Are you planning on changing your Christmas plans ?

[Lardlizard]

By keeping to six only ?

If he lifts restrictions for Christmas he’d really need to also do so for Hanukkah, Eid, Divali etc. Plus Easter is theologically more important. If it is lifted I doubt it would be badged as ‘for Christmas’ and it would also set up a huge problem a week later with everyone going crazy for NYE. I don’t think it would be a very wise move

Yes, but only because we're a family of 5 and our Christmas trip to NZ will almost definitely not be going ahead.

Yes. Sad for my family (I normally host) silently relieved don’t need to host in laws. We have a place in France will probably head there just us. Before the new rule came in I was planning to amend plans, lots of elderly guests mixing with school age children indoors extended periods?!? Not planning on killing off extended family no.

We are normally five, which is fine, but from three households - us, MIL, BIL and SIL - so not quite sure what will happen.

We have three children and so are a family of 5. Both my and DH's our fathers have died and our mothers are on their own. We will absolutely not be telling one of them that they will be spending Christmas alone.

Assuming the current rules are still in place (which is of course a big unknown) then we would hold off on a larger family party over Christmas.

I think my mother is already anticipating this, by stating firmly that she and Dad count as one person! (We are usually 7 for Christmas)

0ell given that I can't imagine Jacob Rees mogg looking after his 6 kids or cooking the dinner, we've decided to stick to the rule of 6. However I'm cooking the dinner as work experience, DH is going to try his hand as an events organiser and my sister is going to be a nanny intern. So it might look like 9 of us, but 3 will be staff so don't count

There will be six of us (and one four year old)...(and one gestating baby). Three households. Come hell or high water. We've decided amongst ourselves that is what will happen.

No, we are usually 9 at Christmas. This year we will be 10 with a new baby.

Regardless of whether the law says 6?

Nope. We're going abroad and meeting up with my family and my sister and her family. The only thing that's change is that we won't be meeting up on a cruise, but we have one booked for next year already.

@TheNewLook

Restrictions will be lifted in time for for Christmas. I’m certain of that. They’ll close pubs and restaurants two weeks before Christmas and announce that people can meet in private homes only. Boris will not want to be the PM who cancelled Christmas.

Not everyone congregates with more than 6 at Christmas and not everyone even celebrates so the current limitations, or even stricter such as back to full lockdown isn't 'cancelling Christmas' so Christmas shouldn't be a trigger for lifting/changing restrictions if the science indicates that this is unwise.

The current increase in cases is most likely to be to people not following the guidelines (people should still social distance when meeting people they don't live with for example, but many aren't) and we're currently at risk of it getting a lot worse before it gets better.

It’s always just the 4 of us at Christmas.

What will be different will be that this year there’ll be none of the parties or drinks with friends before and after, no NYE party etc.

@bluesheep8
Yes. These are all people we see once or twice a week anyway. No more likely to catch covid because it is Christmas day.

I fully expect the rules to have changed by Christmas anyway.

I think my mother is already anticipating this, by stating firmly that she and Dad count as one person!

Love it!

I hadn't made firm plans. But I had been thinking it would make sense to have Christmas just our household, and the new law has confirmed that for me.

Our new year plans will probably need altering too - we usually spend it with DH brother and SIL and their DC
That will be 8, but we will wait until nearer the time to decide what to do.

I’ll think about Christmas in December!

@Pogmella

If he lifts restrictions for Christmas he’d really need to also do so for Hanukkah, Eid, Divali etc. Plus Easter is theologically more important. If it is lifted I doubt it would be badged as ‘for Christmas’ and it would also set up a huge problem a week later with everyone going crazy for NYE. I don’t think it would be a very wise move

Not really. Christmas is celebrated by the vast majority of the UK; it's not so much about the religious aspect for most. Boris won't want to be remembered as cancelling Christmas.

I'm just wondering how many people on social media in my area who told Muslims to suck it up when they were unable to celebrate Eid are going to kick off if we're still under local restrictions at Christmas.

@ilovesooty

I'm just wondering how many people on social media in my area who told Muslims to suck it up when they were unable to celebrate Eid are going to kick off if we're still under local restrictions at Christmas.

THIS

Actually, now I’ve thought about this properly, even if all three dses’ girlfriends go to their parents, we couldn’t have all of the boys here under the night more than two households’ rule! I don’t know how to solve this one.

Bit depressed, we're a family of 5 so unlikely we'll see anyone. We were in a bubble with my parents last time but assume that isn't allowed now as that would be 7😞

Our Christmas plans are ruined. We’d booked flights pre-Covid to come back to the UK to spend Christmas with family. Our flight hasn’t been cancelled yet, but as the airline is not flying the route again yet so I don’t think it’ll be much longer before they do. Haven’t seen family or friends for a year, so I’m pretty disappointed.

I don’t know. There would be 6 adults and 2 toddlers. Will wait and see how things are looking a bit nearer the time.

We are usually 10-15 people for Christmas, my brother and his family have already cancelled (they live in another European country), my mum will also probably stay at home, so we’ll probably only have 6 (household of 5 plus one friend). If we’re on local restrictions (as we are now) then friend won’t be allowed to come as we aren’t allowed to host people in our house or gardens.

No