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

Why the hate for Elf and lights and all things Christmassy?

99 replies

funkylittlegoldfinch · 02/12/2020 10:31

Seen a couple threads re this and the utter bile directed at these subjects is just beyond! You don't want Xmas lights all over your house?? Fine! Don't do it! You don't like Elf on a shelf? Don't do it!! Your don't wanna put your Christmas tree early? Don't! It really is just that simple! Why the outrage? Not your electric bill not your monkeys! Who gives a fuck?

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 02/12/2020 10:38

If people do an elf then I couldn't care less. Each to their own.

What makes me roll my eyes is that what is apparently for the children needs to be posted daily on social media to get parenting kudos. In those situations the cynic in me wonders if it's more about the parents than the kids.
That falls in the same category as people who take photos of all their wrapped presents under the tree from December 1st. Want to be organised, great. Lots of people do. The only reason for the #soorganised post is to show off

MistyGreenAndBlue · 02/12/2020 10:41

You say that like showing off is an intrinsically bad thing.
Yet we all do it in one way or another.

LuckyAmy1986 · 02/12/2020 11:11

You say that like showing off is an intrinsically bad thing the level at which people do this now on social media is scary. It's just a breeding ground for narcissism.

I also think a lot of this is for the parents, the way things are set up for the photos just to get likes. I don't understand why it can't just be done in private. It HAS to go on Facebook or it didn't happen!

SuperAlly · 02/12/2020 11:14

I don’t know how people can be arsed with Elf on the Shelf. I mean each to their own, doesn’t affect me (other than kids asking why we don’t have one) but I just don’t have the time nor the inclination for that noise.

carlaCox · 02/12/2020 11:19

I've not directed any bile at anyone and think everyone should do what makes them happy. But I do find the ridiculous level of consumerism and waste around Christmas a bit gross sometimes. Especially when the environment is going to shit and many people don't have a pot to piss in. Some of my friends' kids get so many presents at Christmas they actually get bored opening them all.

firesong · 02/12/2020 11:22

Not bothered about people doing it, seems a bit too much effort for me but maybe I will try it one year!

I am a bit bored with my Facebook feed being totally full of the elf updates though - they're not very interesting.

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2020 11:31

Elf on the Shelf is ridiculous and appears to be very time consuming, but YABU as this is a Talk forum where posters (shock, horror) voice their opinions. Anonymously.

liveitwell · 02/12/2020 11:31

I don't really care but I do find the incessant need to make it more and more materialistic ridiculous. And it's annoying that when my kids start school they will also want all that. Sometimes the issue isn't with others doing things, but the expectations that puts on other people and us.

mrsbyers · 02/12/2020 11:34

It’s the look at me aspect which annoys people , I couldn’t give a shit if you have a hundred elves and Christmas trees - enjoy it but I don’t need daily updates on the zany things you’ve dreamt up the elf to do , it’s for your kids not Facebook

SuperAlly · 02/12/2020 11:35

I agree. My girls (especially my eldest who is 6) have asked about why we have no elf a few times. I feel like Christmas is insane as it is. We bend over backwards to make sure it’s special and magical for them but the elf is just not something I am willing to do.

I’m quite sure they’ll look back and feel I was mean not to do it (despite that they have everything else going) but I just can’t bring myself to feel bad about it.

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2020 11:36

Re EOTS it's supposed to be keeping an eye on the children to see if they're naughty while simultaneously doing naughty things? I don't get it.

Simplyunacceptable · 02/12/2020 11:37

My DH isn’t keen on Christmas, he thinks it’s all too twee and bolshy. I only started loving Christmas when DC came along but I do get into the spirit now and we have had an elf for 8 years. DH thinks it’s a bit ridiculous but I just roll my eyes at him and say ok Scrooge.

Some people just aren’t big fans of Christmas. I understand it because I was one of them before I had children.

feelingverylazytoday · 02/12/2020 11:39

I think people have an issue with the increasing commercialisation, OP.
Elf on the shelf, christmas eve boxes, christmas jumpers, and now christmas pyjamas. All things that have been deliberately introduced over the last few years in order to get people spending more money.
I'm glad my kids are grown up now so I don't have to bother with any of this shite. Funny how people still managed to enjoy christmas without it.

Floridana · 02/12/2020 11:40

I enjoy Christmas lights in and outdoors but if others don't that's their choice. I do elf on the shelf with my dds because they are young enough to be swept away in it but if others don't I can understand why. What I really can't stand is when people put the elf in adult situations (usually with barbie) and post it to Facebook. It makes it so cheap and difficult if kids ever came across one of these images. I have to temporarily snooze FB friends in the run up to Christmas because they are getting worse 🙈

unmarkedbythat · 02/12/2020 11:40

You don't like those threads and comments? Fine, don't pay attention to them! Don't start threads increasing the attention on them, who gives a fuck?

SuperAlly · 02/12/2020 11:42

Christmas jumpers are terrible. We got a letter from the school the other day “kids can wear a Christmas jumper every day that week!” - so, what, I’m meant to go out and buy a few jumpers now, on top of everything else? Lol no.

LolaSmiles · 02/12/2020 11:42

the level at which people do this now on social media is scary. It's just a breeding ground for narcissism.

I also think a lot of this is for the parents, the way things are set up for the photos just to get likes. I don't understand why it can't just be done in private. It HAS to go on Facebook or it didn't happen!
That's how I feel. It's not enough to do something for the kids, it has to be on Facebook every bloody day. How else will the parent get their daily pat on the back for being brilliant?

If it was something done for the children and then every now and then one that's quite funny was shared then that falls under sharing funny/nice things. When it's every day it's all about the parent trying to show how great they are.

glitterelf · 02/12/2020 11:49

Those posts are pretty horrible and the shitty judgements that are being made are awful. I've steered clear of posting on it, it doesn't bother me what others do just as it shouldn't bother people what I choose to do.
We're having fun and after all the crap my family has been through this year I couldn't give two hoots what people think or judgements they make.

notafanoftheman · 02/12/2020 11:53

Because celebrating the season of peace and goodwill to all men by buying pointless tat made by brown people a long way away is a bit hypocritical

dementedpixie · 02/12/2020 11:57

I dont see the point in elf on the shelf as it never existed when my kids were small so it's a relatively new import. Not fussed about anything else Christmassy

BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 02/12/2020 12:03

They’re getting themselves really worked up over an Elf on the thread I’ve seen. And there’s some real snobbery. It’s quite amusing seeing some of them getting so angry and arguing that people shouldn’t do the Elf thing because not all kids have it. 🤣 Their argument obviously makes zero sense as by their thinking, no one should buy their kids anything or do anything nice in case other kids don’t have or do have those things.

They should just stay away from social media as it’s full of people over sharing every aspect of their life. I generally don’t like that so I don’t have Facebook. 🤷🏻‍♀️

DryRoastPeanut · 02/12/2020 12:08

Totally agree with you op.

I had to bite my tongue earlier today when someone asked “I don’t get it” about elf on a shelf. I don’t “get” wearing a blooming paper crown whilst I eat my Turkey, doesn’t mean I need to make a song n dance about it.

frumpety · 02/12/2020 12:16

I quite like seeing other peoples Elf pictures on FB , I don't do Elf because I can't be arsed.

BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 02/12/2020 12:28

I had to bite my tongue earlier today when someone asked “I don’t get it” about elf on a shelf.

Clearly they do get it. They just want to judge but pretend they’re not so it’s all this faux ‘I don't get it’ bullshit. Or the best snobby little dig of ‘I’m much to busy to do it, I mean, I work full time’. 🤣

Autumnblooms · 02/12/2020 12:32

What makes me laugh is people actually get jealous and normally that’s why they comment so negatively, instead of looking at it and just rolling their eyes and not finding the energy to comment on something that means nothing. Clearly it brings out some emotion.

I do ALL the Xmas things because I love doing it- however I don’t post it on social media-because I don’t need really use it and I don’t do it for anyone else but us

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.