AIBU?
To ask if you make a 'big deal' about 1st December?
mumof2sarah · 10/10/2018 13:41
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
Imfinehowareyou · 10/10/2018 15:51
We did a North Pole breakfast for the first time last year and my DC still talk about it. Lots of ideas on Pinterest but basically a decorated table with breakfast treats (pancake snowman, banana and strawberry slice candy cane etc). They had their advent calendar and a gingerbread house kit and the elves came out (they 'bring' the breakfast with them).
RainyAfternoon · 10/10/2018 15:52
We always buy the Jackie Lawson advent calendar to download. It’s beautiful and really festive - each day there’s something to do like decorate the tree or make a snowflake. It’s really magical, and not expensive, but it’s not online yet. We do it each day before bedtime- the kids love it. When it’s ready have a look here www.jacquielawson.com/advent
thismeansnothing · 10/10/2018 15:56
It's a Saturday this year. DD who's 6 has been told after her dance lessons we can come home swap her bedding to her Christmas ones. Then she can put up and decorate the little tree we've got her for her room. Then I've put all the usual Xmas songs on my old iPhone and I've said she can have that for her room. And once we're done we can have hot chocolate and watch a Christmas film together
DoubleLottchen · 10/10/2018 15:56
Not 1st December, but we do celebrate St Nicholas on 6th Dec.
DC have to clean their school shoes the night before, and put them out on the hearth.
Traditionally they get a shiny red apple, chocolate, sweets and nuts in them the next morning. I think it is supposed to be just one shoe, but I usually put either Christmas pjs (rolled up small) or a Christmas jumper into the other one.
It's nice to have a special occasion to give Christmas pjs or jumper, and it means they get to wear them for longer (though actually, they happily wear them all year round anyway).
We tend to bake German cookies and eat Stollen etc on the evening of the 5th too, and I might try and cook something traditionally German for dinner. For us it's just a convenient time to focus on that particular part of our family background - we then have a thoroughly British Christmas on the 25th.
If you ever have a German advent calendar, you might notice that you usually get a Santa/St Nicholas picture on 6th Dec. Lots of other European countries have a celebration on 6th as well - DC have some school friends who celebrate it too; one of them sends sweets in for the whole class on the 6th.
I think it's great to have a little mini celebration in the lead up to Christmas. So go for it OP, and glad you are in better health this year, hope you have a lovely day!
SillySallySingsSongs · 10/10/2018 16:00
I do get the ones who don't do it so early etc but Christmas is such a small festive period I like to drag it on for as long as possible ha ha.
It's one of the longest not shortest!
We do advent calendars and put decs up first weekend.
My SIL does everything, boxes, elf on the shelf, pjs bit even She is cutting back this year. Way too much and pressure.
There is a specific Christtmas topic. This is AIBU. People are entitled to their views.
anniehm · 10/10/2018 16:06
We put our tree up on advent Sunday and light the first advent candle - tried to drop this tradition last year as dd's are grown and they did it themselves and were ready with cocoa when we arrived home to have while lighting the candle, a little different recipe though, it was loads of alcohol in it!
PositiveVibez · 10/10/2018 16:08
As it's dd's birthday on Christmas Eve, I have statrted doing a 1st December box, with PJ's, new duvet cover, advent calendar, Christmas cards for her to give to friends and a few bits and bobs.
I know some people roll their eyes at such things, but frankly my dear, I don't give a fuck 😂
Go on the Christmas boards for inspiration.
LilMy33 · 10/10/2018 16:13
Tree goes up the first weekend of December which we all decorate together, dig out all the Christmassy books, DVD’s and pyjamas come out (me and DD have matching ones that will get their 3rd Christmas outing but DS is getting new ones this year as he’s grown) and we all have advent calendars and will order a takeaway and argue over what movie to watch first....
I have mental health issues too and find (for me anyway) that if I have something to focus on and look forward to like Christmas it makes my mood better. And they benefit from that as well.
justwantedalaugh · 10/10/2018 16:15
I have mental health issues too and find (for me anyway) that if I have something to focus on and look forward to like Christmas it makes my mood better
Agreed. I suffer badly from seasonal affective disorder and Christmas is what gets me through it. Actually, I believe the original celebrations of winter solstice were precisely about that - getting through the shortest darkest days and on the upswing towards Spring. Works for me! 
LilMy33 · 10/10/2018 16:16
Oh and a new Christmassy book each (secondhand off eBay usually). “Christmas” bedding isn’t too Christmassy and is cosy soft brushed cotton so goes on the beds as soon as it’s gets very chilly. Got a grinch throw for them each from primark and they’ll get them 1st December too.
mumof2sarah · 10/10/2018 16:16
@Pebblespony I'm sorry if I've offended you by posting this.
Please don't everyone jump on her because of her view, everyone is entitled to an opinion.
My mental health hasn't been great and I wanted something exciting to think and speak about. Today is world mental health day and as a lot of online behaviour inc. trolling can make it worse I don't want to be apart of it. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and hers is that I'm unreasonable to want to celebrate the 1st of December!
I'm loving everyone's traditions and ideas though. I don't spend a lot at Christmas or through December I have a lot of homemade and given decorations etc x
LilMy33 · 10/10/2018 16:18
justwanted so true. I get why a lot of people struggle this time of year I used to when I was in an abusive relationship but now I’m free of that I intend to enjoy it as much as possible, even if it’s just cuddling up under a big duvet watching home alone etc with my kids under the light of the Christmas tree.
IDoLoveToBeBesideTheSeaside · 10/10/2018 16:20
I'm an old traditionalist and consider Advent to be the 'waiting' time which starts on Advent Sunday and then consider 'Christmas' to be the 12 Days of Christmas. But I know I'm going against the secular tide! But I do really love Christmas.
I'd be wary of setting up a big new tradition which you feel obliged to live up to each year, especially if you have recurrent mental health issues. Next year you might be feel terrible and you could feel worse for 'failing'.
Rather than do one big thing on 1 December, wouldn't it be a bit more fun, and add a bit more anticipation, if you did a little thing each day? So 1 December advent calendars and light advent candle?
Maybe put a different decoration (or two!) up each day/or decorate one room at a time? Your DC could choose on different days for example. Don't put yourself under huge pressure to perform.
I do think you can do it without lots of consumerism though. Candles are great, lots of sparkling lights are great, and all good things to keep you going in winter.
mumof2sarah · 10/10/2018 16:22
@IDoLoveToBeBesideTheSeaside thank you so much for you reply? I do completely understand what you're saying there and think it's a good idea. I might change my plans and ideas slightly still have fun but just change it slightly in a good way. Thank you so much xx
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