Why is it that everyone participates in the Christmas madness?

[19magic]

Like wait until December or even Christmas Eve to buy all the presents for family I just don't get it. These people are super organsied in work really clean and have a high standard of cleansiness at work/home and yet they all sound shocked when I said I've pretty much brought everything beginning of November. I like to enjoy Christmas and stressing out over presents is not what I call enjoyable 🤷‍♀️.

They also act like oh it's cause I have a toddler so it's easier for me and they have a teenager. But I'm buying for about 22 people and only 3 of them are kids. I've spent about £600-700 on presents this year. So starting in August to me sounds reasonable and before anyone asks, no nothing is on credit thats also something I can't stand. Hell we go out on boxing day to buy cards, gift tags, wrapping paper for the following year so that's another thing I don't have to worry about plus it's all 50% off so saves tonnes of money.

They're all so stressed, downtrodden, panicking and then say it's lucky that I'm prepared and I'm like why do I want to be just like you and be all panicky and distressed that sounds horrible.

And it's not like people didn't know it was the 25/12 its not like you dropped your phone and then smashed it, it happens the same time each year.

Does anyone know why people do this?

[Red_Arrow]

Probably they do not have all the free space to store all that for months. We need the space for other things.

[19magic]

You just make the space, we're in a three bed with 6 people my room has a single and a cot bad in it and a wardrobe and nothing else there's a tiny little isle between the two beds, I found a small corner in a cupboard which I only had the space for as I chucked and donated a lot of my stuff just so I can have a space to put things. Having no space is just an excuse you can always tidy more or reorganize to put presents

[19magic]

Sorry I didn't mean to sound rude, I just don't feel that's a good enough reason to want to be super stressed out over the holidays

[Marypindea]

Yea definitely true

[Ratpack60]

I get all my shopping of gifts done by the first of the month. I’m cooking Christmas Eve dinner so I have to buy what I need for dinner this weekend. I want to enjoy the last couple of weeks stress free and enjoy family and friends. Some people like that last minute rush but not me.

[emperor90]

I get it earlier so i am not in a rush but some people might still be working and dont have time to get gifts

[19magic]

I dunno I work full time, have a toddler live with family so I'm forever cleaning up after them. And yet still managed to get most of it done by December.

[exitseven]

I hate to shop so i always wait until the last minute. What it a giant asteroid hits the earth before Christmas eve I did all that shopping for nothing.

[jamesgoldman]

I don't get it either
I couldn't leave it until Christmas Eve, come that day I'll be in a Krispy Kreme watching the chaos as I buy my birthday doughnuts

[cmarrott]

Focus on those close to you. I only do my immediate family and send money to most of my siblings unless I happen to come across something I think is perfect for them.

[Caunsos]

Because we were not sure if the world was going to ending before or after December.

[TallAnon]

No, I don't. I have time off, so I will visit my family abroad. I will meet my sister's daughter for the first time, so I will think about a gift (I need to get one soon..), but that's all.

[bean2k21]

How about instead of rubbing it everyone else's face how super organized you are, you spread some actual Christmas cheer?

[19magic]

I've given out Christmas cards at the nursery, work and family, I've decorated my home and workstation, I've just donated a bunch of stuff to the food banks. I'm wearing festive clothes and humming favourite Christmas tunes and offering a smile and an ear to everyone I pass. Just two months ago I had to pay a 5k debt because of a council screw up that has been on my mind for half a year.

I'm not rubbing it in peoples faces that'll be me saying look at me hahaha I'm done and your scrambling around for presents. I'm just asking why would people leave it so late. I can understand birthday presents since it's just the one person and there's no huge crowd going around so buying the day before doesn't matter. Doing Christmas Eve shopping, shops can be quite literally rammed with people elbow to elbow. I'm genuinely confused, hense the question.

[bean2k21]

Cars. Donations. Festive Clothes. And not once did you mention baby Jesus. You are completely full of yourself and just trying to act like you're above all the "madness." Well, did you ever stop to think that in those crowds of last-minute shoppers, there is a spirit of humanity, and that your so-called shopping logic is nothing short of evil?

[19magic]

I'm not religious neither is any of my family nor the people I know and hang out with, so why would I mention Jesus if I'm not Christian? Besides Christians don't believe in giving gifts as it cheapens the day for the birth of Christ. It's meant to be about honour and friendship, family and celebration of time and meals and of course the grand visit to the church listening to the priest's surmon about the blessing of this and the original meaning of it all.

No normally I think last minute as mindless robots trying frantically to get a gift for someone rather than sitting down thinking about what that person likes and dislikes and what they have already and finding a perfect gift that they will both enjoy and treasure, rather than picking up scraps that's left over on Christmas Eve that isn't thought out or would ever actually be used by that person. I think spending the time to find things that person would truly enjoy shows more humanity then leaving it to the last minute and getting a gift cause you have to get them a gift.

[joeldalton]

I don't. I am organized and efficient.

[Marypindea]

What?

[joeldalton]

@Marypindea I don't wait until the last minute because I'm organized and efficient. Most everything is bought with the exception of a few smaller items.

[IncognitoBandito]

It has a few centuries of momentum behind it.

[Marypindea]

Really

[19magic]

Really what?

[najekim]

Sales.

[imfreeze95]

Group think