Covid has a Christmas silver lining

[Courtney555]

Am I the only one thinking that, as covid has almost forced our hands into a very small Christmas, that actually, a side effect will be that we generally take a step back and have a smaller scale Christmas.

There's no "must have the perfect looking insta posts on Christmas Day", no commercialised excess, no over indulgence for being seen too do so.

By forcing the country to scale down, I think perhaps it's the shake up we needed to realise how ridiculous our Christmas consumerism had (excuse the pun) snowballed too, and in fact this will be a welcome wake up call to so many, that they can do a third of what they feel pressured to do, and still have just as good a time...

I think the only difference for us is that there may just be the 4 of us at home, rather than the 20/25 wider family members who usually come over the course of the day. We'll decorate our home, making it as magical as possible, have a wonderful meal and a generally lovely day together. We are spending more on gifts, but that's only because we have the means to this year. There won't be more gifts, just the same amount but more valuable. I do think people will go overboard if anything after such a tricky year.

Those of us who have been made redundant won't be compensating by spending a lot

But I'll spend a lot more time with my ds, more time dressing the house, cooking in advance, trying new things, we'll go to the outdoor carol service - assuming it's still on, and see friends carefully outside. It will still be special

We usually only have us at Christmas anyway. Me, dh, and 3 dcs ( sometimes 2 dcs depending on whether dd2 is with bf or not). We also have my elderly mum. Rest of the family are scattered so we speak on the phone/ facetime etc. Sick to death of seeing just us though. Been working from home now since March...

@Spam88

No, I think there's no good reason why it wouldn't go the other way. Instead of being busy enjoying Christmas with family and friends, people will have more time to potentially take to social media. Overcompensating on present buying to make up for all the other shittiness etc.

^^ this.... because we never celebrate Halloween really, but this year have gone all out because we are stuck in! I do love Christmas though, looks like Santa’s grotto in my house from December 1st but more focus on game playing and fun than presents.

We have a 3.5 year old grandson and I was so delighted at the thought of his being here with us for Christmas. Last year he was with his other grandparents abroad and next year it will be their 'turn' again.
Our other grand children, though delightful, are, at 15, 17 and 27 beyond Father Christmas and related excitement.
Maybe rules will be relaxed by then. ☹️

I don't know what to do.

We live abroad and normally go the the uk for Christmas. So not only will we be alone but in a country which doesn't have turkey,
Parsnips, crackers etc. I don't want to compensate for that with consumerist crap but if Christmas doesn't have family, xmas dinner OR presents.... what is there?

If you can’t see your family for Christmas, what the hell else is there to do, but buy things? The commercialism is going to be worse than ever.

We can’t all be together at Christmas (I’m talking about me, DH and the DDs, not extended family). DH and I live somewhere that requires travellers from U.K. and France to self isolate for two weeks on arrival. The U.K. will require self isolation on return. So I think DH will need to go back early in December to factor in the time for self isolation. DD2 is in U.K. so no problem there, she goes home to him in London for Christmas. The U.K. government currently requires travellers from France to self isolate for two weeks, so that is DD1’s Christmas fucked, although France don’t currently require self isolation on return. I can’t go back to U.K. as it is my boss’s turn this year. The alternative is that DD2 comes to me instead, as I don’t think she needs to self isolate on return to France.

There is no happy Christmas scenario here.

Well. We've had a categoric misunderstanding of what we're allowed to do

We (there's about 30 of us, each in "household bubbles" of 5-6) thought that our bubbles could all turn up to an outdoor place, but as long as all of our bubbles kept at least 2m from the other bubbles, that was ok?

From looking at posts on this thread, we can't do this?

And also, regarding the overboard insta thing, we thought that as the country as a whole was in difficult times, many people losing jobs, under immense financial strain, that others may feel it crass and inappropriate to show their huge hoard of presents and over indulgence, given the circumstances.

I want to be able to see my mum, dad, sister, brother in law and niece and nephew over the Christmas period. They live 160 miles away. I can’t see how we can see them and that makes me sad. That is part of what the Christmas period means to me.

I’ve seen my mum and dad twice since last Christmas. And haven’t seen my sister and her family at all.

I’m not interested in the whole Facebook perfect world - I’d just like to spend a few days with my family.

Only 6 people can meet up.

Our Christmas isn't about commercialism, it's about family and we spend boxing day at the coast usually. DH and his siblings jump in the sea for charity, we provide flasks of soup and hot drinks etc and we walk and blow away the cobwebs before piling back to the ILs for an open fire and films/music/food. None of that this year with the limit of 6.

Christmas Day we always see my family and I host for 15. My aunt is too vulnerable to leave the house so will be alone (she is severely disabled), my Dad is disabled and won't risk it, one of my nieces is immuno-compromised so my brother won't come.

And we're currently in 28 days of isolation due to back to back positive tests so probably won't be able to afford much for Christmas anyway.

So no it won't be automatically lovely and cosy I don't think. I'm working hard right now to try and plan something different. We're making zoom quizzes and activities today to share across the family but it does feel a bit flat. We'll get there and it will have lovely moments but I worry desperately about my vulnerable family members alone for the season.

You thought you could have an outdoor meeting of 30 people and the rule of 6 wouldn’t apply to you? It’s 6 people WITH social distancing. Definitely not 30 people.

Our Christmas won't really be any different - just DH, DS and I, as planned. No living parents and our in-laws are at opposite ends of the country, doing their own thing. I have gone quite big on presents, as we're lucky enough to be in work and not under financial pressure, plus we've all had Covid and now worrying about catching the bloody thing again, so it hasn't been the most fun year.

Really though, I just love Christmas and am more than happy to spend the money we're not spending on commuting, meals out and events on presents and food. Got all the presents, non-perishable food and booze - I like being organised, and more so than usual this year.

@Courtney555

Well. We've had a categoric misunderstanding of what we're allowed to do

We (there's about 30 of us, each in "household bubbles" of 5-6) thought that our bubbles could all turn up to an outdoor place, but as long as all of our bubbles kept at least 2m from the other bubbles, that was ok?

From looking at posts on this thread, we can't do this?

Nope

That’s 30 people not 6.

If there are 5 or 6 of you, you can meet with 1 person or none.

If I can't see parents and sister's family I will be gutted
Will also miss work Christmas party (I know that makes me odd on MN !)Singing carols in church,visiting family and friends
If people are desperate for a quiet Christmas there is nothing to stop them having that
I do think some people will spend more on presents and decorations

What would happen if 5 bubbles all 6 people who didn’t k ow each other turn up on the beach?

Would that be different

DH said the other day, that at least we won’t be driving Christmas Eve driving 5 hours to DM’s house this year. My widowed, lives alone mum will be delighted.

It won't really be that different for us except that our gatherings will be smaller scale so therefore more of them. Still the same number of people though - I think Christmas will be a more extended celebration this year.

My grandma is in her nineties and since she was widowed is getting more and more frail... I hope I’m wrong but I’m not sure this won’t be her last Christmas. And we won’t be able to see her over it because we’re too far away, and my DM has got terrible anxiety and doesn’t want anyone staying.

So yeah, not really seeing the ‘silver lining’ to this one. Sorry.

@Courtney555 I love you and your optimism. So your 30 can't meet? I just know you will find a way to have a lovely Christmas.

I’m doing luxury this year and not feeling guilty quiet Christmas but just some nice things like my nativity advent calendar, loads of advent music and carols.

@Courtney555 Sorry, there'll be too many of you.

The people I feel most sorry for are those living alone or with one other person, who would normally go to another household for Christmas but this year won't be able to. At least bubbles of 5-6 people have each other.

I agree that there positives and negatives to a quiet less commercial Christmas. The trouble is that we have no idea how long this might go on for. I don't want to sound negative but I honestly don't see the point any more. It is obvious that if and when a vaccine is ready it will not be available to everybody immediately and I think it is reasonably likely that Covid will still be around this time next year. We might just have to take care and get on with things as best we can or we are never going to do anything.

Yep, we thought that 5-6 within a bubble are fine, and those bubbles can't integrate with other bubbles, but are fine to be outdoors as long as it's 2m away, just like you would be from any other person you didn't know.

It seems we've misunderstood this. That's a pain.