Excluding Brother from Christmas: Am I the Bad Guy for Upholding Family Tradition?

In the world of family traditions, few holidays carry as much weight as Christmas. For many, this season brings together loved ones to create cherished memories, filled with laughter, warmth, and delicious treats.

In a recent Reddit thread, a young woman shared her heart-wrenching dilemma surrounding her brother's absence from their family's beloved celebration. The original poster (27F) detailed how her family had made the effort to adjust their Christmas plans to accommodate her brother's new job, ensuring everyone could celebrate together.

However, just days before the big day, he announced he would not be able to join them at all, citing work commitments. While the family respected this decision, their disappointment turned to shock when they discovered he had attended a party instead, leading to feelings of betrayal and hurt.

As the poster grappled with her emotions, she chose to exclude her brother from future family gatherings, a decision that has sparked a heated debate among relatives. Some believe she is justified in her feelings, while others argue for forgiveness and understanding.

This thread raises essential questions about family loyalty, commitment, and the importance of traditions, inviting readers to weigh in on what they believe is the right course of action. What do you think?

Is she justified in her decision, or should she consider reconciliation?

Original Post

So I'm (27F) and Christmas has always been a big deal for our family. Every year, my siblings, parents, and I get together to bake cookies, decorate the tree, and have a cozy dinner.

It's a tradition we all cherish. Well, this year, things took a turn.

My brother (30M) recently got a new job that required him to work on Christmas Eve. We all understood and decided to shift our celebration to Christmas Day.

However, a few days before Christmas, my brother surprised us by saying he couldn't make it at all. He claimed he had to work late on Christmas Day too.

We were all disappointed, but we understood work commitments. On Christmas Day, as we were exchanging gifts and enjoying our dinner, my sister noticed a social media post from my brother.

He was tagged in a photo at a party, clearly not working. We were all shocked and hurt that he lied to us.

The family tradition is really important to us, and we felt betrayed that he chose a party over spending time with us. I felt like he disrespected our family bond and the effort we put into our Christmas celebration.

So, I made the decision not to invite him to our next family gathering. My parents and sister agree with me, but some relatives think I'm being too harsh.

They say he made a mistake and deserves a second chance. I'm torn between upholding our family values and giving him another chance.

So, AITA?

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