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Original poster

Apart from the obvious restrictions, how is your Christmas different this year?

38 replies

EternalOptimist7 · 07/12/2020 17:54

I have mixed feelings this year. It’s only ever 5 of us on the big day anyway so that’s ok but the build up is so different. I’m not even having any meals out etc with friends & haven’t looked into any fairs, carol concerts etc. Usually I’m well up for anything festive. There’s still time for me to get more into the spirit! 🎄🎄🎄

OP posts:
ikltownofboothlehem · 07/12/2020 17:55

We're having dinner at home instead of going out for a curry, won't be having our usual Christmas Eve buffet for our parents either.

Miltonkeynesmummy · 07/12/2020 18:00

We always have Christmas with a minimum of 8 people. Normally more like 10-15. Just 4 of us this year. No church services, carolling, parties but it's just one year.

BackforGood · 07/12/2020 18:05

Well, aren't all the differences going to be because of the restrictions ?

We've not been able to physically go Christmas shopping
The choir that I'm in hasn't been able to rehearse / put on the Christmas concert
No (proper) Church services
Can't do the usual Carol Singing in the shopping centre
No other Carol services to go to
No Crib service on Christmas Eve nor (proper) service at midnight
No works 'do' (am not counting 1/2 hour on zoom)
No get togethers with various groups for 'drinks for Christmas'
No extended family 'get togethers in the traditional manor
My (young adult) dc can't meet up with all their mates as they usually would
etc
etc
etc

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Events & celebrations
Original poster
EternalOptimist7 · 07/12/2020 18:29

backforgood well yes they are - maybe I phrased that wrongly.

OP posts:
FireUnderpants · 07/12/2020 18:34

The paediatric diabetes team at DSs hospital usually throw a Christmas party, that is normally the last Friday in November. They made the decision to cancel back in the summer, everyone wears stupid jumpers and it's usually a good laugh.

We didn't have an afternoon ice skating before getting the tree at the garden centre. No rink this year and the place was absolutely rammed so we got our tree from a pop up road side place.

All 3 DC should have spent this weekend just gone at a scout christmas camp. I'm slightly gutted dh and I didn't get a weekend alone. I had envisioned us doing all the Christmas shopping, cinema and dinner when I realised they all go to camp this year.

The kids craft afternoon at an art place got cancelled. They were meant to spend a day making a clay table centrepiece.

No big family get together. I won't see my wider family this year.

No panto Christmas eve.

No school Carol concert at the church.

No works party.

No school nativity.
My calendar is usually packed out in December, this year its really blank.

Spudina · 07/12/2020 18:41

We aren’t seeing any family aside from a walk with my brother and his family on Boxing Day. I’m nursing and the kids are in school so it’s too risky to be round my older family members. Me might Zoom. No boozy friends nights out with friends or works parties. No trips to see Santa. Work aside I’m hibernating and trying to stay Covid free. And I’m ok with that. If I have Love Actually and a Terry’s Chocolate Orange I’m happy.

Bluewavescrashing · 07/12/2020 18:43

First time just us 4. No travelling, no fussy grandparents, just chilling with new toys and eating what we want! I will miss them though.

lazylinguist · 07/12/2020 18:47

We normally either host or go away for 4 or 5 days, spending half the time at PIL's house and half at my parents' or dsis' (all at least 4hrs away). We won't be seeing any of them this year - it will be just the four of us unfortunately. We tried a Christmas with just us a few years ago and all agreed it was rubbish compared with being with the extended family.

We don't normally do Christmassy socialising in the run-up at all though, so that will be normal.

HazeyJaneII · 07/12/2020 18:52

No school Xmas stuff for ds, because he is home

Avoiding Xmas shopping.

Dh and I normally take a day off and go out, just us, do some Christmas shopping, have lunch...it's lovely and one of the only times it's just us for the day - that's not happening.

No giddy 3 and 4 year olds at work, doing the nativity and handing me a lovely hand made card on the last day.

No work Xmas meal

No last minute panic shop

No travelling to friends for New Year

No sister, as she can't travel over

No mum staying over, as she died in June.

It's going to be very, very strange and hard, but, as long as everyone stays well, I think it will be ok.

Camomila · 07/12/2020 18:57

I have double the DC I did last year Smile

DS1 has his first carol concert - on video Sad
Midnight mass (if it runs) will be at 9pm - dithering whether to go or not.
I went Christmas shopping with DM (in our bubble) today though which was nice.

Camomila · 07/12/2020 19:07

Sorry, HazeyJanell cross-post Blush [flowers

LittleOverwhelmed · 07/12/2020 19:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

AcornAutumn · 07/12/2020 19:32

The differences are the restrictions!

Friends with whom I’d have meals etc can’t or won’t and there’s the T&T problem. Annual Christmas ballet with best friend - nope.

The highlight for me in terms of 24th - 26th are neighbours drinks which we can’t have. This is mum’s neighbours so they are people who babysat me growing up and their now adult children. People singing and uncle on piano, nope.

Cousins up north can’t visit because we’d be more than three households - me, mum, sister are three households.

Mydogisagentleman · 07/12/2020 19:34

First time in 8 years I won’t be working on the day.
We won’t be going to the pub, DH won’t be going to church and I can’t take the dog to our local Xmas morning sea swim

leasedaudi1 · 07/12/2020 19:35

We have a list of 17 rules for mixing our three families, as imposed by MIL. Things like, only one person from the hosting house can cook the food (!!), we should bring our own cutlery and crockery, anyone over ten must remain two metres away from each other unless in the same household, and we must have the windows and doors open, and all windows open in the 3 hr drive to BIL house. Not looking forward to it.

AcornAutumn · 07/12/2020 19:39

@Mydogisagentleman

First time in 8 years I won’t be working on the day. We won’t be going to the pub, DH won’t be going to church and I can’t take the dog to our local Xmas morning sea swim
Why can’t you take the dog for a swim?
AcornAutumn · 07/12/2020 19:40

@leasedaudi1

We have a list of 17 rules for mixing our three families, as imposed by MIL. Things like, only one person from the hosting house can cook the food (!!), we should bring our own cutlery and crockery, anyone over ten must remain two metres away from each other unless in the same household, and we must have the windows and doors open, and all windows open in the 3 hr drive to BIL house. Not looking forward to it.
I wouldn’t bother

She can’t dictate your behaviour in your car!

Orangeblossom77777 · 07/12/2020 19:41

Our main changes are not really to do with the restrictions bit family illness sadly. Things will be very different this year. Not covid related, although that is an issue as well albeit a minor one in comparison.

leasedaudi1 · 07/12/2020 19:44

@AcornAutumn unfortunately we don't have a car so have to get a lift: and we will all wear face masks except our little one. I don't really have the choice as it's DHs family.

BogRollBOGOF · 07/12/2020 19:52

It's just lockdown with tinsel innit.

Going for a walk with BiL's wing of the family while it's temporarily not illegal for sets of cousins to mix. The irony is their house is always a freezing cold wind tunnel anyway so they would have ventilation sorted, but at least it will be warmer to move outside than sit in a wind tunnel.

DM CBA with Christmas so she's happy to have a quiet one on her own. DB is catching up with his long distance ILs. The rest of mine are in another country but we don't go at Christmas anyway.
I'm glad the rules have been relaxed to allow more families to meet, but it's just not going to work with family circumstances and preferences.

Ironically it will be like Easter Sunday as one DC had a birthday that day and the weather was shit.

TeaLibrary · 07/12/2020 19:53

No Christingle or candlelit carols on Christmas Eve
No midnight mass
No work Christmas dinner (not such a bad thing)
No Christmas shopping or cinema trips
No family gathering on Christmas Day because we would have too many different households mixing indoors
Feels very different and joyless in some ways. I bitterly resent not being able to see my family. I know its the most sensible thing to do and the most responsible thing to do to stop covid spreading but I am upset all the same.

LastChristmas20 · 07/12/2020 19:56

Christmas Day itself actually won't be any different at all.

The benefit of always wanting a small family Christmas of just our household.

Smile

But we will miss the various get together a we always have either side.

user1471453601 · 07/12/2020 19:57

My Xmas will be pretty much as it usually is.

DD and her partner, however, won't be able to see Partners Mum and sisters ( we are tier three, they are tier two). And I won't be able to put flowers on mum's grave, or see my sister. I haven't seen my much loved nieces first child since she was born in September, or my nephews lovely daughters for over a year.

on the brighter side, it's my 70th birthday just before xmas, so at least my well meaning family will not be able to throw me a party, which I would hate.

All in all, I'm just happy and content that all my family are fit and well. And if I never get to see them again, as long as they are fit and well, that's ok with me.

AcornAutumn · 07/12/2020 19:57

[quote leasedaudi1]@AcornAutumn unfortunately we don't have a car so have to get a lift: and we will all wear face masks except our little one. I don't really have the choice as it's DHs family.[/quote]
Oh that’s a shame.

clary · 07/12/2020 19:58

So different.

Normally:
Carol concerts and services in the run up, some with DD performing.
Night out for meal with work
Night(s) out drinking with old work (party people!)
Christmas lunch out with two close pals
Christmas fuddle at DS2's sports club
Christmas get-together with book club
Trip to cinema to see It's a Wonderful Life
Chr Eve DH and kids go to see his family, touring from house to house with gifts and cards
B Day DH and boys go to footy

Not doing any of those Sad