If men were left to organise Christmas themselves

[Fiddlesticks32]

AIBU to think it would be an absolute disaster?

And what would it look like?

Mine would do great with the gifts and decorations- he does all of that anyway. The food wouldn't be as good though- he'd probably order a takeaway.

My DH would get the DC the exact right gifts, just what they asked for. But he would do something careless like wrap the Santa gifts in different paper to the other gifts…but then leave said Santa gift paper out on display. Or leave the boxes of the Santa gifts in a pile by the back door in full view.

I think it's a shame some men can't be relied on. Essential activity or not.

I think it's a shame that so many women make such poor choices when they marry.

It gives them something to always complain about though

Shouldn't have said that, it just made me realise how true it is. At the hairdresser, going for lunch, most occasions really are spent complaining about nothing much.

What exactly is there to organise?

That's the thing. There actually isn't that much but some women go out to their way to find massively more than needs to be done and then moan when men don't do it.

How does he manage at work with his lack of decision making skills?

Easiest now that it’s ever been with online food and present shopping. Order online one evening and it arrives gift wrapped the following day. Food can be ordered with the vegetables ready prepared, gravy in a tub etc. COOK is brilliant for easy high quality Christmas food.

A tree, decorated. A couple of lights outside. Presents but not as many as I buy. Nice food on the day but maybe not many "extras".

😂

So, it looks like a manly Christmas would generally be:

Mad dash to the shops last minute
Lashings of beer but not much wine
Good food but not necessarily enough of it
Thoughtful gifts for close family but not the in-laws
Dodgy wrapping
Less fuss about decorations and outings
No cards

I could live with that.

What exactly is there to organise?
@NoNoNona

Not saying I do all these things but:

Visiting and/or hosting family
Writing and sending cards (at 85p per stamp!)
Christmas Eve boxes
Christmas jumpers
Elf on a shelf
Seeing Santa
Writing letters to Santa
Baking treats like gingerbread houses
Matching PJs for the whole family, including dog
Getting hold of the latest trendy item, Jingle All the Way style
Making Mulled wine and hot chocolate
Handmade decorations and ornaments
Baking a Christmas pud
Advent calendar and candle
Going caroling
Visiting a Christmas market
Attending a carol service at church and/or midnight mass
Driving around looking for lights
Buying multiple presents for family
Wrapping said presents (nicely!)
Hiding presents before and after wrapping
Buying, preparing and cooking a three course meal for multiple people
Clearing and washing up after the meal
Festive playlist
Cleaning whole house
Decorating whole house inside and out
Finding and decorating a tree
Special tableware
Special bedding
Charity appeals such as shoebox gifts
Sorting games, entertainment and outings
Writing thank you notes

I know there's more...

Christmas is largely a gimmick made up by advertisers to sell more tat.

It depends on the man. Before his stroke, my late husband always cooked the Christmas dinner.

Men aren't that stupid.

Matching PJs for the whole family including the dog!?!

@Lizzie67384 my very dear husband is over 70 and retired. He managed extremely well at work. The only reason he would struggle is because he would be so worried about having everything perfect for me. He always tries to make everything perfect for me. I adore him, but it can make things a little difficult sometimes.

DH normally does a lot of Christmas. I'm left to making mince pies, stollen etc. I also do Christmas day starters, normally prawns.

I wouldn't have as many decorations if I was doing them.

He's probably not so bothered about his clients/customers/managers options and they probably aren't as fussy or critical of his efforts.

What sort of job is this? It sounds very easy going.

Blimey!
I test the Christmas tree lights at the end of November.
I find a tree, schlep it home on the roof rack and stick it in its stand, then decorate it.
I decorate the sitting room and dining room (takes ten to fifteen minutes).
I put the wreath on the front door.
I buy gifts in shops and online, and hide them in the boot of the car.
I do not wrap them, nicely or otherwise, because that's insanity.
I set out the Advent candle thingy with its four candles, all of which I fish out of the sideboard drawer.
The DCs wrote letters to Santa in every free moment in December when they were small. Nobody had to organise that. They weren't posted. Not sure where they went after I looked at them. These days we exchange wish lists starting at the end of November in time for Black Friday.
A few days before Christmas I run the Christmas plates and mugs, serving dishes and wine glasses through the dishwasher.
We go to Christmas Eve Mass.
I take the table runner out of the other sideboard drawer and put it on the table. I put the other festive runner on the sideboard.
I buy components (food plus beverages) of Christmas Eve festive dinner and dessert, Christmas brunch, and Christmas dinner. I cook all of those meals and wash up/ run the dishwasher and empty the dishwasher multiple times.
I play the Spotify playlist that annoys everyone until they turn on Home Alone or Independence Day.

When the DCs were in elementary school they did a school carol concert every year. They were in the church choir when they were aged 8 to 11 or 12 and all were altar servers with Christmas Mass duties most years. We sometimes went to a school Christmas bazaar. One year we went downtown to see the lights and the decorated shop windows. We sometimes have hot cocoa if it snowed.

I actually think this question is offensive and it's depressing to see that 60% of people voting agree with you! 🙄
My DH is better at entertaining, cooking, and planning than me. Assuming all men are hopeless is just rude and bloody sexist.

They aren’t in any way incapable or hopeless but some women are control freaks and their way is the only way so wouldn’t matter how well a man did the planning and preparation. It’s sad as their children will grow up thinking the same.

Actually there’s far less in the household of anyone sane.

Edit - only meant to quote the long list.