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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:
annabel85 · 01/08/2020 21:57

If enough in advance might stop the crazy present buying and maybe we all keep it simple. No Xmas cap that gets chucked away*

It'll have to be announced for the economy to make sure it's after everyone has bought all their Christmas shopping.

annabel85 · 01/08/2020 21:58

*announced late

michelle1504 · 01/08/2020 22:15

Well for many, they would already have all the food bought and presents wrapped by then so it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference. However for single people, such as myself at the moment, who usually go to someone else's house for Christmas, I would sadly just have to make do with an improvised dinner! It wouldn't really bother me but I expect it would greatly upset others.

PiataMaiNei · 01/08/2020 22:36

What it would look like, let's be honest, is widespread non-adherence.

CrocodileFondue · 01/08/2020 22:58

We wouldn't have to see the MIL so bring it on!

DH might feel guilty though although he hates her and refuses to see her on Christmas Day anyway, he always caves and goes round a day or two later. (And then spends the next week ranting about whatever she's done to upset him this time... Hmm)

nevergoingoutagain · 01/08/2020 23:06

I would love it to be just me, dh and kids on Xmas day. I hate hosting and it's always us as my bro lives in a 1 bed flat, my sister has 2 autistic boys who need to leave as soon as they've had enough. We sometimes go to in laws but they tut and sigh at any presents they see as extravagant. His "other" family (adopted) is big so we tend to meet up after Xmas. My mum comes over and never bloody leaves and my sisters kids only eat cocktail sausages and ask to go home every 5 minutes!

I would dearly love a family only Xmas with no guilt at not hosting!

I actually just want to go to centre Parcs...

Wakemeuuuup · 01/08/2020 23:14

No difference. We've already decided that we're not taking the risk of going to our family in a nearby country or of them coming to us

Notfeelinggreattoday · 01/08/2020 23:21

Would end up with beans and toast as we would be going to my mums and all xmas food would be there so if was a guideline i would prob ignore if i am honest , its winter so not like can meet in garden like a sunmer event .
If knew likely a few days before would be more prepared

Notfeelinggreattoday · 01/08/2020 23:24

Plus we would already be at my mums by 9 p then so would be pointless going home as just out two households who would if mixed already

ineedaholidaynow · 01/08/2020 23:25

I would have thought it would be sensible for people to have some food in stock for just in case scenario, but surely that is sensible at the moment anyway as you never know when a local lockdown could be imposed or you have to go into self isolation. I am not talking many days worth of food but possibly enough for a couple of days before you could sort out an online shop or something similar.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 01/08/2020 23:37

I’d love it. No visitors. No obligations. No guilt. Being able to watch Xmas Eastenders when it’s actually on and with no tutting.

PicsInRed · 02/08/2020 00:18

@CakeMiddleton

We'd be evicted from the pantomime. Oh yes we would.
Grin
ChristmasCarcass · 02/08/2020 00:42

The thing is, Eid is pretty different to Christmas. The whole point of Eid is seeing your whole extended family, meeting up and eating a feast together. More like US Thanksgiving, or a Seder dinner. Whereas most people (in the UK anyway) spend Christmas with their own households, and the focus is on non-perishable gift-giving more than on food.

People see their in-laws on Boxing Day or between Christmas and New Year, there aren’t many people driving from house to house on Christmas Day itself. You might pop round if you live within walking distance, but most people are not hosting 20-30 people for Christmas lunch.

So cancelling visitors on Christmas Day wouldn’t ruin the whole point of Christmas in the same way that it has ruined the whole point of Eid.

ineedaholidaynow · 02/08/2020 00:47

But people shouldn’t have been hosting a meal for 20-30 people in the middle of a pandemic

Sossen · 02/08/2020 05:32

After the shitty year we’ve had Christmas won’t be cancelled, well at least not for us anyway. We will do what we do every year ie have my parents round for Christmas lunch, in laws round for nibbles and drinks at dinner time, go to my db’s house boxing day to see him his wife and my nieces, and in general enjoy ourselves. These last few months have been unbearable so just let our dear old
Government try and suck the fun out of Christmas. It won’t make a scrap of difference as we’ll just carry on as normal.

tara66 · 02/08/2020 05:43

It can be such a disappointment and disaster anyway.

annabel85 · 02/08/2020 08:38

@ChristmasCarcass

The thing is, Eid is pretty different to Christmas. The whole point of Eid is seeing your whole extended family, meeting up and eating a feast together. More like US Thanksgiving, or a Seder dinner. Whereas most people (in the UK anyway) spend Christmas with their own households, and the focus is on non-perishable gift-giving more than on food.

People see their in-laws on Boxing Day or between Christmas and New Year, there aren’t many people driving from house to house on Christmas Day itself. You might pop round if you live within walking distance, but most people are not hosting 20-30 people for Christmas lunch.

So cancelling visitors on Christmas Day wouldn’t ruin the whole point of Christmas in the same way that it has ruined the whole point of Eid.

I also think a lot more people hate Christmas than are prepared to admit. They eat too much and drink too much to get through the stress and spend too much money preparing for it all. Then get into the new year, feel shit and spend January in the gym.

However, it's a special time for kids.

BluebellsGreenbells · 02/08/2020 09:28

It won’t make a scrap of difference as we’ll just carry on as normal

Why do you haven’t sense of responsibility to your neighbors, friends and relatives?

This is why lockdown continues. Selfish.

SimonJT · 02/08/2020 09:30

We’re athiests so we don’t celebrate xmas anyway.

The only thing I would have to miss is park run.

Leflic · 02/08/2020 09:39

We’ve hired a cottage and we’re planning on taking food up for the grandparents for Christmas dinner. So if it’s announced on Christmas Eve we’d be up there. We would take it round with presents have a chat in the garden and go back to the rental.
If we look like we’re locking down earlier we’d cancel and just stay home and do all the usual stuff.

eaglejulesk · 02/08/2020 09:55

I'd spend Christmas day alone if this happens. Doesn't bother me at all.

So would I - and in fact I would be rather happy about it. Unfortunately I can't see it happening here (NZ).

BrieAndChilli · 02/08/2020 10:01

I think it would be sensible for everybody to make sure they had the things they deem essential for Christmas in the freezer/cupboard. So if they can’t go to thier Usual venue they can get it out on Xmas eve to defrost and still have some element of Christmas at home. Apart from fresh veg/dairy stuff I normally have everything else either in the freezer or in a box by the end of November.

Sossen · 02/08/2020 10:05

A senses of responsibility? I have and have done for the last five months! I’ll continue wearing a mask socially distancing but me my dh and dc are going to enjoy Christmas the way we want to.

annabel85 · 02/08/2020 10:26

@Sossen

A senses of responsibility? I have and have done for the last five months! I’ll continue wearing a mask socially distancing but me my dh and dc are going to enjoy Christmas the way we want to.
Until Boris says otherwise
Iwalkinmyclothing · 02/08/2020 10:32

At 9pm on xmas eve I will already be quite drunk with a houseful of food and wrapped presents and it would affect me not at all. But if the 24 hour garages had to close and I couldn't get the inevitably needed batteries I would have forgotten about that would be annoying. I don't go to pubs and other peoples houses at xmas anyway. I'm very boring.