in thinking that ' are you all ready for Christmas then' is the most facile question ever?

[ElizabethHoover]

and the asker doesn't really give a toss and the answer will only be dull
?

STOP ASKING IT

walton - say 'cock'

REINDEER COCK!

It's a well known xmas delicacy...

...probably, in some Scandinavian country...

...to celebrate Santa having finished his rounds for the year and retiring the eldest of the sleigh-pullers...

See how long you can go on before the person who started the conversation backs away and never speaks to you again

It's just chatting although it assumes the other person celebrates it which is a bit of a presumption. I've had jewish clients saying - "It's not my festival". You have to be careful not to offend people.

I do virtually nothing for Christmas as we don't really do presents etc so it's dead easy.

How would one cook reindeer cock? I'm imagining low and slow to avoid chewyness.

It drives me mad just as much as people saying 'thank god it's Friday ' and 'is it only Monday '

Bore off!!

Haha, I have been saying this about 50 times a day. To be fair though, my brain is the size of a pea at the moment

YABU. It is "so, how's married life treating you?"

Stewed, apparently...

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-2864653/Like-slice-Rudolph-Christmas-lunch-Animal-rights-campaigners-furious-Lidl-stocking-reindeer-meat-does-taste-like.html

I find it annoying, particularly as I have my own method of getting ready for Christmas, which is to do nothing until the first weekend in December, which is when I write all my cards, and then spend a couple of days ordering all presents from Amazon. It works perfectly well for me but outsiders are given to saying things like: "You mean you haven't bought anything yet?"

In much the same way both my late father and late MIL used to ask if we'd started packing about five days before we went on holiday. The answer was always No because we pack the night before which, if you know what you're taking, is the most sensible thing to do.

After Christmas is " did you have a nice Xmas?" Asked daily until around March.

Very annoying.

would someone REALLY be offended by that question? Rather than saying ' oh no I am Jewish"

Its small talk and relevant to the time of year.

Agree with the packing - how do you pack weeks before without forgetting what you have packed? I too pack the night before I go somwhere

Oh I hate it! I honestly don't understand the question. Ready for what? In what way? How hard do people make it for themselves? I am so bad at small talk I end up creating an awkward pause while I over think it, meanwhile it becomes visibly clear the other person doesn't give a fuck, and certainly doesn't even expect the question returned. Then in future we pass each other in the corridors at work and smile and titter nervously. For years.

Reindeer cock is traditionally boiled and flambeed. Surely.

run2

YANBU. And how early/frequently do some people have to ask this. 1st of December and no I've not really thought much about Christmas.

I think it's something in the wording of "being ready for" like you should be prepared for a disaster or something. I look forward to Christmas, yes I send presents but I know that my family don't mind if they are late and we sometimes wait till New Year to exchange. This year I'm not hosting so beyond buying train tickets there's not much else to do to "get ready".

Christmas is a time, not an event!!!

What's wrong with it? It's a conversation starter and it makes a change from a comment about the weather.
You sound quite anti-social.

One of my colleagues is dreadfully annoying with small talk so asks the "are you ready for Christmas" throughout December.

Makes a change from "what did you have for tea last night/what are you cooking tonight?" questions.

She's a lovely person but I find it hard to get interested in such topics of conversation.

I know exactly what you mean, Sir Chenjin

Merely small talk. After reading MN you hardly dare open your mouth! Someone once started a similar thread about people talking about the weather!!

I have been asked it about 6 times today- I can't see why it matters.

I just reply with a big smile and say 'yes'. Maybe I'm missing the panic gene, but a bit of internet shopping, scrape the worse of the scuzz from the house, decorations up and cook a big roast dinner for everyone. Simple.

What annoys me is the assumption that "Christmas-readiness" is a woman job. My husband doesn't get asked.

Probably asked by people who aren't ready really.

You should look thoughtful and then ask deadpan, when is Christmas this year?

I work in retail and yes I do ask it a bit as part of general chit chat and small talk. I'm tired and have sore feet and had my last pre Christmas day off on Tuesday. I could just lob your goods at you if you'd prefer