To ask if you make a 'big deal' about 1st December?

[mumof2sarah]

So this year, after having so many years of struggling with my mental health and illnesses I'm excited for Christmas.

I want to make Saturday 1st December a really special day. I'm going to have the tree up and all the baubles lined up ready with the advent calendars and a nice breakfast with Christmas songs on. I literally want to make the most exciting start to December for my girls.

Do you have any traditions or things you always do on 1st December?x

[RainyAfternoon]

www.lakeland.co.uk/45414/Advent-Taper-Candle

[ChasingGhosts]

I take my two Ds to the local garden centre for hot chocolate and let them pick some new baubles for the tree (posh ones) then we go home and get the decorations up

[Tillylantern]

On the 1st Dec we wake up to an elf christmas breakfast which our elf brings. its magically served on the christmas delph which he has unpacked out of the attic. Each year he brings a new piece. Last year it was chrisymas cutlery. Breakfast is kisses from the elves ( a jar of cheerios), snow covered donuts, chrustmas pretzels, hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Then later in the day all the kids rooms are decorated. So christmas duvets on, all teddies taken out and christmas teddies put in and Christmas tree for each room plus few odd bits of tinsel,snow globes etc.

[mumof2sarah]

Awww @Powerless that sounds lovely, I loved the first year my kids fully understood x

[Powerless]

Is after 10th Dec for my family.

My DD is nearly 4 and this year will be the first where she's actually been fully aware of what is going on :)

[mumof2sarah]

Hi everyone, I really do appreciate everyone's comments whether they be for or against how I do Christmas (and advent).

I've loved reading everyone's take on the thread whether it be like go a bit OTT like myself on the 1st or wait til later. Everyone's traditions and opinions are valued xx

I also appreciate those that feel this thread is too early, I wanted an opinion on something I was thinking about at the time and so I posted. I wouldn't have wrote this post in say July etc it's just once autumn hits that's it for me, I need something to focus on and that's what I choose.

I love the Christmas box idea and my daughters do have Christmas stories that they have out but again that's each to their own and if someone doesn't agree with them or doesn't like them in their own home then so be it and they're entitled to share that thought just as much as we are about having them.

I loved the comment about the family who have the Christmas song battle going on. That's an absolutely fantastic tradition. So lovely x

Lots of love and respect to everyone who has taken time to share their ideas/thoughts/opinions with me I have read and appreciate them all x

[SerenDippyEggs]

Some of my fondest memories are reading Christmas stories to get us all excited with my grandparents the same books every year but we still have them and I plan on reading them to my children and grandchildren in the same tradition!

[Titsywoo]

Just giving my opinion professor, people can do what they like (although two of the experiences I mentioned are accessible to anyone). The book thing agreed but Xmas books in particular are only going to be read a couple of months a year? I wouldn't read a Xmas book to my kids in the summer. That's what I mean by unnecessary.

[SisterOfDonFrancisco]

I used to put Christmas stuff on on the 1St December but this year I might wait a bit longer, make Christmas the start of the festive period, not the end.

[Marmite27]

Oh and Advent calendars & candle of course!

[Marmite27]

Tree goes up, this year Christmas bedding goes on, mince pies front and centre with hot chocolates.

I can’t wait. DC1 is 3 this year and just starting to get it.

Of course this means that I can’t think of a thing to get her for Christmas

[PodgeBod]

We will put up our tree and get the advent calendars out. Last year the Elf brought the calendars but I found a month of him too much so he's not going to appear until the middle of December. Probably watch a Christmas movie.

[ProfessorMoody]

We can't really do family experiences as I'm disabled and it's extremely difficult to find accessible grottos, ice skating and the like.

I'd ather spend a fiver on some Primark pjs that are needed anyway, plus a book for DS to enjoy on Christmas Eve, than £30+ per "experience".

I've never heard of anyone say that books are unnecessary before. A very unusual concept.

[ShatnersWig]

@Titsy Tend to agree with you. It's increasing the commercialism of the whole thing. People spend ridiculous amounts of money on Xmas, very often getting into debt, or just spending money they don't need to.

[Titsywoo]

I really don't like the xmas boxes thing - it's just wasteful to me and I don't think kids should be bought so much "stuff" unless they need it. Xmas pj's and books aren't necessary in my book. If you want to make xmas a big deal fine but I'd fill it with family experiences like watching a film together, going ice skating, xmas crafts to make decorations. Personally I don't go OTT but each to their own. Advent is the lead up to xmas not xmas itself so a calender is what mine get. This year we got the fill them yourself ones from Dunelm and DS is finding sweets and chocs DD likes to fill it and vice versa.

[ProfessorMoody]

It isn't

You can have a difference of opinion without putting someone down or swearing at them. It's very simple.

Anyway, OP, I hope you have a fantastic 1st December, there are some really lovely ideas on here

[ThisIsTheFirstStep]

moody well perhaps our idea of respect is different. "I will agree with everything you say and never dare to post a dissenting opinion" is not what I class as respect, but you knock yourself out if that's your definition of it.

[ProfessorMoody]

I have respect for those that respect others, yes.

Oh, I'm not hurt.

You asked where had anyone said anything rude, so I pointed it out and said it was unnecessary. You're right, it is AIBU, not shall I swear at others because they enjoy something I don't.

[ThisIsTheFirstStep]

moody Wow. Are you sure you have respect for others with that snippy, high-handed comment? Doesn't sound like it.

The question was do you make a big deal of December 1st. My answer was no.

That, in my opinion, is kind of the point of AIBU. People ask questions and then debate it. There is nothing wrong with that. If you're going to get hurt over people not sharing your Christmas joy, then don't ask the question.

[ProfessorMoody]

Why on earth would you want to comment on a thread that doesn't interest you, or that you don't want to see? How bizarre

I suppose the difference is that a lot of people find certain things nonsense. Me - religion, alcohol and fashion. However, most of us aren't rude enough to go onto a thread that someone has posted because they love something, and actually tell them that its nonsense.

Some of us actually have respect for others

[MinaPaws]

I love advent because it really focusses the mind away from the shrinking daylight, the cold weather and the sluggish feeling of wanting to hibernate. It fills the dreariest time of the year with lights and candles, music, excitement, generosity and fun activitis. I love making the puddings, cakes and mince pies, planning the menus, buying the stocking fillers, stroking reindeer at the local farm, choosing a decoration each with DC,going to Christmas carol concerts and shows. All this is the run up to Christmas. The week tiself is a lot more stressful - full of grumpy, mad, demanding elderly relatives on my side or sweet but fussy elderly relatives on DH's side. The day itself is a heavy day in the kitchen. And the aftermath is sluggish with booze and food. But the slow, gentle month's prep is just brilliant. I love it.

[Mummaluelae]

Not usually but my 3yo has been talking about xmas Santa and the elves so 1st DEC the elf willbbe coming out!

[justwantedalaugh]

TEN WEEKS AND FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS FOLKS!!!!

[ThisIsTheFirstStep]

moody Nope, no one has ever told me that, no one has ever told me I can't comment on threads that catch my eye either though.

To many of us it IS nonsense. How is it rude to say that? I find it rude to have Christmas rammed in my face 24/7 for three months of the year.

And yes, perhaps it's an AIBU, then, 1. expect people to say yes, YABU, that's kind of the point and 2. there is no law that says you can't post an AIBU type question in the Christmas topic.

[ProfessorMoody]

where has anyone said anything rude


Someone said "North Pole breakfasts, "1st december boxes" and elf on his fucking shelf can piss right off. Total nonsense."

There is an entire Christmas topic. If you want to discuss it, why not post there

Because it's an AIBU.

those of us who are sick of Christmas when it's not even Halloween yet can easily hide it

Has nobody told you that you don't have to read every thread on Mumsnet?