Christmas Out of Season 2020

Loughc · 07-01-2020 10:21am #1

Cheap Christmas Treats in January?
Someone with their tree still up in February?
A Christmas film on TV in the middle of March?
Fairy lights for sale in April?

If so, this is the thread for you! Come in and let us know if you've seen something magical and festive at any random time of the year.
And photos of anything festive are always very welcome.

Loughc · 07-01-2020 10:08pm

Is anyone else disappointed by the discounted chocolate in the supermarkets? Dunnes didn’t have anything really. If anything it’s now I need the chocolate more than Christmas

DvB · 07-01-2020 10:36pm

Loughc wrote: »

Is anyone else disappointed by the discounted chocolate in the supermarkets? Dunnes didn’t have anything really. If anything it’s now I need the chocolate more than Christmas

More than happy to stay away from all things chocolate until Easter myself... ate way too much of it over Christmas.

gidget · 08-01-2020 12:36am

Still have an unopened tin of biscuits, Celebrations sweets & a box of Dairy Milk as well as various leftover Heroes, Milk Tray & Lindt so i’m going to be engulfed in chocolate heaven for a little while longer though I’m being good & I’ve been increasing my fruit intake since returning to work on Monday & it will be my first day back in the gym on Saturday (God help me)

Jude13 · 08-01-2020 6:51am

The silver lining here (where there is a 100% sin tax on pork) is that pork products are massively discounted, though their use by date is in the next day or two. I plan on hitting the one shop near me that sells pork this weekend and stocking up.

DvB · 08-01-2020 9:38am

Driving around to the train station this morning & one house in our estate still had their full regalia of external lights up blinking away... having seen that I had a look out for the one apartment that for the last few years has kept their external lights on until near the end of January (I'd normally see it in the evenings when out running) but the entire block was in darkness & decoration free this morning, must check it tonight when I'm out for a run.

Loughc · 08-01-2020 9:48am

DvB wrote: »

Driving around to the train station this morning & one house in our estate still had their full regalia of external lights up blinking away... having seen that I had a look out for the one apartment that for the last few years has kept their external lights on until near the end of January (I'd normally see it in the evenings when out running) but the entire block was in darkness & decoration free this morning, must check it tonight when I'm out for a run.

I noticed a good few last night in my estate when out walking the dog all with the external lights still on and shining, I think a few places will leave them up until this weekend. I know I wouldn't have the energy or time to take them down after work during the week.

TRS30 · 08-01-2020 9:51am

DvB wrote: »

Driving around to the train station this morning & one house in our estate still had their full regalia of external lights up blinking away... having seen that I had a look out for the one apartment that for the last few years has kept their external lights on until near the end of January (I'd normally see it in the evenings when out running) but the entire block was in darkness & decoration free this morning, must check it tonight when I'm out for a run.

Only saw one house with full compliment of lights blazing away on way home last night. A few with one outside decoration still up but not light. Estate looks so dark now

Scarinae · 08-01-2020 7:04pm

Jude13 wrote: »

The silver lining here (where there is a 100% sin tax on pork) is that pork products are massively discounted, though their use by date is in the next day or two. I plan on hitting the one shop near me that sells pork this weekend and stocking up.

Fill your freezer with all the pork!

We still have all our decorations up, we'll probably take most of them down this weekend but I'm tempted to leave the outdoor lights up. They look very pretty in the snow and nobody else around here seems to have taken down their outdoor lights yet.

Posy · 08-01-2020 7:45pm

Next year, the first day of 'Not Christmas', the 7th January, is on a Thursday. I'm definitely leaving everything up until the Saturday 9th then!

I have all my decorations down now, garlands, wreath, crib etc... the main sitting room tree is turned off (haven't the time or energy to put it away after work) but my hall tree and kitchen trees are still shining brightly, and will do so until the weekend.

I seen a few wreaths still on doors when walking the dog yesterday evening, which was cheery.

Loughc · 08-01-2020 8:35pm

I counted 11 houses with decorations still up tonight when out for my walk. Very festive.

Loughc · 08-01-2020 8:39pm

Posy wrote: »

Next year, the first day of 'Not Christmas', the 7th January, is on a Thursday. I'm definitely leaving everything up until the Saturday 9th

I seen a few wreaths still on doors when walking the dog yesterday evening, which was cheery.

Also fantastic idea. I’ll be doing the same myself!!

DvB · 08-01-2020 10:39pm

Loughc wrote: »

I counted 11 houses with decorations still up tonight when out for my walk. Very festive.

Not one left out our way. Driving home from my inlaws at 8.30 and didnt see a single house decorated on the way and that was from D13 to D15.

harr · 08-01-2020 10:51pm

Two houses near me still have everthing up and lights turned on ...a number of years ago one particular house had everything still in place and lights on till beginning of February. Maybe the occupants had a good reason or maybe they just love Christmas but mid November till February is a bit much.
One thing I will be doing this year is saving a regular amount each week from this week to off set the cost. Kids are getting older now and we found this year particularly expensive.

jogdish · 08-01-2020 10:54pm

picked up a set of 300 net fairy lights in Woodies for €21, meh 'deal'

Loughc · 08-01-2020 11:22pm

Just seen ads for Christmas2u on virgin media.

TRS30 · 09-01-2020 9:54am

Loughc wrote: »

Just seen ads for Christmas2u on virgin media.

Will be paying for the Christmas just gone for another couple of months

Loughc · 10-01-2020 12:28am

Donaghmede shopping centre still has it’s Christmas decorations up inside. Like all of them

Graces7 · 10-01-2020 9:03am

Observing Orthodox here; Christmas was January 7th and New Year is January 14th.

DvB · 10-01-2020 9:45am

Loughc wrote: »

Donaghmede shopping centre still has it’s Christmas decorations up inside. Like all of them

To be fair that shopping centre is still in the 1970's

Loughc · 10-01-2020 10:06am

DvB wrote: »

To be fair that shopping centre is still in the 1970's

Oldest shopping centre n Dublin... or so I'm led to believe :pac:

DvB · 10-01-2020 10:07am

Loughc wrote: »

Oldest shopping centre n Dublin... or so I'm led to believe :pac:

I'd well believe it.
I know it was the site of the first Kays kitchen too!

TRS30 · 10-01-2020 11:10am

Loughc wrote: »

Oldest shopping centre n Dublin... or so I'm led to believe :pac:

Showing my age however when I was in short pants, this and Northside where the only shopping centres going. Getting to go upstairs to the toyshop was a rare treat.

DvB · 10-01-2020 11:23am

TRS30 wrote: »

Showing my age however when I was in short pants, this and Northside where the only shopping centres going. Getting to go upstairs to the toyshop was a rare treat.

Remember it well. We had relatives living in Baldoyle & we used to pop in there occasionally, remember getting some die cast metal battleships in that upstairs toy shop (convinced its moved unit though, always remember it being were the upper floor of Dunnes is now) when i was about 7 or 8... its one of my earliest memories now. Amazing how much you forget as you get older.

Never liked Northside SC.

TRS30 · 10-01-2020 12:12pm

DvB wrote: »

Remember it well. We had relatives living in Baldoyle & we used to pop in there occasionally, remember getting some die cast metal battleships in that upstairs toy shop (convinced its moved unit though, always remember it being were the upper floor of Dunnes is now) when i was about 7 or 8... its one of my earliest memories now. Amazing how much you forget as you get older.

Never liked Northside SC.

Haven't been inside in years. I have a vague memory of it being in front of the steps when you went upstairs.

Have reconnected with a couple of friends from school who haven't seen in 20+ years. When we chat about 'the old days' its amazing how we all remember different things!

Posy · 10-01-2020 3:22pm

The Northside has had a refurbishment and makeover in the last couple of years.

It's caught up to 1992 now.

Loughc · 10-01-2020 8:34pm

Posy wrote: »

The Northside has had a refurbishment and makeover in the last couple of years.

It's caught up to 1992 now.

This is true :P

Caranica · 10-01-2020 9:08pm

So, I decided to plug the tree back in tonight. It's been a mental week so was planning to take it down tomorrow but had plugged it out.

Had a crap day in work today, was supposed to be off as it's my birthday but had to go in. So I'm being nice to me tonight and I wanted to plug the tree in, so I did

Caranica · 10-01-2020 10:35pm

Loughc wrote: »

Is anyone else disappointed by the discounted chocolate in the supermarkets? Dunnes didn’t have anything really. If anything it’s now I need the chocolate more than Christmas

Tesco in Cabra tonight:

Celebrations tub €1.50 (dated February)
Elite teacakes tin €3
Tubes sweets (jelly tots, buttons etc) 57c
225g Butler's chocolates €2.12 (dated September so great presents)

Had other stuff too but didn't purchase those so not sure of the prices

kitten_k · 10-01-2020 10:37pm

Happy birthday Caranica

fundi · 11-01-2020 12:21am

Only 349 days or so to go until next Christmas.

Mam of 4 · 11-01-2020 12:24am

Happy Birthday Caranica , hope the lights on the tree brightened your day

Caranica · 11-01-2020 11:11am

Thanks kitten_k and Mam of 4! Putting the lights on definitely brightened my birthday. I will try to take it down today, success not guaranteed

Loughc · 11-01-2020 8:47pm

Counted 13 trees still lit from clarehall to Donaghmede tonight.

Loughc · 11-01-2020 8:49pm

Also got the large Christmas smarties tubes in Tesco clarehall tonight for 57cent. Needed after a long ass week. The diet can wait until Monday :P

DvB · 11-01-2020 9:49pm

Sitting down with herself to watch 'Last Christmas'

We both said we're over Christmas but kinda want to not wait a whole year to watch it.

Caranica · 11-01-2020 10:42pm

DvB wrote: »

Sitting down with herself to watch 'Last Christmas'

We both said we're over Christmas but kinda want to not wait a whole year to watch it.

I wish I'd never seen it. Was so disappointed!

DvB · 12-01-2020 10:58am

Caranica wrote: »

I wish I'd never seen it. Was so disappointed!

Ah it was okay, just. The start was really poor though, we were tempted to turn it off but said we'd give it a chance and ended up watching it all. The 'twist' was terrible, even the mrs copped it and she never sees twists coming and freely admits it.

As pretty as she is Emilia Clarke is not a great actor, even in something as vanilla as this.

Would have expected alot more from any project with George Michael associated with it, doubt if he was still alive it would have been this!

4.5/10

Loughc · 12-01-2020 8:58pm

Loughc wrote: »

Counted 13 trees still lit from clarehall to Donaghmede tonight.

Down to 3 now.

Noticed the mystic/magic in the air when out for a walk is gone. Even on a full moon night

Roll on September.

Littlehorny · 13-01-2020 8:32am

Loughc wrote: »

Down to 3 now.

Noticed the mystic/magic in the air when out for a walk is gone. Even on a full moon night

Roll on September.

There is two or three houses still lit up here as well (Ashbourne). Do some of the Eastern Europeans celebrate a form of little Christmas around the 12th of January or something?
Must look it up

Loughc · 13-01-2020 8:47am

Littlehorny wrote: »

There is two or three houses still lit up here as well (Ashbourne). Do some of the Eastern Europeans celebrate a form of little Christmas around the 12th of January or something?
Must look it up

I think you’re right!!

TRS30 · 13-01-2020 9:58am

Mam of 4 wrote: »

Happy Birthday Caranica , hope the lights on the tree brightened your day

Belated happy returns. I'm a believer in doing whatever makes you happy so if you want to light your tree, go for it

DvB · 13-01-2020 10:10am

Littlehorny wrote: »

There is two or three houses still lit up here as well (Ashbourne). Do some of the Eastern Europeans celebrate a form of little Christmas around the 12th of January or something?
Must look it up

One of the Polish mums at our teams Hurling tournament yesterday said they still had all their decorations still up internally, had taken down the external ones because everyone else had but said traditionally they leave them up until Jan 12th. So that makes more sense now.

It seems we were part of a trend to take them down on NYD as pretty much everyone else said they did the same & had them down before going back to work on the Thursday. & there was me thinking I'd be explaining that one over & over.

CheerLouth · 13-01-2020 12:58pm

I couldn't take my decorations down on New Years Day. It's actually Christmas Day Mark 3 in our house (2 being St. Stephen's Day). We have a big dinner and chill out. I find taking decorations down very stressful so I have to wait, I like leaving it until as close as possible to the 6th.

jr86 · 13-01-2020 1:52pm

CheerLouth wrote: »

I couldn't take my decorations down on New Years Day. It's actually Christmas Day Mark 3 in our house (2 being St. Stephen's Day). We have a big dinner and chill out. I find taking decorations down very stressful so I have to wait, I like leaving it until as close as possible to the 6th.

Speaking of which - NYD is a Friday this year! So two full days off after

I much prefer how the Christmas schedule falls in 2020 myself

Sure won't feel it coming around again :pac:

Loughc · 13-01-2020 2:18pm

jr86 wrote: »

Speaking of which - NYD is a Friday this year! So two full days off after

I much prefer how the Christmas schedule falls in 2020 myself

Sure won't feel it coming around again :pac:

Same!! The 2020 schedule falls very sweetly this year.

DvB · 13-01-2020 2:24pm

I reckon the break will be shorter for me for Christmas 2020. The last 2 I've taken 2 full weeks off, but with our office likely to close on Weds 23rd and come back on Monday 4th I'll probably just go with that & have the little over a week off, unlss the school holidays throw a spanner into the works which they probably will. It'll mean I've more leave to take during the year though if I can.

I loved having 2 full weeks off for Christmas 2018 but for 2019 it felt a little dragged out, so having a shorter break may not be a bad thing, especially as we're planning a lower key one this time around.

jr86 · 13-01-2020 2:31pm

DvB wrote: »

I reckon the break will be shorter for me for Christmas 2020. The last 2 I've taken 2 full weeks off, but with our office likely to close on Weds 23rd and come back on Monday 4th I'll probably just go with that & have the little over a week off, unlss the school holidays throw a spanner into the works which they probably will. It'll mean I've more leave to take during the year though if I can.

I loved having 2 full weeks off for Christmas 2018 but for 2019 it felt a little dragged out, so having a shorter break may not be a bad thing, especially as we're planning a lower key one this time around.

It will be interesting to see how the school holidays work this year.

I assume it'll be Wednesday 23rd December to Wednesday January 6th?

Loughc · 13-01-2020 3:22pm

jr86 wrote: »

It will be interesting to see how the school holidays work this year.

I assume it'll be Wednesday 23rd December to Wednesday January 6th?

I think it could be 21st Dec to Jan 4th

Littlehorny · 13-01-2020 8:58pm

jr86 wrote: »

Speaking of which - NYD is a Friday this year! So two full days off after

I much prefer how the Christmas schedule falls in 2020 myself

Sure won't feel it coming around again :pac:

Love the positivity of your post jr86!

Getting back to a post I made earlier, some European countries celebrate Christmas Day on the 7th of January so I can only assume they leave the decorations up for about a week after.

Also while doing research I learned that The Philippines celebrate Christmas the longest in the world, they start in September and go through till January so it's on for 3 months over there

Loughc · 13-01-2020 9:06pm

Heatons have reduced prices on all their Christmas trees across all stores. The trees look decent too.

Also Lidl have tubs of celebrations for €3 at the moment. €3.

Christmas Out of Season 2020

Comments

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens