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
Figmentofimagination · 10/10/2018 17:29
December 1st is always a big thing in this house. We would always take holidays around the day. Before DS was born we would go away for the night, play Christmas music on the drive there and back, do some Christmas shopping and have a nice meal out. Then we would start putting our Christmas decorations up.
Now we have DS, we don't go away, but we still start putting our decorations up. Christmas music is played, and the Christmas treats are brought out. We also take DS to see Santa and get a photo that's then developed and added into a photo bauble to put on the tree. And DH has still taken some time off work.
OvO · 10/10/2018 18:11
We do Dec 1st boxes.
I bought plain ones from Hobbycraft and let my DC choose a design that I then drew/painted on and used their fingerprints round the box lid to make little brown marks that I made into robins and reindeer. I love looking at those little fingerprints as they grow!
It’s usually just the same stuff every year with a few food treats.
So Xmas mugs/cereal bowls sort of thing (had for years)
Packs of Christmas cards to send to their friends
New Jammies (not necessarily Xmas themed but often a character they like)
Xmas socks
Xmas pencil/pen(to use at school)
Xmas hot water bottles (we've had these years too)
Bar of chocolate
Mini can of cola
Racing Santa/Reindeer (we've had these years, sill wind up toys, but lots of fun!)
Also bring out all the Christmas books from previous years book advent calendars.
Athena51 · 10/10/2018 18:22
Ahead of the day I buy myself a really, beautiful, big advent calendar-one that gives me a warm glow every day as I open the doors 
. Yes I'm a grown-up but I absolutely love Christmas. I try and resist putting the tree up but don't always succeed.
I think your ideas are lovely @mumof2sarah
OvO · 10/10/2018 18:24
Thank you! That’s a kind thing to say 😊
Found an old photo to show what we do. My boys are very very lovely and this is a treat for them so I just ignore all the negative comments.
As you can see there’s also a pile of party poppers which is probably the biggest hit of all! 😂
Yourcupwillneverempty · 10/10/2018 20:33
I love this thread! We go all in, ultimate naffness for the full December up until Xmas. 2 massive boxes and bags come out of the garage on the 1st. Kids come home to (or wake up to this year) full festivity descended. All winter bedding on, the Christmas smelling sprays in the diffusers/ airwick auto spray. The throws over the sofas that are always on are changed to the red fluffy ones. Xmas toilet roll, kitchen roll, the amazing Sainsbury's winter spice washing up liquid. The little light displays go up. Rugs in bedroom changed to the sheepskin ones, dvd's out and we have an amazing Santa book that is put out then and we start looking at. Second weekend we put tree up together and start watching Christmas films on the dedicated movie channel and music channels playing in the background. DD starts making cards for family. It doesn't cost much because I keep things or I'd be buying them anyway (toilet roll/ washing up liquid etc). BUT.. I'm a bit of a Scrooge and the day after Boxing day it ALL goes, tree, lights, smells, stickers, Santa book, the lot. All into the box to be pulled out next Dec 1st! Although the winter bedding sets and rugs stay until the weather changes but they're more 'winter stuff' than 'Xmas stuff', brushed cotton or jersey sets and lots of soft blankets on top of bottom sheets. And the Dunelm Teddy pillow cases for the children. I love it!
Witchofwisteria · 10/10/2018 20:43
Last year I put my son's advent calendar in his santa sack, cut out shoe shapes from a cardboard box and sprinkle talcon powder over the top to make boot prints at the door like he's come in and left the calendar. The powder is "north pole snow". DS is 4 and its magical watching him believe in it all x
Sophiesdog11 · 10/10/2018 21:10
Mine are now young adults, so we don't do much apart from advent calendars on the 1st, although I generally have lifted the Xmas boxes down from the loft by then, to get cards and maybe wrapping paper if seeing some friends early. We thus unpack some of the Christmas tumblers, mugs, DVDs etc to use in the run up to Xmas.
We are going to be in NY for a week late Nov/early Dec this year - first time in 17yrs that neither in education (eldest on a uni work placement year, youngest on gap year), so I think the normal run up to xmas will be different.
NY was planned as a joint 18/21 trip and they insisted on going in the run up to Xmas. I hope it lives up to expectations and isn't too fricking cold!
I did ask DS today via Whatsapp if he still wanted an advent calendar. Of course (he turns 21 just before we go). DD then informs me over dinner that she is planning to take an advent calendar to NY with her 😂😂. Apparently they are already selling like hotcakes in the supermarket she working in for gap year.....with 7 weeks to go.....
Not sure if Americans have any pre-Christmas traditions that we could do in place of an advent calendar (I know that Thanksgiving is really their big celebration, we go a few days later) but maybe someone can enlighten me?
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