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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you consider the 30th and 31st the festive period

90 replies

Thepoweroflove777 · 25/12/2025 19:31

Personally I don’t really once Boxing Day is over it’s over for me.

OP posts:

ADHDdiagnosis · 25/12/2025 23:42

Yes, to me it’s important because it’s a huge amount of work to make Christmas happen and I need it to feel like it’s a whole week that I can enjoy a bit. It’s something I try to make special but I’m also lucky at the moment and don’t have too much on for the next week. It’s hard for people who need to be back at work straight after Christmas of course. I’ve had many of those years too.

Onlyonthetelly · 25/12/2025 23:32

EchoedSilence · 25/12/2025 22:02

So everyone on this thread has next week off work?

We do the twelve days here and don’t go back to work until 6th. Not particularly religious just tradition.

Menonut · 25/12/2025 23:26

Usually until I go back to work after New year although mybirthday is on 7 January, the 12 days of Christmas have only just finished then so I stop Christmas the day before my birthday and start the birthday celebrations.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 25/12/2025 23:06

Yes - i teach so off until 5th January. DP will be working in between but he will probably be here rather than go into the office. I have lunches and coffees with friends planned, the fridge is still full of cheese, and I’m looking forward to long lies. We’ll probably take the tree down on Sunday 4th just so it’s done before being back at work.

JennyWrenSeven · 25/12/2025 23:06

WhereYouLeftIt · 25/12/2025 21:38

Absolutely!

However I am Scottish so growing up, New Year was more important than Christmas. 30th we'd be preparing for Hogmanay on 31st. Ah, it was so exciting then!

My Scottish father’s tradition was ‘first footing’ so New Year’s Day was a big one for him.

BurntBroccoli · 25/12/2025 23:05

Of course! Christmas Day is the first of twelve days of Christmas.

JennyWrenSeven · 25/12/2025 23:02

Yes I do, to a point. I’m working all through this year though, so it’s lost its shine a little.

89redballoons · 25/12/2025 23:01

WhatNoRaisins · 25/12/2025 20:21

Say this every year but I really wish that the school terms in England would allow for the 12 days.

Ours does! We've got inset days on 5 and 6 January. Last year was the same. It's a Catholic school.

I keep the 12 days so I like it this way, and am on mat leave now so I don't need to sort childcare. Can imagine it's a pain for some with work and annual leave, though.

Amiunemployable · 25/12/2025 23:00

I actually enjoy getting christmas day out the way. But boxing day till Jan 2nd is the nice bit. Christmas day over but a chance to properly relax, enjoy the festive period, eat nice food, watch the kids build their lego sets and play with their toys. A nice chilled time.

Denim4ever · 25/12/2025 22:59

Up to the 6th when the decorations get taken down.

UnimaginableWindBird · 25/12/2025 22:58

All the way to Epiphany for me.

I do have the whole of this period off this year, but that's not particularly usual for me - in my previous job, I was often back at work on Boxing Day. And DD worked on Christmas Eve and has a long shift on Boxing Day this year. But we still celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, with the new year in the middle, so it feels special even if I have to fit the festivities around work, school etc.

LiveToTell · 25/12/2025 22:57

Yes - until twelfth night for me.

springtome · 25/12/2025 22:56

The festive period doesn’t end until the 2nd at earliest but I would keep it going longer if DH would let me.

Mistyglade · 25/12/2025 22:56

Of course, Xmas eve till new year is festive.

UneAnneeSansLumiere · 25/12/2025 22:54

Until the 6th for me.

itsthetea · 25/12/2025 22:53

When did you start your festivities ? If you start in November I guess you may be done

I like to keep it going till mid January
it means you don’t have to rush so much - relax and enjoy

and the relaxing is so important -so good at this time of year. In sync with the natural world

I’d never do back to work until after new year

beadystar · 25/12/2025 22:48

Yes, it’s the festive period until at least after New Year’s Day. For me anyway. Technically it ends on 6th Jan.

socks1107 · 25/12/2025 22:33

Sort of, I’m still relaxed and enjoying a slower pace until the 2nd even though I work it most years

Starandflowers · 25/12/2025 22:32

Cat1504 · 25/12/2025 22:27

To me that’s a waste of leave…..I take leave to go away …..plenty of time in December to do meets up and anything christmassy

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Not when you live 500 miles away from family, so not a waste of leave for me

FlatErica · 25/12/2025 22:29

Starts at winter solstice on 21 December for me and goes through to orchard wassailing on 5/6 January.

WillowIvy · 25/12/2025 22:27

No we don’t. When the children were small it was different but not now. DH and I will be back to business as usual on Monday, we accommodate all staff who want to have the full two weeks off over Christmas and New Year so we need to be back at work. We’re always really busy during January anyway and like to have everything that comes in during the break dealt with before everyone comes back on 5th Jan.

I don’t understand the bitchiness on here at times with taking decorations down tbh. Just because some of us prefer to get the house back to normal before new year doesn’t mean we’ve had decorations up from Oct/Nov and are sick of them. Ours went up 2 weeks ago but due to the demands of our business and wanting to give staff the choice to have a proper break with their families, ours will be down on Sunday.

Cat1504 · 25/12/2025 22:27

Starandflowers · 25/12/2025 22:20

Yes. I always prioritise part of my annual leave allowance for the Christmas period.

Show quote history

To me that’s a waste of leave…..I take leave to go away …..plenty of time in December to do meets up and anything christmassy

Cat1504 · 25/12/2025 22:26

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 25/12/2025 20:10

Yes of course it is. It really depresses me when people think it’s all done and dusted by Boxing Day.

Why? Most people will be back in work on 29th ….Christmas all done…..including me…my tree will be down on the 28th