What is the logic behind the 5 day Christmas rule?

[Sandyplankton]

Just that really because I don't get it. If I choose to bubble up with my mum and sister's households for Christmas and we only see each other between the 23 and the 27, how does it make any difference if I don't leave my mum's house til the 28th, 29th or 30th?

Genuine question.

There is no logic either its safe to mix households or it isn't, the date on the calendar is irrelevant

The only logic I can see is that it stops your going to more than one place to stay - you can't spend a few days with your parents and then a few days with the in-laws for instance. And much easier to enforce for the police if they can basically leave everyone alone between those dates but shut down any parties outside that time. If they made the window longer there could be a lot of pre/post Christmas small-ish parties with all different groups of people claiming they were Christmas bubbles.

There is no logic. I think it's an attempt to prevent an utter free for all. So there is some semblance of "rules".

Some people will pay no attention and would have done so anyway but I guess they are hoping that waverers will maybe modify a bit.

Most people I know had planned for Christmas get togethers Before the giver said what the rules were. No matter what was said, people were going to do it anyway.

Most people I know had planned for Christmas get togethers Before the giver said what the rules were. No matter what was said, people were going to do it anyway

So now instead of having a small gathering, they have a larger one with 5 households instead of 2.

The 4 govts have essentially enabled people to take the piss even more.

It's not logical. The fact that human beings need each other, with physical manifestations of affection, and to interact face to face, also to have times of outside of day-to-day existence as in festivals, is not logical either. We're not robots. And unfortunately that makes us vulnerable to pathogens that have evolved to exploit that.

But if we were robots we'd be vulnerable to something else. Rust, perhaps?

OP, so your son is going to end up being out of school for a month?

There’s no logic.
Just do what you like.
Everyone I know will be.

OP, so your son is going to end up being out of school for a month?

Possibly longer as we may move in with my CEV mother to care for her. So I may keep him out til Spring.

He's four. In my home country children don't even attend school until they are seven or eight.

I’ve decided I’m going to go apeshit!

@Sandyplankton

OP, so your son is going to end up being out of school for a month?

Possibly longer as we may move in with my CEV mother to care for her. So I may keep him out til Spring.

He's four. In my home country children don't even attend school until they are seven or eight.

Oh sorry. I thought you meant just keeping him off for Christmas, I didn’t realise you were deregistering him.

She doesn’t have to deregister him if he’s only 4. He isn’t compulsory school age. Unless he turns 5 before January he is fine for that term too.

None, government don't do logic

@ineedaholidaynow

There is no logic, but they knew many people would be seeing families whatever the rules, so tried to relax the rules in the hope that the people who were going to mix will try and do it more carefully.

They really don't want people mixing as mixing households indoors is one of the worst things you can do for the spread of the virus, hence all the precautions they are giving @RandomMess

The chances are hospitals and schools are going to be carnage in January and February, but as so many people have said on MN they have done their own risk assessments and will be meeting family, regardless of this fact.

This. They must think people will meet anyway and if they allow it they can give guidance on how to meet more safely.

We’re still just keeping to meeting outdoors over this Xmas & next year when it’s all over will have our usual big family parties

There is no logic but plenty of common sense. You don't have to visit family over Christmas so weigh up the risks and make a decision, knowing that if you do decide it's safe to see granny it's not against the law - UK Gov website: 'The rules on forming and using a Christmas bubble will be the law'. The 5 days is to allow for shift workers so that everyone gets a day even if it's not on the 25th. It also makes sense to give people something to look forward to and a reason to boost the economy by spending money on extra food and gifts. I don't mind that it's not a logical decision - it's the sensible one.

knowing that if you do decide it's safe to see granny it's not against the law - UK Gov website: 'The rules on forming and using a Christmas bubble will be the law'.

Wait, it is the law or it isn't?

@Sandyplankton
I meant that the only-3-households and the dates are defined in law - sorry I wasn't clear. I'm used to posters arguing against masks etc, saying that mandatory doesn't mean it was the law. Need another coffee I think.

There is no logic, it’s an absolutely stupid idea. He’s just doing it to get votes.

@RandomMess

Did you realise you're not supposed to stay over??

When you start looking at the recommends they basically don't want you getting together at all...

Of course people will be able to stay over, that’s the whole point and why people are allowed to do the same across the whole UK. Do you expect people to drive to and from every day?

From the guidance:
“If someone is in your Christmas bubble, you can visit each other’s homes and stay overnight, including in private rented accommodation. You can also go to a place of worship together, or meet in public outdoor spaces.”
www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family#forming-a-christmas-bubble

Yes I don't see anything in the guidelines that says you can't stay over.

Quite the opposite - it specifically says that you can stay overnight