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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think most Christmas events are going to be curtailed / cancelled due to coronavirus

83 replies

Bearbehind · 20/09/2020 09:39

Just that really

Even if people aren’t making Christmas plans themselves now, restaurants, hotels etc need to be planning and it seems very unlikely big gatherings etc are going to be allowed in the foreseeable

Are we all going to be stuck at home with no events to go to?

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 20/09/2020 13:18

'And then once people realise xmas is actually complete horseshit it can be made a 4-yearly event - like the Olympics - which I suppose would make it just about tolerable.'

Maybe we're miserable gits, but I'm with you! I cant be doing with it either, apart from a few things like mince pies and Christmas cake, although I dont want to see either of those things in the shops in BLOODY SEPTEMBER!

Hahaha88 · 20/09/2020 13:49

@Lottapianos

'And then once people realise xmas is actually complete horseshit it can be made a 4-yearly event - like the Olympics - which I suppose would make it just about tolerable.'

Maybe we're miserable gits, but I'm with you! I cant be doing with it either, apart from a few things like mince pies and Christmas cake, although I dont want to see either of those things in the shops in BLOODY SEPTEMBER!

🙄🙄🙄 Yes you are miserable lol
BigFatLiar · 20/09/2020 13:59

There was someone on local radio from a theatre group who were organising outdoor panto so that they would perform in an open area with the audience in their cars, sound via the car radio.

Heatherjayne1972 · 20/09/2020 14:10

Not looking forward to it at all
The government might ban us from meeting any family in our homes by then
No parties No nativity assembly at school. No carol concerts. No community gatherings no works parties Nothing much at new year- no dancing.

No family gatherings as we are more than 6 people
Dark and cold
Shops will either be rammed or dead

Roll on next summer

FatGirlShrinking · 20/09/2020 14:21

Yes, our city and county councils have cancelled all bonfire night, Diwali, Xmas and New Years celebrations that they usually arrange like light switch ons and markets.

So far none of the usual grottos have started advertising and we'd usually be seeing at least some ore bookings by now.

CraftyGin · 20/09/2020 14:22

@Bearbehind

Just that really

Even if people aren’t making Christmas plans themselves now, restaurants, hotels etc need to be planning and it seems very unlikely big gatherings etc are going to be allowed in the foreseeable

Are we all going to be stuck at home with no events to go to?

Yep!

No work's Christmas do - bliss!

FatGirlShrinking · 20/09/2020 14:28

@CraftyGin I know right!

I hate all the build up and then fall out of the works Xmas do. Someone always does something or someone they shouldn't and I spend a fortune because it's always in some stupidly hard to get to location with expensive drinks and a dress code.

Coldwinterahead1 · 20/09/2020 14:29

My DC is over the moon that there will be no school play this years. He hates them so at least there will be no stress for him. The more I think about it I’m really looking forward to a very simple quiet commercial free Christmas 🎄

Legoandloldolls · 20/09/2020 14:32

Yes, it's going to be a weird Christmas, we are a family of 6 so no family visits either.

I'm going to save the cash I would have spent to do it all next year or the year after. When ever we will be allowed to. Hopefully next year

CraftyGin · 20/09/2020 14:33

I generally like our typical Christmas.

I am a church warden so super busy at church, but much of what I normally do will be curtailed, or different.

DD has been in choirs, but she has now gone to uni, so all the Nine Lessons are gone for us.

We are a family of nine, with 2 DILs. If we are restricted to 6, then there will be five of us. This will mean we will all get a seat in the living room, along with the stonking tree. No one will need to sit on the floor or on a kitchen chair.

I wont have to cook for my veggie son :)

I love my family, especially in the summer, when the garden becomes part of our house.

ilovemyrednosedaymug · 20/09/2020 14:35

Yes, I would imagine most things would be cancelled. I can't see the restrictions being lifted. I am self employed but still get invited to several clients Xmas do's. I can't see how any of them will run.

Halloween, Bonfire Night, I am not expecting any of it to go ahead.

I think people need to make their plans now based on current restrictions, then they won't be disappointed come Christmas.

AlternativePerspective · 20/09/2020 14:43

Christmas is over consumerised and IMO this year’s Christmas will be the change that is needed, because people will see that they don’t have to rush out here there and everywhere at great cost, spend money they don’t have on stuff they don’t need, cook more food than they can ever eat and then throw half of it away, and pander to this and that family member who insists they want to come for dinner or want them to come for dinner.

I think the community stuff will survive over time because people will realise that they are part of a community rather than having to drive ten miles or more to watch some lights being turned on (in November) or spend £££ on visiting some over-hyped Christmas attraction.

As for Christmas dinner, a turkey crown is perfectly sufficient - you don’t need three hundredweight of vegetables and ten boxes of chocolates after the puddings and the mince pies...

netsybetsy · 20/09/2020 14:52

Yes I think so, which will have no effect on me, though I do feel sad for those who are going to have a drastically different Christmas to the one they want.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/09/2020 15:18

If it is the worse case scenario of being illegal to see your family, masked up carol-free church services, no school/ community events, and all we're left with is some fairy lights, a tree, roast dinner, presents for the kids and crap on TV. Sounds an utterly shit way to finish a shitty year to me.

Oh and bonus shit points for DS not getting a birthday party too.

There's always getting pissed on the sofa, but that gives me the shits too.

CoronaIsWatching · 20/09/2020 15:24

It will be much nicer without all the pressure, no awkward family gatherings wth family you only see once a year. Plus no work xmas parties and NO secret santa!! Grin

MichonnesBBF · 20/09/2020 16:07

Oh i am very much prepared for it to be cancelled.
However the way things have been going its the no visiting other households that made us all agree to this, as this way we have a chance to at least see everyone even if its just for a short time on the day.
The hotel we are going to only holds 50 on a party night at any given time so adding tables and chairs with social distancing reduces that some what, no mingling is allowed anyway and its table service.
However i do share the concern of it not goung ahead.
But we do want to at least try.

ballsdeep · 20/09/2020 16:10

Yes they'll be cancelled. I'm so pleased I didn't book Lapland UK (sorry to anyone who has!) I just didn't want to spend a huge amount of money to have it cancelled

Bulblasagne · 20/09/2020 16:14

I booked lapland UK and they have said they can build what they want and work around the issues.

They certainly have some flexibility we will just have to see! If not they will refund tickets or pass them onto next year.

MorrisZapp · 20/09/2020 16:18

I know it's not cool to enjoy the works Christmas do but it's the highlight of my year. I get two days away in London, all paid for, and a first class posh lunch and piss up with dear friends I don't get to see all year.

Pretty sure works parties are a bust this year. Gutted.

HamishDent · 20/09/2020 16:18

Yes, unfortunately I think most things will be cancelled. I will really miss the school events, like the Christmas services. I wonder if they will record something and release it online like they did for the end of term speeches. The music and singing is something I really look forward to and I will really miss it.

We don’t usually do pantomimes or Christmas shows as they are so expensive, but we do usually see a Christmas ballet. I worry for the theatres and the arts in general. They are strapped for cash as it is, but thing may be a final nail in the coffin for some.

SockYarn · 20/09/2020 16:19

And then once people realise xmas is actually complete horseshit it can be made a 4-yearly event - like the Olympics - which I suppose would make it just about tolerable

I hear you, sister. 4 yearly would be about tolerable. Not what we have at present, which is a consumer tat fest, starting at the beginning of September and lasting a third of the fucking year.

bluebeck · 20/09/2020 16:21

@MaosChaos

Yes. And I don't want to hear 'Christmas is Cancelled' It isn't. We just have to celebrate in a different way. It's the consumerism that's going to be badly hit (though think our local butcher% grocers will be busier than ever)
Totally agree with this.
BrieAndChilli · 20/09/2020 16:22

I think this year will be crap. Nothing will be on, which means next year everyone will go absolutely crazy to make up for it!

Washimal · 20/09/2020 17:55

I know this is a very selfish point of view, but I'm looking forward to a quiet Christmas where I won't be run ragged trying to please everyone.

If the rule of 6 is still in place it means we have the perfect excuse to avoid Christmas Day with PIL, who always put pressure on us to come to them and then create an unpleasant atmosphere if we do. No having to get dressed up, make awkward small-talk and listen to endless speeches at DH's super-formal work do. No pressure to host or spend weekends in the run up to Christmas rushing round like headless chickens making sure we see everyone.
No crushing mum-guilt that I can't attend the school Christmas play, Christmas Carol service, Christmas Fayre, special Christmas assembly or help out at the Christmas disco etc due to my job.
Just me, DH and the DC hunkering down, eating lovely food, watching Christmas films, maybe going on nice long walks would be just what we need after a very stressful few months. I appreciate that everyone's circumstances are different though.

zafferana · 20/09/2020 18:04

I feel like writing 'Duh?', but that seems a little harsh!

But the bottom line is that if we want to control the levels of virus until we have a vaccine, and particularly in winter when being outside is much harder to do, we all basically need to just hunker down in our families/support bubbles and do our best to manage.

We can't have it all and we do need a functioning economy, so that means that schools and workplaces need to stay open. I think if hospitality can survive using table service, social distancing, massively reduced numbers of guests, etc, then it may be able to stay open, but I can't see any way that there will be the usual festive activities and so many have been cancelled already - shows of any kind, events like Winter Wonderland, the London New Year's fireworks display, etc. It's not going to be Christmas as anyone is used to it, but it's either that or we have a huge spike in infections/deaths. We always have a quiet Christmas at home and it's actually really nice, but the long winter stretching ahead of us with nothing to look forward to does seem pretty grim.