Who does a Christmas/North pole breakfast on the 1st?

[UndertheCedartree]

For a few years now I have done my children a 'Christmas breakfast' on the 1st December! We don't have an elf so I don't call it a 'Northpole breakfast' but it is pretty much the same.

I decorate the table and I have silver chargers that I put the food on - Christmas tree crumpets, mini mice pies and gingerbread men. This year I'm doing them a 'candy cane' of sliced strawberries and banana. I always put a little chocolate figure next to their place. They have Christmas plates and bottles I will get out. On the table will also be their Christmas card from me and their advent calendar (traditional picture one). They love it and it gets us all in the festive mood. Anyone else?

@dementedma I know.... I get the kids chocolate ones, but the "house" one has to be traditional. Ideally with glitter, Jesus in the manger and a big window on the 24th. I find a little picture so much more exciting than a piece of chocolate, or even a beauty product. I could buy a beauty product in a decent size if I wanted to. The surprise of a mystery picture is just stupidly exciting

@dementedma - I often find them in WHSmiths

@dementedma

WHSmith have quite a few cardboard only advent calendars.

Ooops, cross-posted with @UndertheCedartree

@berwick - that sounds lovely

We will be doing this! I always make pancakes on Sunday when we have nothing on so will just make tree shaped ones. Definately stealing the candy cane idea. Hope you have a lovely day.

I don't get all this business about people saying their traditions are gospel and anyone else who dares to be different are rubbish or attention seeking etc. Live and let live. I love to hear about others ideas and I adopt the ones I fancy. I dont feel pressure to do anything that doesn't suit us.

We do! On the 30th November when the dds go to bed then the elves come and decorate the whole house bring advent calendars and cook a special breakfast. It’s nothing to do with elf on a shelf it’s what my parents did when I was little.
My mum now does a special family gathering in the evening now (as she has no little ones at home) which we jokingly call the winter buffet.
This year we are also doing a Santa dash for a local hospice too.
November is a dreadful month for us every year and 1st December marks the end of that and the excitement of Xmas which absolutely lasts a month here. Why not, it doesn’t cost us anymore to celebrate it over the month it’s mainly baking, crafts and going to/ volunteering at local Xmas events.

@UndertheCedartree yeah thanks it is. It's like a model and there's all different bits that you take out the windows and hang them on it. I think it's quite pricey which is why I haven't replaced the whole thing despite some bits being missing. It was a gift.

@Bogiesaremyonlyfriend I do admit that I felt pressure when I read the start of the thread but that's totally my issue and agree that just because someone is doing something nice that's up to them and they're not doing it to piss me off!

@bogies - completely agree!

It sounds quite nice but when mine were small, the aim of the game was to keep their minds off Christmas for as long as possible not let them get hyped up for 25 days

Each to their own. So long as you’re all happy to do all this extra stuff, are not feeling pressured or put upon to perform, are making sure your children know it’s not going to be the norm for their friends and that elves are really not roaming round your house while you sleep reporting back to Santa on your misdemeanors etc then carry on!

Personally, I don’t know how any of you have the mental energy for it all! It would sap every bit of festive joy from my soul to be honest. But we are all different.

Thanks, LynetteScavo - I will consult Nigel and Nigella and give it a go (probably no-one will like it but me, but that doesn't stop me making Christmas cake either!)

I have never heard of a North Pole Breakfast but the photos look really sweet.

But more importantly how did I not know that Christmas tree crumpets exist! I must have these!

I think we are too quick to jump in and see things as a criticism of ourselves rather than view someone else doing something differently as just something lovely to learn about and take on if it suits. We should all be a lot kinder to ourselves, if we had friends like our own thoughts I'm sure we'd all find a way to end that friendship pretty quickly!!

@DuchessofWoke My kids totally think our elf roams the house at night while they sleep. How else could he possibly get up to such mischief?

I've bought some nice (cheap!) christmas plates with a view to doing a suprise christmassy breakfast for the kids to wake up to on the 1st when I've gone to work. I've seen some glasses for 90p too and a tablecloth. I'm going to steal the candy cane idea (thanks op!) but with strawberries and white choc as the bananas would go mouldy. It'll have to be pre-made stuff like pain au chocolat/xmas tree crumpets to go with it.

I don't normally buy into too much christmas faff but I like the idea of this. Actual christmas day breakfast is pointless with my lot as they're too excited and full of stocking chocolate to eat. This is a cheap christmassy treat, I like to have a few of those spaced through December.

I like the sound of this.
Unfortunately I only have one teenager left at home and don't expect to see much of her before midday.
Having been trying to train her to be more independent on the catering front, she would be very surprised (and suspicious) if I suddenly made her a breakfast on a day that isn't her birthday
Enjoy your Sunday together and make the most of your children while they are young!

Hold on, Christmas tree crumpets?? Well, that changes everything!

@rain - how did you manage that?! Surely if they had an advent calendar they get reminded Christmas is on its way every morning. Mind you, even without that they are practicing for the Nativity at school and have their Christmas Decoration morning coming up so they are well aware!

@fluffiest - I got my crumpets in Asda.

Thanks @Parsley65

Sounds lovely, OP! I would have been THRILLED with a surprise North Pole breakfast as a kid. Have a great time!

We don’t do this. We don’t do Dec 1st boxes, Christmas Eve boxes, Elf on the shelf, Christmas bedding or any of the other recent Christmas rituals or trends but in Christmas as in all aspects of life, people are different.
Your breakfast sounds sweet and charming OP. Your kids will love it.
Enjoy your Advent and Christmas celebrations! 🙂

No, all this stuff sounds mad- and not remotely part of a traditional UK Christmas.

By the time Christmas Day comes around everyone must surely be sick of it, what with elves, special breakfasts, Christmas Eve boxes and trees up in November. Meanwhile the actual message of Christmas gets completely lost...

We do this but on Christmas eve rather then the first! I have to decide when it's happening this year as I'm working mor ing shoft Christmas eve so it may turn into a north pole dinner instead!