I never get into the Christmas spirit until the beginning of December, but then I begin to look forward to it

Unfortunately I won't be working Christmas Day this year. I look forward to the racing on Boxing Day but in general wish that I could warp to January 1st.

It will be the first Christmas without my grandmother, so no, not really relishing the prospect this year.

Just the one as usual! I bought an 8ft black treea couple of years ago and me love it.

Not like you with your 47 trees

EDIT:Cant remember if it's 8ft or 9ft ot taller, but I need a ladder to get to the top

Not really. It's just more hassle at the end of what has already been a pretty exhausting year.

I love Christmas!!!  This year will be difficult as none of my sons will be home so it will just be Remy and me.

She maybe "just a dog" but I would be lost without her.

I've just been informed that we've been invited to my OHs eldest brothers for xmas day.  That includes dinner and then an evening of drink and fun.  Not too sure yet if we'll go because it's not fair to drag the kids away from their toys for so long but the OH wants to at least go for the evening, don't fancy laving my kids on xmas evening to go get drunk

Ahhhh
I hope she'll be getting a doggy stocking and treats?

had to get a small loan out for christmas..but least now we can afford some pressies so beginning to look forward to it

Same here but I borrow every year for xmas, I could probably get through xmas without getting a loan but I hate the stress of wondering where I'm getting the money so I'll borrow it and get the kids toys then but everything else out of my own money.

I love Christmas but it isn`t the same now my sons are adults. I haven`t bought any presents yet, however I did purchase some decorations at my local garden centre.

I hate Christmas with a passion, particularly all the hypocracy and greed that goes with it.  I try to avoid thinking about it until as late as possible, and wouldn't dream of starting my Christmas shopping until a week or so before Christmas Day.  I put my trees up on Christmas Eve, so that I don't have to put up with them for too long .

Yes, the Boxing Day racing is always the highlight of Mr G's Christmas too, and it's the one day in the year when he cooks 

Indeed!

I think bears and hedgehogs have it right - go into hibernation right about now and surface again next spring, avoiding the whole flippin circus and darkest winter nights.

I hate the build up...really hate it.  The day is always lovely coz we all go to my Mams and we are all together.  Mam's going to NZ this year...first year we (me and Big Brother and Big Sis and our families) will all be in our own homes

i am looking forward to christmas for one reason ...

time off work whoooopeeeeee

 Ooh I can't wait this year.  It's my first Christmas as a mum and I've already bought some decorations for Hetty's room.   Usually it's just the two of us at Christmas but this year we're a proper family.

I consider me and the OH to be a "proper family" even though there's just two of us.

Awwwww group hug - i love love love Crimmy Crimble

I never liked it til I had my kids..now I endure it for them!I do like the twinkly lights and getting ready for the kids,but I dont usually begin anything until the first week in decmber when we have our panto at school.Then I feel a bit more festive
Cant be doing with a huge build up tho.Starting in October's just too too much

I'm loving Marg's smileys ^^^^

COME ON !!!
Its you lot that be-moan the loss of our country's traditions then belly-ache about Crimmy Crimble.
I LOVE standing in queues - pushing past people - getting soaked .. and then the "ahhhh" wen i get home

Has it not occurred to you that Christmas can ben a particuarly sad and depressing time for many people, and they might not enjoy other people trying to force their own jolliness on them?

People are not saying that though - they are saying they don't like the run up, the sales, the early adverts etc . . . The general feel - no one has specified a personal reason

I hate the over-hype, because that's exactly what it is. I don't see why we should be bombarded with Crimbo adverts from October onwards, just because retailers are desperate to cash in.
I start feeling festive around the second week of December, and no amount of aggressive marketing will make me change my mind.

Sorry Deman, that was badly worded.  Of course you are a proper family even though there's just the two of you. Me and my OH have spent the last 16 years on our own and I've always considered us to be a proper family, having Hetty just makes us a different sort of family.

 Queenie. Is Hetty short for Harriet? Lovely, lovely name...

No it's boring, best thing is on Crimbo day though eating a roast dinner, watching Eastenders and SCD for me now but New Years is where the fun is at.

Gawd - i bet your a scream at a party, lol

I'd scream if I saw you there

Nah not me.

Plus if you think being bombarded with crappy Spice Girls songs mid October and people getting themselves up the eyeballs to buy shite for people they don't even like is traditional then you're off your nut.

Love Christmas, tree goes up next week, pressie shopping to be started very soon.

Cooking the Christmas dinner this year for the first time as we usually go to my mum's but can't this year, so rather nervous about that.

Having a family buffet on Christmas night and really looking forward to that as well.

One of my favorite bits of christmas is wrapping the presents. When the house is all tidy and its just me. I have baileys or wine and some nice telly or music on and just sit and get all creative with wrapping. My wrapping is great.

Aww thank you.  Yes it is, it can be for either Harriet or Henrietta.



PinkBabe - you're kidding about the  going up next week, right?

By the same token Christmas can be a time for happiness and excitement and who is anyone to deny people something they enjoy and save hard for in a lot of cases.

I can't see anybody "forcing" anything here, there is a mix of opinions and that is good, I am in the firmly loving Christmas camp whilst being aware it can be a sad time, it is for me I visit my grandparents graves on Christmas morning, but I know they would want me to enjoy the holiday as much as if they were here.

Each to their own I suppose.

Mine too Gypsie, I sit with a bottle of Baileys and wrap my pressies with a Christmas CD playing and me singing along, how it never snows every Christmas Eve with my singing is a miracle!!

*feels a little shiver of xmasness *