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.

We moved from a working class street to a middle class one and the difference is immense. Previous street had giant inflatable Santa's hanging out of windows, lights out and on in November, front yards festooned with LED reindeers.

Middle class street: wreaths in December.

@EmeraldShamrock

Sorry poppet, you are MC. No I agree pp is educated wc or wc class roots. They may have money. Dbro is a millionaire and considers him wc he has plenty of money but loves a pint, chippy, rag newspaper, has a mouth like a foghorn and wouldn't never put on air and grace for anyone. Wears a football shirt regularly too. Dsis chartered accountant with investment properties wouldn't change her mind, accent or wc values for anyone. Similarly privately educated from mc parents who lost money through health or hardship would always be mc. Money doesn't change class.

Exactly, money does not make anyone change class, and neither does a university degree. In fact very VERY little makes you change class,

You can't just change to middle class FFS, because you have a certain job, or degree, or you live in a certain area. So many stupid comments on here, it's laughable!

@jumblesail

We moved from a working class street to a middle class one and the difference is immense. Previous street had giant inflatable Santa's hanging out of windows, lights out and on in November, front yards festooned with LED reindeers.

Middle class street: wreaths in December.

Load of rot.

Several MC neighbours of mine already have their decos, lights AND wreaths up. IN NOVEMBER.

You see I'd say that even that amount of 'bling' on the outside of the second house is not really professional Middle Class. It's more tasteful nouveau. Kind of monied Kingston style!

Not rot where I live @LittleDandelionClock because I'm telling the truth

The "get a degree and you become middle class!" Is one of the most ridiculous "ideas" a poster has about class that I have seen on MN (and there are plenty of mad views about this issue)

A decorated evergreen branch is often all you need. I live in a historical house with deep sills. I put it on one of them. Alternatively, I might put it on an old Irish kist. I prefer raffia decorations to baubles.

Well I work and so does my husband, our tree is up. ONLY because it has been a stressful year for me, we are in the process of buying our first home and I have never known anything more stressful, also I work every other weekend. I had the weekend off, so we put ours up, just to fetch a bit of joy. Also my 8 year old daughter ask if we could put the tree up so we did and it looks beautiful.

Also the get a degree and you become middle class is silly really. I graduate next year but I will still have the same job, live in the same area and earn the same money so can't see how that makes you change class.

Graduation possibly the first step to class promotion. Graduation, professional career, meet middle class partner, marry, inherit their family wealth, purchase large house, send kids to private school etc etc.

my dad grew up working class and they only put the tree up on Christmas Eve.
My mum grew up middle class and my nan always decorated early in December.
When I was little my parents always decorated in December but as soon as I got older I kept nagging them to put the decorations up in November and it became a bit of a tradition to do it early as I just love Christmas!

I grew up very solidly WC but def have middle class guilt now. DH solid middle. I won't employ a cleaner even though we can afford one.

@EmpressSuiko

my dad grew up working class and they only put the tree up on Christmas Eve. My mum grew up middle class and my nan always decorated early in December. When I was little my parents always decorated in December but as soon as I got older I kept nagging them to put the decorations up in November and it became a bit of a tradition to do it early as I just love Christmas!

This. ^ It's got fuck-all to do with 'class.'

Horribly snobby sneery thread....

@Cam22

A decorated evergreen branch is often all you need. I live in a historical house with deep sills. I put it on one of them. Alternatively, I might put it on an old Irish kist. I prefer raffia decorations to baubles.

A decorated tree branch is tacky and gaudy. A single leaf is all you really need. I hang mine behind the pantry door so nobody sees it and knows we’re decorating.

My tree goes up on the day off I have that's closest to Dec 1st, a throw back from when I worked in hospitality and if I left it any later I probably wouldn't actually have a day off from mid December until after Christmas, so when DD was small they went up early.
I would be defined as WC, or maybe some form of underclass because of what I now do for a 'living' because it barely earns that at 40 hours a week, and am pretty much relied upon by most 'classes' in some form.
Luckily I don't give a shit 🤷 as it doesn't really define me as a person or my morality.................

A whole leaf? Tsk. We have one mistletoe berry which a hired Druid cuts from our tree with a golden sickle. We throw it straight onto the compost heap as ostentation is something which cannot be borne. Then we go to Benidorm for the holidays.

@Cam22

A decorated evergreen branch is often all you need. I live in a historical house with deep sills. I put it on one of them. Alternatively, I might put it on an old Irish kist. I prefer raffia decorations to baubles.

An entire branch is gaudy in the extreme.

We have one sprig of mistletoe, and then whichever of us is the first to succumb to puritan despair at the riotous filth of capitalism can use the berries to commit suicide.

@EmeraldShamrock That remark made me laugh out loud!
There are some very silly people on here. If you study for a degree, why do you do it? Have a think. If you are not intending to be an academic or to follow a vocational career there is no point to it. An apprenticeship makes sense for a non academic individual. So are you saying that studying for a career or becoming an academic is not MC? I think its a good thing. MY DH was from a WC background and is a successful senior academic. I am glad he had the chance, and that I got to meet him! "Joy to the World"

Economically I would say I am working class. However, in regards to taste in art, music and culture I would say I was upper-middle class. Not that I love a Champagne lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget, but secretly, I wish I could.

Nouveau riche? We used to tease my dear deceased brother (Sunday Times Rich list) about being that.
His reply was 'It's a lot better than being nouveau pouvre'.

[quote myfaceismyown]@EmeraldShamrock That remark made me laugh out loud!
There are some very silly people on here. If you study for a degree, why do you do it? Have a think. If you are not intending to be an academic or to follow a vocational career there is no point to it. An apprenticeship makes sense for a non academic individual. So are you saying that studying for a career or becoming an academic is not MC? I think its a good thing. MY DH was from a WC background and is a successful senior academic. I am glad he had the chance, and that I got to meet him! "Joy to the World"[/quote]
Yes thank heavens your DH went to uni as you never would’ve met a shudder WC person otherwise. And thank goodness his qualifications now mean he is MC others oh the horror you’d be married to a WC person!

Oh and I studied for a degree - then a masters - then a PhD - because I wanted to further my knowledge and expertise in my chosen subject. Not because I wanted to become MC

@Nootherwilldo shame your excellent education did not teach you how to be kind and considerate to others.

[quote myfaceismyown]@Nootherwilldo shame your excellent education did not teach you how to be kind and considerate to others.[/quote]
That’s the WC for you eh! Pity your upbringing didn’t teach you to be less classist.

@Nootherwilldo that is simply hilarious, clapping here. Well done. I don't care what anyone's background is. Never have! Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all.

@Oreo78

Economically I would say I am working class. However, in regards to taste in art, music and culture I would say I was upper-middle class. Not that I love a Champagne lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget, but secretly, I wish I could.

What do you mean? So you like opera music and the national gallery and you think that makes you secretly upper middle class? It doesn’t work like that. No matter how much middle class people would like people to think they are where they are because of their superior intellect and cultural interests, that’s just not true.

Lots of us working class yobs like the theatre and art. We just can’t afford to see it as much as the upper classes.