Has anyone spent Thanksgiving and Christmas alone?

Yes. It was awful the first time but it gets easier.

I've spent many Thanksgivings and Christmases alone. I'm single and have only two other family members. My brother and my father. My father lives far away and my brother has marriage problems. So even though I get an invitation, I decline. It's not happy or merry to see people living with each other who despise each other.

A friend last night gave me an invitation to come with him to visit his family. But, when I receive a last minute invitation, I normally decline. This is because it feels like I'm being invited as an after thought.

On Christmas I go over to my brother's home to drop of gifts for his family and my father. I used to spend Christmas with them, but their marriage is falling apart and it's not a happy home. I'll probably make an appearance this year to drop off gifts and leave. I'm not a person who can stand conflict or fighting, even if its just the disrespectful rudeness that goes on between my brother and his wife. So, I stay away.

The worst part about being single is the last minute invitations. It would not be so bad if it were a week before, but last minute invitations feel I'm being invited as an after thought or because of pity. Neither of these do I need or want.

I sometimes envy people with large families. It reminds me when I was a kid and there were people around. But, now I'm older and most of the family is dead. And those who are not dead live far away.

For me Thanksgiving and Christmas are times when I'm alone. That's not a bad thing, but for some reason being alone on those days make me feel lonely. I'm not really lonely, but those days make me feel it because society says it's a day for family and friends to get together.

And what about people who don't have a family?

Perhaps, I'll spend the day working on my home or watching movies.

Both holidays I am sad to report Zack.
It kind of sucks but it's something one can adapt to.
At least there is the phone call though.

I have spent every Christmas of my adult life alone. If I don't have to work taking care of other people's loved ones, I take a couple of Gravol tablets and sleep through the day. When I wake up, it is all over.

Yes and all the other holidays .

A few after my parents died and before I had custody of my daughter.

yes only once last thanksgiving i had dried up ribs.

Yes I have several times.

i spend the last thanx giving and christmas and my birthday deployed over seas

yep the last two years. I was hoping that would change this year but apparently my ex wife is more important than I am to my son so guess it will be a third thanksgiving and christmas alone.

Yes. I have no family, unmarried , no kids. I've often spent holidays with friends, but sometimes that doesn't happen.

I can always choose to create my own holiday event, go on a trip or volunteer somewhere if I really don't want to be alone.

I never have, no. +5

This is will be my first year spending Christmas alone. And I'll be honest, I'm already terrified of the lonely air in my house when I wake up that morning.

My parents moved overseas, my brother just got married and they're going out of state to visit her family, my best friend is visiting her boyfriend so spending it my second family (her fam) is out, and the only other family I have here is a distant aunt that would just make for an awkward Christmas morning!

Honestly, the move has been hard. Only because our family rocked when my parents were here...we were all so close. And now I took over their mortgage and live in their house with my dog. My roommate is moving out Dec 18th to her new boyfriends' apt. I'm thankful every day for my awesome dog but sometimes spending certain days alone with him makes me even more sad that he is all I have.

I plan on cooking a damn good meal and renting a great movie, like a Cannes festival winner or something of that sort, and trying to have a great day regardless...but I despise feeling lonely and I don't know how to avoid it. Maybe if I meet a wonderful guy before then (since I have been single for 1.5 LONG years), we can take a trip to the Bahamas together and never be alone again! haha. OK back to reality. A girl can dream can't she?

Any tips?

No. That would make me sad because I love spending time with my family at the holidays.

One Thanksgiving. Although a friend's family envited me over, I respectfully declined. I actually enjoyed a little ME time.

Yes, and it's not bad, actually! Loads of people who feel obligated to reunite with dysfunctional families for the holidays would probably prefer to be alone. I once bmg'd about spending a Thanksgiving alone, then actually enjoyed it, and spent the next one alone. The following year I had three invitations for Thanksgiving and declined so I could have the day to myself again! Christmas has gotten so bloated and overhyped I don't care how I spend it, so long as I know it will be over by tomorrow LOL.

I have spent a few of them alone. At that time in my life they were just days to me (I've never been really into holidays).

Yes I have spent many christmas's and thanksgivings alone due to my family being so far away.

Yes, and the time I did it was the most peaceful holiday I'd had in years.

I was away from home one Thanksgiving, but I was with some very nice people and had an enjoyable time. I don't think I have missed any other such days with my wife.

When I moved to L.A. about ten years ago I was invited to a couple family gatherings but declined. Instead, I made a turkey breast with all the trimmings, drank a little wine and watched movies. It was one of my nicest Thanksgivings.

I spent Thanksgiving alone. I was in Graduate School at Florida State University and couldn't afford the money or time to travel home. I went fishing, but didn't catch anything. Might have been cool to catch a fish and have fish for Thanksgiving, even just once.

I spent my first week of being divorced all alone on Thanksgiving, My X had the kids and I didn't feel like hearing that subject brought up from my relatives at that time...I actually had a better thanksgiving alone than I thought I would, made myself a turkey, watched football, had some drinks...Damn I was lonely....

I did it several times when I was single. I celebrated anyway, and I actually enjoyed it.

No, & no one I know has either. If they can't see their family for Christmas, they come to my house. I won't let anyone I know spend a Holiday alone.

Yes it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!!!!!!

No, I haven't. I think that I could be okay with it, especially if I had a days worth of movies, my favorite pj's on, all tucked away on the sofa with my favorite pillow and blanket. Oh and I'd have some Chinese food delivered - something untraditional to eat I think could make it easier.

Since my parents died, and since I live thousands of miles from my closest friends, I've spent the holidays alone (well, I have 3 cats) for three years now.

It's quiet, and sometimes restful--but sometimes very, very lonely. The hours drag a bit--I don't have television or a DVD player...not having any money doesn't make things easier, but it's not like everyone always has a choice in this life. You just do what you have to do, and learn to live with it.

I spent Thanksgiving alone this year. Oh, well, I wouldn't have been good company anyway - I'd just had dental work done.

no. Even way back in my single days I always traveled home for the hoildays. I can't imagine being alone for the holidays which is why I tend to have friends over for family dinners!!

Luckily I can answer no to both!
I am blessed with a wonderful family.

yes, and it helps to cultivate friends who can be like an extended family for you, and you for them. try Creating Extended Families

I've spent Thanksgiving alone, though not Christmas (yet). In years past I've invited friends and we've cooked dinner if I couldn't get home. This year will be another solo Thanksgiving (new town, no real friends.) Going to cook a great dinner, pay bills, clean the apartment and watch some movies. Also not a bad day to update my personal ad--you'll see lots of response and it feels very proactive. The more you get done (cleaning, chores, sorting papers, etc.) the better it will feel.

It's hard to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas alone when I live in a big family. :)

Dump question. You just want to feel better, Yes there are Smile :D

I haven't so far but I probably will this year.

I have since ive been 18. Married to a soldier, enough said. Its not bad, good movie, good food and some rest.

Yes I have.

i haven't, i hope i never do.

Nope.

YES, many times. My husband left me for 3 1/2 years, and I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas alone each year. It wasn't bad. I tried to make the best of it. Each Thanksgiving morning I would go to mass to start it off right. I would go home and call my daughter and grandkids who live in a foreign country. I would also talk on the phone with my husband. I would cook a small turkey dinner for myself and set a nice table. There was always much to be thankful for. Christmas was always joyous because I brought God into my life with attending mass, Lessons and Carrols, scheduled sing-a-longs, Christmas plays in the area, always Midnight mass, and waking up Christmas morning I always felt like Scrooge did, happy to be alive, and light as a feather. I was by myself but never alone!

To be honest, I can't say I ever have.

Yes numerous times, sometimes it was hard and others not so bad.