's no great reset from one day to the next. You might not even realise you think of time that way until you have to be awake at the "wrong" times. Time's continuous. No break. No fanfare when the weekday changes. Relentless unending time.
So yeah, that Christmas was kind of lonely, but I slept through most of it, and saw family a day or so later.
Lots of times, because I was single. It was fine.
Most Christmases I spend alone. I used to have a good paying job so I would buy myself a Christmas present. I lost my job because of Trump and Musk cuts to government contractors. Last Christmas, I watched Looney Toons on Internet Archive under a blanket, trying not to think how lonely I am, cold I am, or how hungry I am.
I hate Christmas.
🫂
I had knee replacement surgery just before Christmas one year, couldn't get about. So I got a big grocery delivery, and spent the day pigging out, drinking and having video chats with friends and family. It was great.
Once, and it was pretty sad.
My partner was away, so I decided to decline invitations from friends, got myself a box of luxury chocolates and just generally treated myself to a nice day.
It was wonderful
Sort of. My spouse worked nights in the oncology ICU during COVID times, then slept most of the day. Then back to work. 1 accumulated hour of actual Christmas spent eating breakfast and opening gifts sucked.
Yes, and it was amazing.
Just sleep in, chill, cook myself a nice dinner, watch some movies.
Yeah I was sick one year when my niece was an infant. Family asked me to stay home.
It was fine. I watched TV and smoked my hookah. All in all a pretty good day.
Only once, this past year. (Not quite alone tho, my wife was with me.)
I started feeling nauseated and heavily fatigued Christmas Eve, and by Christmas Day I was pretty sure I had some kind of stomach bug. Sucks to be laid out in bed sick on a holiday.
But also kinda nice to defer the celebrations a couple days and spread out those family visits.
So far, no. But that day may be coming
Like literally every other day? What even is this question?