The CHRISTMAS Thread

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Halloween is American isn't it. Was never really a thing when I was a kid, seems a recent development over here. Also any adults "celebrating" it need putting on some kind of a register.

Interested to hear what all these other massive events (so many!) before Christmas are...

It actually originated in Ireland from the Celtic festival of Samhain. Celebrated over 2,000 years ago, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and the Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth.

 

[leedswolf]

It actually originated in Ireland from the Celtic festival of Samhain. Celebrated over 2,000 years ago, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and the Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth.

Indeed and fhe pagan festival of Samhain, which took place on or around November 1st, was absorbed into the Christian tradition, moving to October 31st, the evening before All Saints' Day. This created a three-day observance known as Allhallowtide:

All Hallows' Eve (Halloween) (October 31),
All Hallows' Day (November 1),
and All Souls' Day (November 2).

 

[Lupo]

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[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

York is one of my favourite cities, but that is at least six weeks too early.

 

[Lupo]

York is one of my favourite cities, but that is at least six weeks too early.

As our little granddaughter is up in Castleford we go up to Yorkshire regularly and the past couple of years have taken her to York on the Sunday before Christmas, great atmosphere in a lovely city. Too early for lights though

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

 

[Jolemai]

 

[leedswolf]

 

[EpsomWolf]

We’ve has enough and are clearing off a few days before Christmas and not coming back til NYE. Our house is normally like a refugee camp on Christmas Day with whichever family member decides to invite themselves at the last minute because they’ve just split up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, or some other reason when in reality they’ve not had any better offers! Invariably decide it’s best to sleep over too as they’ve had ‘a few’ or the trains aren’t running, nothing to do with fancying a breakfast in the morning as well of course.

Normally have a really good time and a few laughs tbf but it is hard work and a nightmare organising when you’ve got a bit of an open door. Starts to feel a bit of a piss take year after year though so this is the first time we’ve been away on Christmas Day and have to say I can’t bloody wait!

 

[sycophantia]

We’ve has enough and are clearing off a few days before Christmas and not coming back til NYE. Our house is normally like a refugee camp on Christmas Day with whichever family member decides to invite themselves at the last minute because they’ve just split up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, or some other reason when in reality they’ve not had any better offers! Invariably decide it’s best to sleep over too as they’ve had ‘a few’ or the trains aren’t running, nothing to do with fancying a breakfast in the morning as well of course.

Normally have a really good time and a few laughs tbf but it is hard work and a nightmare organising when you’ve got a bit of an open door. Starts to feel a bit of a piss take year after year though so this is the first time we’ve been away on Christmas Day and have to say I can’t bloody wait!

Fucking misery guts

 

[leedswolf]

We’ve has enough and are clearing off a few days before Christmas and not coming back til NYE. Our house is normally like a refugee camp on Christmas Day with whichever family member decides to invite themselves at the last minute because they’ve just split up with their girlfriend/boyfriend, or some other reason when in reality they’ve not had any better offers! Invariably decide it’s best to sleep over too as they’ve had ‘a few’ or the trains aren’t running, nothing to do with fancying a breakfast in the morning as well of course.

Normally have a really good time and a few laughs tbf but it is hard work and a nightmare organising when you’ve got a bit of an open door. Starts to feel a bit of a piss take year after year though so this is the first time we’ve been away on Christmas Day and have to say I can’t bloody wait!

Enjoy it mate.

My wife, a few years ago, booked us an all inclusive break in Spain, arriving 23 December and leaving 2 January. We enjoyed the experience, although we haven't done it since other than going to the daughter's in Oz at the end of November 2022 and returning beginning of February 2023.

I must admit nowadays Christmas day is very low key. My youngest son and his partner come for Christmas lunch and spend a few hours with us.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Enjoy it mate.

My wife, a few years ago, booked us an all inclusive break in Spain, arrived 23 December and leaving 2 January. We enjoyed the experience, although we haven't done it since other than going to the daughter's in Oz at the end of November 2022 and returning beginning of February 2023.

I must admit nowadays Christmas day is very low key. My youngest son and his partner come for Christmas lunch and spend a few hours with us.

Thanks, really looking forward to it. Had booked skiing for the romantic snowy Christmas thing but the wife’s ankle break put the kibosh on that but luckily still able to get away for a hobbling alternative.

Went away for the first time over the New Year period last year and there’s always a bit of guilt about putting yourself first over the festive period, but it’s not as though you haven’t done your bit and you can see why a lot of people do it.

 

[sycophantia]

I'm finding Christmas a bit weird over the last few years, up till then I loved it from when we had kids (43 years ago), loved the day, loved the chaos. Even after the kids left home, loved having them all back for the big day, especially when the grandkids came along.
Now my daughter prefers ro spend it at her house just her, her partner and the girls.
My eldest and his family take it in turns, one year here, one year at his wife's folks. My youngest is happy to have us over but his father in law is usually there and Im not keen.
Im kind of a bit meh with it all, which I never thought I'd say.

 

[lemonjelly]

My wife used to want everyone round at Xmas & would cook for 16. Said she loved the chaos.
Problem was, she was always exhausted & none of the kids helped in any way, & they even took to expecting childcare too.
Lost my temper one year with the piss taking & put my foot down. We had an Xmas just for us. In the run up she hated the idea, but ended up loving the day, being able to relax etc, & now we insist on a much calmer experience.

 

[sycophantia]

My wife used to want everyone round at Xmas & would cook for 16. Said she loved the chaos.
Problem was, she was always exhausted & none of the kids helped in any way, & they even took to expecting childcare too.
Lost my temper one year with the piss taking & put my foot down. We had an Xmas just for us. In the run up she hated the idea, but ended up loving the day, being able to relax etc, & now we insist on a much calmer experience.

Yeah one of the reasons Ive lost a bit of interest in a 'big' Christmas day is my missus gets a bit stressed, even though me and all the kids always help or at least offer help, she still gets stressed.
What we've done recently is try and put a day aside over the Christmas period where we can all get together, thats 8 adults and 5 squirts. For food we have a buffet to take the pressure off trying to get a full cooked meal on the table for 13.

 

[leedswolf]

I've always done the majority of cooking on Christmas day. One year our eldest son invited us around to their's on Christmas day. I thought it would be a great idea (not knowing that I would end up cooking dinner).

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

My mother used to cook for 8-12 every Xmas until one year my sister insisted she would host instead. At first mother was very offended but ended up enjoying it a lot.
But after a couple of years sibling disputes meant none of us 3 brothers went any more.

 

[jlo]

Christmas day is fine, but "Christmas" is shit overall. Like why do we need to do Christmas-y stuff for 2 months before. Pleased to be in Thailand again this year for it, albeit they weirdly have all the decorations and songs etc, even though it's a Buddhist country predominantly and if it's a weekday, it stays as a normal work day

 

[pagey]

Decided last year not to do a xmas dinner and go out for a meal instead on boxing day.
I've always cooked on xmas day and we all really enjoyed the extra time we got to spend together.

Did a buffet and we had an Indian delivered on the night, not traditional but was fantastic.

 

[leedswolf]

Decided last year not to do a xmas dinner and go out for a meal instead on boxing day.
I've always cooked on xmas day and we all really enjoyed the extra time we got to spend together.

Did a buffet and we had an Indian delivered on the night, not traditional but was fantastic.

Going back to the mid to late 70s mum and dad decided to go to the Crown Hotel in Stone for Christmas day lunch (accompanied by myself). After I left home mum and dad carried on going out for Christmas day lunch (not always at the Crown) until my dad became unable to go any more.