The countries that have managed this well have communicated a clear and consistent message. Helped people to understand the facts and to make risk assessments, both in terms of their own risk and the wider risk to others.
This arbitrary constant changing of illogical "rules" is ridiculous, ineffective, infantilising and pointless. This would have gone so much better with competent governance, early border closures, proper T&T, clear and consistent guidance and above all, treating people as adults. I think much of the childish behaviour is a direct result if people being treated like children and rebelling because it has gone on like this for so long with absurdity after absurdity.
Different people's circumstances will be different. If people have elderly or vulnerable relatives, and are able to isolate for a significant period before meeting for Christmas to protect them, and all parties are happy with that arrangement then it is totally unreasonable for the Government to prohibit that.
Of course there will be many for whom that is not possible or the risks involved are not acceptable. But that is not a reason to prohibit it for all, sad as it is. Just as it is sad that many people have to work each Christmas; but we don't then ban everyone else celebrating to make it "fair".
The Government have deliberately given the impression that the guidelines are regulations, and that the regulations are legislation but that is not the case. For now, at least, our fundamental rights remain in law and regulations do not override or take legal precedence over those legislated rights. Everybody has a legal right to a private life and a family life and if you need to see your family for this purpose it is totally legal to do so.