Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Early January dead time or still joyful Christmas season?

116 replies

SnuggyBuggy · 02/01/2019 07:38

AIBU to be feeling a bit ugh at this time? I mean technically it's still the Christmas season but no one feels Christmassy, people are going back to work, I'm on mat leave and none of my regular stuff starts till next week.

Are there people who still manage to keep the Christmas feeling until 12th night?

OP posts:
DrBlue · 02/01/2019 18:26

I'm with you OP, I hate January.

Technically, Christmas doesn't start until Christmas Day, followed by another 11 days of celebrations until Epiphany. In many countries, Christmas is celebrated to a much larger degree on Epiphany. In England however, Christmas is pretty much over on December 27th, with everyone focusing on New Year parties. And then it really is over.

Original poster
SnuggyBuggy · 02/01/2019 18:37

I don't even like February much better but I've kind of learned to be easy on myself at this time of year if that makes sense. I'm hoping once the Christmas stuff has been put away and I can make myself busy I will perk up.

OP posts:
Canshopwillshop · 02/01/2019 18:54

I hate January with a passion. Feeling very down in the dumps but the kids are off until Monday so trying to plan a few nice things between now and then. Still in Christmas eating and drinking mode - healthier habits start Monday.

Footloose80 · 02/01/2019 19:08

I am normally evangelical about there being 12 days of Christmas and wanted to keep decorations up.
But this year Christmas has been pretty rubbish and I ended up taking decorations down today.

Original poster
SnuggyBuggy · 02/01/2019 19:09

Planning on eating a bit healthier too.

OP posts:
neveradullmoment99 · 02/01/2019 19:27

I never feel festive come 1st Jan. I just want it all the be over.

This is exactly me. At this point, it feels like a huge pretence that Christmas is still here. My tree came down on the 28th. The earliest ever but that's cause we are decorating and it makes sense but I feel better to have done it. When I look at others with their decorations up, it looks quite weird now!

BlackBeltInPresentWrapping · 02/01/2019 19:46

Weird Xmas Shock

Now, if they were still up in July, I might agree (with a few exceptions).

I remember saying on the 'when can we take our decorations down' thread, ours don't go up until Christmas Eve, so they still look and feel quite fresh at this stage of the Christmas season. I can see why, if you put them up at the start of December, or even in November, you'd want to get rid.

The turkey, sprouts and cheese mountain have all gone, but there are other things still left like some of the Christmas chocolates and cake, a small amount of gin, presents to try out and TV to catch up on - most importantly the DCs are around to spend time with, and encourage to write their thank you notes.

neveradullmoment99 · 02/01/2019 20:41

Well we did put them up early but I do actually love Christmas an usually wait until after New Year. It just doesn't feel Christmassy anymore. All the shops have sales, no decorations left in store. Trees are all down in our local supermarkets to make way for 'Spring' things and holiday adverts are on tv.

Original poster
SnuggyBuggy · 02/01/2019 20:53

I don't know why but this year I really wanted to embrace the 12 days of Christmas and I'm really disappointed in myself

OP posts:
paddyclampitt · 02/01/2019 21:10

We keep our decorations up til the weekend, but we're not in work til next week :)

I'm not a big fan of January but there's still lots to look forward to - we've past the shortest day now so the nights will start to get lighter, slowly but surely. Then it's Spring and Summer!

In terms of the school year, the worst / most gruelling term is now behind us!

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 02/01/2019 21:16

We still had the tree up today, family muddy walk earlier, and a nice movie and dinner together. Really enjoying this bit of family time - back to school a little bit later (7th) so we're hoping to fit in lots more laid back family stuff between now and then.

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 02/01/2019 21:17

Oh and don't get suckered in by the sales. Grabby, noisy and crowded. Stay cosied in indoors and stretch out Christmas :-)

Original poster
SnuggyBuggy · 02/01/2019 21:28

Done some online shopping with my gift cards which has been nice

OP posts:
MoorMummy · 02/01/2019 21:35

Decs always down in our house and good house clean on New Year’s Day. Love it. We are off to Krakow this weekend so not back till after the Epiphany anyway, so would have had to take them down in any case.

This years we’ve got the break to look forward to, but I love the downtime in January, not going out, getting house stuff done with no pressure to socialise etc. My work diary for next couple of months is busy ( December was horrific) so I’ve enjoyed the down time over Xmas.

Lifeofsmiley · 02/01/2019 21:40

I’m glad to get out to work over the festivities. I feel all the days blending into one quite discombobulating and I always find new year depressing

Topseyt · 02/01/2019 21:40

I am always just relieved to have got Christmas and New Year over and done with at this stage. I enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family, and Boxing Day is OK too. Beyond that, Christmas is over for me.

The decs are down and back in the loft now.

One positive is that we are now past the winter solstice, so the daylight hours are very slowly starting to stretch out a little, and this becomes more apparent towards the end of January, meaning that spring is on the way in a few weeks.

I'm not a fan of winter at all really, with it's short days and long nights.

MoorMummy · 02/01/2019 21:52

Yes- we are coming towards longer days, my spirits lift beyond all recognition after the clocks go forward, which is a way off but something to look forward to.

For my part, I feel like this year was an Xmas cross roads. DS is 20, can take or leave Xmas other than getting his pressies and cash. But for having two dogs, I’d be tempted to take the three of us away somewhere hot next year. Always feel like I work Xmas round other people.

cheminotte · 02/01/2019 22:02

Feet in both camps here.
I worked one day between Christmas and new year, which I haven’t done for years and was really weird. Both on the day itself and today going back as it just felt like I’d had a long weekend off rather than nearly 2 weeks. Because I spread my leave across the year, the Christmas break is normally the longest I get off in one go.

At home, dc are still off school, Christmas tree is still up. They are having a couple of days at holiday club for the rest of the week.
We were due to take the tree down on Saturday but will now be doing it on Friday as we have visitors including toddlers arriving on Saturday.

I’ve also decided to make a galette des rois.

Sadik · 02/01/2019 22:29

"It's a "thank fuck that's over and let's get back to normal" time. "
^^ This
I'm surprised (and pleased for you all :) ) that so many don't feel like that.

I think it's probably my age (late 40s) - for me and a lot of my friends it's mainly about making sure that elderly parents/other relatives have a nice time over the festive season - whilst simultaneously trying to also make sure that teenagers/older children also have a reasonably good time.

That sounds like I resent it, and I really don't - DM has terminal cancer fortunately progressing slowly right now, DF is just generally elderly & frail - so do want to make it good for them knowing they most likely don't have that many Christmases left. But sometimes it's hard work! The day after Boxing day I'm more than happy to be back in work and back to normal.

BlackBeltInPresentWrapping · 02/01/2019 23:04

I saw Easter chocolate in the shops on New Year's Eve - it seemed just ridiculous and wrong, much as I love Easter and the thought of Spring. The shop staff were all complaining about it too.

cakedup · 02/01/2019 23:21

Somewhere in between for me. I work term time only so no work until 8th.

Christmas felt a bit different for me this year anyway as DS is 13 and was just not bothered to do the usual Christmassy things that we've done in the past i.e. Winter Wonderland, Christmas lights bus tour, panto etct. Although I've spent money on going out for meals with friends instead which has been nice!

Decorations are still up. Still got some Christmas food left over. Still on late nights/lie-ins. Tomorrow I'm going sales shopping with my mum, Friday opticians/errands day, Saturday meeting up with friends, Sunday decorations down and ready for work.

I do look forward to going back to normality - having some routine, being more productive, eating healthier, getting back to the gym etc.

I think February is worse than January. That's a really dead month for me. Although it'll be nice if it snows.

userschmoozer · 02/01/2019 23:22

Its so warm where we are that I'm out gardening every day, and the lawn needs mowing. I don't feel Christmassy at all!

IndieTara · 03/01/2019 01:12

I've been ill since Boxing Day and still feel rough. But DD isn't back to school until Tuesday so no rest for me

ShutUpMorrissey · 03/01/2019 07:48

We put our decorations up on the last Friday in November, and they stay up until twelfth night. We always have a big Christmas dinner (complete with carols a d champagne) on new year's day and a twelfth night party. All our neighbours have taken their decorations and lights down so our house is like a festive beacon on our street! I did feel a little flat yesterday walking home and seeing all the houses that were lit up a week ago now in darkness though, and it does feel as if things are coming to an end. But we still have three days of celebrating to do, and in honesty it carries in through most of January - there's still a LOT of cheese left to eat and wine left to drink! And we leave lots of fairy lights up all year, so the dark winter days ahead aren't so bad.

My waistline however is starting to complain!

ILiveInSalemsLot · 03/01/2019 07:53

It’s been so mild so I’m enjoying January so far. We re getting out and about quite a bit.
It’s when it’s really cold that I hate January.