Controversial Christmas Opinions

[cliffdiver]

Here's mine:

1. Elf isn't that good. Engaging at the beginning, but once he's in the US it gets pretty boring

2. Turkey has an awful after taste

As an office worker, it's great to work at least some of the days between Xmas and New Year.

I bet you're fun at parties.

Have you ever actually made bread sauce?

You don't make a white sauce with the milk.

Bonkers.

Too many people get into a tizzy over what to get adults, and in some cases children presents that they do not need, or want. It is wasteful and is helping to contribute to the state that the planet is in. The commercialisation of Christmas is nauseating.

Christmas is a day.

Advent calendars do not need to cost seventy quid.

The length of the build up is getting ridiculous.

So true.

I am proud to have introduced bread sauce to DH's family. The following year SIL (a veritable domestic goddess) then made her own. Her daughters who had taken to it like ducks to water were disgusted.

Adding brazil nuts to everything makes the food worse and does not turn it into a 'luxury' item.

People who feel that telling kids Santa is real is a big lie are being a bit rigid and literal. My kids (teens) and I still 'believe' in Santa as we see it as a metaphor and not a literal statement about a single person.

Sprouts DO make the meal better.

Veg is of more importance in the Xmas meal that the meat.

Lights are best when they are naff rather than when they are tasteful.

Last Christmas is a shit film.

Oh and chocolate advent calendars should never have been invented.

Roast turkey Christmas Dinner is just another boring roast.
The only Christmas related tune worth anything is "The carol of the Bells"
The Muppets Christmas Movie is the best.

Oh and when anybody says their birthday is on that day the reply "does that mean you get double presents?" should result in immediate jail time.

No they nicked it from Christians. Jesus is the reason for the season

Already completing your wrapping and present buying in November is too soon.

I really don't care what other families do as long as they're happy but seeing as you asked:

Wrapping stocking presents is wasteful and absurd. It's fair enough if you're a family who puts larger gifts in a stocking but why wrap bubbles/chocolate coins etc? They're hidden in a stocking, there's plenty of suspense as you dig them out.

Turkey is just dull no matter how it's cooked. I'd far rather have any other type of roast and so we do.

The world (and I include myself in this one) has fallen hook, line and sinker into the expensive advent calendar marketing black hole. It's a genius plan whereby we spend a fortune to end up with lots of little bits of crap in our house that is often wasted. I think it's unusual that all 24 doors provide something we would actually use. After a few years of buying into the hype, we've gone back to basics and have enjoyed it just as much.

Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are much more fun than Christmas Day itself.

Sprouts are evil.

There's such a thing as too many fluffy socks.

Hot chocolate bombs/spoons and the like are usually disappointing.

All the American bits of Christmas should be banned (or at least recognised as being from the USA) e.g "Santa" not Father Christmas, the elf, the pyjama thing.

We should celebrate it on night on 24th .

Tins of sweets and selection boxes are crap compared to when I was a child. I also hate turkey, cranberry sauce, Christmas log/pudding/cake. If you don't have croquettes and two types of stuffing it's not a proper Christmas dinner. The santa experiences for kids are overpriced, oversold and generally a nightmare. Also most Christmas markets are generally piles of tat unless you go abroad.

On the other hand I love watching all the Christmas movies every year, walking through the town to see all the lights, a glass of mulled wine, Christmas crackers, cooking for all the family. Also love when it snows.

#Babochan88 you need a few history lessons!

Christmas day is depressing after all the exciting run up!

Christmas is lovely if you ignore ads, hype, crowds and expectations. Also in my case ignore religion.

Paper advent calendars > chocolate or beauty ones.

Mulled cider > mulled wine.

Christmas Eve > Christmas Day.

And the best way to order the day itself is a walk and/or church in the morning, presents in the afternoon and dinner in the evening.

Babochan88 but they bring the sheep in from the hills by October so it would have happened by then. All the stuff about shepherds abiding in the fields etc. There are many interesting articles online if you care to look. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to do links.

Celebrating or marking the end of the darkest days and the start of the lighter days goes back far longer than when Christians believe Jesus was born. They'd even sussed it out when they built Stonehenge.

I'm sure most people who celebrate midwinter in a pagan or similar way are happy to share the season with Christians. Trees, greenery indoors etc are available to anyone.

@RosesAndHellebores I have never had bread sauce and now I want to make some !

“Soft white” fairy lights are boring and pointless, coloured lights all the way

YES!!!

Starters are totally unnecessary on Christmas Day.
The turkey dark meat is far nicer than breast and better yet is roast lamb for Christmas dinner.
Christmas pudding is delicious, especially home made, ditto mince pies with home made mincemeat....

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/10-christmas/id1537788786?i=1000503036166

This podcast is a good introduction to the history of Christmas and the reason for its timing.

Presents (given and received) are the best part of Christmas.