Then/now - what's Christmas to you?

[Deleted]

Haa! I look back at it and me thinks... that's some weird shit... might otter keep to meself

[espresso]

Back then... Christmas was a time of contradictions. Always trying to make it perfect, hoping if I filled everybody's expectations we'd all be fine. The naive childish joy of believing it was possible, and the fear when I realized no gift, cookie, tree or decoration was enough to keep me safe....

Now, it's all about taking Christmas back! The shadows will probably always be a part of this season. But hey... Christmas IS worth celebrating. It's all about good winning over evil, light overcoming the darkness!
So now we're making our own traditions. Creating good childhood memories for our kids. Doing very little of what society expects us to do, but filling the days with crazy, fun, meaningful stuff we enjoy!
Grateful to see the kids filled with joy, peace and excitement!

[tangerina]

When I was a child we had the tradition to celebrate Christmas at my mum's parents' place with our family and my uncle's family. I was so excited to see my cousins and brothers (who are quite a bit older than me so they had already moved out by the time I was 8). I was also super excited to get and open presents lol.

I was also incredibly scared of santaclaus who visited because of me since I was the youngest until mum realised how scared I really was.

Nowadays we celebrate at my parents with mum's parents and my brother's family. My other brother comes over with his wife every second year since they live like 700km to the north now. I'm still super excited to see my brothers who I don't get to see many times a year anymore, but today I like giving presents more than recieving them.

I'm also incredibly excited about all the food! I usually make vegan ham for myself and my brother's wife.

So quite traditional Christmas. And this happens on the 24th since that is the traditional Christmas celebration day in Finland. On the 25th we might visit some graves and dad's relatives.

[saralcat]

Christmas as a child followed the general formula of opening stockings as early as possible in the morning as we were allowed to, followed by church, more presents, Christmas dinner, remaining presents, getting excited to watch whatever BBC1 had decided to show as their main Christmas film and the Christmas variety shows that were always on. Eating the inevitable turkey sandwiches and cakes for tea, and oh so much chocolate! It was a magical time as a young child and I have fond memories of it. Well maybe not the obligatory Boxing Day walk that my parents always made us do. We lived next to the sea, so it was always a freezing cold, windswept experience that you couldn't wait to get back indoors from.

It sort of continued like that for years. Living in America was eye popping for the sheer extravagance on display which started to really turn me off it. Later I moved back to the UK, but because it was back with my parents, it returned to what it was like when I was little. The same old formula for my daughters as it had been for me and my brother. My daughters ended up members of St Nicholas' Cathedral girls choir in Newcastle for several years, (my son was briefly in the boys choir but got asked to leave lol) and my eldest was head choirister for the last couple, so Christmas always worked around travelling into town for the services they had to attend. Midnight mass at the Cathedral was probably my favourite. Now that we don't have to do that, I've very much fallen out of going to church unless my Mum specifically requests that I do.

Christmas for me has now become so overblown and consumer led that I've noticed a decided reaction in myself against it, and find I want to hide from it as much as possible, putting decorations up later and later every year. It used to be that we wouldn't start decorating until after my daughter's birthday on the 13th, but here it is, the 22nd and all I've put up so far is the few cards we've received. It could also be to do with the weather in the past few years just not feeling like it's cold enough to be midwinter. My youngest is now twelve and has figured who actually brings the presents, and I don't feel like I have to put on so much of a show any more. If we're at home we'll open presents throughout the day still, so there's no overwhelming mass of new things and bits of wrapping paper all over the place, though if there are young nieces and nephews around it gets a bit chaotic in their excitement.

Christmas, Yule.... I'm more likely to pay attention to the winter solstice for my own part. I barely send Christmas cards any more, and I've less interest in receiving gifts because someone's felt that they had to make a gesture because it's Christmas. Mind a bottle of wine or gin is never turned down Food and drink in good company. I'd rather spend time with my own family and close friends while they're around... with the people that bring joy to your spirit rather than the people you feel you have to.

Maybe I'm just getting grumpy as I get older, but I too feel a kind of melancholy at this time of year. Maybe if I ever have grandkids I'll start feeling differently again, or maybe by then I'll have turned into the kind of merry old woman who's rediscovered her Christmas spirit and sits by the fire with a glass of sherry and a fiddle, playing tunes and telling stories. I rather like that thought.

[james]

Then it was as Sarah said above and also a magical few days with relatives who live far away staying over, then after Boxing Day we'd travel down south and stay at other relatives for a few days ( several have big birthday do's) and I'd have fun with my cousins.
Now it is like a hellish military operation. Relatives we visited have divorced, cousins left home etc so it all happens at 'ours' ( the designated 'ours' varies. I still have uncles who spend Christmas at 'ours' who used to be really visiting my dad before he deceased.
Now we used to live in a reasonably sized magic cottage, but my mother moved to a different county and downsized. So at one point my mother and uncles were visiting and staying at my flat, with my sister and whoever else or we go stay at my mums smaller place.
So several relatives stay for 4-5 days. So we have to be a team as a host now whether it is at mine, my mums, or my sisters. Which involves constant cooked breakfasts, cooked dinners, other food, the ridiculous quantities of of it all having to be washed up after from Christmas Eve until two days after Boxing Day, throw in crazy quantities of booze, no sleep, and lack of space and it's a ticket to loosing your mind land. Especially as we all usually only cook for ourselves.
I already can't wait until next Thursday when I'll be alone again. There's 6 over this year, plus 3 pets over for Christmas too, although the dog might not stay long, but the cat has to travel with my sister.
Yeah it's fun, but it does feel like you're running a restaurant and failing, especially if you have over indulged.
It's not really what I want to do, but it's the nearest thing to a family party/ tradition left.

[jxbx]

Then : Anticipation, Surprise and Wonder!
Now : Survival.