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Original poster

“Cancelling Christmas” what would this look like?

253 replies

CraftyGin · 01/08/2020 16:01

Imagine that at 9pm on Christmas Eve, a government minister tweets that lock down is intensivied with immediate effect. How would that affect you personally, recognising that we all have different ideas of Christmas.

Our church activities are 11pm service (which would be unaffected), and Christmas morning service. TBH, I would be happy to skip this service but generally have to show up as a warden. All of our services from March onwards are streamed on YouTube, and this will continue indefinitely

Presents - Amazon.

Guests - my DS1 and his wife have stayed for the last two years. With a short notice announcement, they would already have been here for four or five days, so presumably they would continue to stay. My locally living DS and DIL would not be able to socialise, but we could give them a food package.

We would continue to Zoom relatives far from us, and DS would be included as he is now.

Christmas food has leftovers built in, so we would not have any waste.

OP posts:
whirlwindwallaby · 01/08/2020 19:37

If it was lockdown as in exercise, buying essentials and caring for vulnerable only then we'd just celebrate Christmas as a household and take presents to relatives and talk on the doorstep. Our relatives were shielding so we could just put some Christmas treats in the car as our excuse to visit if stopped.

howfarwevecome · 01/08/2020 19:37

I'm saying they would have likely all been outside in gardens sharing food ... exactly what pubs and restaurants are doing in their gardens.

I'll note the pubs and restaurants are still open and serving, and people are still picnic-ing en mass in parks and on beaches, so it's more than ok to mix with strangers and sit elbow to elbow in public with them, but not near friends in small rotating groups in gardens apparently.

MrsAvocet · 01/08/2020 19:39

We would be unaffected for the day itself. We go to Church on Christmas Eve, food and presents would be bought and DD would be home. We only ever see the immediate family on Christmas Day itself and if I couldn't spend the next few days with DH's extended family, well, I guess I'd cope...

Triangularbubble · 01/08/2020 19:40

“Because they don't all live together, this will be devastating for many people who will have spent a lot of time buying and preparing specialty foods for big numbers of people.“

But why is anyone doing this - nowhere in the guidance was there ever an exemption from the 2 household rule for religious celebrations. People are told in the guidance to avoid things like parties that make social distancing difficult. So why are people complaining they can’t do something which even under Thursday’s rules wasn’t allowed. If Christmas was next week I wouldn’t be planning my usual 4 household gathering with huge amounts of food type event either, because it’s not allowed and it’s high risk for spreading Coronavirus. Yes, it’s very upsetting not to be able to celebrate these events as we wish, but I don’t really understand the complaints about last minute cancellation- massive family gatherings were cancelled in March.

Bargebill19 · 01/08/2020 19:42

As normal. Sleep and baked beans on toast with grated cheese on top! Bliss.

RatInADollhouse · 01/08/2020 19:49

Is this a thing? What would have to happen to cause a sudden unexpected last-minute Christmas lockdown??

ineedaholidaynow · 01/08/2020 19:50

@RatInADollhouse have you been hiding in a hole for a while?

saraclara · 01/08/2020 19:57

nowhere in the guidance was there ever an exemption from the 2 household rule for religious celebrations.

That's only for people inside the house. Outside you can/could have had more.

ThatDamnScientist · 01/08/2020 19:57

@RatInADollhouse

Is this a thing? What would have to happen to cause a sudden unexpected last-minute Christmas lockdown??
Confused Are you being serious?!?! I would ask where you have been for the last few months but there is a absolutely no where you could have been to miss the pandemic! I am guessing you are trying to be funny?!
saraclara · 01/08/2020 19:57

...also each household could be quite large, with the multi-generational thing. So still lots of cooking even if you only had one other household come.

IdblowJonSnow · 01/08/2020 19:58

Would suit me tbh! I like it just being the 4 of us! Presents, few games and a walk after lunch.
I do like my in laws but I dont want to spend every xmas with them.

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 20:01

If it was cancelled Christmas Eve, the shopping would be done (apparently) we could still go to the pub, so the only real difference would be four for dinner instead of six, which would be a shame.

Unless it was the year I gathered up a dozen friends/acquaintances who had nowhere else to be and invited them to tea. That would be very sad.

Or the times I've helped at the Salvation Army Christmas lunch. What would happen to that?

ineedaholidaynow · 01/08/2020 20:01

@saraclara I think it is still only 6 if different households

sadpapercourtesan · 01/08/2020 20:03

For us the biggest blow would be not being able to have my Dad with us. He survived lymphoma by the skin of his teeth last year and every minute with him counts. The DC would be gutted and it wouldn't feel like Christmas...but we'd have to suck it up, do zoom calls and get on with it. No way I would put his health at risk by defying the lockdown if it happens.

Triangularbubble · 01/08/2020 20:04

“That's only for people inside the house. Outside you can/could have had more.“

From the gov website:

You should: [I’ve edited some irrelevant stuff for brevity]

socialise outdoors in a group of up to 6 people from different households or up to 2 households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household)

not hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing and avoid close social interaction

try to limit the number of people you see, especially over short periods of time, to keep you and them safe, and save lives. The more people with whom you interact, the more chances we give the virus to spread

How does that fit with what’s being described?

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 01/08/2020 20:17

Frankly, I’m getting to the point that I don’t Give a shit about this Christmas. As long as I don’t lose another relative to Covid, I’m grateful and happy.

The turkey, our lovely over eating and materialism can give way to health protection this year. Thank you.

ineedaholidaynow · 01/08/2020 20:19

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas I'm sorry Flowers

reluctantbrit · 01/08/2020 20:24

We are Germans so celebrate on Christmas Eve, just the 3 of us. So no changes as personally I never understand the idea of a huge family occassion at one person's home.

In Germany we may have met family for a meal but not the whole relatives of 20 people and if it was large we would go for dinner. I often just went for the afternoon. Far more relaxing.

annabel85 · 01/08/2020 20:28

Christmas dinner etc via zoom.

Linemanfort · 01/08/2020 20:30

Ok so you, your husband, your kids, your mum and dad + support bubble unmarried brother = 1 household, your cousin, her husband, their kids + unmarried sister = the second household, all perfectly fine and within guidelines, not a party but a fair few people for you to cater for some of whom won't have got any food in because they were coming to you. Not everyone in this country sees having an atomised isolated middle class life as something to aspire to or that is even possible and to be honest if you want to stop minorities from living in multi generational households we've got a way to go in terms of job opportunities, social care and affordable housing.

As @howfarwevecome says most people have bought extra outdoor furniture, awnings etc, spent time, money and effort to make Eid work as well as it can this year, mosques having been active in giving out guidance, people in neighbourhoods have been helping and supporting each other so that they can do this. And suddenly with three hours notice the rug is pulled from under them.

cyclingmad · 01/08/2020 20:31

@Triangularbubble I've said what you had sent on another thread and got called a cunt with no empathy but whatever if people want to carry planning mass parties and then get disappointed thats on them for being stupid.

Too many stupid people about

saraclara · 01/08/2020 20:34

You can only have two households meeting at the same time. For Eid it's probable (and was possible) for several households to visit another through the day, but not at the same time

This is the guidance that was in place before the change (and still applie to the rest of the country)
Since July 4, any two households can meet together under the same roof, and even stay overnight, as long as they observe social distancing. This means families can now invite one set of grandparents over for lunch and then see the other set of grandparents for dinner, as long as they are not there at the same time.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 01/08/2020 20:39

That's only for people inside the house. Outside you can/could have had more.“

Sitting outside can be a bit tricky at Christmas.

RatInADollhouse · 01/08/2020 20:46

I’m not being funny. I just can’t picture a situation where there would be a sudden lockdown and nobody would know it was coming. Are you all not planning on watching any news from November on? Personally I will be keeping eye on the R rate and government guidance starting a month or so before Christmas and if it’s looking dicey we would adjust our plans accordingly. We do a big celebration with my extending family and we really look forward to it but honestly it feels pretty minor in the scheme of things. A few years ago I had some unexpected pregnancy complications over Christmas and we had to cancel last minute so we had dinner at home and FaceTimed with the family. It was a bummer but in truly a very minor way. We got back together the following year and all was fine. It was one year. If the infection rate is that high at Christmas we will have much bigger things to worry about.

Splodgetastic · 01/08/2020 20:47

@ChardonnaysPetDragon, not with an umbrella and patio burner lol!