GTKY

NLewis1 · December 2015

Seems like people would like a straight up GTKY thread. So here goes -

What's your LEAST favorite holiday tradition?

I hate that my family thinks every Christmas we have to have a dance off by doing wii dance party. I get that it's fun for the kids - so let the kids do it! I'm sorry, I have no desire to "dance battle" my whiney 8 year old cousin because she wanted me to and my entire family coddles her. Who the hell even started this stupid tradition anyways?!?!

Huskerfanz · December 2015

I have no idea. It bugs me that plans are last minute but that's probably it.

Corts · December 2015

Lmao at this

We just had 3 people in the past year die, who we always spent the holidays with. Thanksgiving was hard. We always had to make a giant lasagna every holiday (being hardcore Italians) plus whatever roast or turkey was supposed to be there. This time I was like "well at least I don't have to make a stupid lasagna this year".
But of course I wish the family were still there eating the lasagna this Thanksgiving

Meglit89 · December 2015

What's your LEAST favorite holiday tradition? I don't think I have a least favorite. There aren't really many traditions... DH and I are trying to start some of our own traditions this year. My parents are here one year, then in SC with my sister the next year for the holidays, so we don't have any yearly traditions w/them. DH's family gets together on Xmas eve, but other than that, there isn't a tradition we do.

Man I'm trying hard to think of something. These GTKYs are making me seem lame, lol! Uhh, we used to drive 1.5 hr to DH's family's gathering on Xmas eve, stay until 9pm, then go 20 minutes up the road to his dad's until like 10:30-11pm (who I don't like AT ALL). I hated that, plus getting home after midnight. But we stopped that three years ago thank goodness.

Emztron500 · December 2015

Oh god that sounds so annoying, haha. Tell that 8 year old who's in charge :P

My family doesn't have any traditions that I particularly dislike! But there are plenty of other people's traditions I judge on because I'm a jerk. I hate you, elf on the shelf. When did you even become a thing? Honestly I don't judge people for doing it and having fun with their kids but if my kids think I'm going to move around a little toy every morning and pretend it is a living being they've got another thing coming. And I hate how my Instagram feed is blowing up with identical elves every day. Bah humbug.

PressLove · December 2015

I have a large extended family. To this day, the holidays are always filled with lots of kids and family. This year DH wants to send Christmas at home, just the three of us. He has his reasons and I respect them. Although I agreed to his request, on the inside I hate this new tradition.

ahernandez16 · December 2015

@Emztron500 I also hate Elf on the Shelf! Definitely not something I want to ever partake in. I think it's so lame.

As far as my least favorite family tradition, I don't know. Every year I try to implement a secret Santa instead of not being able to buy everyone gifts (I have 6 siblings and H also has 6 as well). Everyone is always so resistant and I don't understand why! Oh well - guess everyone is just getting the gift of our presence this year, again.

Oh! I got it, actually. My family opens gifts at the buttcrack of dawn every year (6am AT THE LATEST). I hate it. The last few years we partook and went over early because I didn't want to fight with my mom but this year I think I'll sleep in.

Corts · December 2015

Elf on the shelf? Hell no. I don't want that creepy little thing in my house.

Emztron500 · December 2015

@ahernandez16 I have 6 siblings too and we would draw names to pick who we would buy for for the longest time but no one will do it anymore! So I can just like, pick my favourite people, I guess? Or get gifts for nobody, because it's just way too much. But on my husband's side we buy for both his sisters and all the nephews on his side (can't even begin to do that with the 22 nieces/nephews on my side) so I feel shitty and like we're playing favourites.

vulpini · December 2015

White elephant exchanges. I always spend time trying to find fun interesting gifts which often end up being popular and stolen multiple times and myself end up with crap that ends up in the trash half the time. It especially annoys me that one group of friend has a $25 minimum on the gifts, so that's $50 down the toilet for our family to go home with some garbage someone thought was funny.

Lilwatz · December 2015

I honestly can't think of one for my family (either growing up or now). But I will agree that I hate the Elf on the Shelf. So much work. Why do that to yourself?

Oh, I have one. Carolers. I love the concept. Think they are great on TV. But if they come to your house what do you do while they are singing? ... Awkward.

BPaisley · December 2015

In defense of elf on a shelf, while it is a pain in my @$$, I've enjoyed my two days so far of threatening my 3.5 year old that the elf is going to tattle to Santa if he doesn't stop whining at the top of his lungs.... Maybe I'm a terrible person lol. I probably enjoy it more than him, I'd imagine that's a lot of pressure having that creepy thing "watch" you all day.

For traditions, we draw names for DH's family and they are out of state, so we FaceTime and take turns opening gifts. I hate the pressure of everyone watching me open gifts in general since I'm very introverted, don't like the spotlight, but doing it on FaceTime is even more awkward. Even when I really like a gift, I don't think it looks like it because I just feel so uncomfortable being stared at.

colesmom33 · December 2015

Count me in as another one that hates Elf on a Shelf!! It's just such a creepy concept!

I also hate going to my in-laws on Christmas! We go to my DH's parents in the afternoon and then dinner at my sister's. For the last four years, dinner at my sister's is at 4:30, so we have to leave his parents at 4:00. My MIL is so passive-aggressive, she keeps moving the time up, so we're always late to my sister's! Plus the kids in his family are so spoiled, they tear open the gifts all at the same time without even stopping to say thank you! I just want to go to my family's house!

hockeyfan42 · December 2015

@Lilwatz we have new neighbors that seem like the caroling type. I might leave my dog out to deter them... So awkward!

My least favorite holiday tradition is the multiple viewings of A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve. It's a crappy movie! Who do people like it so much?!

DeePaddy24 · December 2015

I suppose it isn't really a tradition, but I dislike that DH & I have to drive around so much on Christmas Day between our families. I love being able to see everyone & spend the day with them, but it's just a lot of hassle, & it gets exhausting.

I'm also going to jump on the awkwardness of carollers. A few years ago I was at a friends house when a group showed up, & it was definitely one of the more awkward experiences I've ever had.

PBear93 · December 2015

I'll add my own least favorite tradition in a bit, but wanted to add something to the elf on the shelf thing.

My mom grew up with a little elf that my grandma hid around the house during the holidays to "watch" their behavior and whenever we visited when I was growing up my grandma would talk to us about it and how you can look for the elf, but don't touch it.
I think that's what the elf on the shelf is supposed to be--but some parents take it to the extreme and move the elf around and have it do crazy things--and I'm in the boat that agrees that is too much. However, we do have an elf who hangs out in our stockings all December and then goes "back to the North Pole" the night of Christmas Eve.

WSU2015 · December 2015

Every year we go to FILs house and there are several traditions there that I loathe.

1. Gifts get opened one at a time. So as you open a gift ten people are staring at you and you have to have a whole reaction and conversation about every gift. It's so akward.

2. We take about seven hundred posed pictures in front of the Christmas tree. And BIL knows it drives me crazy so he drags the process out and comes up with all these stupid posed ideas. The picture process literally takes over an hour.

3. Lastly FIL makes everyone read a passage from the bible. This really irks me because FIL and step MIL are the ONLY two people there who believe in the bible. The rest of us are not interested in organized religion. And the ILs know this. We all participate without complaining because it's their house but I don't understand why he enjoys forcing us to do something we don't believe in. I know that Christmas has religious roots but that's not why I celebrate it. I celebrate Christmas to have fun with family, eat good food, and watch the kids open gifts. I'm not trying to offend anyone who is religious, I have zero issues with people living their own lives as they please but I'm also going to live mine how I please.

mkemommy · December 2015

My least favorite Christmas tradition this year will be watching everyone get wasted and not being able to join in. We don't have a lot of traditions but alcohol is one of them.

carig63 · December 2015

I hate the people who smirk while asking "Why do you even celebrate CHRISTmas (emphasis not added) if you're not Christian?" Piss off, I like to give people I love (and my in-laws, ha!) presents. And it's fun to get some too.

carig63 · December 2015

I also miss drinking. It wasn't really Thanksgiving without booze.

Bear14+ · December 2015

I don't know if this counts, but I'm struggling with this question! The main thing that I dislike is that my husband has a restaurant and works so much because the place is slammed with holiday parties ALL of December. He misses every holiday party we get invited to and I basically barely see him the month of December.

On the positive side, he doesn't work Xmas eve (usually) and the place is closed on Christmas

MsBeachNJ · December 2015

@mkemommy I'm right there with you!!! Not staying up late with my sisters drinking wine under the tree after everyone else goes home/off to bed makes me sad!!

Linsbins · December 2015

I hate Halloween. I don't like the dark, scary things, or spooky decorations. But Christmas is the best!

Wyattnash00 · December 2015

Jumping on this missing drinking train. Thanksgiving to New Years is all about friends, family and yummy cocktails. I'm going to try my hardest to not be an obnoxious, pregnant lady, going to pretend it's so awesome watching everyone around me get bombed, grrr.

Favorite song, it's Xmas so I'll go with that theme. Whams 'last Christmas,' and I'll go with my wedding song 'i need you' by Tim and faith.

likeabel · December 2015

My family has always cut down a Christmas tree in the woods. I always hated it when I was younger because the trees are rather homely and we'd always cut them down the weekend of a school dance or something. But now that I'm older, I love chopping down a tree! And I can't wait to make my kids miserable while doing it

violetmarie61516 · December 2015

This will sound dumb but I hate turkey. I'm a ham girl and my mother insists on making turkey. Other than that, I hate that everything is so last minute. My family can't plan anything.

alsbaldwin · December 2015

I guess my Thursday UO should be I think Elf on the Shelf is cute and sounds fun. DS is only a year old, so we haven't done it yet, but I think it looks cute.

Neither my family or DH's are really big on traditions, so this is a hard question. My family opens gifts one at a time, and with two people married in and now grandkids, it takes for.ev.er. It's just awkward being stared at while opening gifts too, like there's pressure to have a good reaction.

PBear93 · December 2015

My parents always made fruit salad for breakfast on Christmas. And I do like fruit salad, but my parents always put coconut in it--and I hate coconut (and so does my sister) so I'm not sure why they always put it in the salad.
I like the use of having the same breakfast every year. It's the coconut that I hated.

NLewis1 · December 2015

My family does the one at a time gift thing too. I think it started when we were kids and my parents genuinely wanted to see the joy on each of our faces. I actually like it better than everyone ripping open presents all at once. Christmas Eve with my extended family (you know, the 8 year old dance party snot and family) is a madhouse with all 7 grandkids just ripping everything open. My cousins kids are all Snots and don't say thank you and have openly shown they disliked a gift. I'm sorry, but I would have had my ass beat if I would have been like "ahhhh just a stupid gift card?!?" About a gift an aunt bought me for Christmas.

My main goal in life is raise kids the exact opposite of all my cousins kids.

My sisters' kids are all fine - must have been how we were raised (and something they apparently didn't get growing up - eh hem, manners)

samsonator · December 2015

Least favorite tradition is probably eating Christmas dinner with fine China (@ MILs). Then we have to spend 2 hours carefully cleaning and drying everything. Can't we just use regular plates and have more time to enjoy the day?

itsStackie · December 2015

My least favorite part is that we are expected to see some of my in laws on holidays. When I told my Husband's grandma that we were going to my brother's for Thanksgiving, she replied well when are you coming here? Breakfast or dinner?

HighFive16 · December 2015

My least favorite tradition is the fact that my mother puts pressure on us to be all "Jingle all the way" to our idiot brother who does not speak to us all year long. She says the same thing every year "Even the Germans and the English put down their weapons on Christmas Eve". So it results in a super awkward fake occasion with us trying to please her.

carig63 · December 2015

itsStackie said:
My least favorite part is that we are expected to see some of my in laws on holidays. When I told my Husband's grandma that we were going to my brother's for Thanksgiving, she replied well when are you coming here? Breakfast or dinner?

Ewww, yes. And it had better be ON the holiday too. The day after or before isn't good enough, despite the fact we've alternated since we got married 10.5 years ago.

fishwife799 · December 2015

My husband hates holidays. All of them. He usually ends up throwing some sort of fit and being an ass and ruining the day for me. He was ok on Thanksgiving so my hopes are high he's getting better about it. We will see. Other than that I live the holidays.

VikingGirl12 · December 2015

I hate hate haaaaaate that MIL makes is open everything one at a time taking turns. There are 7 adults and 3 babies 1-3 and it literally takes 5 hours. I realize she spent a lot of money and time, and I appreciate that!, but it always ends in her getting upset when we have to leave as soon as presents are over so we can get to my parents house 2 hours away. Plus, super awkward when everyone's staring at you opening stuff.

totsabounding · December 2015

I have to second the "let's watch everyone open their presents slooooooowly" thing. It is awkward, takes forever, and causes us to be late to my side of the family every year. Thankfully, my MIL always advocates for us and tries to speed it up so we can leave semi-on time. It's my husband's aunt that insists on the pageantry. I love her, she's a very nice, sweet person, but she's kinda wacko. Every year, she wraps presents that she bought for herself and gives them to herself with gift tags saying they are to her from her dogs. Then she opens them along with her other gifts during the regular gift exchange. It's very strange.

NicknShan · December 2015

I love all of our traditions, and I am probably the annoying one that sets too many.

Unless people count as least favorite traditions. I have a few least favorite people.

Trinirican3ondway · December 2015

My least favorite holiday tradition is having to go to my inlaw's for Christmas lunch. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the meal and all of thier effort but I wish it was a dinner instead. We always have to rush our Christmas morning to get there for lunch. I would much rather prefer to sleep in a little, if the kids let me, and then leisurely make breakfast and relax in my pjs all day.

Kballew10 · December 2015

I will echo all of the PPs that have and hate the "open one gift at a time" tradition. My mom's side of the family does that and it takes forever and I honestly don't care to see the reaction to each individual gift. We do it because my Granny loves to see each gift. She runs the show, so we will continue to do it. My ILs do it too and it takes forever PLUS they try to do it with the 4, 2, and 1 year olds. We did kids separately last year since they were all napping when we opened our gifts. It's awkward to have to react to every gift that you open and it is downright painful to watch my BILs and SILs try to contain their kids while they wait their turn. Good practice for patience in the future, I guess?

tjenkins528 · December 2015

I agree with the one present at a time. Doesn't help that we normally have about 3/4 places to go over Christmas. We have my Grandma's and then my MIL's birthday dinner Christmas Eve and then my mom's side of the family and SIL's house Christmas Day. Makes no time for our own traditions.