Not liking the holidays anymore like I used to

Anyone not like the holidays as much as they used to? For the most part, it is all four holidays but Thanksgiving and Christmas are my least favorite due to forced family interactions and people just generally get stressed out more. For Halloween and New Years, everyone kind of does their own thing so I'm okay, but for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it seems like a lot of families force their interactions with others while secretly wishing they were not with anyone or didn't have company. Not just my family, but even other people's families. I'll hear people mention how they are traveling to someone else's house or having people over at their house and they will sound really annoyed by it and some will even admit that they really don't want to.

I know one of my friend's parents get stressed anytime they are having people over. My friend has told me that her parents have even gotten into arguments about what they need to do to prepare for company. And I've seen her mother get very mad when the day starts to get closer to whenever they are expecting others to arrive. Same for my coworkers and even my own parents. They will state what the plans are in a very annoyed tone and some of them will even admit to wishing their company will leave as soon as they arrive. I will admit, I'm that way too.

I don't like a house full of people but since I'm with my parents, I have to just deal with it. But when company is at the house, I will admit that I secretly wish they would just leave even after just a day of them being there. My parents have admitted that as well to each other. Same for decorating for the holidays, people get so stressed out and mad when it comes to decorating even though it is not necessary. I've seen people, not just my family, get into full blown arguments and screaming matches over decorating. I don't understand that because it is not necessary. When I move out, I will not decorate at all. People just seem to stress themselves out over stuff that isn't necessary.

It could be having company over when they could have easily not invited anyone or when it comes to decorating. Even buying gifts can be forced. I've heard people mention who they have to get gifts for and they will admit that they really don't want to but they have to. It is all forced and that's why I not longer like the holidays anymore like I did as a kid. For Halloween, it is not so bad, people just do their own thing, and even New Years is not too bad either. Even Easter is more relaxed as well. Thanksgiving and Christmas has become my least favorite times of the year. I don't understand why people feel the need to force interactions with family members if they really don't want to be bothered or can't handle it due to the stress. They put themselves through stress when it's not necessary. Anyone else dislike the holidays and the forced interactions as well? Just wondered what your thoughts were.

I was thinking about this recently (and how christmas has changed over the years for me)

I've never had a "good" or a " magical" christmas, none that I can remember or that stand out

but I do know when I was younger I'd get more excited- make an effert to leave the food out for santa. watch the muppet's. decorate the house. play christmas music- christmas was magical in another way (not because I had people to spend it with, it's because I had the childhood wonder of it)
and now that's all gone

I still hold my traditions (I still watch the muppet's, I still decorate, still listen to christmas music) but I've learned a lot over the years about christmas

their is no santa (and believing in him doesn't get you anywhere)

it is very stressfull buying everything and decorating

and, if you're like me and have no one, christmas is very, very, cold

and lonely

I totally agree. It is not exciting as it used to be. In a way, most of the excitement is geared towards kids.

ditto halloween

and it's ashame, because I used to love that holiday too

Yep I agree. Same here. Halloween is more geared for kids too.

The holidays got too commercialized over the years.

Totally agree. It’s not enjoyable.

I love the period from Thanksgiving-New years- at least I used to. But the political climate is taking its toll.

Yeah I used to love that period. And I will admit, I still like some of the Christmas music that is played. But other than that, I don't really like that time frame anymore. Very commercialized, forced family interactions, and people are just generally in a bad mood. They may act all happy when company is all together, but behind closed doors, there is arguing and wishing people would just leave.

I still like Christmas but not like I used to as a child. Still enjoy the gift giving/receiving but I’m so glad online shopping is a thing and that I can knit some of my gifts as well - going round the shops tends to be kind of awful in the run up. I hate that some people feel so under pressure/obligated they take it out on others, on purpose or not.
I agree most holidays are too commercialised now - some shops in the UK already have mince pies and supermarkets usually have Easter eggs on the shelves soon after new year. I honestly don’t have a clue who’s buying them that early. It’s utter madness.

I find the holidays more stressful than enjoyable at this point. I was never a fan of Thanksgiving but liked Christmas and Halloween as a kid. Now Christmas involves travel to see people I'd rather not see. Thanksgiving has gotten tense over the years with two people having a cold war over who gets to cook. Thanksgiving will be small this year, if we do it at all. I hope Covid cancels our Christmas travel but am getting nervous my husband doesn't feel the same way, lol.

Yep I agree. I am not a fan of shopping so I'm glad I can go online too. I also just get gift cards since that is the easiest. Basically just giving someone money to get what they want on their own. And I hate it when people feel so obligated and take it out on others as well. They put it on themselves so it is their responsibility. And yeah, I don't understand why shops start advertising so early too. I know they want people to buy but they do it too soon. Like I'll see Christmas stuff on the shelves as early as September. It is ridiculous.

I agree. When I was a kid, my favorite holidays were Halloween and Christmas. Not anymore. I like the food during Thanksgiving but don't like having company during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Partially because they tend to overstay their welcome and also it is just too much. I will say, out of the four holidays, I prefer Halloween the most since there is no get togethers. The passing out candy part is for kids and for adults, it's usually just a night to hang out with others.

New Years is not bad but people go a bit too crazy at times, but I still prefer it over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Basically, like you said, it involves seeing people I'd rather not see. I can understand why you don't like it. And I hope not as many people come over for the holidays too. Not because I'm afraid of the virus, but just don't want many people over.

I used to like the holidays a whole lot as a kid. I felt like, in growing up, that my family structure wasn't great. It seemed like the holidays was a period when we could be emotionally together. The rest of the year, not so.

The only thing I like about the holidays now is having time off from work. Christmas is the worst for me because there seems to be some kind of stigma of being alone at that time, in which I always am. And my birthday comes on New Years Day, so I'm a year older and not having some kind of party for me.

Thanksgiving is still kind of nice for me. But now, for some stupid reason, the company I work for does not observe the Friday after Thanksgiving like it used to.

Aw I’m sorry you are alone. That sucks that you no longer have off the day after Thanksgiving. And I believe that the older you get, the less you enjoy the holidays. I do enjoy the time off work but when there is company over, I usually can’t wait for them to leave and I’m so happy and relieved when they do leave or cancel their plans on coming over. I know that sounds rude but there are people I’d rather not see no matter if they are family or not.

It doesn't sound rude to me at all. I know what you mean. There's my sister who lives 3000 miles away who is married with two adult children. I haven't spent any holidays with them and I wouldn't be interested to. It would be too much drama for me. They have never come to visit me. If I had the choice between me visiting them or them visiting me, I would choose the latter. It would make me feel more in control. But I think it would be nice to see them go if they did.

Yeah I don't blame you for not wanting to go visit her. I'm also like you in the fact that if I do have to see company, I actually prefer for them to make the trip since I hate traveling. But it is nice to see them go too. And yeah, when company is over, there is more drama. More gossiping. If kids or even teenagers around, there is more yelling. And after awhile, especially if some of them overstay their welcome, people naturally start getting sick of each other. I prefer no company at all. And if there is company, I also prefer it to be a visit that lasts no more than a couple hours. Having them spend the night, especially for days to over a week on end is just way too much. I start thinking, please leave.

The world is getting worse, even members of my own family do not even wish me happy birthday and i grew up with them. My family could care less about me, but i do not care i have love for them and will be there for them and i pray for them every day. We have to bear insulting behaviour and bad times, Bad times and people make us stronger. Us, British, do not celebrate thanksgiving, i wish we did perhaps then things would be better for me. The funny thing is each member of the family feels about the others the same way i do. Its terrible but at the end of the day, we are there for each other when we need to be.

When family members wish others or even me a happy birthday, it comes off as forced politeness. And I’m glad you are there fore your family.

I used to enjoy all the holidays and never had any bad issues with them until I got married. My h and my mother made it a struggle. Due to their behavior (they wouldn’t play any reindeer games ), I would try to make nice holidays but nearly always ended up crying in frustration.

I would love it if I were with other people who I got along with better, and we could enjoy holidays. I love to entertain and celebrate. I’d make a party and celebrate anything! I’m a merry maker.

I used to love the holidays too back when I was a kid. I started to dislike them during my teen years and really began to hate it when I was in college. Yeah family unfortunately tends to ruin it. I agree that celebrating the holidays with people you actually like makes it better. I don't care for New Years either, but I am always at a friend's house for New Years. Nothing crazy, we just hang out. For me, that is way more enjoyable than being around noisy boisterous family members.

This is true when we grow up, we perceive everything differently, and so do the holidays.

But I have the opposite situation than the author.

I want to celebrate Christmas with my big family in a beautifully decorated house, as in childhood. But in recent years this has not happened. Because my parents always work at Christmas, my brother lives abroad, and I don't have a husband and children to celebrate with. And when my friends tell me how they celebrated Christmas with their family, or when I see their stories on Instagram, I get sad because I don't have that family comfort on holidays. I feel lonely

Aw I’m sorry you feel lonely. Yeah the holidays can bring about those feelings as well, loneliness and sadness. I totally get it. It can bring up painful memories too.

I love holidays i spend it with family members and go out with my brothers.

That’s good. Glad the holidays are still enjoyable for you.