to think there's a grain of truth in this article about Christmas decs

[PiperPublickOccurrences]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6430199/Etiquette-expert-William-Hanson-reveals-Christmas-decorations-make-look-common.html

Yes it's a Daily Mail link, so what.

Totally tongue in cheek article about how Christmas decorations are a class thing. Very funny. Highlights include:

"Covering your PVC door in some enormous, shiny taffeta bow is not going to make the door look any better. "

"The rule is: the further away from green it is, the more common it is. Thus: pink and white trees - the pits."

"should your husband (and it is always men) return home with an electronic dancing Douglas Fir, or a fake mounted reindeer head that bleats Good King Wenceslas to passers-by, then you have two options: get rid of it, or get rid of him."

"If a house’s baubles have gone up in November then however much repenting you may do during Lent, it will never be enough. "

So, so true.

I went for a walk today and was thinking of this thread as I Iooked at houses. Tbh the daily fail observations were spot on. The working class areas had huge bows on doors, large light displays, santa stop here signs, inflatable snowmen. Affluent areas had a (real) wreath and that was it.

I am a left wing corbynist but I can't deny what I saw.

From a sociological perspective, why is this?

Qubus

From a sociological perspective, why is this?

Maybe they like them?
Maybe its what they can afford?
Maybe it reminds them of friends and family lost?
Maybe its a tradition?
OR
Maybe they just like annoying opinionated wankers?

Very true Boney especially the last sentence

Ravenesque - we have a fairy on our tree not an angel - the fairy idea comes from Germany like the Christmas tree itself.

"From a sociological perspective, why is this?"

No interest or inclination to impress others or conform to middle class ideas of taste, quite literally could not give a shit, it makes them happy, it makes their kids happy.

Less cash to spend updating decorations that have been coming out every year for decades.

Less time to finesse a tree or shop for real trees/wreaths as busy working hard, falling into bed too knackered to care whether other people approve of their taste or not, just generally more important things to worry about.

Everyone else decorates their houses like that, it's normal, they don't know anything else, would think a single wreath on a door was boring.

Just my (very working class) family before anyone takes umbrage.

I have laughed till I cried at some of William Hanson's articles. He's a massive winder upper. Do what you want at Christmas, life is too short.

Well the inside of my house now looks suitably tasteless, well it will do when I've finished but we're part way there. It's taken me three days damn chronic illness so far but it's my daughter's request to come home from uni to full on Christmas.
I have lots of tinsel on the tree and she may have kittens when she sees it. I've now run out and am loathed to buy more.
The wreath is on the front door but no outside inflatables I can't go that far for her but it's looking rather festive.

I think the so-called 'working class' like what they like and are unapologetic about it.

The aspirational 'middle classes' seek to emulate a White Company catalogue because they've been convinced that aesthetic is the pinnacle of good taste.

But whether you drape your bannisters in this or this, it's still just a piece of plastic, isn't it?

Why are middle classes always ‘aspirational’? Some people are just bogstandard middle class not aspiring to anything in particular. And surely ‘working classes’ are aspirational too.

Maybe middle classes just like what they like too.

The middle class are the least aspirational class of all. They are where they are.

The White Company does not do it for me. Boring.

I thought the very point of William Hanson articles was to induce this sort of reaction? The DM aren't actually giving style advice, and they don't actually expect people to feel shamed. It's like the Mrs Mill's advice column at the back of the Sunday Times.

The funniest thing about this whole thread is that surely it's obvious!? Does anyone stick a "Santa please stop here" Poundland dodgy wooden sign outside their house and think it looks classy? No one surely. The point of OTT outdoor Christmas decorations is of cours e that they are beautifully tacky :)

The point of OTT outdoor Christmas decorations is of course that they are beautifully tacky

Absolutely. Christmas decorations are meant to be extravagantly fabulous. Understated decor shouldn't be an option.

Tinsel on a tree 🤢 grim. More plastic shite.

Christmas makes me feel happy. It makes my kids feel happy.

I’m a single mum so don’t really have the funds (or time/energy) to put shitloads of lights and fancy decs up indoors or outdoors, but I love seeing other people’s efforts and have never thought about what class they are?! How odd.

More DF. So how do you measure up?

How to be upper class in 2019 according to Tatler – and dips, 'most white wines' and even holidays in FRANCE are out of bounds

By Martha Cliff for MailOnline
14:46, 05 Dec 2018, updated 14:50, 05 Dec 2018

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6463119/How-upper-class-2019-according-Tatler.html

I’ve noticed a lot of British people seem to have colour themes and matching decorations on the tree. Mine are totally eclectic with no colour scheme. Is that seen as tacky in the UK? In Australia it’s totally normal just to have lots of different decorations, including silly ones,that may be sentimental without coordinating the style or colour.

Also- I had no idea tinsel was a bad thing until I moved to the UK! It hasn’t occurred to me that my Christmas tree would be judged. I miss the simple old days a bit! Of course I can just ignore everyone and go for broke 😁

Well I've never knowingly declined a drink, I love bread, hate gin and I have a job AND an audible subscription. Working on the gout (ref points one and two), so I think I'm firmly new upper class. I'm off to retrieve my SodaStream from my parents' cellar and cement my status. Toodles.

Do what you want BrightStarrySky it’s fucking Christmas. [santa] I shall be having tinsel in every colour.

I don't want to sound racist but this nonsense is very much "how to be English upper class" for everyone else we read "How to be an annoying twit" .

At the gout and Pepto Bismol. And yes I do recognise it's tongue in cheek.

Sorry to resurrect but I read an updated version of this article in the (dreadful) Sun - recommended to me on Facebook!

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/16812936/common-christmas-winter-wonderland-tacky-etiquette/

My main thought was anything plastic is going to end up polluting the planet. But wondered what others think? I think I do agree with him on some things! Maybe I'm a huge snob.