Toni, 29, hairdresser, married.
When we got married, Dave & I decided we wouldn't be doing Christmas at all. He has no particular religious affiliation and I am very anti-church, so it didn't make sense for us to get involved in the Christmas thing. Then to have to do stuff like spend money on presents no one needs just because it's December 25 seemed dumb too.
So we started letting our friends know, whenever the topic came up. If they asked what we were going to do for Christmas we just said, oh, we're not doing Christmas. We're starting our own new family tradition.
No one ever asked us anything more. I also told my parents, that was the hardest bit, as I didn't want to make it look like we were rejecting them or anything like that. They still want to give me gifts anyway, but at least they know it's not necessary and I'm not reciprocating. I'll give throughout the year when I feel like it and when it's important, like their birthdays.
We don't need a special designated day for exchanging gifts, and especially not one that means we have to give stuff to everyone we know all at once. Plus the benefit of not doing Christmas is that my husband now feels so special - it's his birthday on December 25th and every year his birthday would be overshadowed by Christmas. He is special to me so I shall keep his day free of everything else.