Aibu to think the Middle Class have a much nicer Christmas from the run up to the event itself?

It's money and time that make those things possible, not a person's class.

It could be argued that those who are middle/upper class are likely to have more disposable income and therefore are more likely to be doing those things. That said, a working class family might save hard all year to do those things as well.

I am middle class and in the fortunate position of having disposable income and only one child.

We are not big on Christmas events though. DS has been to the panto with school, we went to the garden centre to look at the nice decorations and ds has an advent calendar. We enjoyed putting our tree and other decorations up.

We will enjoy the Christmas holidays from school (I am a teacher so get them off) but our plans at the moment involve spending time together/with family/friends in various houses. We will likely go on the steam train between Christmas and New year. We will watch Christmas films, play games, go for local walks. None of it expensive but we will have a lovely time.

They may have a nicer Christmas in terms of posh food, nice houses to celebrate in etc, but I don't at all get the impression that more middle class families are the ones splashing out on Christmas events and huge piles of presents. We are solidly mc and don't spend very much on Christmas (certainly by MN standards).

Money? Not everyone has it. Yes you can watch Christmas films, but things like panto trips, Santa visits, Christmas fetes/markets etc cost a lot. Especially if you have a big family. Even "the basics" like decorations, a tree or baking mince pies all cost money.

Saying "why don't you start doing it?" is basically the same as saying "why don't you stop being poor?" Which kind of backs up @Mincepiesorpigsinblankets original premise that wealthier families have a nicer run up/Christmas.

There is still a class system in this country.
You're working class if you can't even afford to pay the bills but you still work a full time job
If you have disposable income you must be earning enough to live and more besides.
Yes Christmas is about family and togetherness, but wouldn't it be nice to do something "nice"?
I'd love to go to the Panto every Christmas bit I never can afford it for the family.
True money can't buy you happiness but it sure helps relieve stress and depression.
Poverty is a killer.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Concentrate on your own Christmas. You have no idea what’s really going on with anyone, you only see what people want you to see.

I’ve no idea if I’m middle class or not, but December is always jam-packed with Christmas events, meals, shows etc. I love it!

I can’t say I agree. We are really common and have done nothing but festive fun since mid November 😀

I’m MC and my Xmas will be thrown together and with minimal effort because I’ve got no fucking money and no fucking time

Well I grew up in a very middle class village and there was a lot of Christmas stuff. Multiple church's doing community things, the schools did loads and more parents (mothers) had the time to be more involved. Fund raising was more successful. There were Christmas decorations out the front of houses. Lovely feeling to it.

I now live 10 miles away in the cheapest house I could find. I don't see anything from the church other than food bank. The schools do stuff but not at the same level. When I visit my parents I can see the posters fro school fete and all the decorations. On my road the decorations are minimal and gawdy one house put up a rain deer made of lights it was beautiful and was knocked within a couple days.

Myself and my kids will still have joy. But finding the money for everything has been stressful in a way it never would be if the weekly food shop was stressful every week anyway. My kids won't get what they asked for either. Thankfully all our middle class friends dropped us so at least my kids won't see the stark comparison when they get charity shop toys and their peers get a new switch or whatever. We will play together and will get quality time and have a nice walk along the rubbish strewn streets to the park if we get board. Kids don't know any difference and they will love it. I however know there is a huge difference

I'm also doing chicken instead of turkey and that changes the whole feel of Christmas dinner.

My very middle class mother will argue she gets just as stressed by Christmas as any other people. She would be offended by the idea she may have it easier than us paupers. She has no idea. People who don't have to add their shop up as they go around and rely on the reduced meat to eat meat have no fucking idea

You're so right.

If you mean on front doors which open onto a corridor which is part of a designated fire escape route, then I think you'll find that rule is found in private blocks of flats too. Certainly was the case where I used to live.

@ Mirabai
What you said about foraging is not totally correct - there are many exclusionary local bye-laws and also rules about SSSIs, for example.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11584156

These websites, even from supporters of foraging, shows that the situation can sometimes be quite complex:
https://britishlocalfood.com/foraging-british-law/
https://www.thegrizzlyforager.co.uk/foraging-and-the-law/
www.landscaper.org.uk/foraging

As you know, some plants are very strictly protected.No-one should interfere with them at all.
https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2023/01/05/is-foraging-legal-in-the-uk/

and here it is https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/4091892-To-try-and-recreate-a-Christmas-market-in-my-back-garden

oh we need the recreating a german market thread on this thread

100 per cent 🎄

Doesn't have to cost the earth.

I usually make my own wreath at home from evergreens and berries from my own and (willing) neighbour's gardens or bits taken from woodland walks.

Carol services are free. Making mince pies or a chocolate log or Christmas biscuits with DC costs very little. Making their own popcorn and cocoa then watching a Christmas film together under blankets on the sofa, going for a frosty walk on a sparkly day, reading Christmas storybooks from the library, hand-making decorations for the tree or streamers for the ceiling, putting out food for Rudolph and letters for Santa. These are all gorgeous Christmas events that cost next to nothing.

We used to get cheap seats for a show but it was often the only show we saw all year when DC were young and money was very tight - a local panto when DC were small or a London comedy when they got older. Some of these were from free ticket companies that wanted a full house, so you only paid the admin fee.

Christmas is expensive. Isn’t it perfectly obvious that those earning more money will be able to do more?

Fake German markets are rubbish too- full of massively overpriced gifts that nobody actually wants, extortionately priced food and drinks and lots of drunk people.

Far better to visit a local craft market and have drink in a cosy cafe or pub afterwards x

Some of my best Christmases were at work as a younger person.

WC Christmases look absolutely fabulous. Many more presents and togetherness. I always notice the houses are always so decorated, so much anticipation and joy. As much as I like my village. It is incredibly tasteful when actually fun and frivolity is very festive.

Where there is genuine gratitude for gifts, kindness and thought there will be a great Christmas regardless of income/class.

This! The big difference is how much time you get off and you are more likely to get the whole festive period in MC jobs.

I would be interested in how many people saying the OP is wrong are finishing on the 20th for nearly 2 weeks off and how many have Christmas Day off and that is pretty much it.