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Original poster

Does anyone else not go to multiple Christmas parties?

122 replies

MagpiePi · 03/12/2023 10:26

If you believed the newspapers and SM, December is a frantic whirl of Christmas parties and gatherings, and we are all frazzled at picking the next fabulous outfit and needing tips on how to not over indulge at the buffets and meals every night, not to mention how to deal with the hangover and lack of sleep, and drag ourselves into work the next day.

I might go to the pub with some mates, or we might gather at someone’s house for a coffee and a mince pie, but that’s about it.

Does anyone, apart from journalists and celebs, actually live this life?

OP posts:

smilesup · 03/12/2023 11:30

I do
3 works dos (I have 3 jobs!)
1 for my footie team
1 for my choir
2 friends are having parties
2 family events
Plus couple of pub trips.
I enjoy it but will pile on all the weight and my liver will cry. I also will be tired until end of Jan.
I am very sociable though and go out every weekend and have done since I was a teen!

Hbh17 · 03/12/2023 11:30

I might have an occasional lunch with a friend, but I never go to any Xmas parties - for which I am profoundly thankful!

IBegYourBiggestPardon · 03/12/2023 11:33

No. I couldn't think of anything worse!!

Andanotherone01 · 03/12/2023 11:34

I’ve only ever been to work things, usually over lunchtime. I don’t think Christmas parties at home are really a thing anymore are they? We’ve got some neighbours coming over for drinks but v low-key and casual.
My parents always used to have an open house type thing on Christmas Day morning though

TheYearOfSmallThings · 03/12/2023 11:36

I go to Christmas things (team Christmas lunch, overall work party, annual cocktails and meal with a certain group of friends, various other meetups, lots of visiting and family stuff. BUT...none of it resembles those photos where everyone is dressed up like the Oscars and wearing gold sequins and green velvet etc. Some years the big work party is a bit like that (depends on the venue) but the rest... definitely not.

I now have a hankering to get a Christmas makeover and go to a party that is like the perfume ads where everyone looks like a model and is sipping champagne. We could have it in Nigellas house, and obviously the ambassador would be there spoiling us with Ferrero Rocher and we would all be laughing joyfully and having the most glamorous time ever

in reality my team lunch is at Pizza Express again.

IsItOverYetAndCanIComeOutNow · 03/12/2023 11:39

Nope. I’ve not got a single Christmas event planned and the day itself will also be extremely low key. Just me and my elderly non-drinking parent.

peggipatch · 03/12/2023 11:41

We did, pre covid, but a lot of socialising was through dance school with our ballroom and latin classmates.

Now it's mainly lunches out with friends from work or my school friends, we have a big Masked Christmas Ball coming up, where all stops are pulled out (black tie) but I am happy now it is less frenetic.

headcheffer · 03/12/2023 11:42

We usually have one Christmas party (which is hosted at our house) that requires a sparkly outfit.

The rest are more casual type things - work do an away day followed immediately by Christmas meal and drinks so we all just wear a Christmas jumper.

People might invite us over for some drinks but we all have kids so again we would probably wear a Christmas jumper or just a smart casual outfit.

I do find that there are lots more social things over December but they're not the type that magazines or M&S outfits would have me believe other people go to!!!

megletthesecond · 03/12/2023 11:44

No. I'm my twenties it was only one Xmas party for whatever job I was in. Now I don't even go to the get together for my current job.
I suspect media people go to loads of parties and assume everyone else does.

DRS1970 · 03/12/2023 11:48

No parties here. I think it depends on your age to an extent, and where you live to a degree. We are both older and very rural.

Motheranddaughter · 03/12/2023 11:48

We have a couple of things each week i’m the lead up to Christmas
Hosting a party next Saturday
Don’t do any stressing about it

Titicacacandle · 03/12/2023 11:48

I would also like my Christmas outings to be like a perfume advert round Nigellas.

Newyorkpepper · 03/12/2023 11:49

I'm in my 40's and haven't been to an xmas party since I was a child. Parties and work do's are my idea of hell. No thank you.

1AnotherOne · 03/12/2023 11:49

I have 8 nights out in 3 weeks over the Christmas period which is a lot for me. 5 of them are in one week.

Kangaboo · 03/12/2023 11:52

I am currently in bed recovering from a Christmas party. Getting wasted on nights = wasted days

Sherlocklovelyhomes · 03/12/2023 11:52

I've never been to one. I would love to get all dressed up in a sparkly dress but it might be a bit much for the supermarket.

purplecorkheart · 03/12/2023 11:54

I have one Christmas party, one Christmas coffee and mince pie catch up. Probably will be meeting a few friends for drinks.

RabbitsRock · 03/12/2023 11:55

Same as pps - used to do a fair bit when I was younger but it’s tailed right off now. Have a meal out with ex colleagues which I’m looking forward to. My friends don't tend to have parties at all throughout the year & DH & I never entertain here, partly because the house is small.

irritation2345678 · 03/12/2023 11:56

I bailed out of two separate parties last night. One a 50th and the other a friends annual big Xmas party at a venue.

I am feeling very antisocial at the moment, and am just honest with people these days if I don't fancy doing something.

If I don't think I'll be good company, I don't go.

Spottywombat · 03/12/2023 11:56

Nope, nothing at all.

theduchessofspork · 03/12/2023 11:57

It’s just something to fill column inches

In the run up I have 4 work dos (3 meals and a party - different teams) 2 professional organisation dos (a party and a meal), a handful of friend lunches and drinks, a handful of neighbour dos - mostly just drinks, one visit to a lit up garden thing, one theatre trip, one Carol concert. Cannot get on board with the pile of tat that is a Christmas market.

So not a mad whirl but not nothing.

I remember actual Christmas parties more when I was younger. I think party givers have sensibly decided to do it at other times of the year when people appreciate it more.

Chouxpastryishard · 03/12/2023 11:59

Two Xmas lunches for hobby groups. That’s it

MolkosTeenageAngst · 03/12/2023 12:05

I don’t go to any big or fancy Christmas parties, but I don’t go to big social events at any time of the year. I’m assuming people who go to lots of Christmas parties live their lives with lots of socialising too. I meeting a group of friends for dinner at one of their houses in a couple of weekends and have a meal followed by a night out with another group of friends planned too but nothing fancier than usual. I will probably go for a meal out with my team of colleagues but we don’t have a big or fancy Christmas do planned.

Crinkle77 · 03/12/2023 12:07

Nope. Usually have a departmental work lunch then a separate team lunch. I go to a friend's for Boxing Day buffet and drinks and I might go for a couple of drinks with friends between Christmas and New Year but that's it. That's about as much as I can be bothered doing.

DrCoconut · 03/12/2023 12:12

Same here @Lioney. No Christmas parties for me

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