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Christmas during Covid times

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Comments

  • #122
    bladespin
    Registered Users Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭bladespin


    bigpink wrote: »
    Never heard of Xmas Eve dinner in a restaurant must be a new Celtic tiger thing.Must people want to be a home not working or relaxing

    Definately not a new thing, one of the 'nice' (read expensive lol) local restaurants run Santa visits on the run in, basically book a family dinner and the kids get a special meet and greet with the big man, it's fantastic, if it goes ahead (they have plans in place so hopefully) it's probably going to be our last one.

    We've always looked at it like an easy dinner the day before all the work.


  • #123
    freshpopcorn
    Registered Users Posts: 30,173 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    bigpink wrote: »
    Never heard of Xmas Eve dinner in a restaurant must be a new Celtic tiger thing.Must people want to be a home not working or relaxing

    Some people met up for more of a lunch on Christmas Eve when they are doing bits and pieces.
    A family Chinese is another popular one.


  • #124
    witchgirl26
    Registered Users Posts: 2,061 ✭✭✭witchgirl26


    bladespin wrote: »
    We've always looked at it like an easy dinner the day before all the work.

    That's exactly how we've always looked at the lunch we do. It means you don't have to think about things on Christmas eve & it gets you out of the house when you could just end up stressing yourself sorting out the next day. Will miss it this year!


  • #125
    JDD
    Registered Users Posts: 1,578 ✭✭✭JDD


    I don't know what we're going to do really. We used to go to my parents for christmas dinner, and my brothers would come too. For the last couple of years we've had the dinner in our house. My husband and brothers don't exactly see eye to eye at the best of times so it's not exactly an idyllic Christmas Day. And my brothers normally bring their (very placid) dog, who my middle child is terrified of (she hates all dogs) so I spend my time calming her down.

    I'd really like to see what Christmas Day would be like, just the five of us. But I don't want to leave my parents alone on Christmas Day either. I know my mum would probably cook Christmas dinner for my brothers, even though that would be slightly breaking the rules. And maybe we could call in the day after. But we'd be totally breaking the rules, with all five of us in my parents house. If the point of not having lunch at ours on Christmas Day is to protect my elderly parents from infection, we're hardly reducing their chances by visiting them a day apart.

    Ho hum. We'll probably have Christmas Day on our own, and I'll like that. It'll just be the visiting around it that we'll have to manage.


  • #126
    Happydays2020
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭Happydays2020


    JDD wrote: »
    I don't know what we're going to do really. We used to go to my parents for christmas dinner, and my brothers would come too. For the last couple of years we've had the dinner in our house. My husband and brothers don't exactly see eye to eye at the best of times so it's not exactly an idyllic Christmas Day. And my brothers normally bring their (very placid) dog, who my middle child is terrified of (she hates all dogs) so I spend my time calming her down.

    I'd really like to see what Christmas Day would be like, just the five of us. But I don't want to leave my parents alone on Christmas Day either. I know my mum would probably cook Christmas dinner for my brothers, even though that would be slightly breaking the rules. And maybe we could call in the day after. But we'd be totally breaking the rules, with all five of us in my parents house. If the point of not having lunch at ours on Christmas Day is to protect my elderly parents from infection, we're hardly reducing their chances by visiting them a day apart.

    Ho hum. We'll probably have Christmas Day on our own, and I'll like that. It'll just be the visiting around it that we'll have to manage.

    Sounds like you have a plan.

    You always have the possibility of a meal the weekend before with your parents and do presents then or even New Year’s Eve.

    Spreads things out and your parents get to have a few nice days out.

    Traditions at Christmas are hard to break but sometimes it just makes sense to change (Covid or not).


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  • #127
    jrosen
    Registered Users Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭jrosen


    bigpink wrote: »
    Never heard of Xmas Eve dinner in a restaurant must be a new Celtic tiger thing.Must people want to be a home not working or relaxing

    Really, You've never known anyone to eat out on xmas eve? We have been doing it since before we were married, so maybe going on 15 years. Loved a ramble around town to soak up the atmosphere and have a nice bite to eat. Never changed once the kids came along and its firmly a christmas tradition for us now. You should try it sometime.


  • #128
    mohawk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,781 ✭✭✭mohawk


    jrosen wrote: »
    Really, You've never known anyone to eat out on xmas eve? We have been doing it since before we were married, so maybe going on 15 years. Loved a ramble around town to soak up the atmosphere and have a nice bite to eat. Never changed once the kids came along and its firmly a christmas tradition for us now. You should try it sometime.

    Agreed it’s definitely a thing. My grandparents used to dis it for years as a break before all the work of cooking for the family on Christmas Day. This is back in the 90’s.


  • #129
    StupidLikeAFox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,697 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »
    My mum’s been driving us insane since spring as she hasn’t been going anywhere. She has a better social life than me usually what with bingo and at this time of year, 25 card games in the local pubs and community centres. We’ve been playing zoom bingo but I had a mad thought for playing 25 over the Christmas period.

    Buy 30 packs of playing cards.
    Buy a ridiculous amount of envelopes.
    Deal as many hands as possible from a pack of cards and put each hand into a separate envelope and the Trump card into another envelope.
    Mark these envelopes as PACK 1 & PACK 1 Trump.
    Repeat above for all of the packs.
    Post envelopes (Pack 1 through to Pack 30) to family and friends that play and are internet savvy.
    Arrange a zoom call over Christmas period
    Players open the same titled envelope and I open the Trump card.
    Play as normal with everyone adjusting their cameras so the cards on the table can be seen.

    What do ya think?

    Have you tried this website? I don't play but a friend was trying to get a game going over lockdown, not sure how it worked out https://irish25s.herokuapp.com/play


  • #130
    Antares35
    Registered Users Posts: 3,845 ✭✭✭Antares35


    Just finished the Christmas shopping online. We decided one gift each only this year (we usually go a bit ott). Wee one is only a few months so have just ordered a few bits for her, play mat, pull along wooden toy and a musical bear. Will be just the three of us (plus dog) Christmas day. Probably the way I would have wanted it anyway. Never into the big city centre píss up, work parties etc. Always thought the Stephens day sales were a bit sick anyway.

    Nice dinner, bottle of red, light the fire, watch a movie when the little one goes down. Happy enough really.


  • #131
    triona1
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭triona1


    .


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  • #132
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    StupidLikeAFox wrote: »
    Have you tried this website? I don't play but a friend was trying to get a game going over lockdown, not sure how it worked out https://irish25s.herokuapp.com/play

    I did. It’s not too bad but my mum couldn’t get the hang of it.


  • #133
    JP Liz V1
    Registered Users Posts: 84,917 ✭✭✭✭JP Liz V1


    can it be saved now level 5 lockdown in place for 6 weeks?
    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #134
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users Posts: 28,797 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    SusanC10 wrote:
    What is realistic to expect?

    Is santie covid compliant, he can fcuk off, if he thinks he's coming down my chimney!


  • #135
    JacksonHeightsOwn
    Registered Users Posts: 1,905 ✭✭✭JacksonHeightsOwn


    Well I think it's safe to say I won't be going out to watch the football in Stephens day in the pub, that's for sure.


  • #136
    SusanC10
    Registered Users Posts: 2,432 ✭✭✭SusanC10


    How is everyone feeling about Christmas now ?

    6 weeks on from my OP. And almost 6 weeks to Christmas.


  • #137
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Every second comment on today's daily thread on Reddit Ireland is "Christmas is fúcked"

    I really don't get this country at times

    I've worked and lived in a few countries and the only places I've seen such a fascination with Christmas is Ireland and the UK. Why is this?

    It's just one year! Just one Christmas we have to sacrifice

    Yet people are going on like entitled children expecting a festive period like 2019

    The mind fúcking boggles


  • #138
    gigantic09
    Registered Users Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gigantic09


    SusanC10 wrote: »
    How is everyone feeling about Christmas now ?

    6 weeks on from my OP. And almost 6 weeks to Christmas.

    Not feeling as positive as last week, re a normalish Xmas. Our progress has slowed and this miserable weather isn't helping the mood. From a selfish point of view ive being using the possibility of pubs opening as something to look forward to, hopefully next weeks numbers show faster progress.


  • #139
    polesheep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,950 ✭✭✭polesheep


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    Every second comment on today's daily thread on Reddit Ireland is "Christmas is fúcked"

    I really don't get this country at times

    I've worked and lived in a few countries and the only places I've seen such a fascination with Christmas is Ireland and the UK. Why is this?

    It's just one year! Just one Christmas we have to sacrifice

    Yet people are going on like entitled children expecting a festive period like 2019

    The mind fúcking boggles

    Perhaps it's best to compare it with the festive periods in the other countries that you have lived in. I think every nation has at least one or two festive events that they are passionate about. Christmas has a certain magic for most Irish people.


  • #140
    PTH2009
    Registered Users Posts: 37,752 ✭✭✭✭PTH2009


    Just don't know anymore tbh

    i'm getting very sick of all these mixed messages by the Government/Dr Tony/NPHET been sent out. Will they just come out and say 100% what is happening. Me thinks they dont have a ****ing clue themselves

    This level 3 plan and then a quick turnover to level 2 is madness. Pubs will be mental if they reopen on the 17th/18th Dec and will be a frustrating experience trying to get in somewhere. Retail should be ok as they can open on the 1st Dec but will still be very busy. Level 3 also helps with family visits

    Love to have the option of going for a christmas pint and hopefully they make the right decision. Morale is ****ed in this country


  • #141
    polesheep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,950 ✭✭✭polesheep


    PTH2009 wrote: »
    Just don't know anymore tbh

    i'm getting very sick of all these mixed messages by the Government/Dr Tony/NPHET been sent out. Will they just come out and say 100% what is happening. Me thinks they dont have a ****ing clue themselves

    This level 3 plan and then a quick turnover to level 2 is madness. Pubs will be mental if they reopen on the 17th/18th Dec and will be a frustrating experience trying to get in somewhere. Retail should be ok as they can open on the 1st Dec but will still be very busy. Level 3 also helps with family visits

    Love to have the option of going for a christmas pint and hopefully they make the right decision. Morale is ****ed in this country

    The darkest hour is just before the dawn. If the vaccine works for those who are vulnerable, then it'll be over very soon.


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  • #142
    gigantic09
    Registered Users Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gigantic09


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    Every second comment on today's daily thread on Reddit Ireland is "Christmas is fúcked"

    I really don't get this country at times

    I've worked and lived in a few countries and the only places I've seen such a fascination with Christmas is Ireland and the UK. Why is this?

    It's just one year! Just one Christmas we have to sacrifice

    Yet people are going on like entitled children expecting a festive period like 2019

    The mind fúcking boggles


    It's a big holiday here,like thanksgiving is in the US etc. Sure its not big in other countries but so what. People have been using it as something to get them through all the sh1te, something to look forward to. Its the one time of year most people have a few days of work, relatives travail home, people socialise, visit neighbours and friends, kids are excited. Historically all the farming work would be finishing up for the year so people would have time to relax and recharge the batteries. Nowadays religion has taken a backseat but it's still a spiritual time of year, season of good will and all that jazz. It's also a sad time for many unfortunately.


  • #143
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    gigantic09 wrote: »
    Its the one time of year relatives travail home, people socialise, visit neighbours and friends


    All of that is the opposite of what we should be doing to prevent spread though. Everything you said there is how Covid loves to infect more people

    As I said, it's just one fecking year of Christmas we need to write off. Isn't the whole year a write off anyway?

    I'm quite worried about our numbers around the 3rd week of January on and it'll be a miracle if we're not at a thousand cases a day again by Feb 1st

    All because some people want short term satisfaction instead of growing the fúck up


  • #144
    polesheep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,950 ✭✭✭polesheep


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    All of that is the opposite of what we should be doing to prevent spread though. Everything you said there is how Covid loves to infect more people

    As I said, it's just one fecking year of Christmas we need to write off. Isn't the whole year a write off anyway?

    I'm quite worried about our numbers around the 3rd week of January on and it'll be a miracle if we're not at a thousand cases a day again by Feb 1st

    All because some people want short term satisfaction instead of growing the fúck up

    As Scrooge famously said, "You keep Christmas in your way Sir and I'll keep it in mine." Except this time the meaning is reversed.


  • #145
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,751 ✭✭✭mirrorwall14


    I can handle one household at a time or even restaurants open properly for groups from a maximum of two households. I cannot handle county borders and no household visits again. I live in a different county to almost all of my family and between two lockdowns and LOKdown I’ve seen them less this year than like ever. I don’t need the pubs personally I can live without. I’ll order my Christmas shopping online. I just don’t want to be stuck in my bloody county again


  • #146
    Kermit.de.frog
    Registered Users Posts: 23,441 ✭✭✭✭Kermit.de.frog


    A few mince pies and you'll all be grand.


  • #147
    gigantic09
    Registered Users Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gigantic09


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    All of that is the opposite of what we should be doing to prevent spread though. Everything you said there is how Covid loves to infect more people

    As I said, it's just one fecking year of Christmas we need to write off. Isn't the whole year a write off anyway?

    I'm quite worried about our numbers around the 3rd week of January on and it'll be a miracle if we're not at a thousand cases a day again by Feb 1st

    All because some people want short term satisfaction instead of growing the fúck up


    I realise that but you asked a general question of why this country is so fascinated by Xmas


  • #148
    funnydoggy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭funnydoggy


    Kermit.de.frog wrote: »
    A few mince pies and you'll all be grand.




    Not until like the 2nd week of December. I've been eating all around me and have gained quite a bit of fluff that I want to get rid of beforehand :pac::pac:


  • #149
    CorkRed93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,428 ✭✭✭CorkRed93


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    All of that is the opposite of what we should be doing to prevent spread though. Everything you said there is how Covid loves to infect more people

    As I said, it's just one fecking year of Christmas we need to write off. Isn't the whole year a write off anyway?

    I'm quite worried about our numbers around the 3rd week of January on and it'll be a miracle if we're not at a thousand cases a day again by Feb 1st

    All because some people want short term satisfaction instead of growing the fúck up

    People want the short term satisfaction as weve been told another lockdown is inevitable no matter what we do. Our strategy of "rolling lockdowns" only drives the want in people (me included) for some short term feeling of normality returning.


  • #150
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    CorkRed93 wrote: »
    Our strategy of "rolling lockdowns" only drives the want in people (me included) for some short term feeling of normality returning.


    This. Is. Not. A. Normal. Year.


    It needs to be put on billboards for some people


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  • #151
    CorkRed93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,428 ✭✭✭CorkRed93


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    This. Is. Not. A. Normal. Year.


    It needs to be put on billboards for some people

    Oh I know its not a normal year. Rolling lockdowns aren't normal either but hey, thiis is what we've been promised until at least mid 2021. People want to see family and friends after not seeing them in some cases all year. Is that a crime? This is traditionally the time of year people in Ireland do that , making people out to be loons for enjoying xmas and seeing people they care about is exceptional tbh.


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