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What will your Christmas be like this year?

Antares35

After the year we've had (and are still having), what kind of Christmas are you in the mood for/ planning? I've heard some people have started shopping online already. Who knows what way the pubs will be. Probably won't be any office Christmas parties!

I know it sounds terrible, but I'm not really even in the mood for Christmas this year and wouldn't mind if it was just cancelled, and we had a big hooley in 2021! We had our first child this year, and OH's family still haven't met her, because of covid (they live abroad), and I just feel so sad about that

In the past, I would have been into buying lots of presents for close family and sometimes lost the run of myself. This year, I can't be bothered trying to get lots of gifts online. I've already floated the idea of just one gift each and everyone is in agreement. Christmas day, just have a nice meal and a bottle of wine. It's definitely going to be simple and low key for us - perhaps it should have been like that all along!

What are other people's plans/ feelings?

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niallo76

screamer wrote: »

My Christmas will be as it always is- what I make it. For me it’s not about work parties or pub crawls or even piles of stuff. It’s downtime with my family, about the only real time we have off together in a year, and I love it for just that peace and quiet, to be thankful for the past year and hopeful for the next. Christmas cocooning about describes it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll make sure the lights are nicer and brighter than ever.

lovely description of Christmas,it is what you make it,exactly!.

Still hate the 2020 term cocooning tho...

Graces7

niallo76 wrote: »

Still hate the 2020 term cocooning tho...

Why? Mine is snug and safe, warm and cosy. Peaceful. And a cocoon is also a place to grow and develop? Perfect!

RGARDINR

Probably won't be as many Santa's in shopping centres etc. Say kids at one side of room etc. Won't be allowed sit on Santa's lap incase poor santa has it.

Neyite

Gruffalox wrote: »

I like a quiet Christmas so no change. A rest in midwinter.
I was thinking of putting lights on a few outdoor trees. Have not done it before. The lights are one of my favourite things. Maybe if everyone did a couple of trees in their gardens with lights this year it would be cheering for all of us. Tasteful now, people. Delicate little twinkling stars here and there. Don't go overboard!

*puts away Flashing Neon Plastic Santa*

Apart from maybe Santa's grotto and going ice skating changing this year, it's not going to be a whole lot different to our usual Christmas.

We downsized Christmas some years ago. Both of us have leave from Christmas eve to new year so it's a good break and downtime to hang out with each other. Adult do a Kris kringle, and children get a gift from their godparents only. I do everything ahead of time (baked Christmas cakes last night) so that by 23rd, all the food is in, presents are got and the 24th can be spent indoors not having to battle Christmas crowds. Santa doesn't go overboard either. A main present, a surprise and a stocking. Then with a present from mum and dad & either grandparents too, that's loads!

We get a real tree, I love the smell. And every year I buy one or two ornaments for it that best reflects the year - I've already got one for this year.

Christmas eve is spent sipping mulled wine and assembling a gingerbread house, board games and maybe snuggle up for a movie. Christmas day is all about food. I like cooking and like to make as much of the food as I can from scratch. And trifle for breakfast St.Stephens day. Obviously.

Gruffalux

Neyite wrote: »

*puts away Flashing Neon Plastic Santa*

Apart from maybe Santa's grotto and going ice skating changing this year, it's not going to be a whole lot different to our usual Christmas.

We downsized Christmas some years ago. Both of us have leave from Christmas eve to new year so it's a good break and downtime to hang out with each other. Adult do a Kris kringle, and children get a gift from their godparents only. I do everything ahead of time (baked Christmas cakes last night) so that by 23rd, all the food is in, presents are got and the 24th can be spent indoors not having to battle Christmas crowds. Santa doesn't go overboard either. A main present, a surprise and a stocking. Then with a present from mum and dad & either grandparents too, that's loads!

We get a real tree, I love the smell. And every year I buy one or two ornaments for it that best reflects the year - I've already got one for this year.

Christmas eve is spent sipping mulled wine and assembling a gingerbread house, board games and maybe snuggle up for a movie. Christmas day is all about food. I like cooking and like to make as much of the food as I can from scratch. And trifle for breakfast St.Stephens day. Obviously.

You have a flashing neon plastic Santa!!! :eek:

eviltwin

I'll be working. This is one year I don't mind.

sekond

Our Christmas is fairly quiet in recent years. Nice food, plenty of walks and films. The occasional board game ir jigsaw if the weather is bad. Only one big family gathering that may not happen for other reasons anyway.

We were meant to go to my Mum's on Christmas Day this year but will try to persuade her to come to us instead, because that way she won't get paranoid about wiping down every surface we might have touched.

The only complications I can see are the she doesn't like to stay long when she visits anywhere these days, and prefers to sit near an open door or window, which wont be too cozy at Christmas, and sitting together watching TV could be hard because she flinches when the kids come within about 3 metres of her.

[Deleted User]

Run my model railway. I even have the Coca Cola Christmas Trainset. Better to put in the front window that the Christmas Tree.

Oh, and ofcourse following self-conferred "Toyman's" exploits on the Late Late Toy Show here on boards - not watching or recording the show itself. Can't stand the sage sounding little %&*&s reeling off their piséogs and the other dancing crowd which take up half the show.

mr_edge_to_you

I'm looking forward to a very quiet Christmas with my wife and two kids. Normally its a big hoohaa either with either my family or my wife's.

This year we've already decided we're just going to our own thing and then there's no stress regardless of whatever happens.

Can't wait for it. Its looking like Santa will be bringing Lego so that guarantees me quality time with the kids!

Edit: I'm currently unemployed and have plenty of time so instead of Christmas lights this year, I'm putting up "Winter Lights" in October. Spread a bit cheer!

completedit

Will be grand. Honestly, it's about time we got over the spending splurge at Christmas. There's nothing wrong with it but people act like it HAS TO BE DONE and that hell will freeze over if they don't. Need to stop seeing being good with spending. I know there's a buzz to it as well but come on, let's use this Christmas to chill the **** out. Will be nice to have a Christmas which doesn't revolve around endless nights out

IAMAMORON

I will think about it after Halloween thank you.

The leaves are still on the trees people.

SusanC10

Christmas Day itself won't be that different. We started doing our own thing for Christmas years ago - Husband, Kids & I.
I am glad of that especially this year. Some years we have had friends over for the Dinner. This year we won't have anyone over. It will be unlikely that we will go to Mass though we would normally at Christmas.
The Kids are too old for Santa so we don't need to worry about that.

So it will be a quiet one with good food and nice wine and gifts for each other. A long walk hopefully, tv and board games and Lego.

We normally go to my Mum's for New Years. She is elderly and lives 3.5 hours drive from us. With the way things are looking, we are unlikely to go.
We didn't go last year as we all got sick with a flu-type thing.
She will miss having us all but she is a practical woman and has lived through greater hardship than this.

Capt'n Midnight

Ush1 wrote: »

Feck Christmas, what about Halloween??

*dusts down very old joke*

Why do programmers always get Christmas and Halloween mixed up?

A: Because DEC 25 = OCT 31.

In other news those money grabbing sons of bachelor SONY already have Sony Xmas and +1 on Freesat 304/5 and Brown Thomas have Christmas shop open. Christmas is now like the Hobbit movies. The original story was good but it was a short story and diluting it ruins it. “I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something.”
https://tolkieneditor.wordpress.com/ - there's aversion of The Hobbit trimmed down a lot.

Best Christmas ever was the one after I graduated. It was amazing.

Because every Christmas before that was a time of studying and feeling guilty because I wasn't studying enough for the January exams.

Like that Belgian town Christmas should be banned until the last two weeks of December. Otherwise it's just overpriced merchandising because lots of the stuff will be cheaper a week later.

BTW and you want to order crap from China now is the time, before the Christmas rush and the new International Postal Union rates apply.

[Deleted User]

Well the goose I have been feeding for months is not getting pardoned anyway. So have to find some people to feed.

Never did any kind of Santa at home or in shops or grottos with the kids so don't have to be concerned with any of that either luckily.

So I guess this christmas will be the same as any other - though slightly less sociable involving some less people.

smellyoldboot

The exact same one as last year. A lovely quiet one with just my own little family. I wouldn't have it any other way. CoVid will have zero effect.

Olivia Pope

I just hope I can spend the day with my parents as I have every Christmas of my life. If they restrict how many siblings/households (we all live in diff counties) can mix in one house it will make for an interesting decision making process. That's assuming that we can travel from county to county. For me Christmas is about family, food and wine really. As in the four or five days around Christmas day.

Spanish Eyes

Christmas Day is very overrated. Kids will enjoy it once you look out for them. Adults need to be adults and behave accordingly. It is one flipping day.

By all means eat and drink what you want, do the Royle Family thing and slump on the sofa, but it is just another day really.

I'd be more concerned about the dog days after THE day, you know, when nothing happens and the only thing to do is go to town and shop in the sales or whatever. Can't see the sales being a thing this year. Not that I care, never subscribed anyway. Just saying.

Our family never did the big get togethers anyway since our parents died, we now rotate a morning meet up with nibbles and whatever and float back to our own traditional day. Works perfectly. There is nothing worse than being stuck in someone else's house for hours on end and wishing you were in your own house. Just me I suppose!

gogo

I love Christmas, always have. Haven’t done the whole 12 pubs thing since I had kids, just our family and visits to the siblings and in laws, this year will be no different for us than any other year. Family time, food and films.

I’ve started to pick up small bits for the kids, early but Ken blacks and argos start there toy sales around now and hard not to get sucked into it, saving a few euros on stuff so don’t really mind.

Last year the bishop held a children’s mass on Christmas Eve and I’m the same as most people I’d say when it comes to mass but it was genuinely magical, there is nothing like seeing over a hundred kids trying to sit still on Christmas Eve to bring it all to life, the bishop sang jingle bells and the like, it really was an amazing community gathering and beat any reunion I’ve ever had over the years with friends at Christmas, seeing people I grew up with their own kids and families, it made the day.. that I guess won’t happen this year... but sure it will be special all the same.

jester77

Mine will be the same as the last few years, staying put and enjoying it with the kids. Haven't been back in Ireland for Christmas in 5 years. Too much hassle, we would rotate between 3 sets of families every 3 years and it was a pain. Cold weather, delayed/cancelled flights, dragging presents, getting stuck in airports, family arguments depending where we were. F*ck all that, now I sit here, put up the tree, good food, go the the xmas markets and have fun with the kids without any stress.

Purple Mountain

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well the goose I have been feeding for months is not getting pardoned anyway. So have to find some people to feed.

Never did any kind of Santa at home or in shops or grottos with the kids so don't have to be concerned with any of that either luckily.

So I guess this christmas will be the same as any other - though slightly less sociable involving some less people.

I forgot that Santa's grotto will be redundant this year.
A lot of businesses depend hugely on festival like events around Santa visiting.

branie2

Hopefully a nice peaceful one

stevek93

Normally meet up with family I rarely see during the year, this year it won't be happening.

ToxicPaddy

Low key one planned this year.

I love Xmas and really look forward to it, added to that we have a new arrival due next month, our first so that definitely adds to joy and excitement.

However my better half lost her father unexpectedly during the year and she was very close to him so there will be some tears. Her mum is over with us, so that too will bring a sombre mood as it's a big loss for her too.

Guess all in all, 2020 will be a year of mixed emotions and Xmas will make it all the more difficult.

No big celebrations, just a quiet one, some nice food and a few drinks.

Spanish Eyes

Christmas is totally an advertising blx.

You can see your family any time (Covid willing, I know).

Time to ditch the sentimentality and just do what is safe now.

Itssoeasy

I used to like Christmas but since my maternal grandfather died ten years ago two days before Christmas Day i honesty can’t be arsed one way or the other what happens around Christmas. I don’t begrudge people who love Christmas and wish I was like that but I’m not and I just don’t like it anymore. I mean Christmas Eve is a better day than Christmas Day itself which is a big let down. And while me and my brothers haven’t always been at home on the day we’ve always been in Ireland and this year my youngest brother is outside Ireland which I’m sure would have altered the mood without COVID.

Onshuh

Meself and the missus were chatting about this a few weeks back and regardless of the situation we're going to make sure the kids have a good Christmas and sure that's what it's all about really. When the kids come along it's all about them and rightly so. If I feel they've had a good Christmas I'll have a good one meself. It'll be strange if we can't do the usual stuff with our parents and siblings but sure we can improvise and make the most of it still.

LordBasil

The day itself is usually quiet and dull in our house so this year won't be really any different but it's going to be the lead up that's going to be radically changed - no buzz around town, no office xmas parties, no mad crowds, no xmas trees or lights in town....utterly dismal

Be prepared for a long winter.

JupiterKid

Chilled and low key, which would be fine. I’m a fairly festive person, but Christmas is usually so over-hyped up already that it can feel like a bit of an anticlimax at times.

We usually go away the last few years so if it’s to be spent at home - which is grand, I will just have to learn to cook a full turkey in the oven properly. :pac::p
.

JustAThought

I had to do/ attend/watch!?!!! a family memorial Mass on the internet last weekend
it was really wierd even thou the Priest was
miked up and did a briilliant
fire and brimstone sermon that would put Rupert Murdock to shame.
I caN’t imagine being let off attending Mass in Christmas day but I can’t figure hiw it will work -
especially with the boxes of Quality St and cups
of tea so handy! That will be wierd!! Will we have to kneel? Or sit around in armchairs? Or repeat all the right words along?? Its going to be a new experience!!

I’ll really miss the run up to it and all the lunches/ nights out/ meeting with people you only meet once a year. I’m not sure if I’ll travel
myself this tear ir use it as an excuse to stay in my own home for a change - if there is another lockdown by then I definately won’t be let out/in so that will be sad. Any recipies for roasting a turkey in a toaster!? Or how to make christmas puddings? (Im ok on the brandy butter!)

Will definTely be going all out on the garden decorations and maYbe buy something outrageous like a gardenfull of dancing reindeers to outrage good taste and mortify the neighbours.

Graces7

LordBasil wrote: »

The day itself is usually quiet and dull in our house so this year won't be really any different but it's going to be the lead up that's going to be radically changed - no buzz around town, no office xmas parties, no mad crowds, no xmas trees or lights in town…

Sounds quite lovely!

And is how Christmas is for me by choice and circumstance. It starts on Advent Sunday when the Advent Wreath goes up.... as I can no longer get to the Church this will be here this year.

Then it really starts on Christmas Eve, with the carols from Kings.