To wonder how long it'll be before mcdonalds is open Xmas day.

[letsplaynice]

I in no way want this but their opening hours this year are crazy shut at 10 Xmas eve open again 8 on Boxing Day then only shut 8pm till 8am Hogmanay it makes me a bit sad

[AuntieStella]

I quite like it that there is one day a year when everything non-essential closes down.

I wouldn't want to see a creeping trend of more and more places opening, not least as 'choice' seems to vanish (as those who object to working on Sundays and thought the protections were adequate have found to their detriment).

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

The OP hasn't been back, and nor would I in her shoes... She started a daft thread.

It makes you "sad"? Of all the things in the world to feel sad about, you feel sad about a restaurant opening on Christmas Day, thereby employing people who don't celebrate Christmas, don't give a damn about Christmas, don't have anyone to celebrate it with or just need the bloody money.

You feel said about a restaurant opening on Christmas, thereby offering the possibility of food and company for those who don't have anyone on a day focussed on family, or indeed just food for those who have a hangover and fancy a burger.

OP, get over it. Funnel your sadness towards the many many many truly sad things that are going on.

[ilovesooty]

I'm not suggesting that people necessarily need to purchase items from Next on Boxing day. I'm actually planning to shop for something specific on Boxing day while I'm off work. I think that if I want to do that and there are people who want to shop then they should be able to do do. I don't want to shop during extended hours prior to Christmas. Not having any family to spend Christmas with I'm grateful to have the facility to shop and go out to eat if I want to.

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

I quite like it that there is one day a year when everything non-essential closes down.

Well, bully for you a auntie. What about those who don't celebrate Christmas? Or have no one to celebrate it with? Or those who need the money?

[ilovesooty]

I'm working on the 23rd I'd be working on the 27th if it wasn't a Saturday.

[MaryWestmacott]

AuntieStella - 2 days, most aren't allowed to trade on Easter Sunday either, however there does seem to be a big push from garden centres particularly to get that scrapped.

[ouryve]

Why on Earth does it make you feel sad?

Believe it or not, not everyone celebrates Christmas, anyhow.

And we generally don't bother with the place, because we don't like the food, but there's been times when it's been really rather useful when we've ended up travelling around the Christmas period and everything that is open is packed to the gills, but a burger in the car was possible because we could use the drive through.

[ilovesooty]

I probably can. Those opening hours on Boxing day seem reasonable enough to me.
Actually I'm going abroad so may have more choice about shopping over Christmas anyway.

[ilovesooty]

The year I went to see my mother in her care home and travelled back on Christmas day afternoon I'd have been grateful for anywhere open I could get something to eat.

[AuntieStella]

Yes I have lived in countries where Christmas isn't much celebrated. Things stayed open. But shut down during the dominant festivities that were celebrated there.

I'd completely forgotten about Easter close down, largely because I thought it has been eroded to the point of non-existence.

If the culture of this country has indeed changed so much that Christmas is just another day for the majority, then there is no reason to maintain restrictions on opening. But is that really what Christmas is like?

[ilovesooty]

It's just another day to me really and things being open would be a bonus. There are increasing numbers of people on their own now who possibly feel the same.

[LightastheBreeze]

A lot of people that do these jobs are in the 18-22 age bracket and probably don't care about working at Chrismas as long as it doesn't interfere too much with going out. If you finish work at 10pm on Xmas eve, still plenty of time for clubbing, DS has done this after finishing work at 10 when he was about 18.

[oswellkettleblack]

Christmas is just another day for a lot of people, that is what it is like. Plenty of 'non essential' services are open anyhow, many upscale restaurants, for example.

[BalloonSlayer]

We dropped in to a McDonalds on Boxing Day a few years back. We were visiting relatives but not for meals so needed refuelling and due to DCs food allergies McDs is usually the best place.

Nevertheless I felt a bit embarrassed at being there when most people are eating turkey sandwiches and I mentioned to the man behind the counter that I was surprised they were open. He said they had received abuse from some people that morning for having been shut on Christmas Day! It seems that some people like their McD's so much they even eat them on Christmas Day. (Or maybe it's seen as the family's favourite treat food so some families had thought they would have a big McFeast for Christmas Dinner, I dunno)

So no I wouldn't be surprised either. I would be sad though because of all the extra people who would have to work at Christmas.

[JudgeyHotPants]

What about those who don't celebrate Christmas?

What about them? Britain is still a predominantly Christian country where the vast majority of people celebrate Christmas.

[ilovesooty]

Predominantly Christian country where the majority never go near a church.

[icclemunchy]

So we close everything Xmas day and Boxing Day, but then as the Muslim girl in our local McDonald's pointed out she either looses two days pay and can't make her rent or uses two days holiday meaning she has less time for her own festivals etc.

I do think it's unfair for staff to be "forced" to work every Xmas (and I include front line services In that, I know we need the staff but it should be made as fair as possible) but I see no harm in shops opening if there are people willing to work and people willing to spend

[Cherrypi]

I saw one opening 4am on boxing day.

[ilovesooty]

icclemunchy I agree. Still it appears that some who feel that the people who have other festivals to celebrate should just suck it up because we're a "predominantly Christian country".

[Scram]

how about a compromise? make it legal for the shops to open xmas day, boxing day, easter sunday, and all day sundays but make it illegal for the employers to force anyone to work or penalise anyone for not volunteering.

[ilovesooty]

Sounds ideal Scram

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

Ours IS open Christmas Day...last year I had two apple pies instead of Christmas pudding :o

[Andrewofgg]

TheAwfulDaughter How would you define the exceptions?

Are you going to close the restaurants?

The hotels?

The filling stations?


It's not going to work.