Christmas being “cancelled”.

[Stuckhere2021]

Disclaimer - my DCs are now young adults so we are past the “must have” toys for Christmas but have done the queuing in the rain for 4 hours to get a full set of telletubbies/Tweenies/Paul Smith bag etc.

Would it really be so bad if we had to go a bit more “basic” this year? Say we only eat food and veg produced locally/regionally. Everyone makes do with fewer gifts. More time spent playing games.

YABU - Christmas is special and after the shit 18 months we’ve had, we should have something to look forward to.
YANBU - Christmas is what you make it and shouldn’t be all about the gifts / spending.

No thanks, it sounds fucking miserable.

I love Christmas and usually go to town.
Family over, activities leading up to the big day, lots of well thought out gifts.
Full traditional Christmas dinner.

We were chatting today about the whole turkey shortage and it turns out that my DH and 3 teens would rather have mussels for a starter and then steak and chips
So I think we are going to go with that this year.

It does seem that people get their "Christmas morals" once their kids are into double figures.

Oh we did that when ours were young but now they're too old for toys we've realised plastic tat is devil spawn and you should all just get your toddlers a book, a pair of wellies, an orange and a small hand knitted doll/car

I’m really not sure you know what the word “cancelled” means.

you should all just get your toddlers a book, a pair of wellies, an orange and a small hand knitted doll/car

Not even an orange, only local and seasonal produce, please. I'll have a bit more potato with that turnip, please, Merry Christmas.

Last Christmas, aside from the 'rules' my daughter tested positive on Xmas day which meant we couldn't even leave the house til after New Year. The thing my children missed the most was seeing family. They aren't fussed by the gifts and food, it's our family traditions that they want. So long as we can get together and have a few gifts they will be happy.

If it makes the country realise that they don’t actually like turkey very much, it’ll be no bad thing. Let them eat goose!

Our Christmas is more and more just about the food and drink. Our dc this year will be 18,19 and 21 and presents are usually tech or clothes related. I love seeing what they get for each other, they put a lot of thought into it and that really warms my heart. I'm happy with some chocolate and bath stuff, something new for my kindle.

We've already ordered our turkey from the local butcher where dh works. We have a celebration meal on Christmas Eve too (dh's dad is German and they always did Christmas Eve as a big thing, for us it's now a nice meal and lighting our last advent candle) but the venison is already in the freezer.

So the presents are nice, but for us the meals together and the little traditions we've built up like the advent wreath and dad reading "kippers Christmas Eve" to the grown up kids, hanging up the stockings and then a Christmas Day of eating and drinking a little too much and laughing a lot is what makes Christmas.

My toddler is getting a lump of coal for Christmas. They can use it to do charcoal drawings on the patio. Cheaper than crayons and we can always burn it once they get bored of it. Can't wait to see their little face all excited on Christmas morning! And of course the joy of knowing that we're not contributing to the plastic mountain .

@suspiria777

What do you think Jesus would prefer?

As a well known provider of good wine, I tend to think he’d prefer that people stick with the pre-Christian mid winter festival that his followers co-opted and went BIG. Jesus would say, “of COURSE you can get another bauble on that tree. Another present? Do it! But get one for the charity appeal too.”

@SleepingStandingUp

It does seem that people get their "Christmas morals" once their kids are into double figures.

Oh we did that when ours were young but now they're too old for toys we've realised plastic tat is devil spawn and you should all just get your toddlers a book, a pair of wellies, an orange and a small hand knitted doll/car

100% this. ‘We’ve had our fun, now we think you should all scale it back. Your 5 year old should just be happy with a book and an orange’.

I get mostly regional foods and it’s not basic at all - you can really push the boat out if you want to with free range organic meat, local veg, handmade chocolates, local walnuts and crisps, local cheeseboard with biscuits and local wine, beer and gin. Games together are great, as are walks. And as my children have grown up I usually treat them to things throughout the year as they need them. Christmas presents are just a few items per person but chosen with a lot of thought. You will have a nice time.

Do you know what cancelled means?
Is this a competitive under buying thread? Are you also stuffed after half a salad?
We will have a wonderful Christmas, I'm almost done with presents under the tree and stockings, as I am every year around now. Quite a bit purchased secondhand as single income minimum wage family. The children will be delighted. I cannot imagine queuing up hours for a toy! I thought most people spent before and after Christmas playing games, cuddled up watching films and helping littles build lego. Your idea is pretty far from cancelled.
Ours will be quite similar to usual. Maybe what you mean to ask is if people are celebrating differently this year?

I nearly started the very same thread today OP, as I wondered whether people were truly that bothered by missing out on the odd item at Xmas as the papers would have you believe. No turkey, eat chicken. No chicken, have a nut roast or fish. Certain plastic toys from China out of stock - buy second hand off eBay etc or an alternative that happens to be in stock. Let's face it. We have plenty of food in this country and plenty of stuff in the shops. We have stuff a plenty. It is unlikely that we are going to starve. COVID and the petrol 'crisis' have been great opportunities for a re-set. Less flying. Less business trips. More home working, less commuting, more family time, working together in communities more and now people car sharing and conserving petrol. None of these are bad things and really good for the environment.

@lannistunut

Are you a paid employee of the Tory party perhaps, trying to convince us plebs that the supply chain shitshow isn't such a bad thng after all?

Johnson has said he can't promise Christmas will be OK, but he can promise it'll be better than last year - pretty low bar.

I always have a low key Christmas anyway, but I am still pissed off to be living in a country that has fucked things up so badly we are discussing whether soviet-style food shortages are a 'good thing'.

Why do you have to be a Tory activist to yearn for things not being as full on as previous years.

I love the 4 item box idea.

And we've never wed to turkey and like to try something unusual, different, special instead (we had reindeer one year for example).

I am definitely doing less this year, and I'm definitely organising it earlier simply so i don't have to deal with all the angst in December.

Make sure it's on your patio and not the public pavement!

@SleepingStandingUp

Make sure it's on your patio and not the public pavement!

That's for @Goldbar

It sounds like maybe your christmasses have been more extravagant than some people's anyway? Personally I wouldn't want all local food. I see the rationale but I like to have a nice bottle of wine on Xmas day but I detest British wine. I think Christmas means different things to different people and perhaps we shouldn't ask people to give up things that matter to them unless you're willing to do the same.

@ejhhhhh

If it makes the country realise that they don’t actually like turkey very much, it’ll be no bad thing. Let them eat goose!

The problem is... Then the goose will become even more expensive due to demand and the few of us poving it will have to move onto something else😂

A relative of mine was talking about toys for her children and not being able to get them . Honestly her house is full/ overflowing with toys .

I suggested we all had a day out instead , make memories not money in the pockets of huge companies.

If everyone decides to eat local this year having previously eaten a lot of produce from abroad, your locally sourced goose and sprouts will be much more expensive. And at the moment IIRC the UK is importing more fresh produce than normal while British crops go to waste because UK farmers are struggling to recruit enough workers. I'm sure it'll all sort itself out one way or another in the longer term but this Christmas I would say you should try and use whatever you can get your hands on!

It's not really the point though, is it? If you voted leave qnd red the red bus slogan did it say , BTW it might mean having to cancel Christmas.

*and read

I think a scaled back Xmas sounds perfectly fine.

I've only ever bought for my immediate family (mum, 2 sisters, DP). Sister's partner and niece get token gifts (small but thoughtful, e.g. a book for niece that will interest her).

Xmas meal is really just a roast with a few extra trimmings, plus a couple of dessert options (usually a pavlova and a trifle). We might have a cheeseboard platter type thing to nibble on as well - very little prep required. I don't understand people who say they spend all day in the kitchen.

I put YANBU just based on the options you gave at the end, but your idea that we could all "only eat food and veg produced locally/regionally" is unfortunately nonsense in the UK.

The entire country simply doesn't grow enough food for self sufficiency to be possible. Perhaps with a well-planned national effort on a war footing over the course of a decade, we might come close. In a couple of months, starting after the crops would have needed to be planted to be ready in time? Think about that.

Imagine the West Midlands suddenly having to go it alone food-wise. Or Greater London (or even the South East as a whole)! There would be famine and rioting.