I don't have any festive spirit. Actually I don't do Christmas at all because I haven't the family, the religious belief or the cash to follow any of the 3 main reasons for celebrating midwinter.
In the past I tried being grateful to the well meaning folk that tried to bring me in among their own family gatherings, whether to feel charitable about their good works or to try and avoid said family gatherings blowing up in front of a non-relation. It wasn't fun either way. I couldn't visit my own family when I had them because a. they were very religious and our needs didn't co-incide and b. because the animal needs come first and always have/will and yes they're also a good excuse/reason not to jump into the annual mess that some folk call Christmas
I came to understand and accept that the best way for me is to do minimal animal feeding/care morning and evening and between that to have no agenda of things to do or places to go. A complete day off bar the necessities. No conscience about overeating or lying with a good book on the sofa when there is still a bit of daylight out there. No caution about watching too much cr[member=36627]P[/member] TV.
Sometimes I feel lonely and upset and all that, but it isn't usually on Christmas Day. And I try and celebrate Hogmanay as my midwinter friends' gathering, if I can it's at a firewalk of 70-100 people, many of whom I know, no alcohol, the piper is outside by the fire, the singer/songwriter or clarsach player or other musical entertainment is indoors after with excellent cake and the ability to go to bed whenever I've had enough company. My lovely neighbours often invite me to a mulled wine and mince pie gathering on either Christmas Eve or between or after the New Year and I like those informal small things far more than huge office parties and God help us the Trafalgar Square at midnight Hogmanay that I once did in my 20s and am glad to say I never need to consider again! I'm way too old and far enough north now to get out of that, and my major social anxiety has finally a silver lining because nobody I know would invite me to Edinburgh's version either. Phew.
I've a few cards from elderly aunts that go on the mantelpiece and a fruit cake that I'll have a piece of with some Wensleydale if I can find any that hasn't been adulterated with cranberries or some other sweet filling. Good old plain fruitcake and crumbly cheese. That's when I feel festive!
