Marilyn Stowe Blog

So, is Christmas a “Woman Thing”?

In my last post, Christmas and the divorced man, I wrote about a male client of mine:

“My client intends to ignore Christmas this year. He is convinced that if men had their way, it wouldn’t exist at all. He asks, “Why do we have Father Christmas? It should be Mother Christmas”.

“Is he right? Is Christmas “a woman thing” and if so, why haven’t all we clever women spotted that we are being “had” before now?”

Here is my answer: we know full well that we are being “had”!

Yes, Christmas is very hard work – and tensions within a relationship can be exacerbated by the pressures of Christmas. At the same time, however, we love spending time with our children, friends and families, giving and receiving all those beautifully wrapped presents. Perhaps we just adore the excitement of buying (and eating) fabulous food and drinking glorious wine. For example: how many different boxes of chocolates have you spotted in store right now? And bought?! Not to mention those luxury puddings and cakes and mince pies!

Perhaps we just love all those special Christmas treats, and above all – whatever our personal circumstances, even if just for a while – we women make the most of Christmas. Not for us visions of clearing frozen paths and roads. Instead we go gaga over the pretty sight of snowflakes and snowmen!

My male lawyer client is absolutely right. Despite all the stresses and strains, for the short time it is with us, Christmas is the ultimate treat for women. All over the country, fairy lights twinkle in the dark and we watch Love, Actually and its ilk over and over again on DVD, and only we women have the faintest notion why we do it. Why? Because at this time of year we have the opportunity to indulge, luxuriate and to let go of normality for just a little while. Happy Christmas!

Image credit: sidewalk flying.

Related posts:

1. Christmas and the divorced man: is my client right?
2. Christmas and Divorce: What Women Want
3. Is there such a thing as a Man-o-pause?
4. Call a Christmas truce