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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if you could get rid of one Christmas Tradition

146 replies

Atthewelles · 18/12/2012 13:12

what it would be?

For me, it would be Christmas cards. They're so much hassle to write and get sent off, people get all worried if they get a card from someone they forgot to send one to, people who no longer have any real contact or interest in each other anymore are afraid to be the first one to break the habit of sending cards etc etc etc
I think it would take a lot of the stress out of Christmas if this tradition ceased or was confined to people you are still in touch with but do not see on a regular basis. So no cards to neighbours, siblings who live down the road, couple you met on holidays 15 years ago and wouldn't recognise if you fell over them in the street......

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 18/12/2012 13:13

Cards here too (and I suspect a lot of other people will say the same)

weeblueberry · 18/12/2012 13:13

The presents.

No stress about what to buy. No ridiculously busy shops making a small packet out of you. No kids screaming because they've not got exactly what they've asked for etc.

I'd love it if it were just a nice Winter holiday where family got together and had a huge dinner and spent time watching TV. Grin

HazeltheMcWitch · 18/12/2012 13:14

I would banish bread sauce. it's just metallic-tasting glue - no one needs that in their life, do they?

McPie · 18/12/2012 13:15

Cards too, massive waste of time and paper.

Greythorne · 18/12/2012 13:15

all spiced puddings:

mince pies
christmas pudding
christmas cake
spiced biscuits

yuck

cocoachannel · 18/12/2012 13:16

Definitely cards especially as I still haven't written mine

BlueberryHill · 18/12/2012 13:16

Going to the inlaws......

5Foot5 · 18/12/2012 13:17

HazeltheMcWitch Tue 18-Dec-12 13:14:22
I would banish bread sauce. it's just metallic-tasting glue - no one needs that in their life, do they?

Oh I did that years ago when I discovered that noone actually liked it and it was all getting thrown away anyway. Sort of a pity cos I think it is quite fun to make.

kiwigirl42 · 18/12/2012 13:20

I love ye olde bread sauce. I make a pot just for me and BIL. No one else will touch it though!
I'd get shot of cards too. Such a waste of money and time.

ouryve · 18/12/2012 13:21

I've pared down my Christmas cards and already pared down the bread sauce because it's vile stuff.

I'd banish not being able to do any food shopping in December without leaving the house while it's still dark.

MoaneyMcmoanmoan · 18/12/2012 13:22

Turkey and ham (vegetarian). Xmas Smile

cinnamonnut · 18/12/2012 13:22

I've never even heard of bread sauce! Is it sauce made of mushed up bread?

givemeaclue · 18/12/2012 13:23

Another vote for cards

BedHog · 18/12/2012 13:28

I'm with Greythorne on the revolting puddings - give me a chocolate yule log any day!

I don't mind the cards etc., but I hate writing thankyou cards. It's a task that always looms over the post-Christmas period.

I'd also get rid of the sherry, and that 'Fairytale of New York' song. And I'd make chestnuts easier to deal with, with no disappointing rotten ones.

kiwigirl42 · 18/12/2012 13:31

cinnamonnut here's the recipe I use

vladthedisorganised · 18/12/2012 13:34

I love cards ever since I stopped sending them to people at work Grin

Wrapping presents. Which is a pain, since unwrapping presents is one of the great joys of childhood, but getting cramp from hours of wrapping presents is depressing.

Anything by Chris de Burgh or David Essex.

Original poster
Atthewelles · 18/12/2012 13:35

I think I'd get rid of Secret Santa as well. Sometimes I seem to spend more time trying to find a witty present for under a tenner for some random colleague than buying for my nearest and dearest Xmas Smile

OP posts:
2rebecca · 18/12/2012 13:38

I'd move it so it's not the week before new year, it would be nice to have it in early February.

TheUKGrinchImGluhweinkeller · 18/12/2012 13:38

Going to a crypt-cold stone church sparely populated mainly by the tone deaf the over 80s brigade, where I slowly freeze through to the bone marrow, and wonder if I will ever get warm again, multiple times over the Christmas period, in response to my mother's emotional blackmail - oh wait, I did get rid of it by moving far far away to a land where school breaks up on Christmas day so we just have to stay home for our own Christmas rather than travel to my parents' for the festive period, ever, as it'll be at least 17 years til I next don't have a child at school :o

TheUKGrinchImGluhweinkeller · 18/12/2012 13:39

Christmas eve not Christmas Day

BumpingFuglies · 18/12/2012 14:27

Sprouts. Hate them

JeezyOrangePips · 18/12/2012 14:32

I don't do cards. Haven't for years.

I'd get rid of Christmas before December. No adverts, no Christmas stuff for sale, no decorations before 1st dec.

Pandemoniaa · 18/12/2012 14:33

I'd happily see the end to the alleged tradition of Christmas starting just before Bonfire Night and continuing in a nonsensical materialistic frenzy until New Year.

If this is too much of an ask then I'd happily lose blue Christmas lights and/or brandy butter.

SecretSantaSquirrels · 18/12/2012 14:33

Sprouts.
They belong on the compost heap.

FryOneFatChristmasTurkey · 18/12/2012 14:39

I would just love to get rid of doing Xmas cards. DCs get cheap ones to do for school and I do a few for relatives.

Mum, however, is very big on cards, not just for Xmas. And nags me until I've written the family ones out, and will also nag me about so-and-so's birthday cards. I have told her I will write if I feel like it, as many people she mentions I have no connection to anymore.