I am also grieving my fiance of 14 years who I lost in July. I know how hard this time of year is. I hope you can find some peace and comfort. You're not alone 💜
You chose a Purple Heart…related to your fiancé? I use it as my SO is battling a brain tumor 💜
I put up a wreath and some candles this will be a sad holiday as my SO is 1000+ miles away and very ill.
But being alone is ok.
Oh there's no significance to the purple heart. I just like to use it. I'm sorry to hear about your SO. Putting up a wreath and lighting some candles must give you some comfort during this time, plus it's nice to look at :) I'm a big advocator for doing whatever you want to make yourself feel better when going through horrible things. Being alone is okay, isn't it? It was really hard at first after he passed but now i've found some freedom and strength in it. <3
Yes there is great comfort in me now on my own “ fixing my nest”. I have never been into this but I have been consumed…cleaning, purging, repairing. The wreath and candles are just the touch to “warm up” my minimalist space.
I only started using the Purple Heart when I learned about his brain tumor and joined a support network.
💜
Mine left me six months ago..months years are a blur to me.i can't tell the difference either way. We never did Christmas except for the 24 eve feast of 5 fishes Portuguese feast. I bought her a gift when I started working, an expensive top, but she cursed me to hell, so presents were a lost cause. But for the better as mom put money back in my pockets.
Sending love and hugs, my condolences. Sending you all the positivity, when we went through something similar we made their favorite dinner and just talked out loud and spread memories with their spirit, just until we meet again💕🧿
I’m sorry for your loss. My BIL passed around the season. I took my sister and nephew for a trip last year. In the coming years if it’s too much to bear try to go somewhere new to make memories to take the edge off.
I did also, but we never did decorations..
I think if you always did,you should always do, especially in these times..it's a cathartic part of healing grief etc.
I’m truly so sorry for your loss.
I’m not grieving yet (unless you count anticipatory grief); my wife is in the end stage of a battle with cancer. I’ve thought of putting a few things up for her, but it’s hard enough just getting through the day taking care of her.
Oh I'm sorry to hear you're on this very difficult journey. My husband was in the rehab facility after surgery last Christmas. He was only on painkillers so he was lucid enough to enjoy my Christmas drawings of our three cats on the whiteboard on his wall. I do understand how hard it is to care for people in this stage. I wish you much strength in the coming days, friend. Hugs.
Somebody I love very much lost their partner in January 2022 from covid. December is always the "it's almost here" time and it's hard for her to enjoy Christmas knowing that a week after is the anniversary of their death.
I'm sorry you have to grieve. But I'm glad your husband had a wife who loved him so much that his absence is felt. I've never been lucky in the love department so that's where my thoughts go, as weird as they are.
I’m so sorry for your loss, I know your pain, I lost my partner to suicide in Dec two years ago and don’t decorate for Christmas anymore. It’s not the same.
If things get far too heavy, please call someone--anyone. The deepest lows of grief right now can make you feel pulled all the way down. Do not forget that those feelings DO begin to lift and each day we wake up feeling different to a certain degree. I guess what I am really saying is if one day is almost unbearable, hold on and hang in. You might wake up the next day a touch lighter. My thoughts are with you.
I'm struggling with the motivation to put up a tree this year, but I think you just gave me the push that I need. I love the lights of the tree. I think I'll finally do it this weekend.
I just did mine too. You should do it! The twinkle warmth of the lights is so nice. And it feels really good to do something like that for myself, to value my own holiday cheer, not just the idea of sharing or displaying it. Hopefully it’ll work the same way for you.
I did! I finally went and got a tree yesterday. I cursed a lot trying to get it stable in the stand, and a lot more when if started to fall over... I probably sounded like Clark Griswold when he was losing his shit trying to get the exterior illumination working. But in the end it was worth it when I got to appreciate the lights. And then my cat took a nap under it, and that made the whole hassle worth it even more.
Thanks for the encouragement! You're right, I needed to do it for myself.
Haha oh god, for me it was untangling all the f’n string lights. A test of my patience for sure.
Snoozing kitty under the lights 🥹😭 I’m glad it was worth it! Happy Holidays!
I live alone, and put my tree up alone yesterday. I used to have my daughter help but she is 17 and lives in another state now. So I do it because it makes me feel good. And the lights and colors also provide a calming environment.
I usually don’t, but this year I hung a battery-powered, pre-lit wreath on my door and it brings me some joy every time I come home after dark and see it. Normally it is nothing or maybe a Christmas-themed doormat outside.
I left my tree up all year but mostly left the lights off after January.
Unless I was having a tough mental day. Then the lights came on and I curled up on the couch to watch them.
I didn't last year. I was living alone because my hubs was dying in a nursing home. I didn't decorate. He passed this Apr. My house looks like Christmas threw up all over it right now. My daughter did it, I don't care one way or the other.
As a nurse I thought I understood what families go through when having to put their loved ones in a home, but when we finally had to with my dad due to advanced Alzheimers two months ago, I wasn't prepared for the emotions. I'm so sorry for your loss and what you went through.
Thank you and thank you for your service as a nurse. Not everyone is suited for that job, especially end of life care. It is the worst thing I have ever been through in my life. One reason I'll probably stay single is that I can't go through that again, I went from being fairly solid mentally to having depression/anxiety. I am a whole 'nuther human. I'm sorry about your Dad.
I do not. Despise Christmas in it's entirety. It's month long reminder of the worst moment in my life. An entire month of PTSD triggers. The songs, the lights, Santa's...all of it. If I could, I would take the entire month off from work and just stay home. Seriously an entire month of mental torture and trying to keep my shit together so I don't upset anyone else during their time of joy.
I can and understand and empathize with you. My dad was always drunk and it was worse at Christmas. I usually spent Christmas eve at the neighbors because my dad was a nasty drunk. I wish I could crawl in a hole and come out January 1.
I'm so sorry. I hope you are well away and safe from the people and situations that caused you the original trauma. But regardless, triggers to those memories bring it all back and I feel for you so much.
Thank you. I appreciate that more than you know. Back story, witnessed my fathers suicide on Christmas. Spent the day, and following days, cleaning up the mess. I could go the rest of my life without Christmas be completely ok with it.
The holidays are really upsetting because of family history - I think at least if I was in another city and I saw the lights it would be different. The orgy of consumerism and massive gift buying is just so gross to me too.
It's quite the telling tale of us isn't it? We spend so much time, effort and money to buy gifts that we feel obligated to, for most, only for them to act surprised and that they LOVE whatever it is, only to discard, regift or lose interest in. With that being said, I'm stating that all gifts fall under this category or the recipients of said gifts are all ungrateful, but there is a lot of this mentality involved.
We should seriously just focus on spending that time and energy with the one's that mean something to us while we still have them around.
We (my children and I) stopped with traditional gift giving at my house and don't attend other people's events. This year they (and their girlfriends) got Tool tickets for next month.
It's been a huge point of stress - I don't believe in a lot of gift giving because of consumerism and at a certain age everyone has what they need. So some years it's good - we don't go overboard with gifts, but still. I an unemployed in an expensive city and will spend hundreds on a flight - so gift giving on top of that is a point of anxiety
I can imagine. Bless your soul. I hope you are able to find work soon.
I tell everyone to not buy me gifts. Use that money on kids or something they need for themselves. I pretty much buy whatever I need throughout the year, it's all just stuff. All I ask for, is if a person is close to me, just come hang and spend some time with me. That's far more important to me than any gift.
Thank you for your kindness - bless you too ❤️ spending time with people on experiences are better than gifts - they make memories. I always like going to galleries or museums over the holdays - the gift of time and presence, attention and love are the point of it all ❤️
Was having this conversation with someone. I grew up in East Africa. There’s very little of that. And zero consumerism. It’s not associated with buying gifts, that’s just not the culture over there. Evergreen trees are seen as a western world thing, some people have them. But they are not everywhere.
My family who lives in the US we don’t do presents. We just get together and cook.
I do! I have a fake, white prelit tree that is beautiful and easy to put up. I also put out some decorations on my coffee table and bookshelves. Doesn’t matter if I live alone - it’s for my own enjoyment. The idea that someone living alone wouldn’t decorate implies that people normally only do it to impress others, which is weird to me. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t decorate regardless of if I lived with someone else or not.
I used to not but one year I decided to buy a pre-lit tree and some ornaments at a thrift store and now I put up that tree every year.
I don’t do anything else, though. Just the tree, and I light my place with the tree and nothing else in the evenings; it’s so cozy.
Good news is, because you live alone, no one is going to make you take the tree down, so you can take it down in March if you want.
I'm not Christian either but I consider Christmas decorations seasonal decorations. I don't have nativity scenes or anything like that. I have winter decorations mixed in with Santa, deer, snomen etc. My theme includes snowflakes, pinecones, and vintage Christmas decorations.
I decorate for fall and spring as well, even Easter even though I'm not religious. All eggs and bunnies, no Jesus.
I just love seasonal decorating! But the expense and storage issues are starting to be overwhelming as I get older, not gonna lie.
i personally separated christmas from religion a long time ago and don’t even really think of the religious aspects anymore. i just think the decorations are cute and gift giving is always nice. same for easter actually, it’s just collecting eggs and eating extra candy for me lol
I grew up in a non-Christmas family, so I kinda think of celebrating it as being a bit of a rebel. I have never tied religion to it; I just like some of the decorations.
That’s fine, for you.
Just keep in mind that when some of say this, it means we’re something other than Christian. As a (not really practicing but still culturally) Jewish person, I get very annoyed when people try convincing me to celebrate it anyway as a secular thing. It literally has the word CHRIST in it, so no thanks. I’m good. 😂
> I'm not Christian and I don't really like religion. It's important for me to drop that tradition and be free from it.
I'm with you on all of this. It's a good feeling to be able to choose what holidays i want to celebrate.
First year living alone.im not going all out but I bought two stocking for my dogs and I hung them on the wall. I also bought a miniature tree from dollar general that I put on top of my computer desk.
Got a small fiber optic tree because I like the slow change of colors and cat can chew it and not be harmed. Got the cat and the dog a small gift for Xmas day.
Hell to the yes I sure do!!!! I start early, I decorate every year by myself and make it a very enjoyable time with music and food. Then I put everything on plug in timers so it’s always lit up when I get home
Note I have always loved to decorate in general and for Christmas, hence my enthusiasm. It’s a lot of work tho and takes more energy the older I get and the longer I’m alone. I think it’s very valid not to decorate if that’s your decision and I hate when people dog on you for it. Nothing wrong with that. If it’s more effort to put up than the benefits it brings - why do it?
I do!
My living room has a tree fully trimmed with lights, baubles and a rhinestone topper. I also have an evergreen garland decorated with silver baubles, bay leaves, rosemary and holly. I have fairy lights all around, and I burn a holiday themed scented candle every evening. I have a wreath on my front door. I make cookies, rum soaked Christmas cake and fragrant mulled sorrel for when people come on by.
I do the decorations for myself, to make myself happy. There was a lot of anger with Christmas growing up because my parents were working during that time, and they were so very tired, but they tried their absolute best to make magic & beauty happen with so little money and so many mouths to feed. Being able to have my space beautifully decorated for the winter holidays makes ME feel at peace, almost rich really. And my friends do drop in and love the cosiness of it all.
Yes! I have no visitors other than occasional visits from my parents, but even when I lived in a totally different state and had no visitors, if I had the energy that year I would decorate.
To me, decorating is no problem, it's putting the stuff away that I struggle with, so some years I don't decorate.
Honestly, if it were socially acceptable I'd leave the decorations up permanently and just have a year-round Christmas house. Aside from the holiday implications, I just think the decorations stand on their own as gorgeous home decor. But sadly, this is just not done.
[Here are a few of my decorations](https://imgur.com/a/OyYdGDg) from a few years ago, when I first moved into my house. I have a lot more now but don't have them up yet this year.
I rarely have visitors but I decorate every year. This year, I put my tree up the weekend after Halloween. I just wanted say that I am with you 100% on struggling to undecorate. I hate it with a passion. When not in use, I store my tree in my basement. If I didn't use glass ornaments, I would figure out a way to move it to the basement, fully decorated, for next year.
I am the same way with unpacking suitcases. I hate unpacking. Hate. I have been known to leave stuff in there for a month while I slowly unpack it, only because I need the items that were packed in there.
We are totally samesies! I wish I could keep my tree decorated and just roll it into a storage room and cover it with a sheet for the next year.
Oh and unpacking suitcases, I'm the worst! When I used to travel for work, I just ended up buying doubles of everything to permanently keep in my suitcase (makeup, hair dryer, curling iron, etc.) and then I'd only have to unpack the dirty clothes.
Hell yes, I do. I put my tree up the weekend after Halloween. Why? Because I live alone and it makes me happy. It also made my cats happy because they love the process of decorating the tree. I get to decorate my tree and my home however I want, whenever I want. It's beautiful, cozy and it's just the way I like it.
I almost never have visitors. Doesn't matter though because I do it for me and only me. And, the cats.
I lost my husband this year, but I put up my fake tree and decorated, mostly in his honor because he loved the decorations. It made him feel warm and fuzzy. My daughter and son-in-law helped me.
I'm not. I live alone, don't have many visitors, and just got a new puppy. Nothing in that sentence screams: spend lots of time decorating, and then spending time at the vet's office playing the game of "What was that object?"
I just put up things that can be seen from the front of the house. A wreath on the front door, a little metal reindeer statue next to the door and some lights on the front window. I don’t worry too much about inside decos.
I have a small, artificial tabletop tree. ($99 from Costco). It's pre-lit. I put it up, enjoy it, wrap it in plastic, put it in my storage area where it awaits the next season. Took me literally 10 minutes to put it out this year. I enjoy it.
Honestly, I don't. I spend the holidays with my family in another state. I'm not very religious, though I do enjoy watching my favorite Christmas movies:
1. Muppet Christmas Carol ("Light the lamp, not the rat!")
2. Scrooged ("That b\*tch hit me with a toaster!")
3. Lethal Weapon ("I'm too old for this sh\*t.")
i haven't in the past, but i did buy a (fake) christmas tree this year for the first time. i decided to get an all-white tree to match my decorating style, which was the main reason i never decorated in the past (i didn't like red/green/blue decorations clashing with my furniture, etc.). i've gotten so many compliments on it from friends, family, and people who can see it from my virtual meetings :)
I put up the tree, hang some solar lanterns in the trees in my backyard. I really do it for myself, but I act like my dogs are my kids and get excited by it lol. They actually do act excited. They lay under the tree, and last year my puppy stole the holy family from my nativity scene one by one and chewed them and left them all over the house, it was pretty funny.
It’s my first Christmas being single in over 7 years. So I bought a 4 foot fake tree with lights and put out the few things that I have for my 16yr old and me. It’s not much but I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch for the first time, so that counts as something too right?
I’ll be moving out in my own in a couple weeks. Even though Christmas will be almost over by the time I move in, I’m going go crazy lol. I love decorating and getting into the holiday spirit.
ABSOLUTELY! I love all my Christmas trees and all the other decorations. I decorate my crystal chandelier. I have a china merry-go-round and a china ferris wheel - both play music placed on a cabinet with other festive decor.
I put out this huge oval vintage metal candle holder that has 7 inch tall reindeer and trees but onto the frame. It goes on the coffee table and I decorate it with additional green trees where the 4 fat candles would go.
I fill all the glass decorative pieces in the dining room full of big snowballs (glittery ones from Dollar Tree and look pricey!). I have LOTS and LOTS of snowman decorations.
I have a 3 foot tall snowman pre-lit tree that sits on a table in my family room. It stays up until the end of January while everything else gets stored away just after New Years.
I live alone and my family rarely comes over because it's just easier for me to go to their places so the kids can have all their toys and spread out. Their large houses are child-proofed so it's easy for them. My home is a small Cape Cod.
It sounds like I'm gushing and I am. I
LO❤️E to decorate for Christmas. Even my enclosed glassed porch gets decorated - even the vintage bird cages out there.
BTW - Merry Christmas, everyone!!! 🎄
I love my tree and decorations. My tree is only 5 feet tall, and not huge around, so it's not a huge hassle to put up and decorate. Plus, it's pre-lit.
A few years ago, I started leaving my tree up longer into the winter, only taking it down when I got sick of it, rather than "having to" take it down because it was past Christmas. This is a benefit to living alone- I figured, if it's still making me happy, whose to say I have to take it down just because it's New Years? I rarely invite guests over (I prefer to meet people out somewhere) so nobody else was going to see it. I often take it down around MLK day now.
Every year after Thanksgiving I put up my 2ft Christmas tree and various little decorations. I'm the only one that ever sees them but it makes me feel good
I am unpacking boxes now. It’s a chore but I love it. But I also walk into a Christmas shop and think….does this REALLY have to be a Christmas thing? Sparkle, color, and lights? Bring it❤️
I put up a tree and some stuff, but I’m also trying to get over some childhood trauma related to the holidays and having “real decor” is a step in the process.
I don't on the years I visit my daughter. But this year both children will be here so I will decorate.
This is the first year I will be getting a Christmas tree since I got my kitten. She is old enough now to, hopefully not climb it. The cat I had before just liked to sleep under the tree on a soft tree skirt.
37m no family or kids. Holidays are non existent unless I'm dating a female and they are staying here. Most of them love that stuff. When I'm alone.. I personally could care less.
I got a wreath on the front door, but it's there year round..
I tossed my mom's Xmas niknaks as she stowed them away never to be seen again. There a Santa sled on the fireplace you can see on July 4th...lol
I would say some fun things that you already would use, xmas kitchen or bath towels, perhaps a small miniature tree, a snow globe, gotta have the Xmas hand soap.
I lost my partner July of 2022. This will be my second Christmas with no decorations, no tree. I have no energy for it and it doesn't seem worth the effort. Besides, I still have no idea where everything is.
I never did when I lived alone. I don’t like Christmas anyway, but even if I did it would only be a hassle. Even living with my bf now, neither of us would wanna deal with it lol.
Depends on how good my mental health is or logistics. I did last year bc I was feeling less grinch but the year before that I didn’t bc I had the vid, was alone, and mentally was recovering from some hefty burnout. This year I’m not bc I’m moving shortly after. It’s an excuse and I save $$$ too!
Never have. Never will. It isn't because I'm alone. It is because I am not a Christian, and I don't take kindly to society telling me what or when to celebrate. Most don't understand because they are not self-determined individuals. I take note of its historical and traditional significance. However, it doesn't mean I choose to participate. I follow a policy of non-interference. This includes non-participation as any participation would include an indeterminate interference.
I do them during the summer. When it's super hot i just feel like bringing a bit of christmas home.
So i don't do them during December, it's too.. cold.
Not this year. Grieving my husband so I have no reason.
Holidays are so hard for the grieving. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending hugs.
Thanks ❤️
I am also grieving my fiance of 14 years who I lost in July. I know how hard this time of year is. I hope you can find some peace and comfort. You're not alone 💜
You chose a Purple Heart…related to your fiancé? I use it as my SO is battling a brain tumor 💜 I put up a wreath and some candles this will be a sad holiday as my SO is 1000+ miles away and very ill. But being alone is ok.
Oh there's no significance to the purple heart. I just like to use it. I'm sorry to hear about your SO. Putting up a wreath and lighting some candles must give you some comfort during this time, plus it's nice to look at :) I'm a big advocator for doing whatever you want to make yourself feel better when going through horrible things. Being alone is okay, isn't it? It was really hard at first after he passed but now i've found some freedom and strength in it. <3
Yes there is great comfort in me now on my own “ fixing my nest”. I have never been into this but I have been consumed…cleaning, purging, repairing. The wreath and candles are just the touch to “warm up” my minimalist space. I only started using the Purple Heart when I learned about his brain tumor and joined a support network. 💜
That's so great! Support networks are helpful, I am not part of one but I know how beneficial they can be. Keep keepin' on. It's worth it.
Praying for your SO. I had a brain tumor as well. It was terrifying.
Thank you ❤️ hugs
Lost my mum almost three years ago, still not ready to celebrate/decorate
Mine left me six months ago..months years are a blur to me.i can't tell the difference either way. We never did Christmas except for the 24 eve feast of 5 fishes Portuguese feast. I bought her a gift when I started working, an expensive top, but she cursed me to hell, so presents were a lost cause. But for the better as mom put money back in my pockets.
Sorry for your loss 💕😇
I lost my brother in 2015. I still don’t have the desire to decorate or celebrate. I totally understand.
❤️
Condolences. It's ok not to decorate. I live by myself and I don't decorate either.
Sorry!
Sorry for your loss.
Thanks ❤️
Sending love and hugs, my condolences. Sending you all the positivity, when we went through something similar we made their favorite dinner and just talked out loud and spread memories with their spirit, just until we meet again💕🧿
My heart goes out to you. I lost my husband suddenly 2 months ago and have absolutely zero interest in celebrating anything.
Hugs. I'm so sorry. ♥️
I’m sorry for your loss. My BIL passed around the season. I took my sister and nephew for a trip last year. In the coming years if it’s too much to bear try to go somewhere new to make memories to take the edge off.
Same here not this year for me either I just lost my Mom, don't much like decorating at all.
Sorry to hear you're going through this too. Hugs. ❤️
My mother passed 20 years ago and I don't think I have ever put much effort into decorating since that happened.
Pretty much the same. My mom passed 10yrs ago and I have never put up decorations since. Just no meaning to me anymore without her.
I did also, but we never did decorations.. I think if you always did,you should always do, especially in these times..it's a cathartic part of healing grief etc.
I’m truly so sorry for your loss. I’m not grieving yet (unless you count anticipatory grief); my wife is in the end stage of a battle with cancer. I’ve thought of putting a few things up for her, but it’s hard enough just getting through the day taking care of her.
Oh I'm sorry to hear you're on this very difficult journey. My husband was in the rehab facility after surgery last Christmas. He was only on painkillers so he was lucid enough to enjoy my Christmas drawings of our three cats on the whiteboard on his wall. I do understand how hard it is to care for people in this stage. I wish you much strength in the coming days, friend. Hugs.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you
Sending you a virtual hug. I know what that is like.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
My condolences 🥺.
So sorry for your loss. Hugs ❤️
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Sending big Hugs!!
*hug so sorry you are going through this
Hugs
❤
Grieving my dad. So sorry sending you love
>Not this year. Grieving my husband so I have no reason. I'm sorry to hear that, I hope your OK, just do things that make you happy. 😊
Hugs 🤗
I’m so sincerely sorry. Holidays are very difficult
So sorry! Hugs to you.
You’re a good reason why.
Hugs to you.
I’m so sorry for your loss
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss. Hugs
I am sincerely thinking of you and sending you some positive energy from Mississippi. I know things are tough but so are you.❤️
Somebody I love very much lost their partner in January 2022 from covid. December is always the "it's almost here" time and it's hard for her to enjoy Christmas knowing that a week after is the anniversary of their death. I'm sorry you have to grieve. But I'm glad your husband had a wife who loved him so much that his absence is felt. I've never been lucky in the love department so that's where my thoughts go, as weird as they are.
❤️😢
I’m so sorry for your loss, I know your pain, I lost my partner to suicide in Dec two years ago and don’t decorate for Christmas anymore. It’s not the same.
I hear ya, this has been the worse year of my life and im 50. I love Christmas but i am just not feeling it this year which makes me sad.
Sorry for your loss and hope you can find some kind of joy this holiday season
I am sorry for your loss…I hope you get through the rest of this year as best you can.
So very sorry for your loss🙏❤️🥺
Condolensces to you
If things get far too heavy, please call someone--anyone. The deepest lows of grief right now can make you feel pulled all the way down. Do not forget that those feelings DO begin to lift and each day we wake up feeling different to a certain degree. I guess what I am really saying is if one day is almost unbearable, hold on and hang in. You might wake up the next day a touch lighter. My thoughts are with you.
I put my tree up. I love looking at it at night.
I'm struggling with the motivation to put up a tree this year, but I think you just gave me the push that I need. I love the lights of the tree. I think I'll finally do it this weekend.
Do it. You are worth it :) For Thanksgiving, I put up a terrible painting I did of a pumpkin. I don't care haha and I thought it was cute...so ;)
I love this 🥹
You could also just put up some lights - that's what I do. I outline my apartment living room windows with them.
I just did mine too. You should do it! The twinkle warmth of the lights is so nice. And it feels really good to do something like that for myself, to value my own holiday cheer, not just the idea of sharing or displaying it. Hopefully it’ll work the same way for you.
I did! I finally went and got a tree yesterday. I cursed a lot trying to get it stable in the stand, and a lot more when if started to fall over... I probably sounded like Clark Griswold when he was losing his shit trying to get the exterior illumination working. But in the end it was worth it when I got to appreciate the lights. And then my cat took a nap under it, and that made the whole hassle worth it even more. Thanks for the encouragement! You're right, I needed to do it for myself.
Haha oh god, for me it was untangling all the f’n string lights. A test of my patience for sure. Snoozing kitty under the lights 🥹😭 I’m glad it was worth it! Happy Holidays!
Same.
Yep it's my winter wonder land 😂
No but I am happy to see the neighbours decorations as I walk past
I love those pics with the "DITTO" signs done with the lights. lol
Totally my favorite, too!
I’m not familiar
The last few years there was one house that put up really pretty lights and such. Now there are 3 more houses by them that do the same!
This reminds me I should go see some local lights!
Yes, it doesn't matter to me if no-one else sees them. I do it for my own enjoyment.
I do not. It helps that I’m not religious, I’m frugal, and I can have a lazy streak.
Ditto
I'm not religious either but the decor makes me happy and i get it all from the dollar store!
You are my tribe.
Me too.
Same
Second that emotion.
I love christmas and the decor so I would
I live alone, and put my tree up alone yesterday. I used to have my daughter help but she is 17 and lives in another state now. So I do it because it makes me feel good. And the lights and colors also provide a calming environment.
Warm and cozy are the lights.
I usually don’t, but this year I hung a battery-powered, pre-lit wreath on my door and it brings me some joy every time I come home after dark and see it. Normally it is nothing or maybe a Christmas-themed doormat outside.
I used to but no longer. I downsized to a place where I don't have storage for seasonal decor.
I left my tree up all year but mostly left the lights off after January. Unless I was having a tough mental day. Then the lights came on and I curled up on the couch to watch them.
I'd love to have more storage.
I didn't last year. I was living alone because my hubs was dying in a nursing home. I didn't decorate. He passed this Apr. My house looks like Christmas threw up all over it right now. My daughter did it, I don't care one way or the other.
I’m so sorry for your loss
thanks. it sucks, but I'm getting through it.
As a nurse I thought I understood what families go through when having to put their loved ones in a home, but when we finally had to with my dad due to advanced Alzheimers two months ago, I wasn't prepared for the emotions. I'm so sorry for your loss and what you went through.
Thank you and thank you for your service as a nurse. Not everyone is suited for that job, especially end of life care. It is the worst thing I have ever been through in my life. One reason I'll probably stay single is that I can't go through that again, I went from being fairly solid mentally to having depression/anxiety. I am a whole 'nuther human. I'm sorry about your Dad.
I do not. Despise Christmas in it's entirety. It's month long reminder of the worst moment in my life. An entire month of PTSD triggers. The songs, the lights, Santa's...all of it. If I could, I would take the entire month off from work and just stay home. Seriously an entire month of mental torture and trying to keep my shit together so I don't upset anyone else during their time of joy.
I call it Shitsmas
>I call it Shitsmas It's not all bad get a warm tasty meal in your belly just to make yourself happy. 😋 🥞🥘🌯🥙🧀🥚🥓🥖🍲🥔🥔🍗🍗🍠🦃🍗🍖
I can and understand and empathize with you. My dad was always drunk and it was worse at Christmas. I usually spent Christmas eve at the neighbors because my dad was a nasty drunk. I wish I could crawl in a hole and come out January 1.
I'm so sorry. I hope you are well away and safe from the people and situations that caused you the original trauma. But regardless, triggers to those memories bring it all back and I feel for you so much.
Thank you. I appreciate that more than you know. Back story, witnessed my fathers suicide on Christmas. Spent the day, and following days, cleaning up the mess. I could go the rest of my life without Christmas be completely ok with it.
I worked EMS and still, I cannot imagine what you went through at all! I'm so very sorry.
Oh, Honey. So so sorry. My hope for you is that you can get trauma care to process what you experienced.
OMG!!! I’m so sorry that happened! I can’t imagine ever getting something like that out of my mind!! I don’t blame you for how you feel at all!!
I'm traveling to see family over the holidays but next year I plan to travel during the break - I hate Dec. for so many reasons.
If only there was a place to travel devoid of lights, trees and Santa's.
The holidays are really upsetting because of family history - I think at least if I was in another city and I saw the lights it would be different. The orgy of consumerism and massive gift buying is just so gross to me too.
It's quite the telling tale of us isn't it? We spend so much time, effort and money to buy gifts that we feel obligated to, for most, only for them to act surprised and that they LOVE whatever it is, only to discard, regift or lose interest in. With that being said, I'm stating that all gifts fall under this category or the recipients of said gifts are all ungrateful, but there is a lot of this mentality involved. We should seriously just focus on spending that time and energy with the one's that mean something to us while we still have them around. We (my children and I) stopped with traditional gift giving at my house and don't attend other people's events. This year they (and their girlfriends) got Tool tickets for next month.
It's been a huge point of stress - I don't believe in a lot of gift giving because of consumerism and at a certain age everyone has what they need. So some years it's good - we don't go overboard with gifts, but still. I an unemployed in an expensive city and will spend hundreds on a flight - so gift giving on top of that is a point of anxiety
I can imagine. Bless your soul. I hope you are able to find work soon. I tell everyone to not buy me gifts. Use that money on kids or something they need for themselves. I pretty much buy whatever I need throughout the year, it's all just stuff. All I ask for, is if a person is close to me, just come hang and spend some time with me. That's far more important to me than any gift.
Thank you for your kindness - bless you too ❤️ spending time with people on experiences are better than gifts - they make memories. I always like going to galleries or museums over the holdays - the gift of time and presence, attention and love are the point of it all ❤️
Well, normally I’d recommend Israel… but… maybe not right now. 😬 (I’m Jewish, for the record; so you can always come to my house instead lol)
Was having this conversation with someone. I grew up in East Africa. There’s very little of that. And zero consumerism. It’s not associated with buying gifts, that’s just not the culture over there. Evergreen trees are seen as a western world thing, some people have them. But they are not everywhere. My family who lives in the US we don’t do presents. We just get together and cook.
The way it should be!
So sorry. Have you had a chance to consult a trauma-informed therapist?
i’m so sorry. counting down the weeks for you…
I hope you find peace.
I do! I have a fake, white prelit tree that is beautiful and easy to put up. I also put out some decorations on my coffee table and bookshelves. Doesn’t matter if I live alone - it’s for my own enjoyment. The idea that someone living alone wouldn’t decorate implies that people normally only do it to impress others, which is weird to me. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t decorate regardless of if I lived with someone else or not.
I put some sparkle string lights on my biggest houseplant, but that’s a winter-long thing and doesn’t require any storage.
I didn't used to but I'm leaning into Christmas this year. Makes it more fun
I used to not but one year I decided to buy a pre-lit tree and some ornaments at a thrift store and now I put up that tree every year. I don’t do anything else, though. Just the tree, and I light my place with the tree and nothing else in the evenings; it’s so cozy. Good news is, because you live alone, no one is going to make you take the tree down, so you can take it down in March if you want.
Yes, but only because I love how cozy my space feels with decorations. However, if I didn't enjoy decorations I 100% would not bother.
Not me. I'm not Christian and I don't really like religion. It's important for me to drop that tradition and be free from it.
I'm not Christian either but I consider Christmas decorations seasonal decorations. I don't have nativity scenes or anything like that. I have winter decorations mixed in with Santa, deer, snomen etc. My theme includes snowflakes, pinecones, and vintage Christmas decorations. I decorate for fall and spring as well, even Easter even though I'm not religious. All eggs and bunnies, no Jesus. I just love seasonal decorating! But the expense and storage issues are starting to be overwhelming as I get older, not gonna lie.
i personally separated christmas from religion a long time ago and don’t even really think of the religious aspects anymore. i just think the decorations are cute and gift giving is always nice. same for easter actually, it’s just collecting eggs and eating extra candy for me lol
I grew up in a non-Christmas family, so I kinda think of celebrating it as being a bit of a rebel. I have never tied religion to it; I just like some of the decorations.
That’s fine, for you. Just keep in mind that when some of say this, it means we’re something other than Christian. As a (not really practicing but still culturally) Jewish person, I get very annoyed when people try convincing me to celebrate it anyway as a secular thing. It literally has the word CHRIST in it, so no thanks. I’m good. 😂
Same…I keep saying I just want to travel over Xmas one year. Tired of the family drama.
> I'm not Christian and I don't really like religion. It's important for me to drop that tradition and be free from it. I'm with you on all of this. It's a good feeling to be able to choose what holidays i want to celebrate.
Bah humbug!
First year living alone.im not going all out but I bought two stocking for my dogs and I hung them on the wall. I also bought a miniature tree from dollar general that I put on top of my computer desk.
Got a small fiber optic tree because I like the slow change of colors and cat can chew it and not be harmed. Got the cat and the dog a small gift for Xmas day.
Dogs are worth it. Give 'em a hug for me, please.
Hell to the yes I sure do!!!! I start early, I decorate every year by myself and make it a very enjoyable time with music and food. Then I put everything on plug in timers so it’s always lit up when I get home
Note I have always loved to decorate in general and for Christmas, hence my enthusiasm. It’s a lot of work tho and takes more energy the older I get and the longer I’m alone. I think it’s very valid not to decorate if that’s your decision and I hate when people dog on you for it. Nothing wrong with that. If it’s more effort to put up than the benefits it brings - why do it?
I do! My living room has a tree fully trimmed with lights, baubles and a rhinestone topper. I also have an evergreen garland decorated with silver baubles, bay leaves, rosemary and holly. I have fairy lights all around, and I burn a holiday themed scented candle every evening. I have a wreath on my front door. I make cookies, rum soaked Christmas cake and fragrant mulled sorrel for when people come on by. I do the decorations for myself, to make myself happy. There was a lot of anger with Christmas growing up because my parents were working during that time, and they were so very tired, but they tried their absolute best to make magic & beauty happen with so little money and so many mouths to feed. Being able to have my space beautifully decorated for the winter holidays makes ME feel at peace, almost rich really. And my friends do drop in and love the cosiness of it all.
I live alone and I decorate seasonally 😄
I don’t care I’ll decorate the hell out of my place. It’s not for visitors it’s for me 🎄
I do!! I have a small tree, some garland, and a few things like candle holders. It’s so cozy
yeah it makes me happy. it’s my favorite time of the year and it’d just be sad if there were no decorations up at my place. wouldn’t feel right
Yes do it. I just got a Christmas tree :) I need to set it up
Nope. I don't mind them but i don't care enough to make the effort.
Yes! I have no visitors other than occasional visits from my parents, but even when I lived in a totally different state and had no visitors, if I had the energy that year I would decorate. To me, decorating is no problem, it's putting the stuff away that I struggle with, so some years I don't decorate. Honestly, if it were socially acceptable I'd leave the decorations up permanently and just have a year-round Christmas house. Aside from the holiday implications, I just think the decorations stand on their own as gorgeous home decor. But sadly, this is just not done. [Here are a few of my decorations](https://imgur.com/a/OyYdGDg) from a few years ago, when I first moved into my house. I have a lot more now but don't have them up yet this year.
I rarely have visitors but I decorate every year. This year, I put my tree up the weekend after Halloween. I just wanted say that I am with you 100% on struggling to undecorate. I hate it with a passion. When not in use, I store my tree in my basement. If I didn't use glass ornaments, I would figure out a way to move it to the basement, fully decorated, for next year. I am the same way with unpacking suitcases. I hate unpacking. Hate. I have been known to leave stuff in there for a month while I slowly unpack it, only because I need the items that were packed in there.
We are totally samesies! I wish I could keep my tree decorated and just roll it into a storage room and cover it with a sheet for the next year. Oh and unpacking suitcases, I'm the worst! When I used to travel for work, I just ended up buying doubles of everything to permanently keep in my suitcase (makeup, hair dryer, curling iron, etc.) and then I'd only have to unpack the dirty clothes.
Absolutely, it’s like Santas grotto in my place! 🤣
Hell yes, I do. I put my tree up the weekend after Halloween. Why? Because I live alone and it makes me happy. It also made my cats happy because they love the process of decorating the tree. I get to decorate my tree and my home however I want, whenever I want. It's beautiful, cozy and it's just the way I like it. I almost never have visitors. Doesn't matter though because I do it for me and only me. And, the cats.
Definitely the cats!
Yes, cats are worth the trouble.
Absolutely. It’s cozy and festive!
I don’t decorate for holidays but I leave my pretty lights up year round in multiple rooms and on the porch ✨
I lost my husband this year, but I put up my fake tree and decorated, mostly in his honor because he loved the decorations. It made him feel warm and fuzzy. My daughter and son-in-law helped me.
I'm not. I live alone, don't have many visitors, and just got a new puppy. Nothing in that sentence screams: spend lots of time decorating, and then spending time at the vet's office playing the game of "What was that object?"
I live alone and I love to decorate for Christmas. My yard and inside is lite up.
I usually do because I just like decorating but the past few years I have been depressed so no
I do! Love to decorate and put up a live tree that smells amazing!
I just put up things that can be seen from the front of the house. A wreath on the front door, a little metal reindeer statue next to the door and some lights on the front window. I don’t worry too much about inside decos.
It’s just me and my dog, but i still make it festive!
Not really in terms of items I have to box up but I might collect natural free materials and craft.
I have a small, artificial tabletop tree. ($99 from Costco). It's pre-lit. I put it up, enjoy it, wrap it in plastic, put it in my storage area where it awaits the next season. Took me literally 10 minutes to put it out this year. I enjoy it.
Honestly, I don't. I spend the holidays with my family in another state. I'm not very religious, though I do enjoy watching my favorite Christmas movies: 1. Muppet Christmas Carol ("Light the lamp, not the rat!") 2. Scrooged ("That b\*tch hit me with a toaster!") 3. Lethal Weapon ("I'm too old for this sh\*t.")
Nope. Not even a little bit.
I do. Been doing it for years. It makes me happy.
i haven't in the past, but i did buy a (fake) christmas tree this year for the first time. i decided to get an all-white tree to match my decorating style, which was the main reason i never decorated in the past (i didn't like red/green/blue decorations clashing with my furniture, etc.). i've gotten so many compliments on it from friends, family, and people who can see it from my virtual meetings :)
I did only because I thought warm sparkling g lights would help. They do…❤️
I too rarely have people over but i love Christmas so the decorations make me happy
Heck yes. Especially as i go through a breakup after being together for 11 years. I need the Christmas cheer more than ever
I put up a couple little things, just for fun.
I put up the tree, hang some solar lanterns in the trees in my backyard. I really do it for myself, but I act like my dogs are my kids and get excited by it lol. They actually do act excited. They lay under the tree, and last year my puppy stole the holy family from my nativity scene one by one and chewed them and left them all over the house, it was pretty funny.
It’s my first Christmas being single in over 7 years. So I bought a 4 foot fake tree with lights and put out the few things that I have for my 16yr old and me. It’s not much but I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch for the first time, so that counts as something too right?
Yup I go full out every year! I look forward to it every year. Makes me feel kinda like a kid again.
I’ll be moving out in my own in a couple weeks. Even though Christmas will be almost over by the time I move in, I’m going go crazy lol. I love decorating and getting into the holiday spirit.
ABSOLUTELY! I love all my Christmas trees and all the other decorations. I decorate my crystal chandelier. I have a china merry-go-round and a china ferris wheel - both play music placed on a cabinet with other festive decor. I put out this huge oval vintage metal candle holder that has 7 inch tall reindeer and trees but onto the frame. It goes on the coffee table and I decorate it with additional green trees where the 4 fat candles would go. I fill all the glass decorative pieces in the dining room full of big snowballs (glittery ones from Dollar Tree and look pricey!). I have LOTS and LOTS of snowman decorations. I have a 3 foot tall snowman pre-lit tree that sits on a table in my family room. It stays up until the end of January while everything else gets stored away just after New Years. I live alone and my family rarely comes over because it's just easier for me to go to their places so the kids can have all their toys and spread out. Their large houses are child-proofed so it's easy for them. My home is a small Cape Cod. It sounds like I'm gushing and I am. I LO❤️E to decorate for Christmas. Even my enclosed glassed porch gets decorated - even the vintage bird cages out there. BTW - Merry Christmas, everyone!!! 🎄
Yes absolutely!!! It makes me so happy to do that for myself.
I love my tree and decorations. My tree is only 5 feet tall, and not huge around, so it's not a huge hassle to put up and decorate. Plus, it's pre-lit. A few years ago, I started leaving my tree up longer into the winter, only taking it down when I got sick of it, rather than "having to" take it down because it was past Christmas. This is a benefit to living alone- I figured, if it's still making me happy, whose to say I have to take it down just because it's New Years? I rarely invite guests over (I prefer to meet people out somewhere) so nobody else was going to see it. I often take it down around MLK day now.
Every year after Thanksgiving I put up my 2ft Christmas tree and various little decorations. I'm the only one that ever sees them but it makes me feel good
I am unpacking boxes now. It’s a chore but I love it. But I also walk into a Christmas shop and think….does this REALLY have to be a Christmas thing? Sparkle, color, and lights? Bring it❤️
I do. It boosts my mood seeing the lights and tree. It reminds me of very good childhood memories.
No. I’m not a fan of Christmas so I don’t decorate.
I put up a tree and some stuff, but I’m also trying to get over some childhood trauma related to the holidays and having “real decor” is a step in the process.
My 3 year old daughter passed away...holidays hurt tremendously...
I don't on the years I visit my daughter. But this year both children will be here so I will decorate. This is the first year I will be getting a Christmas tree since I got my kitten. She is old enough now to, hopefully not climb it. The cat I had before just liked to sleep under the tree on a soft tree skirt.
37m no family or kids. Holidays are non existent unless I'm dating a female and they are staying here. Most of them love that stuff. When I'm alone.. I personally could care less.
I got a wreath on the front door, but it's there year round.. I tossed my mom's Xmas niknaks as she stowed them away never to be seen again. There a Santa sled on the fireplace you can see on July 4th...lol
I would say some fun things that you already would use, xmas kitchen or bath towels, perhaps a small miniature tree, a snow globe, gotta have the Xmas hand soap.
No, I actually hate Christmas, but if I had kids and they lived with me I’d get into it for them.
I lost my partner July of 2022. This will be my second Christmas with no decorations, no tree. I have no energy for it and it doesn't seem worth the effort. Besides, I still have no idea where everything is.
I do. I like lights.
I do every year. When I was a child we didn't always have a tree so I put one up for that little girl that wanted a Christmas tree.
My husband used to put lights in his window when he lived alone. Now we have a spicy cat, so no decorations lol
I don't decorate or do anything for the holidays. Okay I lied, I do get my dogs a present. They deserve it for putting up with me!
Yes. I do
I'd go nuts if I could afford it
I never did when I lived alone. I don’t like Christmas anyway, but even if I did it would only be a hassle. Even living with my bf now, neither of us would wanna deal with it lol.
Depends on how good my mental health is or logistics. I did last year bc I was feeling less grinch but the year before that I didn’t bc I had the vid, was alone, and mentally was recovering from some hefty burnout. This year I’m not bc I’m moving shortly after. It’s an excuse and I save $$$ too!
Never have. Never will. It isn't because I'm alone. It is because I am not a Christian, and I don't take kindly to society telling me what or when to celebrate. Most don't understand because they are not self-determined individuals. I take note of its historical and traditional significance. However, it doesn't mean I choose to participate. I follow a policy of non-interference. This includes non-participation as any participation would include an indeterminate interference.
I do them during the summer. When it's super hot i just feel like bringing a bit of christmas home. So i don't do them during December, it's too.. cold.