Do your family take it in turns to pump on the Christmas tree?

[OverTheHammer]

DSs friend has just asked me this. He said at Christmas, whilst putting the tree up the whole family take it in turns to pump on it. He then asked, dead seriously "do your family do the same thing?". DS looked at me as though we'd been missing an essential part of Christmas all these years.

AIBU to think this is beyond weird to say to your mates mum??!

Can you hear us pumping on the tree at Chrimbo

I overuse the 'LOL' emoji on a daily basis but this is the only thing I've read in a long time where I've genuinely burst out laughing. Cheers OP!

He's coming over again tonight so I'll set him up in a dark room with a dictaphone on and interrogate further. He doesn't HAVE to say anything - but anything he DOES say WILL be used against him.

We have to know everything 😂

This thread is killing me. Tears of laughter and everything.

I could never have this tradition, as tempting as it is. The last time DD tried to fart on purpose she was sat on my lap (enchanting child) and she accidentally pissed all over me.

apos I hate when people say pumping for shagging!

But whhyyy?! What a sad little tradition, I feel bad for the tree and hope it doesn't take off as a 'thing'.

I really can't imagine we're in any danger of this becoming a 'thing'

What a sad little tradition, I feel bad for the tree and hope it doesn't take off as a 'thing'.

All right mate, keep it light

It's not something I've ever considered before but has made me cry with laughter! Who knows, Christmas 2017 might be the year to start a new tradition...jingle smells la la la...

I've just woken DH up as I'm reading in bed and laughing so much. OP's concern for grandma using her pumps up over dinner and having none left for the tree has set me off crying with laughter.

This isn't a tradition from one of those countries that has the 'crapper' in the nativity is it? The little guy having a shit in the corner? It would make a weird sort of sense if it did...

We MUST have an update on this, OverTheHammer. This thread is making my entire week and it's only Tuesday.

Christmas Time Mistletoe and Wine, everyone pumping all in time!

This is madness. I bet loads that this tradition started after the brussel sprouts has been consumed in copious quantities.

Hark! The Heralds Stink

Herald Angels Stink

While shepherds cut the cheese by night.

Rudolph the red arsed reindeer.

Update!

I only caught him for 5 mins as I was busy being bullied in a gym class (another thread!) however I asked him the essentials:

"What happens if a family member can't pump?
Answer: they can try again later or they can pretend to pump on it and just make a noise with their mouth.

Question: does that not cause bad luck or something? Does it not anger the flatulance fairy?"
Answer: what?

• never mind ...

Question: do you all line up to take it in turns then or is there a set order? Like oldest first?
Answer: whoever puts the last decoration on goes first so some of us hide the last decoration!

• I see ... I would do that too!

Question: how on earth did this tradition start?
Answer: my mum set the tree up years ago before we were born and my dad said it was crap so pumped on it. He added better decorations so my mum pumped on them and it just went from there really.

Question: does your parents buy extra febreeze at Christmas?
Answer: what?

• never mind.

It might be a very long time before that young man visits your house again. Your DS may become known as the one with the slightly mad mother.

But why were you talking about this in August in the first place please?

God it goes from bad to worse, DS has just informed me that young man misheard "flatulance fairy" for "fat fairy" and thinks I meant his mother!! I've just sent DS a text explaining what I meant by flatulance fairy and no, I didn't mean his mother!

God how do I even get into these situations

Aaahhhh! Now we know and it makes perfect sense

Please please ask his mum about this at christmas.

Yes, can you wangle an invite? Do they do it on a ceremonial 'the more the merrier' basis or is it more a family only thing?

But in any case, you may have stumbled upon one of the more bonkers unique family traditions. We all need to look out for the Mum on here on one of those 'what are your unique family Christmas traditions' threads so we can pump her for more details (pun intended).