What Christmas Trend you wish would go away?

NIMAN · 28-11-2019 10:29pm

Toy Show in November

dubstepper · 29-11-2019 1:51pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Toy Show in November

That over-paid tool singing, with the daft grin on his face.

freshpopcorn · 29-11-2019 2:26pm

The non Christmas themed Toy Shows!

Day Lewin · 29-11-2019 7:12pm

Can't bear those chilly blue LED lights.

And I don't like being pressured to buy things. (I care about this earth and its future)

And I don't like the way that "Christmas" is given an identity by profiteering interests trying to sell stuff: There's a lot more to it all than purchasing clothing and presents. Nice as those are!

DSN · 05-12-2019 1:37pm

Elf on the shelf.
Christmas being 'over' on Stephens day after weeks of massive build up.
Sales starting crack of dawn on Stephens day. Why why why.
Oh yeh Christmas Jumpers but to lesser extent than the above two I get they are a bit of crack & cute on the kids I just hate them on myself they not the most flattering & am too vain.

completedit · 05-12-2019 1:41pm

meeeeh wrote: »

We go to panto in Gaiety on 26th. Five years ago Dublin was almost deserted and it was hard to get a sandwich before the show. Now it's busier and busier and every year there are more people on Grafton Street shopping and more places open. I don't think that will be reversed.

As for trends I would like to go away: Christmas jumpers and mountain of cheap plastic throw away decorations. I suspect that will change if environmentalists have anything to do with it, I mostly object on aesthetic grounds.

The one I actually cancelled was visiting Santa, kids don't care about it and I don't to need stand in line and yawn so they can see fake Santa (their description not mine).

Jayziz, kids just don’t have the innocence of before. Was always my favorite time of year, 8th of december heading in with my old man and sis to visit Santa in clearys. Or when he used to arrive by helicopter in dunnes stores. My parents told me he was like a Santa Messanger. Don’t know what age we stopped going to see him though. Some hilarious pics from back in the day.

meeeeh · 05-12-2019 2:53pm

completedit wrote: »

Jayziz, kids just don’t have the innocence of before. Was always my favorite time of year, 8th of december heading in with my old man and sis to visit Santa in clearys. Or when he used to arrive by helicopter in dunnes stores. My parents told me he was like a Santa Messanger. Don’t know what age we stopped going to see him though. Some hilarious pics from back in the day.

It's not that bad. The 10 year old also told me that Santa exists because I most definitely wouldn't buy him presents. I love telling them my favourite word is no.

goat2 · 05-12-2019 4:32pm

Loughc wrote: »

What is a Christmas trend you're glad is gone? What's one you wish would go away?

For me I wish the shops would stop opening on Stephens Day. Christmas should be spent with loved ones not in the shops.

And as for shops opening on Christmas Day... no. It’s really not fair on the staff either they are put under so much pressure to work those days.

As do I,
but it is up to people to not go in, also, it is totally unfair to expect people outside of the emergency service to be working, it is not a necessity

kopite386 · 05-12-2019 5:07pm

lawred2 wrote: »

I would imagine a fair sized cohort of retail staff on those days are students more than happy to make the money

I know this is 3 weeks old, however, just to say I was a student in retail working Christmas and I hated going in Stephens Day, having to be in early to set up for the sales and while we did work a split shift of only being in for a few hours rather than full day it still sucked. It wasn't even so I could go drinking but just didn't have time off with all of the family which would have been nice.

Worked late Christmas Eve and then in early Stephens day we had 1 day of Christmas, the extra money wasn't worth it

Lollipops23 · 05-12-2019 6:22pm

lawred2 wrote: »

I would imagine a fair sized cohort of retail staff on those days are students more than happy to make the money

My very last day in retail was 26th Dec 2009 and I hated it. I never minded working Xmas Eve as there was a wonderful buzz about the place. But it's pathetic how many people came into town for 'bargains' (there were very few to be had).

jr86 · 15-12-2019 9:45am

Went up to Dublin for the day yesterday hoping to get some evening pints in after a day shopping and everywhere black with people doing 12 pubs and the likes from about 5pm!!

Queues for toilets, impossible get taxi, ages getting served - and this all early evening as I say!

I'm definitely getting crankier since my 20s days ( :pac: ) but honestly where is the enjoyment in that for people. I love Christmas but honestly I think I'll give up the Christmas nights out anymore, and sadly even an evening drink or two appears out of the question. That's just me though I guess, I know some people love the boisterousness and "atmosphere" that come with Christmas nights in the city

I really do think it has escalated so much since this 12 pubs trend really got going. Social media probably only exacerbates it too. Everyone has to be seen out nowadays

I do not envy poor bar staff and hospital staff this time of year

That said I'm looking forward to going home Christmas Eve going to our country local in the evening, open fire, good Guinness, nice catch ups, no music, straight up to counter and served, easy access to toilets. Bliss!

Graces7 · 15-12-2019 2:47pm

Love the life I have now out here on a remote island …. Not been nearer a shop or any Christmas hype than ordering my supplies by email from Supervalu,,, and shopping at a few chosen shops online. And coming here to boards....So peaceful and makes it special.

Before I became all but housebound I enjoyed the occasional small town day out but am happier this way.

Doctors room ghost · 15-12-2019 2:50pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Love the life I have now out here on a remote island …. Not been nearer a shop or any Christmas hype than ordering my supplies by email from Supervalu,,, and shopping at a few chosen shops online. And coming here to boards....So peaceful and makes it special.

Before I became all but housebound I enjoyed the occasional small town day out but am happier this way.

Do you keep fowl graces for killing for the table and for a lock of eggs or do you buy meat

Graces7 · 15-12-2019 5:04pm

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Do you keep fowl graces for killing for the table and for a lock of eggs or do you buy meat

No; I did for years in Orkney. well for eggs . and a goat for milk and cheese and ducks and geese and Jacobs sheep for their wool to spin and knit....grew all my own vegetables.... oh and peacocks! They were fun.

Any cockerels that hatched went to a farm to process as I cannot kill, and I eat almost no meat now.

I was 30 years younger then! Could not do all that now! It was a good way to live. It really was. But now I am old and enjoying different things out here in the peace.

Finding too that the " trimmings" of Christmas mean so much less. Catching some of the ads that interrupt youtube I wonder how folk cope out there.

Heroditas · 15-12-2019 5:09pm

Elf on the Shelf is something I wish would disappear. Ridiculous nonsense.

Funnily enough, when I was a student I used to work in a supermarket and would work all the hours under the sun coming up to Christmas including until 7pm on Christmas Eve and then have a few pints.
Back in in St Stephen's Day until 3 or 4pm and then home for the massive Stephen's Day dinner. Absolutely loved working that time of year because of the excitement leading up to Christmas and also because the 26th was an absolute doddle!

Tom Mann Centuria · 15-12-2019 5:45pm

Know its been said but backing it up. For retail workers I wish Boxing Day/Stephens Day sales would do one. Shops like Next making workers get up at 4 or 5 in the morning after Christmas Day. Horrible business practice. New Year's Day sales can jog on too.

Paddy Cow · 15-12-2019 11:06pm

Heroditas wrote: »

Elf on the Shelf is something I wish would disappear. Ridiculous nonsense.

I met someone today who was buying pyjamas for their Elf on the Shelf :P

Doctors room ghost · 16-12-2019 8:45am

Paddy Cow wrote: »

I met someone today who was buying pyjamas for their Elf on the Shelf :P

They should be took out and shot for the greater good.
Imagine how good your life must be if all you had for doing for the day is getting fcukin pyjamas for a fcukin dolly.
That elf on the shelf boll1x boils my p1ss.
“It’s for the kids” says the parents posting stupid pictures of a fcukin dolly on Facebook and trying to outdo everyone else for ideas.
Anyone I see with an elf gets filed under “gobsh1te”.

CheerLouth · 16-12-2019 10:34am

Some people take the Elf on the Shelf too far. We have one and the kids love him! Our eldest bounds up the hall every morning to see what mischief he has been up to. We don't do any gimmicks with him - no elf pjs in this house :P He literally just moves from one spot to another & every few nights, he does something a bit naughty. He's also great for blaming for things e.g. I ate a tin of Quality Street so just stuck in the elf in the tin with chocolate smeared over his mouth & hey presto, my guilt was absolved :P

Postgrad10 · 16-12-2019 11:50am

And do your kids really believe that the elf ate all those chocolates? That the elf is alive?

Sorry if I’m being intrusive , I was a very skeptical child.

Blaizes · 16-12-2019 12:00pm

Postgrad10 wrote: »

And do your kids really believe that the elf ate all those chocolates? That the elf is alive?

Sorry if I’m being intrusive , I was a very skeptical child.

One of my kids is very skeptical, moves the thing around herself then tells us and her younger brother that the elf has moved. I only bought it because she begged me to. Now I’m stuck with it ! I don’t mind doing the moving but when she’s fooling us it makes me wonder if she will doubt Santa too, an unnecessary fad this elf is imo.

CheerLouth · 16-12-2019 12:04pm

Postgrad10 wrote: »

And do your kids really believe that the elf ate all those chocolates? That the elf is alive?

Sorry if I’m being intrusive , I was a very skeptical child.

They do. I don't think they really think he's alive as in the same way a person is alive but they do think that he can move at nighttime by himself. But they are only small, both under 5 so so far, they've had no reason to believe otherwise. But we don't do the whole "he's reporting back to Santy" biz. He's just an addition to the fun of Christmas & they enjoy when he does "bold" things & me & their Dad get cross at him.

Princess Calla · 16-12-2019 12:09pm

goat2 wrote: »

As do I,
but it is up to people to not go in, also, it is totally unfair to expect people outside of the emergency service to be working, it is not a necessity

This reminds me of something that happened me 25 ish years ago.

I was working Part-Time in the local supermarket, as a cashier.

Working a Sunday (great as double time

)..... Anyway I'm serving a customer I'd say she was around 30....she asks me do I not mind working on a Sunday?

No!

Oh I always thought working on a Sunday was too much, people deserve a day off.... That's why I became a pharmacist... They never open on a Sunday!!

Wonder how that theory is holding for her

Without customers shops won't open!

I have worked many many a Christmas in retail, it's a great buzz, long shifts that keep you busy.

Opening Stephens day is after my time, I probably would have worked it no bother. However I wouldn't go shopping on Stephens day either.

However, some customers may be putting the day in to get away from a Sh1tshow at home....not everyone has a happy Christmas.

Neyite · 16-12-2019 1:38pm

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

They should be took out and shot for the greater good.
Imagine how good your life must be if all you had for doing for the day is getting fcukin pyjamas for a fcukin dolly.
That elf on the shelf boll1x boils my p1ss.
“It’s for the kids” says the parents posting stupid pictures of a fcukin dolly on Facebook and trying to outdo everyone else for ideas.
Anyone I see with an elf gets filed under “gobsh1te”.

I'm in an Elf facebook group and honestly, there are some seriously crazy ones screaming about "THE RULESSSS."

It's highly entertaining though. Some parents have staged some adult-themed elf scenes for a laugh and currently some are losing their sh!t over it, there was a massive bunfight over the weekend, women flouncing claiming that their child sits beside them while they scroll FB and could have seen Elf doggy style on Barbie

. Same parents are staging the elves doing sh!t protests with nutella in the bathroom for their kids. So Elf scat porn is grand but using a line of icing sugar and a dollar bill to simulate drugs for an adults-only photo gets them all riled up massively.

There are some parents who are definitely doing it for themselves or for facebook likes and they are freaking out and punishing little kids for touching a toy 'because it loses it's magic'. FFS Mary, calm down like. So what if your 3yo touches something that's aimed at their age group??

I see our elf as more of a Toy-Story toy - comes alive at night like Woody gets up to something funny and goes to sleep during the day.

CheerLouth wrote: »

They do. I don't think they really think he's alive as in the same way a person is alive but they do think that he can move at nighttime by himself. But they are only small, both under 5 so so far, they've had no reason to believe otherwise. But we don't do the whole "he's reporting back to Santy" biz. He's just an addition to the fun of Christmas & they enjoy when he does "bold" things & me & their Dad get cross at him.

We don't link it to behaviour and we threw the whole book out as we don't want to promote the elf as a spy for Santa either. I think most of our son's peers have similar touchable non spy elves.

Graces7 · 16-12-2019 1:51pm

Heroditas wrote: »

Elf on the Shelf is something I wish would disappear. Ridiculous nonsense.

Never heard of this and don't think I have missed anything

Princess Calla · 16-12-2019 1:55pm

My mam bought us an elf.....we're too lazy for it so it's still in the attic

We do have magic elves though, that leave a chocolate Christmas tree decoration each night.

They love that!!

I love the adult themed pictures though

iamwhoiam · 16-12-2019 2:50pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Heroditas wrote: »

Elf on the Shelf is something I wish would disappear. Ridiculous nonsense.

Never heard of this and don't think I have missed anything

Absolute laugh out loud moments here with the elf . We have a family whatsapp and the elf pictures arrive at 10 pm .We love seeing what he has got up to
Its not for everyone but we love it and many others do too

Postgrad10 · 16-12-2019 4:45pm

CheerLouth wrote: »

They do. I don't think they really think he's alive as in the same way a person is alive but they do think that he can move at nighttime by himself. But they are only small, both under 5 so so far, they've had no reason to believe otherwise. But we don't do the whole "he's reporting back to Santy" biz. He's just an addition to the fun of Christmas & they enjoy when he does "bold" things & me & their Dad get cross at him.

I have a young relative who is 3 and very inquisitive and wants to know how everything works. He’d immediately query how the fairy could eat the chocolate without teeth, how does he go to the toilet etc. I suppose all children are different.

Neyite · 16-12-2019 4:58pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Never heard of this and don't think I have missed anything

No you've not missed anything. It started with a storybook that accompanies an elf doll about the elf that comes from the north pole who returns every night to tell Santa how good or bad the child was that day. The book states that children mustn't touch the elf or it loses it's magic. The parents then would move the elf to a different spot every night after children are asleep.

But as with most things like this, it's evolved into the elves doing often very elaborate pranks or naughty things during the night. And some parents I've seen on the facebook group have gone way over the top. Or using the elf for the littlest infraction small children or even toddlers do.

I've kept the pranks simple (I may have years of these!) and they aren't messy - because I'd only have to clean it up! I don't see how parents can police children's behaviour using an elf that is really naughty but tells on the child to Santa?

I also prefer to leave out the no touch rule, but especially the references to good or bad behaviour and spying to Santa. In our house we say that all children are inherently good - because they mostly are. Bold ones often are a product of their environment or circumstances. And that Santa would only leave a child off his list if the child is deliberately cruel to another person or an animal. We tell him that Santa looks for kids showing kindness, thoughtfulness and caring about others.

TheAsYLuMkeY · 16-12-2019 5:02pm

Threads on forums bout christmas! :pac:

16-12-2019 5:11pm

DSN wrote: »

Elf on the shelf.
Christmas being 'over' on Stephens day after weeks of massive build up.
Sales starting crack of dawn on Stephens day. Why why why.
Oh yeh Christmas Jumpers but to lesser extent than the above two I get they are a bit of crack & cute on the kids I just hate them on myself they not the most flattering & am too vain.

My sister hasn't been able to properly spend Christmas with her boyfriend in years because he has to be up at the crack of dawn on St Stephens Day because he's a store manager in a retail store. It really is a shame.

I don't mind a filling station or a convenience store opening on the 26th for cartons of milk, panadol or AA batteries, but when you think about all the personnel required to run the likes of Dundrum Town Centre who have to work on the 26th, it really shows you how many families get affected by it.

16-12-2019 5:34pm

The subtle overtaking of themes by agendas loaded with political correctness. Children who visit Santa don't know the difference.

Are ye Woke for Christmas?

blueshade · 16-12-2019 6:05pm

Green Christmas tree lights, they are awful especially the minty green ones. Elf on the shelf, it's creepy and looks a bit pervy. If I'd had one when I was a child it would have terrified me. Think about it, you give a very young child a creepy looking pervy doll and put it in there room telling them that it's basically spying on them. In years to come some of these kids will be traumatised adults paying a fortune to therapists to deal with their childhoods.

blueshade · 16-12-2019 6:09pm

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

Know its been said but backing it up. For retail workers I wish Boxing Day/Stephens Day sales would do one. Shops like Next making workers get up at 4 or 5 in the morning after Christmas Day. Horrible business practice. New Year's Day sales can jog on too.

So long as people keep buying they'll keep opening on those days. What are people buying though? The sales basically start in November now, between Black Friday fortnight and Cyber Monday what is possibly left to buy on December 26th that you couldn't already have bought?

Loughc · 16-12-2019 6:23pm

blueshade wrote: »

So long as people keep buying they'll keep opening on those days. What are people buying though? The sales basically start in November now, between Black Friday fortnight and Cyber Monday what is possibly left to buy on December 26th that you couldn't already have bought?

Actually blaming the customer isn't 100% accurate.

When Ireland moved from a 6 day treading week retail and moved to a 7 day trading week when we started opening Sundays there was a study done. The study found that customers spent on average the same amount over the 2 weekend days as they used to when there was only the Saturday.

Stores were no better off from opening the Sunday except for one thing, market share. Stores cant close if their competitor stays open.

Customers will still spend the same except now they have more times to pick from for when they do the shopping.

blueshade · 16-12-2019 8:10pm

Loughc wrote: »

Actually blaming the customer isn't 100% accurate.

When Ireland moved from a 6 day treading week retail and moved to a 7 day trading week when we started opening Sundays there was a study done. The study found that customers spent on average the same amount over the 2 weekend days as they used to when there was only the Saturday.

Stores were no better off from opening the Sunday except for one thing, market share. Stores cant close if their competitor stays open.

Customers will still spend the same except now they have more times to pick from for when they do the shopping.

My wife and I used to work in retail. We'd both be working up until Christmas Eve and be back to work on St Stephen's Day. No real time to enjoy Christmas as we'd be so worn out from the run up that all we'd want to do is just sleep and then Christmas day is exhausting so you're back to work before you know it and for what, so that people can spend more money on tat that nobody wanted to buy before Christmas. Still, I suppose for a lot of people it's a good excuse to escape from their relatives for a few hours, all that being cooped up with family can make the goodwill to all men dry up very fast.:D

Paddy Cow · 16-12-2019 11:08pm

Neyite wrote: »

I'm in an Elf facebook group and honestly, there are some seriously crazy ones screaming about "THE RULESSSS."

I'm off to search facebook for an elf group

blueshade · 17-12-2019 12:02pm

I gotta agree with people about the Christmas jumpers though, I really hate them. Maybe it's because so many people start wearing them in November, maybe it's the fact that the trend now includes that horrible American tradition of the whole family taking photos in matching Christmas jumpers, there are so many reasons to hate them.

smilerf · 17-12-2019 12:08pm

Every town seems to be doing Christmas tractor run.
I think it's stupid and would **** off

Acosta · 17-12-2019 12:11pm

It starting after Halloween

blueshade · 17-12-2019 12:23pm

Acosta wrote: »

It starting after Halloween

Most shops are putting the Christmas stuff out on the Halloween shelves by lunchtime on Halloween. Basically, as soon as the kids go back to school in September the tins of sweets and biscuits appear and it goes into overdrive from there. I think as you get older the fact that it's drawn out for so long just starts to grate on the nerves.

Acosta · 17-12-2019 12:40pm

blueshade wrote: »

Most shops are putting the Christmas stuff out on the Halloween shelves by lunchtime on Halloween. Basically, as soon as the kids go back to school in September the tins of sweets and biscuits appear and it goes into overdrive from there. I think as you get older the fact that it's drawn out for so long just starts to grate on the nerves.

Actually that's true. Aldi a lot of their christmas food like mince pies out before Halloween.

I do try to enjoy Christmas and after having a few awful ones in the past I'm grateful if it's just a quite, relaxing non eventful one but more than any other year previously this one already feels like it's gone on for too long and has done for a few weeks now.

Neyite · 17-12-2019 12:45pm

blueshade wrote: »

Most shops are putting the Christmas stuff out on the Halloween shelves by lunchtime on Halloween. Basically, as soon as the kids go back to school in September the tins of sweets and biscuits appear and it goes into overdrive from there. I think as you get older the fact that it's drawn out for so long just starts to grate on the nerves.

I'm not too bothered about long life foods being on display as a lot of families do try to spread the cost of things in the run up to Christmas. It was the norm when we were all growing up. The incessant adverts on the other hand though...

Antares35 · 17-12-2019 12:53pm

Black Friday

Heroditas · 17-12-2019 1:13pm

Two my wife suggested:
Christmas Eve Box
12 Pubs of Christmas

Heroditas · 17-12-2019 1:14pm

Antares35 wrote: »

Black Friday

Technically speaking that's got nothing to do with Christmas. It's a Thanksgiving tradition. There is a big overlap between the two events though.

blueshade · 17-12-2019 1:37pm

Heroditas wrote: »

Two my wife suggested:
Christmas Eve Box
12 Pubs of Christmas

Absolutely agree 100%. This Christmas Eve Box stuff is just nonsense and an added financial pressure. Christmas Eve when I was a kid was a hot turkey or hot ham sandwich, that was the highlight and squabbling over who got more of the streaky bacon from the turkey. The only Christmas Eve box in our house was the big box of Tayto getting opened.

JustMe,K · 17-12-2019 1:42pm

Heroditas wrote: »

Two my wife suggested:
Christmas Eve Box
12 Pubs of Christmas

totally agree with these!

Also, I don't understand the need to flood social media with the mountains of presents people give or receive

seamusk84 · 17-12-2019 1:49pm

What’s a Christmas Eve Box?

JustMe,K · 17-12-2019 2:02pm

seamusk84 wrote: »

What’s a Christmas Eve Box?

Can either be a wooden (for perpetual use, with the childs name etched into it) or cardboard box, filled with goodies for christmas eve. Most people put new pjs, christmas books, dvds, hot chocolate, some sweets into them.

What Christmas Trend you wish would go away?

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