to think that people make a right old fuss about Christmas??

[harpsiheraldangelssing]

I mean, how hard is it, really?
buy a few presents. write a few cards. buy and cook some food.
and why do people start so early?
I told a group of people last Friday that I was doing my Christmas shopping this weekend and they were, each and every one of them, shocked that I was "leaving it till the last minute...."
er. not really. and I managed to do most of it in an hour and a half and I have a BIG load of presents to buy.
so what is it. mass hysteria? consumer madness?
it surely didn't used to be like this when we were children....

Yeah, but our Mums did it all for us when we were kids, didn't they?

I start early, becasue I almost always end up ill the week before.

I start early because dragging a 4yo round the shops in december is a nightmare.

Food is ok if you're just doing Christmas dinner. If all your family are teachers and therefore want to stay for a week and expect two cooked meals a day it gets a bit chaotic. I've frozen a lot of stuff already and written a LOT of lists.

It is a fuss in my family because it's just expected of everyone i guess.

My family is huge and there's always somebody going through some trauma so it's a build up to a day where we just all stick together. My family is quite religious (greek orthodox) so it's any excuse to make a fuss of Jesus' birth.

I totally agree! I haven't bought anything yet apart from dd1's present, nor have I put the tree up yet. I may do my cards and some shopping tomorrow, but i dont understand why people panic.

I started early so I could do it all online, avoid the panic of the "number one present" requested by my child being sold out (know lots of people now paying crazy desperate amounts on ebay), and generally to avoid the madness and snarl-fest that is the shops in December.

I booked my online food shopping as soon as I could- I would rather gargle on my own vomit than face asda in the week before Christmas. As beansmum said, we have quite a few people coming to stay, so I'd rather freeze meals so I can enjoy their company, rather than stand over the cooker.

I LOVE Christmas, but detest that last- minute panic. Being a bit more organised helps me feel able to relax and enjoy the time off with my family and friends. I have no problem at all with people who choose to brave the shops in december, though!