Page 3 | Which Christmas tradition would you get rid of?

Honeychickpea · 27/12/2023 06:57

Fantina · 26/12/2023 23:46

For me, it would be wrapping presents. I know they can look pretty and when I make an effort, mine do. But it feels like such a waste of time and paper. I’d like to normalise not wrapping them and using gift bags with whispy paper instead.

what would you get rid of and why?

I haven't wrapped a present for at least 15 years. Everyone I know uses (and reuses) gift bags.

I have dump the big stress causing roast dinner that nobody really enjoys.

Pipistrellus · 27/12/2023 06:57

JamSandle · 26/12/2023 23:59

I'd get rid of turkeys so everyone could have a vegan Christmas.

I prefer beef or venison

RendeersDancingTowardsChristmas · 27/12/2023 06:58

Another one for cards. I'll also add any type of gift set, more packaging than actual items!

Luckily we have already ditched the turkey and moved the meal from lunchtime to dinner time!

Honeychickpea · 27/12/2023 07:01

theduchessofspork · 27/12/2023 01:24

How is a Turkey false? It’s food. Presents and cards are what they are, they can’t be false either. So what do you actually mean?

Show quote history

I suspect the false bit is people pretending they actually like turkey.

PurBal · 27/12/2023 07:01

@headache sprouts aside because I literally eat sprouts covered in cheese as a snack. Most people (ime) don’t do those things though, or at least not all of them. Eta I mean those things are a lot of extra work and if it’s not a benefit get rid!

@Mojodojocasahaus your name made me happy this morning

Pipistrellus · 27/12/2023 07:02

I'd get rid of the huge tubs of nasty cheap chocolates. Normalise less, better quality food.

Honeychickpea · 27/12/2023 07:04

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 27/12/2023 03:00

Never done any of these except the Brussels .

Agree that present bags are much easier - but would still use wrapping paper for any DC where you are buying a lot of presents.

Show quote history

Why? So they can "enjoy" tearing the wrapping off?

GothConversionTherapy · 27/12/2023 07:06

Music except for a few traditional carols in places you specifically seek out ie church. I can't stand wall to wall wham, Mariah Carey, Jackson 5 etc for months.

spanieleyes · 27/12/2023 07:08

Surely you are just imposing your views on everyone else! Personally, we don't do elf on the shelf or Xmas eve boxes or matching pyjamas, don't send cards, use recyclable wrapping bags, eat at 3, don't buy cheap chocolates. We have our own customs and family traditions- including sprouts. But if anyone wants to do things their own way, who am I to say they shouldn't?

Menomeno · 27/12/2023 07:09

Fantina · 27/12/2023 05:29

I never did elf on the shelf as my DC are just old enough to have missed the craze - all that feels like wife work to me too as it is just another thing for us to remember to do before bed in an already busy month.

Due to finances I only buy for my DC, DSD and parents and I make thar clear every year and very early and although I still receive a few gifts from others I just say thank you and don’t reciprocate. I don’t send cards and haven’t for years. We have an internal post system at work and the cards that came through that from colleagues in the next office was so odd! It was more effort for them to go and put it in the internal post system than to pop next door!

I do like roast dinners but I only have one during this season and I do posh buffets for other guests which seem to go down well and we all feel less stuffed, I don’t want to make me and DC sick of roast dinners or make them feel less special.

Maybe I should knock the wrapping on the head, but the DC still get quite a few things and it would be v difficult to have bags to fit everything in. But I could put them in big gift bags.

I’ve also thought about shifting the whole celebration until later in the holiday and do all the shopping in the sales! I might do that with the DC when they are older as we’d get more for my money. We don’t always have Christmas together as I’m divorced so it would make sense to do it on the years when I don’t have them. Does anyone do that?

We always alternated Christmas Day with my children’s/step children’s other parents. On the years we didn’t have the kids we’d still have a ‘Christmas Day’ but between Xmas and new year. I much prefer those christmases. We do everything exactly like a real Xmas day, but we have a few days to buy cheap bits in the sales for stockings, supermarkets are giving veg away, and the shops are open in case of emergencies. It’s so much less stress!

Loubelle70 · 27/12/2023 07:11

Cvn · 27/12/2023 06:51

Why don't you just do the bits you like and leave the bits you don't? We don't do elf on the shelf, Santa, cards, matching PJs, or presents for adults. We do mark the anticipation of advent throughout December with candles, reading books about winter or the nativity with the DC, and gathering natural materials to decorate the house. We celebrate the solstice at sunrise. We roast marshmallows on the firepit in the garden.
We bake Christmas cookies. We put up fairy lights and paper chains and a tree. We make sushi on Christmas eve. We have a "bring and share" type roast on Christmas day with parents / in-laws / people we know who would otherwise spend the day alone, but with lamb or beef or gammon as we don't like turkey. It took a couple years to slowly change from a very hectic, commercialised Christmas, but as we've dropped some traditions and taken on others I can honestly say it's becoming one of my favourite times of year - really peaceful and reflective and genuinely joyful. Christmas doesn't have to be toxic or wasteful!

I love this.

Parker231 · 27/12/2023 07:15

headache · 26/12/2023 23:59

Elf on the Shelf - so glad the DDs are too old for it now
Christmas Eve boxes
Matching pajamas (not that my DC would ever dress the same)
Present hauls on social media
Brussel sprouts

Love Brussel sprouts but haven’t done the others - thank goodness. Presents are for Christmas Day and not before in our house.

PieAndLattes · 27/12/2023 07:16

Just scale the whole thing back. There’s so much unnecessary nonsense -elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes, massive meals, too much wine/chocolate/gifts. We kept dinner very simple this year - soup, turkey, a load of veg in a roasting pan, and a Waitrose tart with berrys and crème fraiche. No cheese or port as most of it gets wasted. Gifts were practical and either needed (socks etc.) or expressly wanted (e.g. gel nail kit). The whole day was much less stressful than usual.

Bbq1 · 27/12/2023 07:20

Fantina · 26/12/2023 23:46

For me, it would be wrapping presents. I know they can look pretty and when I make an effort, mine do. But it feels like such a waste of time and paper. I’d like to normalise not wrapping them and using gift bags with whispy paper instead.

what would you get rid of and why?

This is me. Usually big advocate of wrapping but my husband did all my gifts in various gift bags andvit looked so pretty. Might try to break my habit next year.

ChristmasHarmony · 27/12/2023 07:26

Spending precious holiday time with extended family you don’t actually like that much.

ExpensiveDecorations · 27/12/2023 07:28

I agree with getting rid of the parts you don't like. We never did Elf on the Shelf, Christmas Eve boxes or Christmas pyjamas, I use gift bags or stripey paper bags for nearly all gifts, we have a simple turkey dinner at about 2pm which means all the clearing up is done by teatime and no evening meal is needed. I'm gradually cutting back on cards, it is nicer in some ways to message people as you end up having a quick chat.

kikisparks · 27/12/2023 07:28

JamSandle · 26/12/2023 23:59

I'd get rid of turkeys so everyone could have a vegan Christmas.

This!

ilovesooty · 27/12/2023 07:39

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 27/12/2023 01:11

Asking all those who hate Xmas - why don't you just not celebrate?

It's not compulsory

Show quote history

You can decide not to celebrate but it's still in your face for weeks beforehand.

Lovethatforyouhun · 27/12/2023 07:43

You do know you can do whatever you like right? Next year I will be!

Hotchocolateand5marshmellows · 27/12/2023 07:44

I love the build up to Christmas and Christmas day but I wish it was the norm to clear everything up straight away afterwards. I want my house back to normal now and the tree gone but apparently I'm a killjoy and have to wait till after New year's.
Also never done the elf.

QueenOfMOHO · 27/12/2023 07:56

BelarusianDoll · 26/12/2023 23:56

I'd get rid of the pressure to have a giant Christmas meal and wine at lunchtime (I'd have it in the evening instead!) No one wants to feel stuffed and bilious that early in the day surely?

So, just do it 😊

HeraSyndulla · 27/12/2023 08:00

Precipice · 26/12/2023 23:59

All of it. I would like to get rid of Christmas altogether. Leave it just to the devout Christians and have them leave the rest of us alone.

Nothing is stopping you. I’m sure your kids will understand.

Parker231 · 27/12/2023 08:04

Hotchocolateand5marshmellows · 27/12/2023 07:44

I love the build up to Christmas and Christmas day but I wish it was the norm to clear everything up straight away afterwards. I want my house back to normal now and the tree gone but apparently I'm a killjoy and have to wait till after New year's.
Also never done the elf.

The tree can go whenever you want - no right or wrong. Ours is always gone by the end of the year as it’s then New Year and not Christmas imo.

GinFizz3489 · 27/12/2023 08:06

Spending a small fortune on gifts for 'family' you only see at Christmas!

Also I detest the people on Instagram who turn it into a competition of who can buy the most presents for their children and have fill their living room for a photo.

There is no way the children can get through and appreciate all those gifts.

NotFastButFurious · 27/12/2023 08:08

Being ill.
without fail.
every damn year.

Which Christmas tradition would you get rid of?

Interested in this thread?