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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want Christmas to be over after Boxing Day

144 replies

Butterflyfluff · 26/12/2023 16:16

Just that really.

Yes, I put my tree up early because for me, it’s the run up to Christmas I love - after Boxing Day I feel Christmas is over and want the decorations down.

I get the religious aspect of the 12 days of Christmas but that’s not for me.

Just interested in what the split is nowadays.

YANBU - Christmas is over by 26th December

YABU - Christmas starts on 25th December

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 26/12/2023 16:23

It’s just semantics. Some people are off work, school etc, some aren’t. Some people are ready to go out and about again, some people are still enjoying being at home. NOBODY IS WRONG.

goodkidsmaadhouse · 26/12/2023 16:25

As a child I enjoyed the run up more. As an adult I enjoy the bit after more. All the prep is done, DH and I are both off work, the kids are enjoying their new toys, we’re all enjoying time together with almost no commitments.

LadyLolaRuben · 26/12/2023 16:25

I cleared everything out today. New Year - fresh start. Last full moon of the year tonight - clearing out things that don't serve you. Perfect timing

Lifeasiknowitisout · 26/12/2023 16:25

If you want to take them down take them down.

My mum was very religious and always had them down before the 6th.

Original poster
Butterflyfluff · 26/12/2023 16:26

HeddaGarbled · 26/12/2023 16:23

It’s just semantics. Some people are off work, school etc, some aren’t. Some people are ready to go out and about again, some people are still enjoying being at home. NOBODY IS WRONG.

Totally agree there’s no wrong or right I’m just interested to see what the split is.

OP posts:
Prayfortheangels · 26/12/2023 16:27

Is anyone stopping you doing it the way you want to?

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 26/12/2023 16:27

I love it all and it's not truly over for me till 12th night, having started at the beginning of advent.
You do you.

Amba1998 · 26/12/2023 16:27

I put mine up 1 Dec, love the build up. All about the build up for me. It’s down on 28th Dec. I go into a new year with a clean and tidy house, feels fresh and ready for a re set then!

NuffSaidSam · 26/12/2023 16:28

It's whatever you want it to be.

For me the Christmas period is mid-December until 1st January. I'd hate for it all to be over already, but absolutely fine if you want to do that. You know some people don't celebrate Christmas at all?! Also, fine.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 26/12/2023 16:28

I'm back at work tomorrow, the day after Boxing Day. I'd ideally like another couple of days off to enjoy being with my family, but retail is ruthless. I didn't enjoy the feeling on Christmas Day and this morning that I had to pack all my fun into a day and a half (I had to leave family to drive home this lunchtime, in order to be back home for work). The best bit of Christmas is that unhurried, being in one another's company, now that my children are all grown up, and the only time we really all get together for any length of time, is Christmas.

Hoglet70 · 26/12/2023 16:28

I'm done with it now, back to work tomorrow. I am another who loves the build up (even though it makes me bizarrely anxious and I think that's why I am always relieved when it's over). The decs will be up for days yet as it's the OH's job to take them down and he is a NY fan.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/12/2023 16:28

Well this year kids and I are having Christmas on the 31st (when we will also be away from home), with them having had Christmas at their Dad’s.

So for us it hasn’t really started!

mrsbyers · 26/12/2023 16:29

We start late as husband likes to have his birthday out the way before tree goes up so all still a novelty for us. Wedding anniversary on 28th and always have a few days away between Boxing Day and NYE - all our small family off to holiday house in borders tomorrow. Family birthday NYE and not back to work til 8th so for me at least just getting started

CorylusAgain · 26/12/2023 16:31

Neither of your options.
I enjoy the run up as long as it's gentle and doesnt start too early. I also love the time between Christmas and New Year because there's time to see people and it feels more relaxed.
The festive season ends after New Year's Day for me.

marshmallowfinder · 26/12/2023 16:33

To me, Christmas should be all over and forgotten by Jan 1st. I don't care,about twelfth night etc. It's the start of a new year.

WolfFoxHare · 26/12/2023 16:33

goodkidsmaadhouse · 26/12/2023 16:25

As a child I enjoyed the run up more. As an adult I enjoy the bit after more. All the prep is done, DH and I are both off work, the kids are enjoying their new toys, we’re all enjoying time together with almost no commitments.

Same here. The run up as an adult is just endless tasks that have to be done, even if you like Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year is the best time, literally nothing needing to be done except eating, drinking, resting new books and playing with new things.

Of course this year I spent the last week powering through a cold only for it to turn into a nasty chest infection now, so I’m not enjoying today much at all. At least I don’t have to brave the shops or wrap presents or feed people though.

Floatinginatincan · 26/12/2023 16:35

It's neither reasonable nor unreasonable. Do whatever you want. No one really cares

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 26/12/2023 16:38

Amba1998 · 26/12/2023 16:27

I put mine up 1 Dec, love the build up. All about the build up for me. It’s down on 28th Dec. I go into a new year with a clean and tidy house, feels fresh and ready for a re set then!

Same here

SanctuaryCity · 26/12/2023 16:38

We put our tree up around mid December and keep it up until Candlemas at the start of February ( as long as its still looking good and it isn’t dropping too many needles)

January is such a depressing month that it’s lovely to have the tree and lights on in the evening. By the end of Jan the nights are starting to get a bit lighter and we’re through the horrid depressing time of winter.

ReadySalty · 26/12/2023 16:40

The absolute best bit of Christmas is 27th-2nd Jan.

The relatives have gone.
The parties are over.
You can eat and do whatever you want!

MonicaPetergregoryisdead · 26/12/2023 16:42

It’s the same for me, I was back at work the late night of Christmas into early hours of Boxing Day, it’s very much a one day event for me with a fun little run up and the decorations will be coming down asap.

PurpleWhirple · 26/12/2023 16:45

The run up as an adult is just endless tasks that have to be done, even if you like Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year is the best time, literally nothing needing to be done except eating, drinking, resting new books and playing with new things.

Absolutely this. We normally have family to stay who refuse to leave until 27th or 28th and it really ruins Christmas for me. I hate to feel like it's over when they leave as I feel like that's when I actually starts and I can finally relax

ManateeFair · 26/12/2023 16:50

I don’t feel properly Christmassy until 18 December and - even if I’m I’m working - I really enjoy the time between Christmas and New Year. I feel like New Year’s Day is the last day of the festive season. But I can completely see why others might feel like Boxing Day is when it should finish!

Wendysfriend · 26/12/2023 16:52

Love Christmas here and everything stays up until the 12th night. We've so many visitors and people working and not working that we have a few Christmas dinners. I'd die if the kids who were working had to miss out on the tree and decorations while having their Christmas dinner because I took them down 24 hours later. We just clean around the stuff, tbh it doesn't get that dirty, I love the decorations and absolutely despise the empty, echoing, sterile rooms after they come down.

Rosebel · 26/12/2023 16:53

Really ends for me the weekend before school starts. We take the tree and decorations down and get prepared for school /work. We used to do it 12th Night but much easier this way.
I prefer the bit between Christmas and New Year. I feel too stressed before hand.