Fucking Christmas duvets??

[sandylion]

I LOVE Christmas, so this is in no way a bah humbug thing, but does anyone else think it's getting way out of hand? Every year there is a new "thing"; Christmas jammies, Christmas eve boxes, advent calendar with actual toys (eg lego ones, playdoh ones etc), elf on the shelf, 24 advent Christmas books and now I see there are bloody Christmas duvet sets! When did these all become "traditions"? Only in the last 5 years? I sound like my mother! Christmas has become over-commercialised! AIBU or is it expensive enough without having to add to the expense! Imagine if you have more than 1 child! Is it competitive parenting? Is it over-compensation for shit parenting? Am I just being an old cow? Sorry I just saw the Christmas duvet tonight and it's proved to be my tipping point.

There is a lot of "traditions" that I won't buy in to. Elf on on the shelf (too much like hard work), reindeer food (did it one year, it was still sparkling in my lawn in July, bloody stuff never again), Xmas eve boxes (am I the only one who doesn't want to drag Xmas eve out and just get the mods bathed and into bed ASAP so I can get on with the million jobs I have to get done), Xmas pj's (if if have the money i buy any pj's the kids would like, not themed).

We do watch Elf, we have advent calenders, and an Xmas tree. But if I'm honest with myself if I could afford it I'd totally be buying duvets, more decorations, Xmas loo roll etc. We do buy the kids quite afford few gifts but they don't get much on birthdays and I love them to be excited afford Xmas from the site of the pile.

I think the dark side of going into Christmas overdrive is when it becomes about controlling other people - "look at all this stuff I bought! Why aren't you more grateful/doing as I tell you/not doing your own thing at Christmas!!!".

To be fair it is also possible to be a frugal control freak, a crafty control freak and an anti-Christmas control freak.

reni by being a fake tree loving heathen

We did the book advent last year. I got all the books from the charity shop so didn't it cost much. I started collecting them a couple of months in advance so I could spread the cost.
I'll be wrapping the same books up every year and when the girls get their own homes, they can split the collection between them for any future grandchildren I may have!
We have an activity advent as well but those are just all the normal things we'd do anyway like wrapping gifts, decorating the tree, making cookies etc
I've also bought them a tree decoration each year from when they were born and I let them open the pyjamas on Christmas eve as well as a new Christmas mug for the hot chocolate at bedtime with squirty cream and marshmallows :)
I thought about doing elf on the shelf but knew I'd keep forgetting to move the thing!

I bought a beautiful book when I was in Germany that has 25 stories in it thinking it would be a lovely Xmas tradition. The only thing was that the very first story was about Santa bit existing, so it got put away quickly and I had to ad lib the story.

I prefer xmas eve to xmas day Tbh
Xmas film, snuggles, the excitement.....lovely

I think I'd just leave the decorations on a fake tree for next year, Internal

One year I did put the fake tree back in the loft fully decorated because I just could not be bothered.

And with the lights left on you have an instant lamp in the loft, Sparkling.

sparkling I'm just impressed at that! Did you not have baubles raining down from the hatch as you tried to lift it up??

I have to take mine down - it lives in the Cupboard of Doom so there's no room for it assembled. I have considered just taking the Christmassy bits off it and replacing it with other seasonally appropriate things, but was told no

Yes, Internal, do it! Put bunnies and Easter eggs on or pumpkins and witches. The All-Year-Round Tree.

cross posted with you there!

The happiest loft lamp in the world

Ours has branches that sort of bend upwards to put it back in the box So I just bent the branches up a bit hoiked it up by the top and stuck it next to the suitcases up there. most of the decorations survived. I only did it once, I do do it properly most years, honest.

Curse this thread! I came on here to add to the many "I love Christmas but hate all this unnecessary crap!" comments and have ended up clicking on links to Christmas bedding and going "Ooh that's rather nice actually!"

Was this your evil plan all along, OP?

I just love the idea of Sparkling's secret Christmas cave up in the loft, if February gets too depressing I would go up there and have some mulled wine in the soft glow of the Christmas lights.

Actually Reni last year I put all the selection boxes and tins of chocolate up there after Christmas because the DC had too much. Would have been a perfect retreat.

Except-Spiders

I have been browsing the Christmas jumpers/tops in Asda today. There are some great ones...

You'd be a mum of legend if you led the dc up there for a midnight feast on a sleepover.

I'm with you OP, though I did buy a plate but it isn't personalised! It was £1.99 from Home Bargains

I can't abide the advent calendars(Lego and alike) surely the children will get enough presents on Christmas day without 24 little bits in the run up?

I also don't get elf on the shelf. The only one I can get on board with is the Christmas Eve box, hot choc, Christmas film, normal PJs though! Not fussed about Christmas ones.

reni2 now there's an idea.

Check out Asda's array of unnecessary jumpers. Which to choose?

<a class="break-all" href="http://direct.asda.com/george/christmas-shop/jumpers/women/D18M21G1C2S2,default,sc.html#direct.asda.com/george/christmas-shop/jumpers/women/D18M21G1C2S2,default,sc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">direct.asda.com/george/christmas-shop/jumpers/women/D18M21G1C2S2,default,sc.html#direct.asda.com/george/christmas-shop/jumpers/women/D18M21G1C2S2,default,sc.html

I'd go for the one with the penguin hat.

I am exactly like Mrs devere. I am so sensible and discussing limiting the children to one present and a stocking each. Then 1st December hits and madness overtakes me

See now I think Christmas duvet sets is crazy especially because we're going away for Christmas. But deep down I know I'm going to buy three

I blame my mother and her stylish silver branch for a Christmas tree. I've rebelled with loads of tat

Anyone who wants to see truthfully tasteful xmas decor should check out the American Bradford Exchange: m.bradfordexchange.com/mcategory/christmas-decor.html?mchristmasdecor

I'm torn between the Elvis tree that plays songs, or the Ford Mustang tree with revving sound. Must remember to buy the festive Budweiser truck for that real touch of class.

I like this one Internal

I like this one