Christmas nonsense that can get in the sea

[YimYum]

Matching family pyjamas
Matching family jumpers
Photoshoots involving the above
The Elf
Christmas Eve boxes
Hot chocolate stations
Light trails

This is all just absolute nonsense that people are being sucked into by advertising and social media #makingmemories scams.

There, you're welcome. From a Grinch.

Christmas Magic
1st of December boxes.
Polar breakfasts (whatever the heck they are).
Pantomimes.
Christmas nibbles.

What is a light trail? Is it driving past other people's decorations? Luminaria along the streets?

Adding themed Christmas tree decorations, or decor that is beige or greige to match the rest of the house.

The obsession with "traditions" or more precisely asking about starting traditions - it's only a tradition if you do it multiple times, it's what tradition means!

Also expensive experiences accompanied by people whinging about the cost.

Do whatever you want for Christmas but it's really your choice, you can avoid most of these and your dc won't care a bit

My DCs are 12 and 10 and I had people pushing this at me before we even had them. Oh but it's for the parents. Oh you lose the magic of Christmas if your DCs don't believe in FC. It wasn't a thing when I was a child in the 1970s but it has been a thing for at least 20 years (one of the colleagues who said it is a highly respected professional with DCs who are now in their 20s, one may even be in their 30s).

I've always found Christmas to be extremely magical - a lot of it is church related - and my DCs love Christingle, seeing the crib in church, lighting the advent candle, all kinds of things that aren't FC related.

Like they have at stately homes, usually a mile or so of themed lights set to music and often quite nice, but massively overpriced and usually wet and muddy. It’s the cost that is ridiculous.

Not sure what's wrong with the elf. It's hardly expensive, a £5 elf to last every Christmas. I love it! I love thinking up my own ideas and watching the kids faces when they find it each morning. Pure joy

It can be a stately home where they've put lights and music etc in the trees and grounds and made it look all pretty, or it can be a municipal thing where they put lights and projections and the like in parks or through the city centre and are free. I like them. We went to one in Leeds and another in another nearby city the other week and it's fun and interesting.

@MagicalMystical

We have a general alcohol station instead, far preferable - there's gin, rum, vodka, some whiskeys, cans of mixer and if I can be bothered to buy them, fresh lemons and limes ... and not just for Christmas

Not sure why hot chocolate needs to be encouraged especially when chai is so much nicer on the milky drinks front (we have 3 different varieties of instant chai)

Agree! My kids have never asked for a Xmas jumper. Sometimes the fancy takes them and the wear a Santa hat to school. (Young,primary!) I won’t be buying any! They get presents on Xmas day why get them Xmas eve as well!? Ah no!!! No elf. I like the silly things elf’s do that element is funny but not the fact they are Santa’s spy’s! Don’t pretend Santa is real either. Firmly believe Xmas is exciting without a belief in Santa!

Announcements that you aren't doing something. I mean on Facebook etc, not an anonymous mumsnet thread.

You aren't sending Christmas cards? Fine. Most people won't notice.
Elf? Do it, don't do it... seriously no one else will notice.

I'm liddurally ubsessed

I could swear none of the things mentioned by the OP were "a thing" in the UK 10 years ago but now people are looking at those like some kind of well established traditions.

Everything on your list OP plus Secret fucking fuckety fuck Santa.

Christmas Magic

I still find Christmas magical even as an almost 50 year old with older DDs. There is really something about Christmas Eve, once it goes dark, and I look forward to it every year.

Also to be fair having a week of lie ins and eating and drinking too much and not having to go very far while not worrying about my belly in a bikini is pretty magical.

I have no problem with anything listed although I don’t actually participate in any. I’m on board with whatever anyone wants to do or how they choose to celebrate Christmas, it’s just the unnecessary added pressure on parents that I don’t like.

I do still treat myself to new pjs every Christmas (probably out of nostalgia) and an enjoy a hot chocolate now and then (especially from McDonald’s - they’re really lovely and only a few £), and I don’t want to wear matching anything but fair play to those who do!

You do know you can wear pyjamas all winter?
Do people throw them away when Christmas is over?

It seems very Grinchy but when you see other threads about people not being able to make ends meet at the best of times it's very consumerist.

Do children and families really need this stuff.

Food: Cauliflower cheese with Christmas dinner. Never heard of this until I joined MN. And starters before the main Christmas dinner, wtf?! Does that not ruin the main event when you usually fill your boots?

2. Stockings for adult children looking at you DD and DS aged 19 and 21. My fault I know.

3. Weeks of Strictly in the run up

4. Christmas itself.

Bah humbug

Yes, down with people having fun. Boo to that sort of stuff.

Tat

What the fuck is a North Pole breakfast?!

@drspouse I completely agree with you.

DS wholeheartedly believes, because it's magic and he's 4 and there will be presents. But I'm with you that most of the magic is nothing to do with the big guy. My pair love going to mass during advent and can't wait for the carol and crib service. It's the twinkly lights and the atmosphere and slowing down to spend time as a family that makes Christmas. Makes me feel a little sorry for those that genuinely think the magic is gone once your kids are a certain age.

100% agree with you OP. Add Christmas markets( wooden huts selling tat and crappy food).

But elves are reeeeal. They are t made of plastic! They are quite micro though!