When do you start putting out your Christmas snacks?

[Pinkbendyman]

Now that we have the Christmas tree and decorations up, my DH and 2 DS keep asking me to put the Christmas goodies out - mince pies, chocolates, Twiglets, nuts, etc.

Even the After Eights which are specifically for Christmas Day!

Guaranteed if I put them out now, they’ll all be eaten by next weekend and I refuse to buy anymore.

They're all safely hidden away atm because the rest of my family just can’t be trusted!

Never heard of this before, I just pop out Christmas food on Christmas morning.

We must buy things and eat them throughout the month

Probably when I finish work and school breaks up, but we have nice food all year so not such an issue. I do try get more luxurious treats for Christmas I guess.

Mince pies stollen etc anytime,

When the children were little it was Christmas Eve, they would be allowed the first chocolate of the tree Christmas Eve after church when they put Jesus in the crib. Even as adults they carry the same tradition squabbling over who has which one 🙄😂.

now, I’ve said I’m doing a leg of lamb for dinner next Saturday and my son and DIL are coming because they won’t be here for Christmas we will open some bits then. The rest will be Christmas Eve.

its just not special otherwise.

Omg yes and you’d bite off the ‘lid’ and drink out of the bottle 😂 Rose creams wow haven’t thought of those in years!! And were there violet creams as well?! 🥰

23rd

What do you mean by put them out? Just allow people to start eating them?

Clearly you do not understand the concept of The Christmas Cupboard.
Absolutely not getting stuff out until Christmas Eve , we would have to buy more and more which is what the retailers want you to do!
Also you have an advent calendar for December

Christmas Eve.

With the exception of mince pies which are eaten at any time all through December, and actually not at all once the special stuff is opened from 24th, then we continue to eat Christmas cake throughout January.

Ooh one advent calendar chocolate! Go wild..
And no obviously I dont understand The Christmas Cupboard concept. I dont have one, never heard any friends or family who have one. We just eat what's in the normal snack cupboard because its just a snack and can be replaced! If I want special Christmas snacks not to be touched, I dont buy them until needed.

Mince pies from beginning of December, everything else from when we finish work, usually around 23rd.

We start buying and eating fancy cheese and nuts last week of November/start of December and we have boxes of chocolate on hand for if people come over. Mince pies 23rd or 24th (plus a few quality checks the day they are made). Fancy biscuits and frozen appetizers the 24th. Free for all starts Christmas morning, but we might hold back a box of chocolates or something for NYE or buy new treats according to how much we get and how much we eat

Is it financial or maybe weight related? I buy stuff in the weekly shop and just leave it for everyone to help themselves. I appreciate we maybe fortunate to be able to do that though.

It’s the husband asking and the op saying no, as she won’t buy more I don’t get. I can’t imagine my husband having to ask me for food, and me saying no or vice Versa. Maybe the op pays all the bills but even then, I wouldn’t wish to have to ask for food in my own house and be told I wasn’t allowed it. I didn’t even do that to my kids growing up and still don’t.

Christmas Eve. The nibbles consist of a box of chocolates and plate of assorted cookies, plus clementines.

We'll start buying mince pies instead of the usual cakey bits we get every week, but other snacks tend not to be eaten unless we are having that type of snacky meal after Christmas day. It's not a rule, it's just that none of us eat the snacky bits before then.

We use to have a few extra nice goodies the last week kids were in school and Christmas would start as they came home on last day. They use to walk in the door drop there bags and coats and say can we open the Christmas goodies now . I use to hid most of the stuff so although the cubboard looked full they could eat the lot. 🤣
Got an our sons wedding on the 22nd of dec so I’m opening till then or I won’t fit my outfit. 🤣🤣

Yep this is exactly my point. Cant imagine telling my DH or kids that they cant eat a snack because we need to save it for Christmas! I just wouldn't buy it until needed if that was the case. Honestly wouldnt want to live in a household where people are gatekeeping the Christmas snacks! Sounds depressing

We have ours out over whole of December - have got mince pies , baileys , antipasti and crisps out already why not? Actual Christmas Eve - nye is the cooked food and more “posh” canapés, cheeseboards, cocktails.

I guess my reasoning is mainly financial as we don’t have an infinite amount of money to spend at Christmas and whilst I’ve been buying things every week when I get my normal food shopping, I’m unable to keep replacing things.

Had a great day yesterday though, baking Christmas cookies and mince pies singing along to Christmas songs. They went down well and put some away for nearer the time.

Love everyone’s thoughts, thank you!

This is fascinating. We wait until Christmas day. We don't buy a lot extra at all,Christmas day dinner is our highlight (which will be non traditional as usual). Last year we had dessert and cheese and crackers (a full table of stuff to pick from) for dinner on boxing day.

We both really love our food - Christmas day is a croissant for breakfast. Then the main meal. Then maybe some crisps and chocolate

Christmas Eve. Otherwise they'll all be eaten before. You have a whole week and a bit to get through them!

For me it's more about knowing I've bought a particular seasonal snack. It's ticked off my mental list and I don’t have to give it headspace again. Plus I try to buy when the various items are on offer. It all goes in a box, saved until Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Boxing Day.

Last week I had a tub of Quality Street given from supermarket loyalty card. This week I added a big box of chocolate biscuits, crackers for cheese, after-dinner mint selection. Next week it might be lebkuchen and fancy crisps/nuts. The week before Christmas will add a chocolate log..

Won't touch any of that until Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Boxing Day. I buy mince pies/stollen in December and use in place of normal cakes/biscuits as I find they're just too heavy over Christmas itself. Need to eat those early or they're still haunting the kitchen cupboards at Easter! 😊

Everything else is very happily 'gatekept' though. Nobody minds - the anticipation makes it more of a treat on the day.

This.