Last few years we’ve been to a local pub for dinner, or stayed at home, or last year went for a curry on Christmas Day (won’t be doing that again)

Fancy getting away from it all this year (well, getting away from the usual routine). Obviously winter sun breaks will be stupidly expensive (albeit some cost can be offset by the fact that I’m self employed and will be off for a week and a half anyway – rather than taking time off any other time). But flights rarely seem to tie in properly.

We have caravan, so can travel cheaply in the UK, which may be an option.

Any suggestions of places to disappear to for Chrimbo?

See what community kitchens/groups are near you and volunteer or attend?

MrsRNP started one during Covid that’s been running every week since. The Christmas day one is great, people from all walks of life are there whether they need the financial, welfare, or social support or not.

I loved a Christmas barbecue lunch in a restaurant on the side of a ski slope (ski in, ski out) one year.

But if you thought winter sun was expensive…

(and the previous post is making me feel a little guilty too)

I loved a Christmas barbecue lunch in a restaurant on the side of a ski slope

Had a bbq on a rooftop in Hong Kong christmas ’95

I had a full roast in an Irish pub in Saigon one year. That was… strange.

For a more grounded idea, I agree with the volunteering. I know someone that does this in London and finds it immensely rewarding.

(and the previous post is making me feel a little guilty too)

Nah don’t feel guilty – we’ve done Xmas day in Oz on Bondi beach with my brother and family (red hot weather but with snow scene Christmas cards – strange) and a snowboarding Xmas in a plastic bathroom LesArc 1800 apartment which was pretty soulless!

I’ve done a few solo and alternative Christmases now. One good one was I went for a massive walk with a friend and we cooked Ramen on a stove on the side of a hill, drank alcoholic hot chocolate, and got home absolutely exhausted and ready for a night of gin and movies.

Another one I did a big bike ride with friends and then had home made (pre made) curries and trimmings at mine.

This year I’m contemplating escaping in my van for a wintry seaside escape. A big walk or bike ride to blow away the cobwebs, then cozy up in the van with some calorific food and netflix downloads.

There’s a communal Christmas dinner or two round our way that have a really good reputation too, but I quite like making the most of everywhere being quiet rather than joining in a party.

Another vote for volunteering at a charity. I’ve volunteered at a charity in Bristol supporting people who are homeless or vulnerable for the last 4 years which has been great fun as well as rewarding, and I have now joined the Board as a trustee. Prior to that I helped out at a farm run by a learning disability charity mucking out, feeding the animals etc.

I usually go for a walk or a bike ride.  I completly refuse to join any celebration of Christmas.  Its an orgy of consumption and consumerism.

I only have 2 meals on Christmas day.   The money saved is put into famine charities

Family are pressuring me to join them.  I have refused point blank

This has been my pattern for 25 years at least

 Its an orgy of consumption and consumerism

In defence of Christmas this is only if you (or anyone you feel an obligation to be around) let it be/choose to do it that way.  It’s perfectly possible to do Family Christmas without gluttony or going mad as others have noted.

That said your preferred option of walk or bike ride to get away from the excess is a very fine way to go about it.

Do you know anyone who celebrates chistmas but dies not cook a special feast?  Drink alchol they usually wouldn’t?

I don’t

In defence of Christmas this is only if you (or anyone you feel an obligation to be around) let it be/choose to do it that way.  It’s perfectly possible to do Family Christmas without gluttony or going mad as others have noted.

+1

We’re off to Tunisia for a bit. Flights were £100pp (school holidays), it’s pretty cheap living out there

I cook Christmas dinner for some older neighbours, one of whom has severe dementia. We also have another older friend who lives alone around, and take dinner round to another friend.

It’s good fun and helps justify getting absolutely hammered on Champagne in the afternoon.

Do you know anyone who celebrates chistmas but dies not cook a special feast? Drink alchol they usually wouldn’t?

I don’t

I know me 😝 but not just us. I accept it’s not massively common and in my age /life stage peers school age offspring does bring certain pressures. It is hard to swerve totally but you can avoid turning it into a festival of excess.

It remains a choice. We don’t ignore it completely we just do it carefully. We don’t waste food, we don’t stuff or drink ourselves senseless and we don’t buy a load of useless tat that will never be used.

Got kicked off a boat at 7am Christmas Morning once so they could refloat it in Singapore. Went down to the dock workers food plaza, got noodles, fried egg and sambal for breakfast and washed it down with plenty of tiger. Spent the rest of the day wandering round Singapore half cut.

.

Spend the week cragging on bolted limestone on the Costa Blanca, or one of the Med islands? Done that a couple of times. Calpe or Benidorm should have plenty of accommodation options.
Edit… obviously not a sensible option if you dont have a suitable climbing partner

I think Kramer has a nice one.  thats a good thing to do

Part of it for me is probably working most Christmas days – always the hardest day of the year and enforced jollity all round.

Start running. Now. Don’t stop or look back. Leave me; it’s too late for me but I want you to go. Please just go.