Do you think lockdown will be lifted for Christmas?

[BlusteryShowers]

I can't help but feel quietly confident that there will be an announcement some time in December allowing an easing of lockdown measures for a short period over Christmas.

I propose that the govt suspect many would flout rules any way, so they may as well make it Part Of The Plan and take credit for their benevolence.

The timing of the announcement would be interesting. The spending that goes into Christmas is huge and lots of businesses rely on it. Can we even afford a very very low key Christmas?

Does anyone else think this?

[tootyfruitypickle]

For DD it would be seeing a musical. We had three booked and they were all cancelled. I’m not minimising how shit it is, just that we all have things that really, really matter to us which 2020 has compromised .

[Choosingmyring]

I’m embarrassed for the people who can’t find a way to put other people before themselves for one Christmas out of the what ... 70? you’ll have in this life. Grow up! It’s one bloody year (as it stands).

[RasberryRoyale]

It wouldn’t surprise me if we are told not to go to each other’s homes. However I don’t know anyone, my own Immediate family excluded, who will comply.

[Chaotic45]

@Choosingmyring I agree with you. It's amazing to read that people won't consider that maybe, just this year, they can't have what they want. It's possibly this sense of entitlement that has created many of the issues that we are currently facing.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

I don't think so. I think they know if they lift it then everyone will meet on mass, whereas if they don't SOME people will meet on mass and flaunt the rules.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I imagine a compromise will be tighter restrictions in the run up and then allowed to mix with one bubble (irrespective of number) for the day itself.

[CKBJ]

Obviously it’s a guessing game at the moment but I can’t see any relaxation of restrictions as they stated today for the next 6months, if anything restrictions are more likely to be heavier in my opinion. Why risk a spike 2weeks after Xmas along with peak flu to celebrate Christmas. Yes it’s crap but so has the whole year.

[BlusteryShowers]

People spend money fixing their home up a bit For Christmas.

People get their hair done and buy new clothes For Christmas.

People spend lots on last minute panic gifts because Susan's bought you a lovely Jo Malone candle and you've only got her a Body Shop smelly set.

Not to mention Christmas parties and all the spending that goes into that.

People get a bit fat For Christmas and then take out gym memberships

Rightly or wrongly, that's a lot of money not ringing through the tills during these winter months. I just can't imagine them doing nothing to try and stop us from just going very small and spending next to nothing.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@Chaotic45 yes I will be carrying on regardless for Christmas. I have completely followed all the rules all year, I have been careful and sensible. I have ‘done my bit’ and will do so until the 21st of December. For those 2-3 days of Christmas, I won’t. So shoot me.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@Choosingmyring how much risk am I ACTUALLY putting on anyone if I go from being in my house all the time, to being at my mums for a couple of days, and then going back to staying in my house? Who do you suggest I will spread to in the unlikely event I pick something up?

[Heatherjayne1972]

I hope they relax things a bit for Boxing Day as well
It’s a big deal in my family. Big celebration
The ex has the kids Christmas Day and my lot do Christmas part 2
It’ll be such a shame if we can’t

[halcyondays]

If people who live alone can bubble with a household, then I can’t see what the issue is really.

[cuppycakey]

No, I suspect we will have lockdown imposed by mid November and it will be in place until well into 2021, possibly until March/April.

I love Christmas as much as anyone else but would rather have a low key/non event this year and have all my loved ones survive to see all of 2021.

[Choosingmyring]

@BuffaloCauliflower I’m not a scientist. I don’t know the answer to your question. But I do know they have their reasons for these restrictions and if they don’t lift them for Christmas it’s not your place to just decide you’re doing your own thing. So selfish.

[OverTheRubicon]

Of course not. It is prime time for everyone to infect grandma, if anything they would be likely to crack down more.

[ohthegoats]

It's just a day.

Pick a day next summer, make it Christmas. Easy.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@Choosingmyring then I’ll be selfish quite happy to be so for the sake of my mental health.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Not everyone has an elderly grandma they need to be concerned about

[Choosingmyring]

I might lose my wedding which is planned for October. A ‘once in a lifetime’ (hopefully) day. Many others have already had weddings cancelled. People have been buried without lots of their friends and family there to say goodbye. Operations and treatments delayed. But Buffalo needs Christmas. Couldn’t roll my eyes harder at this point.

[ancientgran]

WRT other religions, I do agree that then shouldn't be discriminated against, however, Christianity is the official religion of the country and the calendar, bank holidays etc are based on the Christian calendar. So it could be argued that we already do treat Christian holidays differently in order to justify. Weren't we in lockdown for Easter, the most important Christian festival.

[Chaotic45]

Anyone who is focussing on Christmas issues atm is completely missing the gravity of what is happening to many people right NOW.

it's ridiculous and entitled to claim some sort of essential need to celebrate in a particular way.

I have sympathy for those with strong faith, as they may miss the chance to mark Christmas as they would usually do. But presumably they would be able to put others needs before theirs so will be able to accept doing the right thing.

[Littleposh]

@pjmask

I doubt it. How will all the people who had their Eid celebrations ruined feel about that?

This. And every other religion practised in the UK that has had to have celebrations curbed.

No it won't be lifted by Christmas and this is quite possibly the least likely of all the stupid C19 questions I've heard be asked

[Southernsoftie76]

No, the virus doesn’t know it’s Christmas and god knows what state the NHS will be in by then. I’m preparing for the worst so anything but the worst will be a massive bonus.

[GetOffYourHighHorse]

@Choosingmyring

I’m embarrassed for the people who can’t find a way to put other people before themselves for one Christmas out of the what ... 70? you’ll have in this life. Grow up! It’s one bloody year (as it stands).

I know!

We had one Christmas where sadly a family member was critically ill and we just forgot Christmas that year. People really need to get a grip. Have lunch, watch telly and just be grateful if your families all stay well.

[TantieTowie]

[quote BuffaloCauliflower]@UrbanGreen my ‘basic’ Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (all one big celebration here) involves 15 people. We spend shed loads on food and drink as a collective for the whole period. There would be no way to reduce it to 6 without making all the other people very unhappy, all the people are equally important. It wouldn’t be Christmas without it all.[/quote]
Three x 5 and a zoom Christmas?