Festive icks

[crispsandnuts]

'With all the trimmings'

I couldn't even type that without my teeth itching.

I'm sure they'll be plenty more...

People who have planned Christmas and bought and wrapped everything by September. They are often unbearably smug about it.
We all have late October/November birthdays and don't even begin to think about Christmas until December.
Wrapping paper that can't be recycled, especially if peppered with glitter.
"Chrimbo" and "Holibobs" make me cringe inside as well.

People trying to make Christmas about Jesus.

Get with the times, no one cares.

To be fair property solicitors are really busy at this time of year trying to get people into their new homes for Christmas or working for people who think the world will stop if their transaction does not get to 'x' stage before Christmas. So no, your lease registration is probably not a priority and even if it was, the current Land Registry eta for registration of a new title which a lease will be is over 2 years (unless there is a reason for it to be expedited) so there is probably naff all they can say to you anyway.

My Christmas ick is annoying clients thinking the world is going to end if stuff doesn't happen before Christmas, chasing you to a frazzle and ruining the run up to Christmas.

It's the people posting on social media/mumsnet about having Christmas 'just our little family' - it's not about the size of the family it's about the smugness and ickness of describing your partner and kids as 'our little family'
ick

"Doing The Presents"

Used in my family to describe something so much more than just exchanging gifts and enjoying them.

The phenomenon of getting totally over anxious, precious and controlling about gifts, when they should be opened, are they "right", are the sufficiently "tasteful".

For some reason gifts have to be works of art, an incredible book, some beautiful stationery, Fjallraven knitwear, some Nordic socks, some fine homemade beeswax soap, some whisky - but must be from latest artisan distillery that has opened on Islay this year, the latest champagne socialist polemic.

Because the gifts are so special, the "opening" needs to be choreographed and reverential. One at a time to maximise the experience and no-one may pop to the loo - if the latter is necessary then opening must be temporarily paused.

I should not mock as the gifts I am given are always lovely but the stress and thinly hidden snobbishness that goes with it not so much ....

I swear one year I'm going to give bayliss and harding and a box of after eights and see how it goes down.

Other icks - "nibbles". "Champers". Urgh.

What have you got against walkers?

My hairdresser who I thought would be really into elf on the shelf said she did it once and never again!

My own SIL doesn’t do elf on the shelf, does do advent calendar and one with a small book a day which is nice.

Oh do not risk the criticism of Christmas Eve boxes on here! I made a gentle query recently on one such thread and the pile on was crazy!
The Christmas Eve Box Sect is seriously intense. You will be accused of hating children and I'm not even exaggerating.

People that take photos of a massive pile of presents ready and waiting for their kids to attack on Christmas morning - what's the point of that except to show off how much you're getting them?!

Elf on the Shelf, especially when people have them do things like cutting kids' pyjamas etc while they're sleeping.

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

Sprouts.

A million emails from school about various festive party days, things to bring in for the school raffle, Nativity costumes, etc, etc.

And if you do do a box - that is, have a box that your kids open on Christmas Eve with a few snacks for a film night and maybe a book and pyjamas - you'll be accused of ruining Christmas with your raging consumerism, generating mountains of waste and, worst of all, being poor and working class.

yes! I tried to explain this to my family why I hate markets! I feel like I'm rejecting people if I come and look but don't buy anything. I also feel like a bitch when my sister says "£24 for a scarf, what a rip off" right infront of the person who knitted the scarf! I feel sick with embarrassment just thinking about it!

What's wrong with little family ffs !!
Do you assume everyone has loads of family to share Christmas with??

Nothing against small families... I have a very small family. It's just the phrase.... its excruciatingly twee and smug.

It's also almost always used to prefigure a gormless diatribe about how the OP hates going out, doesn't have any friends and refuses to spend time with anyone except her husband and children.

People who have planned Christmas and bought and wrapped everything by September. They are often unbearably smug about it.

To be fair when these people start mentioning how they're all done and ready for Christmas, it usually serves as a reminder to me that I need to start thinking about it! So they do me a useful service really

I second this! I don't know why but I bloody hate it!

He's been!

I’ve just had to google Christmas Eve Box as I’ve never heard of it before! Bloody glad I never got into that.
Although we did have a tradition in our family that we could all open one present on Christmas Eve from an aunt who used to give the weirdest presents. The ones that stood out were a bottle of whisky for my 13 yr old brother, a pink bobble hat for my dad and a dog collar and lead (we didn’t have a dog).

These have already been said but:
Elf on the shelf
Christmas eve boxes
Posting a picture on social media late on Christmas eve of your kids huge pile of presents even if they are barely 1yo and don't know it's Christmas.

Another one for Little Family- I'd love a big family Christmas just once

Probably just me but around here there's a lot of smug people who do sporty challenges on like Boxing Day or New Year's Day. At like crack of dawn.

I wasn't the person who posted this, but I can guarantee they don't mean people who mention loved ones occasionally.

I have a family on Facebook who lost someone last April (not even THIS April, so it's not the first Christmas) and the mum of the family posts 'on this day's EVERY.SINGLE.DAY of the family member. As if that wasn't bad enough, it's also reposted by each of the three daughters, and interspersed with photos from when they visit the grave - which is at least twice a week. Why post every time you visit the grave? It's not changed.

I think a lot of these Christmas icks could be avoided by coming off social media for the whole of December.

I have to add on the photos of presents posted on Christmas eve. It's simply bragging, it's poor taste and it's the same dickheads every year. Last year was quite difficult money wise. I saw those posts, I looked at my sons pile and I sobbed. I know it could be 50 bits from poundland but I was too upset to think this at the time. People who also mention the cost, why the fuck do I need to know you've spent £1000 on one kid? Good for you.

People who martyr themselves over Christmas, because someone they knew 10 years ago died any time in the 3-month lead up to Christmas.

"Oh, we don't do Christmas because my great-auntie died in early November 2005."

Or they don't do something completely unrelated, like a tree, or cards, for the same reason.

The family who get dressed up to the nines...and then start slaving over Christmas dinner.
I don't understand why they don't get most of the dinner prepped/cooked whilst in normal clothes, and quickly change into their fancy outfit whilst the turkey is resting.
My MIL totters around the kitchen in her wear-once-a-year-for-Christmas heels, in one big sequin silouette carrying pans etc. (She refuses help in the kitchen).
She has full make up done and then just get's stressed when her make up has run from slaving over the hob. (again, she refuses help in the kitchen).
She makes the "menfolk" go to the pub so they're out of the way. But the "women" are expected to stand around in the kitchen (we offer to help, she doesn't let us).
Argh families.
And bloody sequins.

What's wrong with Christmas lunch?
Do you have your turkey in the evening then? (Or whatever food you make.)

Ooooh! This thread is making me feel quite festive!