Christmas Parties

[RabbitsRock]

People don’t seem to have as many parties as they used to. When I was younger, I threw parties myself & went to quite a few in the lead up to Christmas. I’ve had a couple of invitations to Christmas events, including a concert, but so far nobody’s even mentioned getting together for a meal let alone a party. I guess the cost of living doesn’t help. Do you find you’re socialising less during the festive season?

I sure do!
Like you I used to go to a lot of parties and I threw a lot too.
These days no way, way too expensive you go to all that trouble to put out grub and booze and many people take way more advantage than they used to if that's even possible, drink themselves silly, load up on the food, sometimes trouble happens because of that and I mean who'd want that? Merry Christmas indeed LOL

Anyone else?

Oh dear - thought this might be fairly popular.

I've invited a few couples over for a drink and get together, all vague responses and I can just tell they'll never get back to me 😒 I've thrown a few date options into the pot too. It's not a party, just more of a 'fancy coming over for a couple of hours in December for a cuppa or Prosecco 'casual type thing. It's like nobody can be arsed to make the effort anymore. Sad. Trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive gets harder the older I get!

We have a party that my DD calls "the christmas tree's birthday" and on the day we pick up the christmas tree we just put out a load of nibble foods and a slow-cooker full of mulled wine, and invite a few people over for informal drinks and sometimes the children decorate a gingerbread house, and we all hang a bauble on the tree. We started it three years ago and its become such a lovely time.

Love a dinner party. A party, not so much.

I miss the days when 'throwing a party' meant that we told 'everyone' and made sure there was some music playing loudly.

No other prep.

Yeah, go to lots fewer events and increasingly meet up at lunchtimes rather than 'after the pubs shut'. Sigh.

I remember my parents throwing parties and most weekends they seemed to go out to one. Very rare things now.

My company isn't even having one this year. I've seen a dress I really like as well.

Personally I'm seeing a lot more parties and get-togethers at Christmas. I've got my works do, a party with my side of the family, a party on DHs side where a venue is hired, a cheese and wine party with friends, a big meal out followed by the pub another evening, and I think more is on the way. My calendar is quite full.

I'm at a busy stage of life with kids as are my friends. However I've felt for the past few years that people don't make the effort anymore, it's a kind of social laziness and I don't really know why. It's difficult to organise things as people are vague. If we have people over we find its not reciprocated. I used to have about 4 Christmas nights out with different groups but it's down to one this year. The others seem to wait for me to initiate or don't happen at all, DH says exactly the same thing.

It's not just COL, I know many people who are quite comfortable but don't throw parties at home or in a pub. Friends turning 50 next year are celebrating by an expensive holiday or city break. No one just asks friends to come down the pub. It's not just time either, life was always busy! Many are wfh a few days a week and saving hours of communting time but are still too busy to socialise.

It's all tailed off and diminished which is a shame.

I know! When I see magazines full of ideas for party nibbles I'm wondering who is having these parties (and who can be arsed making nibbles!!)

I'm always socialising at this time of year. I have 6 Christmas parties/lunches coming up (some work, some with family/friends) plus a day out with my mum to the markets.

We decided to host an annual Christmas party a few years ago BECAUSE we never get invited to any. Parties are fun, but they are a fair bit of work, and not cheap.

Our friends come, bring booze or a small gift, chat, mingle, laugh and leave saying what a great time they’ve had. They always return the following year. We keep hoping we’ll inspire someone else to do a ‘do’, but no luck yet. 😁

🖐️
🤣

There is a “do” where I work but we have to pay for our own food & drinks.

We invite a few neighbours around who we get on really well with for drinks and nibbles, but we have kids and none of them do so we are a bit more limited in not being able to go out easily.