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Another vote for Chinese food, and I'm not even Jewish. I'm not alone, but my in-laws' Christmas essentially ends about 6 pm on Christmas Eve, so the spousal unit and I often do a movie marathon on the 25th in addition to the Chinese food, either Netflix or in the theaters, or both. I'm always glad it's over yet have the day off work.
When I was alone and didn't want family drama, I spent the day at the office, catching up on billing and filing and cleaning out my in-box. My only gripe was that the radio stations just played tacky Christmas music, but nowadays there are so many choices that griping about terrestrial radio is so 20th century.
I agree with this! Some people are alone because they choose to be and are quite capable of entertaining themselves. I once had a very stressful corporate job that located me far away from my family. On Thanksgiving (when I had a four-day weekend), I COULD have visited my family. But I chose not to because I already traveled a lot for work and the idea of facing two airports (one of which was O'Hare!) on the busiest weekend of the year was not my idea of how to celebrate a holiday.
My choice totally freaked people out to the point I didn't tell a soul about it the second time I stayed home. I was a very busy person. I totally relished the idea that I could be quiet at home for such a stretch and get caught up with things around the house, read, watch some movies, etc. I appreciated that so many people wanted to take me in like a charity project, but it wasn't necessary. And it's kind of difficult to explain to people, "No, being alone is preferable to me than hanging out with your family of people I don't even know and will likely never see again."
So, folks, if you DO know someone you suspect will be "alone" for any holiday, certainly feel free to extend an invitation, but don't press them if they refuse. It's quite possible they will be having a better time than you are.
Seriously. This questions reeks of self-esteem issues. I lost my immediate family early on..while I understand that some people's sadness over loss is worse over the holidays, I hated how people who were heading home for whatever holiday it'd be at the moment would automatically look at me like I was on the verge of suicide. I miss my family equally throughout the year, so that's not really anymore relevant during Christmas time. That aside, I like being alone..or in a pair. I'm an only child and being alone suits me. Alone and lonely are two completely different things. I had a lot of people around me when I was younger, but I later realized social obligations are just not that enjoyable.
I go to my husband's family's house for Christmas. I'll enjoy it and all, but it's just one more thing to do. If it was up to me, we'd spend it playing videogames in pjs, and pigging out on takeout and wine. The next day, I'd do more of the same or read books all day. Not everyone feels the pull to be in crowds. To people like me, it's stressful and a chore. And I don't at all feel sad and lonely.
The posters who said that being alone is not always the same as being lonely are right, in some cases.
When I was at my in-laws for Thanksgiving and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop both my wife said we never felt so alone in a room full of people we knew. The only sound was the fingers on a SmartPhone.
Get paid time and a half to sit around for several hours with the possibility that I might have to work at some point. Enough seniority to skip it (like I am on New Year's Day) but honestly, I couldn't imagine enjoying anything else even half as much. Then sit down at home, watch a movie and eat an opulent home made meal.
That said, any friends or family are too far away to juggle both them and work.
My Christmas Eve plans: Dorky Christmas movies that no one wants to watch with me, church service at midnight, and bed.
Christmas Day: Make a turkey breast in crockpot, open gifts from remote family, talk on phone with them, go watch some movies and watch sappy Christmas movies. MAYBE go out with a group of other singles and have some fun.
Just because my family is far away and I want to be alone doesn't mean I am a pathetic loser.
Writing in 1943 or 1944 (can't remember which), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry addressed the issue of feeling alone in a terse but poetic way in Le Petit Prince:
Le Petit Prince: "On est un peu seul dans le désert".
Le serpent: "On est seul aussi chez les hommes".
(The Little Prince: "It's kind of lonely in the desert".
The snake: "It's lonely also among people". )
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