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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

How Christmas is too Christmas?

155 replies

PaperDolphin · 19/09/2021 15:51

I decorate the house including tree and outside lights, have a Christmas jumper as do the kids (as well as other Christmas clothes including PJs), and read Christmas books to them throughout December. We have (chocolate) advent calendars and a Christmas puzzle that gets an airing each year.

I always thought that, as far as Christmas "stuff" goes, Christmas bed linen was a step too far. I have had a complete mind change on this and am absolutely 100% getting Christmas themed bed linen for myself and kids this year.

Just browsing and noticed that you can get Christmas themed crockery... again feel this is a step too far (would you only use it on Xmas day?) Does anyone have it and it brings them joy? What Christmas themed objects do you have that may seem a step too far for other people?

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Bobsyer · 19/09/2021 21:33

My mum has a complete set of the Spode Christmas china - enough for at least 12 place settings.

We do decorations throughout the house, tree, but not outside. And really only a week before Xmas.

But we do have the china! Grin

MrsLCSofLichfield · 19/09/2021 22:14

Last year I bought some Christmas cushions and throws - DH thinks I'm beserk Xmas Grin We have 3 Christmas-tree-shaped serving platters, 1 wood and 2 marble, Christmas placemats and coasters and a tablecloth. More windows get covered in snowflake stickers and more fairy lights get draped over everything with edges and corners each year. We have a gorgeous very Christmassy red and white 100% cotton duvet set which I picked up for a tenner at Morrisons in a New Year clearance.

We also have 2 rather lovely Portmeirion Ruskin House serving platters with an oak-leaf pattern. I would like to get more crockery, but I am sad that Spode Christmas Tree is not made in Stoke any more. I'll take a look at Emma Bridgewater this year, hoping they'll do Joy Trumpets range again.

@UndertheCedartree - I remember your breakfast thread. I thought it sounded gorgeous and told you so at the time Some posters can be really sanctimonious and rude - if only we had our own mods like on Reddit subs we could ban them from the Christmas boards!

FirstTimeMommy2021 · 19/09/2021 22:16

Why the hell not I say. After last Christmas being in a lockdown I would 100% go for it! I know I will be 😁

BlueberrySugar · 19/09/2021 22:25

Nothing is too much.

Grin
BlueberrySugar · 19/09/2021 22:26

Oh, I posted too soon!

I change over my oven mit and tea towels to Christmas ones! Oh and the beddings get changed. Every room is pretty much decorated in my house. The bathroom has Christmas towels too!

UndertheCedartree · 19/09/2021 23:23

@Shodan - love the snow people!

thelegohooverer · 20/09/2021 00:08

Some of these things are OTT for me but I’ve no doubt I seem equally OTT to others. Christmas shower curtains, bath mats and toilet paper are over the line for me, and I don’t like outdoor lights at all.

But….
I have winter bedding (brushed cotton) that comes out once it’s cold enough to put the heating on.
I have led candles on a timer that come out once the evenings start getting dark. And furry blankets that get thrown over the sofa. In December I add garlands and twinkly lights. The tree has a collection of baubles representing diffferent times in our lives, and heirlooms from past generations.

The playroom has vintage foil ceiling chains, and a distinctly tacky Christmas village with lights, music and moving parts.

The kitchen has another tree, and various garlands over the cabinets.

There’s also a twig tree, with crystal decorations, and a nativity scene that we add more characters to each year. A reusable advent calendar and a ginger bread house.

Our table gets several festive treatments - a north pole breakfast, Christmas dinner, and a variety of cloths over the Christmas period. We have a mismatched collection of mugs and bowls that get used throughout December.

Most of these things are used year on year. Some of the table cloths belonged to beloved family members that have left us. The majority of my Christmas collection was inherited or picked up second hand. I buy a few new baubles each year to represent the dc’s interests or a place we’ve been and a new crib figurine, but a lot of our decorations come from the garden, or we make (eg dried oranges and paper snowflakes)

It all has to be hauled out of the attic though and every year I swear I’ll slim down, but I never do.

Twilightstarbright · 20/09/2021 07:33

I’ve noticed that my Christmas holly oven glove is now in year round use! DS loves the Christmas bath mat.

I love the Spode stuff but in reality I’d use it once a year which doesn’t feel enough to justify it.

Just bought DS a pair of Christmas pjs on eBay. DH refuses to wear them and I can wear last years. I get annoyed about the accusations of buying pointless (plastic) Tat when everything is reused each year.

BiddyPop · 20/09/2021 09:32

Dd is about to turn 16, so our collection has grown over the years fairly slowly but gets reused every year.

Year 1 was her stocking.
Year 2 was a 2nd plastic plate, glass, cup, bowl set with Santa decoration (a spare to her flowers covered set in daily use).
The books and dvds collection started in year 1 and was slowly added to over the years - some have now gone to younger DNieces/DNephews to enjoy but we still have a box that comes out every year here.
She chose a fleece panel on holidays in Canada when she was 8 that I sewed up for a blanket.
She was about 12 when I got her duvet set.

I got a Christmas mug as a present from my landlady, 23 years ago this year. That was my first, and between mugs gathered at Christmas markets overseas, presents, the odd purchase over the years, we now have an eclectic collection of about 8/9 (and have had breakages too over the year).

I got a lovely cream jug with holly on it when we were scattering my DGran at sea - which I saw when roaming shops with DSiblings afterwards (as it was too early to go to the pub in front of our DPs....even as grown adults) and loved as both Christmassy and it also reminds me of her every year.

I have 2 fake trees (the original cheap 5' version I bought in Primark on our first, smashed broke, Christmas in our new house - where we still had no carpets only concrete floors, and the pre-lit 6' Balsam Hill I bought 3 years ago), and a holder for the real tree we buy if we are staying here at Christmas. I only ever put up 1 (although I threaten 2 many years) but probably have enough decorations for all 3.

I only bought a set of garlands 4 years ago for the stairs. But we do a wreath or wrapping in ribbons like a present for the front door for well over a decade now. DH also wraps lights around a couple of trees in the front garden for the same length of time - but is still rejecting any notion of icicles or any kind of shapes in the garden/walls/roof.

I have a few hand towels that are quite old (I think the oldest are almost 20 years old) that I've got on various trips abroad and as presents, that I carefully hoard until Christmas week and put away carefully with the decorations each year. But the apron I was given as a present is much better fitting than my oilcloth type so that lives in the kitchen all year.

I have some cookie cutters in Christmas shapes, but I only ever cut them and never actually decorate any of them, we just eat them plain.

DH acknowledges me as a Christmas nut, I try and slowly introduce things from 1st Dec (fabric advent calendar, dd blanket and 1 mug each), and building up to the full effect by the weekend before Christmas so it's not too much at once for him. But we don't quite hit full-on Christmas grotto levels. One of these years I might. And I also listen to DH on when the tree is coming down (quite often just before or after NY, rather than waiting to 6th Jan, but never later than that).

Shodan · 20/09/2021 09:41

@UndertheCedartree Why thank you Grin

I might start making some more- am on a diet at the moment and crocheting does keep me occupied...

I do like the idea of a Christmas bath mat I must say. That wouldn't take up much storage space. I can feel some shopping coming on...

UndertheCedartree · 20/09/2021 09:58

@MrsLCSofLichfield - so glad someone remembers my Christmas breakfast! Grin

Xanadu58 · 20/09/2021 10:22

I've got Christmas bedding, several christmas mugs and hand towels. These are only brought out in December and go back in storage on new year's day .

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 20/09/2021 12:06

I don't have Christmas bedding, but I do have a Christmas throw for the bed (or I did, until I gave it to the dog for his chair for Christmas).

I have a Christmas table cloth, towels and t-towels (kitchen, not bathroom towels), throws for the sofa and I do have crockery (plates etc). Which I usually use all of December - they were from B&M Bargains years ago - they still have the same range haha.

oh as someone else above said, mugs and I have a Christmas work mug too Grin

I have far too many Christmas leggings and jumpers too (me and the dog have matching jumpers haha).

torthecatlady · 20/09/2021 15:57

I'm tempted to buy a christmassy bath mat now...

simitra · 20/09/2021 16:22

I stopped celebrating christmas in the 1970s. That means I dont spend money I havnt got or get huge bills in January. I know that many of my friends and relations envy me.

Brollywasntneededafterall · 20/09/2021 16:26

We have:
Xmas bedding
Xmas towels
Xmas bath mats and toilet cover... Dh also puts white fluff stuff over cistern like snow..
Xmas crockery - used Xmas eve until after Boxing day.
Xmas pj's.
Ddogs have festive and Xmas jumpers...
And festive blankets.
Dcats have Xmas beds.
Garden has wooden decorated wooden trees and a wooden snowman - 5ft.

AmItheonlyonehere · 20/09/2021 16:29

We have:
3 Christmas trees
outside (white)lights on house and trees.
Inflatable Santa and Christmas tree(at back door)
Huge wreath on front door
Other random outside Christmas things but tasteful and not loads
Christmas table cloth/tea towels/placemats
Christmas plates bowls and mugs/glasses
Christmas bed linen for all beds (multiple sets)
Christmas soap dispensers
Christmas cushions
Christmas ornaments for every surface in the house
Singing things x dozens
Christmas jumpers and pjs
Christmas bath mats

Doubleraspberry · 20/09/2021 17:03

We've got a Christmas oil cloth cover for the kitchen table from Dunelm that we use during December. This year's version here (ours is red and a bit more fun): www.dunelm.com/product/party-gnomes-grey-pvc-1000191282?defaultSkuId=30738586

Cost not much and the kids love it.

Brollywasntneededafterall · 20/09/2021 17:10

Forgot about Xmas table cloths and coasters /mats!! And a Santa gravy boat!!
Made cutlery holders myself and name place settings!

loopylindi · 20/09/2021 17:18

Oh- I forgot the table. Choice of white/red or green cloth, with/without white Bruges lace cloth on top (why, oh why did I allow them to sell me 12 [yes that's right12] matching napkins), poinsettia placemats from Dunhelm, big poinsettia centre mat (hand embroidered from Madeira), small coasters (ditto). Red or gold chargers, cutlery given as a wedding present so has been used just over 40 times. Crystal glasses (ditto)
Ooohhh.I'm getting quite excited now!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/09/2021 19:02

I have : come out Dec 1st
Christmas handtowels
Christmas handsoap
Christmas Toilet Paper [fgein]
Christmas straws
Christmas Shower Curtain (Black cat in a Santa Hat)
Christmas cushions
Christmas dooormats

Bedding goes on Dec 1st bit DD insists on Nov 1st

These are all things I use anyway
I don;t do much decorating now because of the cats

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/09/2021 19:03

Oh Christmas table cover oilcloth
Its brown with a bronzey bauble decoration so not too Cristmas

Maryann1975 · 20/09/2021 19:26

I never even thought about a Christmas shower curtain. Our elf tends to bring stuff like that. I’m so unimaginative about things it can do so it tends to bring things, new Christmas lego, Christmas toilet rolls, chocolates for the tree. It’s going to be bringing a shower curtain Quite early on in December this year!

StrongerThanA90sTrend · 20/09/2021 19:33

We have loads of indoor decorations, jumpers, lots of books etc, but I would definitely draw the line at bed linen ... I think ... we don't have special crockery, but do have a selection of Christmas mugs and cups that get brought out for the fun times. Love it when it's time to get the Santa mug out 😆

Ah, can't wait for Christmas. 🎄

VivaJen · 20/09/2021 19:35

Forgot about the Christmas toilet paper
🎄 🧻