For people who don't celebrate Christmas, the day itself can fill you with dread.
There's no waking up to presents, no massive feast for lunch, dinner or eating leftovers on the ensuing days.
It's just another day, except most stores and activities are closed, while everyone else is having a ball. So what do you do?
SEE ALSO:The story behind the viral Polish Christmas ad that stole our heartsIf you're anything like this writer, Christmas was just never a thing in your house. Maybe you don't celebrate it for religious reasons. Maybe you just can't stand the carols.
You might even find it difficult to tell people that you don't do anything to mark Christmas, because it's so widely assumed that everyone did at least *something.*
Here's how those in the Mashable office who don't observe Christmas like to spend their day, after sleeping in and eating toast for brunch, of course.
Credit: pixabayGiving a gift to yourself is a scene right out of Mr. Bean, but screw it!
Get yourself that new stereo. That nice new TV. Those tickets to that gig. You deserve it. You survived the year, right? Treat yourself.
Credit: PIXABAYThe eating of Chinese food on Christmas Day is a ritual amongst many Jewish people in the U.S., as it's often migrant-run restaurants that stay open when others are shut.
In Australia for instance, you can pop yourself down to a Vietnamese or Middle Eastern restaurant that's open on Christmas Day.
Or you get yourself fed at the few fast food outlets open on the day.
Credit: NetflixEnd the brutal social embarrassment of having never seen Black Mirror, Westworldetc. once and for all.
Or just get ahead of the post-Christmas box office rush by seeing a new movie at the cinema before everyone else does.
Because we're not jealous. Not at all.
If it's freezing wherever you are, it's worth considering a trip away somewhere for the holiday period where you can get a bit more sun and not worry about people doing the Christmas thing.
Anywhere quiet and moderately warm will do. As long as there's no carolling.
While we don't know what that entails for you personally, you should definitely do it now while the world is on pause.
You have a solid two-day window in which to email people without getting an instant reply. Bliss.
Credit: FoxThere are plenty of homeless shelters or charities that need a hand helping the less fortunate this Christmas Day.
And you'll feel ace for it too. Hit up Google to find charities in need of volunteers in your area.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 25: North Bondi surf-club life-savers wear 'Baywatch-style' uniforms as they pose in front of their Christmas decorations at Bondi Beach on December 25, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Bondi Beach is a popular tourist destination on Christmas Day. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)Credit: Don Arnold/Getty ImagesFor some reason, travellers flock to Australia's beaches to have a backpacker's Christmas every Dec. 25.
It's usually involves drinking and swimming (don't do those things together though) as well as enjoying the sun as opposed to the snow. Yes, Down Under is backwards land.
Whatever. It's Christmas, right? They can't turn you away on Christmas.
Maybe you've got a friend that knows of your Christmas-free predicament? Create your own anti-holidays holiday.
All of the food and drink, with none of the awkward family conversations.
UPDATE: Dec. 11, 2023, 1:12 p.m. AEDT This article was originally published Dec. 2016, and has since been updated in Dec. 2023.
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