Thing people do at Christmas that seem helpful to the Christmas Host but actually really aren’t?

Talkingtomyhouseplants · 2025-12-01T08:47:01+00:00

I’ll start - Bringing something to contribute to the day without checking with the host what is wanted/needed first. Results in additional unnecessary work for the host who has had to cover that item because they didn’t know it was going to be brought and food that doesn’t necessarily match the rest of the menu but people feel obliged to eat anyway - On a similar note, people asking what they should bring about 3 days before the big day - this is a BIL special - no thanks my big shop has already arrived and we’re all sorted now. - People who clear up in the kitchen but put things away in the wrong places rather than just leaving them dry, neatly, on the side. What else?

428 replies

Talkingtomyhouseplants · 01/12/2025 08:47

I’ll start

Bringing something to contribute to the day without checking with the host what is wanted/needed first. Results in additional unnecessary work for the host who has had to cover that item because they didn’t know it was going to be brought and food that doesn’t necessarily match the rest of the menu but people feel obliged to eat anyway
On a similar note, people asking what they should bring about 3 days before the big day - this is a BIL special - no thanks my big shop has already arrived and we’re all sorted now.
People who clear up in the kitchen but put things away in the wrong places rather than just leaving them dry, neatly, on the side.

What else?

OP posts:

MrsLizzieDarcy · 23/12/2025 20:10

They both came with a side order of guilt. Along the lines of "This was £90, we ordered it especially for you from the local organic farm shop, we're both so looking forward to trying it Christmas day".

I really should say No.

InveterateWineDrinker · 23/12/2025 20:26

Somethingneedstochange78 · 23/12/2025 20:04

The salmon will be ok. But I find freezing gammon makes it taste too salty. It’s salty anyway but freezing for some reason ruins it.

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Soak it in cold water for a few hours before you cook it (make sure you change the water if boiling!)

HFR · 23/12/2025 22:03

NunsOnTheRum · 02/12/2025 09:13

Flowers. Visitors please don’t bring me flowers. I’ll have to move the Christmas tree to get into the cupboard with the vases and i don’t have the counter space to set up a mini florist bench to unwrap and arrange them. My scissors disappeared a while ago when DH realised it was Christmas morning and he had better start wrapping his gifts and my pruners are in a big IKEA blue bag with the left over holly stuffed somewhere in the garage behind all the junk from my last minute slide n’hide declutter. And flowers bought just before the big day are usually past their best anyway so they won’t look wonderful. And if I did manage all that I don’t have a spare place to put them because the kitchen island is set up like a canteen, the dining room table has the flippin holly and candle instagram inspired arrangement that I hastily knocked out last night and the reason why my hands look like I had to give the cat a pill and eye drops and the console table in the hallway is now a handbag and charging phones station. Just bring me wine.

Yes I find flowers annoying too! My MIL brought me some after I had a baby - I don’t have time to care for flowers!

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