Early Christmas decorations = working class

[FaLaLaLaLaaaar]

I know Mumsnet loves a class debate, so thought I’d share an argument I had with a friend last night.

She insists that only working class people put their Christmas decorations up in November, I insisted she’s a snob and class is more redundant these days so it’s a ridiculous argument.

So Vipers, I’ll ask the question as if it is coming from me to make it easier:

AIBU to think only working class people put their Christmas decorations up in November?

Yabu - No, don’t be such a snob, middle class people do too.

YANBU - Yes, it’s a working class thing.

I will be showing her the results of this.

@Mellowyellow222

I remember learning that about delayed gratification in school.

My business studies teacher tried to explain why people in council estates could afford satellite tv and he couldnt. I think he also talked about him having to save up to go to Disney land when people in council estates just went.

I thought he was just jealous - his explanation didn’t make much sense to me.

When you are sensible with money it does sometimes mean you can’t have stuff right away, because there are many things to consider every time rather than just spending it.

I understand the concept of delayed gratification. I just can’t see the link to it being common or tacky to put decorations up early. Even more so as most of the early trees and decorations are fake so most likely being reused so there is no monetary outlay from putting your tree up early.

Oh well yes, I don’t think that’s connected to it either.

Most people with little money have all their decs from the year before as they can't afford to replace them. So I'm really not seeing the link. Also you don't need credit to buy baubles from home bargains.

The undertone that working class families are less careful with money is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

I grew up up in a very working class family who scrimped and saved and never had anything on credit. My parents put decs up on December 1st without fail when I was growing up. Most years it cost nothing unless the lights had given out the year before. So the idea of this 'instant gratification' being a working class thing really doesn't add up to me.

Why the need to psycho analyse things? Some people - of all classes - like them up early, and some don't. Some leave them up until 12th night, some take them down Boxing Day. As far as I can tell from talking to people, it just comes down to personal choice like with pretty much everything in life.

I cross social classes according to what stage of life I am at. Does this make any difference to when I put up/ take down decorations? Does it heck

It’s only a general observation - sociological patterns don’t necessarily reflect every individual case. I had very little money when my girls were little and I was very careful with money. Of course there are plenty of people with less money who live frugally and carefully.

What I don’t like is when ‘working class’ (which as I’ve already said is a misnomer in this context anyway) is linked to tackiness. Lots of people with lots of money are very tacky.

@Tistheseasontis

I understand the concept of delayed gratification. I just can’t see the link to it being common or tacky to put decorations up early. Even more so as most of the early trees and decorations are fake so most likely being reused so there is no monetary outlay from putting your tree up early.

I think money is just one example but the Christmas link is its just typical of those common folk with their instant gratification that they put up the decs as early as possible because they want to, rather than having the class to wait until its traditional. So they put the Satellite tly and trio to Disney land on credit cards and put up their decorations in November because they have no staying power, but then they're no better than they ought be. Or some such nonsense

Well, we strung lights up in the garden and the house for my daughter's 18th party yesterday. They'll be staying up for Christmas.

This obsession with class. . . still find it so odd!

Class does not equate to money. The idea that working classes have less money than others is such a sweeping generalisation. The builder that built our house, and the landscape gardener that did our garden are examples of what I'd consider extremely successful working class who have quite high incomes. I've no idea when they put up their decorations or tree but they certainly would be able to afford it, whatever they choose!

That’s why it’s a misnomer. People don’t actually mean working class when they say working class. Never mind the fact that by and large we are all working class.

@hemhem

Class does not equate to money. The idea that working classes have less money than others is such a sweeping generalisation. The builder that built our house, and the landscape gardener that did our garden are examples of what I'd consider extremely successful working class who have quite high incomes. I've no idea when they put up their decorations or tree but they certainly would be able to afford it, whatever they choose!

I would consider these people business owners and skilled professionals . So I would not classify them as working class.

Working class isn’t about money, but working class is generally defined as unskilled is semi skilled Labour. Middle class is professionals who had to go through further education to be capable of doing their job.

Someone who can build a house or landscape a garden is trained and educated to a level to enable that. It is skilled work and for me not working class,

@Hillary17

Maybe I’m a snob but I hate it when people break the two weeks before and after rule. Just feels really tacky!

Still having Christmas decorations up 2 weeks after Christmas day just feels really tacky ................

@hemhem

Class does not equate to money. The idea that working classes have less money than others is such a sweeping generalisation. The builder that built our house, and the landscape gardener that did our garden are examples of what I'd consider extremely successful working class who have quite high incomes. I've no idea when they put up their decorations or tree but they certainly would be able to afford it, whatever they choose!

This ^ The wannabe/faux middle-classes seem to equate class with wealth. Hilarious!

As you say, some solid working-class folk are waaaaaay more loaded than some middle classes. They are just not vulgar and classless enough to parp on about their 'wealth' or try and be something they're not.

Middle class is professionals who had to go through further education to be capable of doing their job.

Not further education which is just college. I assume you mean higher education which is university.

Working class isn’t about money, but working class is generally defined as unskilled is semi skilled Labour. Middle class is professionals who had to go through further education to be capable of doing their job.

It's far more nuanced that that.

@boobot1

Conversely I live in a very middle class area and about 60 percent have their decorations up. Outside decorations too!

Same here. The middle classes (and upper classes,) in my very middle class/upper class rural village have their lights up already. Not 60% but about 20%. Posh folk too. Oooooh, shocker!

I know everyone is different, but the way some people are presenting THEIR experience as 'fact' is ludicrous and laughable. All these posters saying 'well where I live, the working/lower classes already have their lights and decorations up, so it's DEFINITELY TRUE that the working/lower classes put their stuff up early' sound utterly pathetic. It doesn't make it DEFINITELY TRUE just because it happens in YOUR area.

Also, the snobbery (on here) against the working classes is just nasty and vulgar, and speaks volumes about some of the posters on here....... It certainly shows that they are desperate for people to think they are 'posh.' They're not. Not even slightly...... Nope!

As you say, some solid working-class folk are waaaaaay more loaded than some middle classes. They are just not vulgar and classless enough to parp on about their 'wealth' or try and be something they're not.
I think you're right, though I also think the British class system is quite nuanced and that's why class and class signifiers crop up in most areas of life.
The exception is if you're a certain group of mumsnetters who claim they have no idea that certain styles/behaviours/attitudes/trends differ along class lines and get quite annoyed if anyone else shares observations online. When it comes to trying to prove how enlightened and unaware of class they are, they simultaneously don't see why everyone else is 'obsessed' with class, go out their way to argue that they know someone with a 6 figure salary who (insert someone else's society level observation here), but anyone who makes class-based observations about society is a snobby, middle class wannabe Hyacinth Bucket who is desperate to be seen as posh .

Some really nasty comments about working class people. Not all of them shove holidays etc on credit cards. I don't even own a credit card. I buy things when I have the money.

@FitAt50

What’s wrong with being ‘common’ rather than ‘classy?’

You say that’s very wrong and coincides with putting Christmas decorations so what is it that makes you so wrong?

Also it may interest some pp’s to know that plenty of working class people now go to university. I’ve worked in preschools with lots of working class people who have a uni degree. It’s not exactly the golden city anymore.

@Tistheseasontis

22 pages of people insisting putting your tree up early is common or tacky and not a single poster who can explain why it’s tacky or common. How very British 😂

They just like saying the wc are tacky because they do x. Hahaha I don’t do that so I’m mc and not tacky.

They feel it lifts them up into the middle classes so they can nastily look down at the wc yobbos.

In fact it doesn’t do this at all, it simply makes them sound like they spend much of their lives looking down on others. Not fun people really. I mean we always go for a walk through the town when people start putting their decorations up, and I couldn’t imagine sneering to my kids ‘you know it’s very working class to put decorations up this early.’

[quote LittleDandelionClock]@boobot1

Conversely I live in a very middle class area and about 60 percent have their decorations up. Outside decorations too!

Same here. The middle classes (and upper classes,) in my very middle class/upper class rural village have their lights up already. Not 60% but about 20%. Posh folk too. Oooooh, shocker!

I know everyone is different, but the way some people are presenting THEIR experience as 'fact' is ludicrous and laughable. All these posters saying 'well where I live, the working/lower classes already have their lights and decorations up, so it's DEFINITELY TRUE that the working/lower classes put their stuff up early' sound utterly pathetic. It doesn't make it DEFINITELY TRUE just because it happens in YOUR area.

Also, the snobbery (on here) against the working classes is just nasty and vulgar, and speaks volumes about some of the posters on here....... It certainly shows that they are desperate for people to think they are 'posh.' They're not. Not even slightly...... Nope![/quote]
You sound a bit annoyed. Defensiveness is very revealing.

It’s tacky because natural decor at Christmas is much more appealing. It really is that simple.

@Cam22

It’s tacky because natural decor at Christmas is much more appealing. It really is that simple.

What you mean is that you don’t like it. You dislike it but that doesn’t make it tacky, just not your taste.

Everyone likes different things, that doesn’t make one thing better than the other.

Isn't there a saying: money talks and wealth whispers