Poncetastic Christmas Thread 2026

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Thought I would start this year's thread as there are plenty of folk starting to chat about Christmas makes, bakes and crafts on the Christmas boards.

Wherever you are, Fellatio, here's to you. I hope you're brining a turkey and had crafting authentic organic woven tinsel somewhere!

Here is Fellatio's traditional thread opening:

"OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom.

So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobs worth ponce, join me on this thread.

Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapés and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.

Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessie’s' on the packet, this is not the thread for you"

Welcome, all, and let the Poncing commence!

<cuts metaphorical christmas ribbon>

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Helloo Rainbow
Thank you for staring the thread.

👋 at fellow ponceurs 🎄🍊🍮🥧🌿❄️

Hurrah and hello @HannahDefoesChristmasHamper

I am just trying to think of a few regulars, so doing a quick shout out. Thinking @FurForksSake and @TheWoollybacksWife to start with

Also @Trumpton

I’m new this year. I got caught up in one of the Christmas Craft threads started last month and saw my future amongst the poncers.

Thanks for the call to action @RainbowZebraWarrior I've got a holiday coming up this month but when I'm back it will be full on ponce. DD2 has signed me up to make Christmas puddings for her partner's family. I know traditionally these are made on Stir Up Sunday but I'll probably make them sometime in October.

Last year's wreath was homemade and I plan to make this year's too. I'll have to put my thinking cap on to see if there is anything else I want to make.

Ooh. Enjoy the holiday @TheWoollybacksWife I always make my puds earlier than stir up Sunday, too.

Welcome @BadgerFAFOanditwasbrilliant
I'm sure you will be right at home here.

And a couple more folk to shout out to: @Frumpyunicorn

And @ridl14 I recently made your apple crumble bars!

I never know if I am poncetastic enough for this thread. I do make my own mince pies, meringue, sausage rolls, trifles and cheesecakes but I do buy Christmas cake (can't find a recipe as nice as the high end shop bought ones) and I am allergic to Christmas trees so making my own wreath would involve a trip to A&E. I've lurked for many years but decided to post this year (if you'll have me and my admission of shop bought cake hasn't left you all reeling and needing a lie down).

I may make some Christmas cards this year and I have a couple of craft sessions booked in ( fused glass and stitched pictures). Hope that boosts my ponce-points 🤣

Placemarking x

Thank you Rainbow!
Have the usual blackberry whisky already resting in the pantry after a blackberry picking walk a couple of weeks ago.
No gingerbread gin or mincemeat this year as I made so much last year.
I want to create some individual decorations for the table this year but no idea what yet.
Hoping to get some inspiration from all of you 🙏

Thanks for starting the thread! Always my favourite on mumsnet
This year I'm planning on making a couple of oversized velvet 'paperchain' garlands to hang over the windows in the sitting room. I also want to do something in the kitchen window. I've tried the tension curtain rod garland before, but it kept slipping down.
This will be the 3rd year using the fabric christmas crackers I made, I really do want to get round to making reusable hats for them this year

That is more than enough poncing points for the thread. 😁

It's the aspiration that counts. Most people run out of time and/or energy so something will give. It’s meant to be fun and enhance the festivities after all. The thread means you can hang out with people who eill get why you're even trying!

I love basking in the soft glow of the fairy lights from my foraged greenery and pinecone garland on the stairs, when I manage it. Some years I just hang a felt garland from Sainbos and shrug.

Come October, I'll put up my hand crocheted autumn garland 🍂 🎃

Last Christmas eve I made sausage rolls with apple or cranberry or onion chutney. Everyone absolutely loved them so that's a new tradition here. Love how things change and also don't.

New this year, but ready to embrace poncetasy with enthusiasm. Last year I had eleven wreaths, all different, all hand made by me, one for each door, and real foliage on tension rods at all of the windows. Will do the same this year.

I promised I would join with my hand made Xmas decoration plans (I am also now planning a beautiful handmade sausage roll centrepiece for Xmas eve).

I need to go out conkering soon for my kitchen garlands. I have to go pick my sister's apples for the horses, so might make it a joint trip.

In a boon for my poncetastic Xmas, I have got the printer to talk to my computer so I can print my Xmas embroidery designs onto paper-backed cloth. I can see this going very badly indeed ...

oh I love these threads every year, I am determined to do everything I've planned this year, but doomed to fail!

So far I have made the Christmas cakes (always in August in our family, to give time to feed them) and have damson and sloe gin jam ready for presents and damson gin steeping in the cupboard.

Last year I tried pyrography for the first time and managed to make some passable chopping boards for gifts using leftover bits from our new kitchen worktops. This year I have grand plans to sand down and reuse some old wooden charger plates we never use and turn them into decorated platters filled with home made sweets etc for people. I feel like I need to have started that at least a month ago!

Could I ask if anyone could suggest any alternatives to a traditional fruit cake? I love making them, but no-one in the family seems to love eating fruit cake that much. I made a gingery sponge cake last year, but it was a bit meh.

@snowgirl1 I have made this in the past. It can be made and frozen ahead too. I leave out the brandy which is optional anyway. My DC don't eat fruit cake although I have made mini ones in the past for DH and I and our late mothers.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-chestnut-truffle-torte

Hello all- waves- I have lurked for years- this is my favourite Mumsnet thread. I am often to be found on the Litter Tray but whilst I love it, it's not always a happy place to be (gulp)
I invariably have great plans for Christmas but often I don't follow through- sometimes it's fun to think about things rather than actually do them. It's just the two of us nowadays- no children and since my mum died we no longer see my sisters , absolutely no rift but the imperative (mum) is missing so everyone goes their own way and it's impractical to fit us in. My husband and I are Mr and Mrs Christmas though, so there's no shortage of decoration and celebration. We love our Christmas feast.
I am currently sewing Kiripress felt decorations and will finish them shortly- I'll post a photo when they are complete. I have collected pressed glass bowls and plates to make a Christmas tree, which will include the family sweetie bowl. It will be lovely for it to have a purpose as otherwise it would be bubble wrapped in the loft and never seen. For my next trick I think I will start to collect pretty vintage brooches and make a wreath with them. This is the inspiration.
I am looking forward to trotting alongside you all as we ponce our way to the Big Day.

That's a relief! I am also doing second hand poncing as my DD is crocheting a snowflake garland for me out of some silver sparkly yarn I picked up on a freecycle type site.

The aspiration is very much there!

Oh gosh that's beautiful! I love brooches but don't feel they ever work with my style . That would be a lovely way to use some!

Checking in. I've been a frequent poster in past years, but lost my groove for a couple of years.

I strongly suspect that this is the last year DD will truly believe so I will be going full throttle on the Christmasing efforts.

As usual I will be making a wreath, Christmas Cake, and batch cooking for the season. I've done a fair bit of easy Christmas present shopping already, and ordered my cards from whistlefish The aim is to have all cards done and presents wrapped and bagged up for giving out from the last weekend in November.

Haha I do second hand poncing too. It's my DH that does all christmas cooking and baking with the exception of my traditional rum truffles (I've made them every year since I still believed) and my amaretto trifle.

I bought the nicest christmas candle from tkmaxx at the weekend. I won't light it until the tree is up, but I do keep on sniffing it 😂

@RainbowZebraWarrior 👋.
New username here (in honour of the goddess, Nigella).

This is one of my favourite threads. I never really make anything, but enjoy reading about everyone else’s amazing festive creations. This year, things may change, as I’ve recently retired and finally have lots of spare time 🎉.

Hello everyone, I've been looking out for this thread for a couple of weeks now 😅