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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think eating out on Christmas Day is selfish

320 replies

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 18:23

I know that there will be people who say they appreciate the extra money and tips and not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone has a family to spend it with and I hear all that.

But just the same, it does force some people to come to work who’d rather not.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/12/2021 18:48

My DS worked P/T in a fast food chain in his 2nd University year .
He worked Boxing Day ( extra pay but there wou;dn't be tips)If it had been open on the 25th the little swine would've done it for the ££ and to escape from my Christmas Traditions Xmas Grin

Nesbo · 27/12/2021 18:50

What other religious days should no one be allowed to work- bearing in mind how many people in this country are basically atheist?

Ebananascroogey · 27/12/2021 18:50

I worked Xmas day in care for nearly 20 years. Loved it, making it a happy day for people who might not have had one otherwise. Now love eating out at our local Indian restaurant for Xmas, they don't celebrate so I'm not doing them a disservice & to make it better they also provide a drop in & eat free service for people who can't afford or have a Xmas dinner so I know my tip is helping some genuinely decent people!

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 18:51

I've volunteered a couple of on Christmas day too, helping to provide a meal and company for people who are homeless. I drove over 100 miles to do it, and was grateful to the B&B that chose to be open to me before and after volunteering.

Postdatedpandemic · 27/12/2021 18:51

Have you ever been to a church?
Feck all people go, Christmas is just an excuse to spend money. Spend it at the take away, they will appreciate it.

notanothertakeaway · 27/12/2021 18:52

@RockallMalinHebrides

Maybe we should close down the hospitals, NHS11, the Fire Service, Police etc as well - after all I'm sure they would like to spend time with their families.

The reality is that if you take a job in hospitality there is a chance you are going to have to work.

@RockallMalinHebrides

My sister is a nurse. She doesn't mind working at Christmas, as she knows she is providing essential care. She doesn't think shops and restaurants should open, as they're not essential

plinkplinkfizzer · 27/12/2021 18:54

No , no I don't think it's selfish , someone is always going to be the the poor sod that is cooking and serving on Christmas Day . Better to get paid for it than a chorus of thank yous .
When my family have eaten out at Christmas is usually because there is something awful happening in the family ,serious illness or a death .
We have always been thankful for the service we have received .

Nesbo · 27/12/2021 18:54

If you’re upset about Xmas do you shed a tear for all those people who have to work on Sundays? They used to be the Lord’s day when almost nothing was open.

So dull that as a child I loathed Sundays with a passion, but perhaps keeping shops closed was the right thing to do?

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 27/12/2021 18:54

Not everyone celebrates Christmas - you could choose a restaurant from a culture that doesn't.

Player20868 · 27/12/2021 18:55

Christmas is a particularly tough time of year for me; I don't work it in the day job but my partner does; I'll happily do other freelance stuff that day or other activities, this year I was catsitting for a friend and it was lovely. One of the nicest Christmas days I've had in years with no family fights or unrealistic expectations in sight...

Needmoresleep · 27/12/2021 19:01

We ate out on Christmas Day. Staff were Hindu. What the problem? They may not have wanted to work Diwali. I don’t see why it should be assumed everyone should adopt what was, originally, a Christian festival.

irregularegular · 27/12/2021 19:05

No. I don't think it is selfish at all. If people are willing to offer to cook and serve Christmas Dinner at some price and others are willing to pay that price then everyone is happy. No-one is being forced to do anything. There would be lots of restaurant owners and staff who would lose a lot if no-one ate out on Christmas Day!

WheelOnTheBus · 27/12/2021 19:08

What a weird idea. Do you feel similarly selfish when you go to a restaurant, bar or pub on a weekend - I mean, I’m sure the staff would prefer not to be working?

Are people who use electricity, gas or the emergency services on Christmas Day also selfish?

FruitMelange · 27/12/2021 19:09

What could go wrong on Christmas day?
Well your house could catch fire, the power could be cut off unexpectedly. Or, worst possible scenario, someone in your house may need to be blue-lighted to hospital. I could think of other scenarios but I won't bore you with them

Whoosh!!

PrincessNutella · 27/12/2021 19:09

My kid was a cook and he most certainly did not get a choice about working on Christmas. It was awful.

Original poster
Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 19:10

@IsDaveThere

It doesnt force anyone to work, they can always say no.
They can’t though, really, can they? I used to work in care (and absolutely you do need to work over Christmas then) and we couldn’t say no.

@ilovesooty this year maybe, but I’ve been on my own from 2001-2018 so I do know what it’s like. I’m just not sure that gives me the right to spoil someone else’s Christmas, tbh,

OP posts:
lightisnotwhite · 27/12/2021 19:12

@Alwayswonderedwhy

How does it force people to go to work? People know when they get a job in a pub or restaurant they will be working over Christmas.
Since when? It didn’t used to be a thing.
Whataday198 · 27/12/2021 19:14

Is it also selfish to eat out on Diwali, Rosh Hashannah, or during Eid?

Kite22 · 27/12/2021 19:15

Why don’t we encourage everyone to not get ill so the hospitals can shut for the day?

Are you seriously comparing the need to care for seriously ill people, with people wanting to go out for a meal ???

I bet these pious people watch TV on Christmas day, use electricity and hot water etc. Who do you think provides those things? The Christmas fairies!?

You do realise, it isn't a race to the bottom ?
Yes, some people have to work, but that doesn't mean because a few do, we should make more people work on one of very few days where almost everyone used to be guaranteed to be off, and actually have the chance for families to get together.

I can't believe the number of people who actually think the chefs, bar staff, washer-uppers, and waiters have a choice over whether they want to work or not. Hmm

Homewardboundtouk · 27/12/2021 19:15

As a restaurant owner we welcomed the extra income after a very quiet december!! The staff that worked volunteered and got paid 22 an hour so worth it for them!

TwinkleToppy · 27/12/2021 19:16

Disappointing more than anything. Mass produced roast dinners with an extra £50 price tag.

threecupsofteaminimum · 27/12/2021 19:17

YABVU. People can do what the hell they like on Christmas Day, be it go to work in a pub or restaurant or go out to eat in one.

Sorry but you sound rather pedestrian, everyone is different!

WildImaginings · 27/12/2021 19:18

[quote IsDaveThere]@WildImainings It is not one of the most ridiculous things you have ever read on Mumsnet FFS. Yes, many can say no and yes, I have worked in a restaurant before. Perhaps the ones who can't say no are working in the wrong place.[/quote]
It absolutely is. It shows how out of touch some people are with reality.

Most people who don't fancy working Christmas Day can just say no. That's not how it works!

I know of two separate people who BEGGED for Christmas off this year having worked the previous two years. One of them put their request in over 6 months ago. Neither of them had their request granted. If they'd just said no then they would have been sacked.

So yes, it is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on Mumsnet.

TwinkleToppy · 27/12/2021 19:18

I still get met with 'oh poor you working Christmas day' when it's my turn to work. And then these people go on to moan about cooking/family/stresses Christmas 🤷🏼‍♀️

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 27/12/2021 19:18

Rubbish
If you don't want to work holidays, don't work in hospitality or any field where you know you will be obliged to work.

I did 20 years in hospitality, loved working Christmas. And you got great tips. The staff at the restaurant we went to this year were really glad to be open after all the uncertainty.