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Original poster

What do you find shocking at Christmas?

207 replies

RosieGuacamosie · 22/12/2021 19:26

Lighthearted Grin

I have ASD so certain things utterly astound me, I’m sure others will vehemently disagree so feel free to share your own!

  1. Starters for Christmas lunch! Surely you’d save room to maximise the main event!
  2. Cooking the turkey the day before - are you not worried about food poisoning or it being super dry?
  3. Mash on a Christmas dinner, see also sweetcorn

I’m sure I’ll think of more

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 22/12/2021 21:51

The starter is part of the treat, so part of what you're saving space for. Also agree that it makes it feel more special.

As we have small kids we tend to spread it out a bit so have the starter as like a mid morning snack and then the big lunch. By pudding we're pretty stuffed so sometimes it gets saved and we have that with some cold turkey etc instead of dinner.

MuckyPlucky · 22/12/2021 21:55
  • Elf of the shelf thingy (only just learnt what it is, despite having primary kids, as I keep so far away from that kind of shite)
  • Opening stockings in bedrooms. Stockings should always be filled in living room & await them when they come down in morning, to be opened in front of parents. Weird to think they open presents by themselves before you’re awake.
  • Bread sauce. What even is it?
  • The Queen’s speech. Nothing against it, but just never ever seen it even once in my life somehow.
  • Having time to go for a walk on Xmas day. My whole life it’s been about the adults (and now me) working themselves to the bone cooking, serving, eating, washing up, disposing of wrapping paper, maybe trying to organise some chaotic games, and suddenly it’s midnight. When do all these families find time to go for nice walks? I’d love that but will be too busy slaving and at the coal face of chaos.
  • People who do their Xmas shopping throughout the year. Don’t they have anything non-Xmas to focus on?
  • Boxing Day sales. Never once occurred to me or my family to leave house on Boxing Day.
BertieBotts · 22/12/2021 21:55

I don't make turkey so don't know if it goes dry but I think people cook it the day before because it takes such a long time.

I don't cook Christmas dinner in advance but no you shouldn't worry about food poisoning from something that has been cooked the day before. It's a totally normal and common thing to do. I do it all the time with stew, Bolognese, chili, curry etc. Often leave on the stove overnight too. That is what people did before fridges, it is safer/best practice to keep in the fridge, but it's not especially risky to leave cooked food at room temperature just for one day/night.

Interested in this thread?

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Events & celebrations
Fendidntdrake · 22/12/2021 21:55

I'm autistic with an eating disorder and I can't get my head around how people can enjoy eating a meal together.

GTAlogic · 22/12/2021 21:58

The more food for us, the better! It all gets eaten either on the day itself or on the following day when we cook and reheat it all and have a 2nd, smaller Christmas dinner. Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, carrots, sprouts and parsnips, mashed potatoes, field veg etc all feature.

I don't understand why people eat turkey though. It's dry and tasteless, even when cooked properly. Why not have a nicer cut of meat like a steak, pheasant, ham, chicken, pork or even lamb?

Ugzbugz · 22/12/2021 21:59

People ruininh their own day to please others and driving around. Insane.

pastapestoparmesan · 22/12/2021 22:03

That people are so obsessed with what they (and others) do or don’t eat for one specific meal. Just eat something you like! I don’t like turkey, and if it ever comes up in conversation people immediately ask ‘but what do you do at Christmas?’ Er… eat something else? And if someone else is cooking, eat the other parts and leave the turkey. No drama.

BertieBotts · 22/12/2021 22:03

Bread sauce is gross. Like someone else has chewed bread and spat it out Envy

bedheadedzombie · 22/12/2021 22:04

I don't like all that eating and snacking the whole day. In my country we eat the main meal in the evening but there is so much scoffing beforehand. The good thing is that I host so I can get what others like but I'm not to bothered about so less tempted myself.

I also dislike getting plastic tat for the sake of giving a present. I'd rather receive something useful like soap my day cream if they can't think of something.

midlifecrash · 22/12/2021 22:08

Sweet corn?! I didn’t know about that (am veggie don’t eat roast dinner). I’m definitely shocked that doesn’t sound like it would go at all.

Still reeling though as found out here that some people have cauliflower cheese with their gravy and everything.

HandsyChatters · 22/12/2021 22:08

I find it hard to get my head round,

Yorkshire pudding on a Christmas dinner,
Not having mashed and roast potatoes,
Eating Christmas Lunch then a buffet in the evening,
When people always have to do the same thing every year for example only ever go to their parents and won't go to their in laws or just have Christmas with their spouse and children,
Stockings for adults,
Sweetcorn,
Matching pyjamas for all the family,
Padding out present piles,
People who witter on about Christmas Dinner being a just Sunday Roast as if it's a huge revelation,
How anyone can visit a Father Christmas grotto and not be riddled with the cringe,
How people can do so much in one day- you read on here how they go to church, cook pastries, open gifts, walk/swim, cook and eat a three course meal for 15, do a treasure hunt, visit elderly relations, watch a film, prepare a buffet, play charades, make a stock from the turkey bones and are still able to sit and relax in the evening,
Opening presents in a big free for all- this is how my in laws do it and I find it incredibly stressful,
When Christmas cake meant to to be eaten,
When people say they leave food out to 'pick' at all day,

Notwithittoday · 22/12/2021 22:09

This year I’ve been a bit shocked by the amount of Christmas ‘experiences’ people are forking out for/ travelling hundreds of miles to and posting pics of on social media. Used to be a trip to Father Christmas in a dept store and then Xmas day itself. Now it’s light trails, winter wonderlands, Lapland UK… some of these experiences cost hundreds of pounds for families

3peassuit · 22/12/2021 22:12

Those tubs of heros and celebrations . It’s all wrapper teeny tiny Chocolate. I’d be happier with a bar of fruit and nut but I feel obliged to buy a few tubs.

DirtyDancing · 22/12/2021 22:13

People that sweat over Xmas dinner all day.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, now you can buy ready done Yorkshires you can do a Turkey dinner in 2 hours. Get the Turkey in after a light buffet lunch and make someone else prep veg and pots and you're away. We eat at 4.30/5pm.

These days I don't feel like Xmas is the time to get pissed. It's no longer something that appeals to me.

People who literally pile their plate with everything and it's just a disgusting mash up of food.

HandsyChatters · 22/12/2021 22:14

I'm also surprised by the amount of people who don't like Turkey, I love it. It makes amazing gravy.

Hb12 · 22/12/2021 22:14

Yup, bread sauce, and mashed potatoes. In fact, mash full stop. Especially with gravy.

RedHot22 · 22/12/2021 22:16

Bread sauce
The amount of TV
How brilliant my family are at buying presents

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/12/2021 22:17

Running around the country in a tizz visiting people you don't really like.
Hosting people you don't like.
Sending christmas cards to people you never speak to which they don't get because they moved 10 years ago.

RedHot22 · 22/12/2021 22:19

I love Turkey, ours is never dry

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/12/2021 22:19

@BertieBotts

Bread sauce is gross. Like someone else has chewed bread and spat it out Envy
Leave the country immediately Grin
MissAmbrosia · 22/12/2021 22:21

I love bread sauce. I am also a whizz at a roast dinner which is what Xmas lunch is all about but I can never understand how it's ready for 1pm. We have ours about 4pm after a 10/11ish brunch of eggs and smoked salmon normally. I really don't understand why people spend Xmas with others that they don't really like.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 22/12/2021 22:21

I don't really understand why this idea of 'last minute omg I'm so disorganised' has appeared from. I've just finished wrapping and feeling quite smug. I don't underatand why you would want to do everything in November. I love wrapping on the floor with the tree and something Christmassy on

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/12/2021 22:24

I don't get why people celebrate xmas at all quite honestly then put on 10 pounds in a week and are skint until March.
I'll be "celebrating" the day painting my ceilings (recently plastered), lounging in my PJs and eating normal food.
Occasionally my DS and DiL will join me in lounging especially when i have a new cat but they couldn't care less about xmas either.

squashyhat · 22/12/2021 22:26

The fact that over a 10-day period with multiple live and streaming tv channels it is so hard to find something I actually want to watch. If you are not into soaps or Dr Who or Call the Fucking Midwife there is shite-all on.

emmetgirl · 22/12/2021 22:28

The way some people get so stressed out about it. It genuinely baffles me.