never choose tradition in spite of your own well being. If it's so bad that it turns your stomach, I say screw tradition. Make your own new traditions with your bf! AFter all, he's kind of your family now, though just not hitched permanently yet right?

This needs some background. I had a very strong tradition in my family growing up. Every year mostly the same people only changing with new SOs and children popping up. when I met my ex, I moved away from them not only to move to where her family was but away from mine. Although my ex and I parted ways one thing good came out of it aside from my boys - that is it took me away from them and I haven't spent a Christmas with them in 1.5 decades. yes it was hard sometimes at first but it was just missing the tradition, not the family so much.

It's not a bad thing, and if it's only a temporary thing, like "this year" that even lessens the guilt you should have to bear.