Decorated Christmas trees, Christmas dinners, family visits and lots of fun, the ideal picture during the holidays. Yet many Dutch people look forward to Christmas and suffer from Christmas stress, as shown by various studies. “I never like Christmas that much. It causes a lot of hustle and bustle and noise,” says a woman who is doing Christmas shopping.
Almost a quarter of people dread Christmas, according to research by Univé and Hallmark. One in three Dutch people indicate that they get stressed by social obligations, dread business parties and worry about extra expenses.
Why do people dread the holidays?
Family obligations, overstimulation from too many activities and social pressure to participate in activities play an important role in people who hate Christmas. Financial concerns, loneliness and difficult memories also play a role in this group. This is evident from research by Univé.
In the city center of Eindhoven, people are busy buying Christmas gifts. “I’m having a bit of Christmas stress. My son is getting married just before Christmas,” says a woman who does not want to give her name. The Christmas dinner hasn’t been planned yet, the presents haven’t been bought yet. “I never like Christmas that much. It causes a lot of hustle and bustle and I would rather receive my children one by one than all at the same time with a lot of noise.”
Piran is looking forward to Christmas, but she understands that a lot of people don’t feel like it at all. “All those presents that have to be picked up, the house has to be tidy. I understand the Christmas stress, even though I don’t have it.”
Two Limburg ladies escape the Christmas stress. “We’re going on holiday soon, we’ve looked at that very carefully. My daughter-in-law will buy the presents, I just have to be ready with the purse,” Nelly laughs.
Christmas will be over as soon as possible
In addition to the hustle and bustle in December, emotions also play a role. More than one in ten sometimes feels lonely during this period, precisely because holidays are about connection. This is evident from a study by Hallmark. An almost equally large group hopes that Christmas will be over as quickly as possible.
Rogier is such a person: “It doesn’t bother me much either, but it is what it is. But I don’t have any stress. I already know everything: what I’m going to eat, who I’m going to eat with and especially who I’m not going to eat with.”
“We always have a gourmet meal on Christmas Eve, I don’t have to think about that and the rest is very simple,” says Toos. “I don’t like all those situations.” She worked in healthcare for fifty years. “I always really enjoyed working at Christmas. That was always the Christmas spirit for me: cooking delicious food for the people and providing fun.”