Wolfie Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 This is the first year that my daughter will really be into the whole Chrismas & Santa thing (she's nearly 4) and I was talking to Mrs Wolfie at the weekend about what our family rituals are going to be around which presents come from us or Santa and what we do about putting stuff out on Christmas eve for Santa & Rudolph etc. We need to be putting some thought into it because this is the stuff childhood memories are made of. I was just wondering what rituals people have or had when they were kids, to make it special for the little ones? When I was a kid we didn't go massively into it & just remember us putting a mince pie & sherry out on Christmas eve. One present came from mum & dad & the rest were from Santa. Presents from other people were from them. Mrs Wolfie said all her presents came from Santa - even ones from relatives etc - which I think is a bit weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Yeah the whole "from Santa" thing used to baffle me as a kid. Didn't make a lot of sense. We don't bother with that with our kids. Just the usual drink and a carrot on the mantelpiece on Xmas Eve. 2 years ago someone bought us the Elf On The Shelf thing which was fun at first but is now incredibly annoying having to think of new places to put it every night during Advent, but at 3/4 your daughter would love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Le Mesmer Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 I just hate the fact that some overweight grandad with a big hairy white beard who doesn't even exist is taking the credit for bringing my kid all these lovely presents while we have to struggle like buggery to pay for them !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRamFan Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 7 minutes ago, Tony Le Mesmer said: I just hate the fact that some overweight grandad with a big hairy white beard who doesn't even exist is taking the credit for bringing my kid all these lovely presents while we have to struggle like buggery to pay for them !! Tell her the truth, Christmas is a holiday hijacked by the Christian church then weaponized into a holiday where people feel they have to buy gifts for everyone and thing including pets. Won't even start with BS that goes on at supermarkets, trollies laden to breaking point on Christmas eve, the shop will be open again in 36 hours... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostyn6 Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Traditionally: I'm miserable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share Posted November 22, 2016 26 minutes ago, StivePesley said: Yeah the whole "from Santa" thing used to baffle me as a kid. Didn't make a lot of sense. We don't bother with that with our kids. Just the usual drink and a carrot on the mantelpiece on Xmas Eve. 2 years ago someone bought us the Elf On The Shelf thing which was fun at first but is now incredibly annoying having to think of new places to put it every night during Advent, but at 3/4 your daughter would love it Never heard of it. Will have to have a look..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Le Mesmer Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 9 minutes ago, McRamFan said: Tell her the truth, Christmas is a holiday hijacked by the Christian church then weaponized into a holiday where people feel they have to buy gifts for everyone and thing including pets. Won't even start with BS that goes on at supermarkets, trollies laden to breaking point on Christmas eve, the shop will be open again in 36 hours... My kid is the only one I do it for. I stopped all the pointless socialising with annoying adults a good few years ago now. Partner works Christmas day most years so it's just me and the kid. I don't go in for all this forced socialising. If I don't like the people then i just don't go. Some family members are decent but they've got used to me staying away now and they understand why and some respect me a bit for doing what i feel is right for me rather than what is expected of me. Basically though if people were just friendly and didn't use Christmas get togethers as just another tool to facilitate oneupmanship then I'd probably go. I have all I need and the people who matter to me know they do whether I choose to attend a social event or not. Thinking of stopping sending Christmas cards too. I don't really appreciate them and the people o appreciate I show throughout the year when I help them or we do things. Sending cards is just another forced stress. Bah humbug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 5 minutes ago, Wolfie said: Never heard of it. Will have to have a look..... I just looked at the wikipedia page. I think the guy that wrote the "criticisms" is taking it all a bit seriously! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Le Mesmer Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 15 minutes ago, Mostyn6 said: Traditionally: I'm miserable. Christmas is another one of those times where I reckon thousands upon thousands of people will be doing things or having a Christmas that they don't really want but are just going along with it because it's just what you do right? It's not miserable to do what makes you happy. If going for dinner with obnoxious family members makes me unhappy then why would I go? If sending Christmas cards seems ultimately pointless and causes stress then why do it? Why would I spend hours and hours cooking a huge turkey spread just because someone somewhere once said we should have Turkey for Christmas? Have cottage pie and chips homemade instead. Better than feeding everyone and spending the night washing up. Think of the turkeys saved! It's not being miserable. On the contrary it's cutting out the very things that make Christmas miserable and thus only doing what makes you happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrdave85 Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 I see the extended family on my side in the morning, don't really do presents except for my niece and nephew (6 and 5 years old) now. Have a wee drink and a catch up. Then it's an hour's drive to the Black Country to see the missus' family, where I proceed to drink and eat until I'm the size of Santa and enjoy my traditional Boxing Day hangover. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 10 minutes ago, Tony Le Mesmer said: It's not being miserable. On the contrary it's cutting out the very things that make Christmas miserable and thus only doing what makes you happy. Which I would agree with as a traditional xmas miserabilist (which has abated slightly since having kids) but the problem is not so straight forward. For example, you have family who will give you a shed full of grief if you don't do the things that they expect of you. If you choose not to do those things because they mak you miserable. You then enter a different miserable scenario of family grief and stress which in turn ruins your happiness and replaces it with guilt instead. Flippin families at Christmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Ram Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Breaking tradition this year, going away somewhere hot.. Can't bleedin wait. No Xmas tree, no pezzies, no decorations.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Anyone else go to the Pub on Xmas Day? Our local always opens at 11am for a a few hours, and it's a recent tradition that we head down for a festive pint before dinner. Always packed with a great atmosphere, and happily no Soap Opera-type fights or revelations have ever taken place Yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Ram Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 @Wolfie We used to lay our lads presents out on the sofas. What I did early on, around your daughters age was get a pair of wellies, placing them on the floor around a step apart starting near the fireplace sprinkling some flour around the bottom of the wellie, moving them towards the sofa a step at a time creating the image of snow falling off Santa's wellies, you don't need much, a light dusting is enough. They thought it was great and conclusive proof Santa had been. We did the little bit of sherry in a glass and a bit of carrot as well. One year we tracked Santa on the net, I think the RAF had a site showing his progress. Later, I told them Santa had a fatal collision with a Stealth Bomber and there were no survivors from Santas entourage. My wife gave me a thick ear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramsbottom Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 1 hour ago, McRamFan said: Tell her the truth, Christmas is a holiday hijacked by the Christian church then weaponized into a holiday where people feel they have to buy gifts for everyone and thing including pets. Won't even start with BS that goes on at supermarkets, trollies laden to breaking point on Christmas eve, the shop will be open again in 36 hours... Christ I stopped seeing it as a celebration of Jesus' birthday donkey's years ago. I get into the whole festive thing now simply because it's the one day of the year the majority of people make an effort to be polite to each other. It's worth all the hassle just to see the look on my lad's face when he's opening his presents. The thing I look forward to the most about it, is the food... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Kevin Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 36 minutes ago, StivePesley said: Anyone else go to the Pub on Xmas Day? Our local always opens at 11am for a a few hours, and it's a recent tradition that we head down for a festive pint before dinner. Always packed with a great atmosphere, and happily no Soap Opera-type fights or revelations have ever taken place Yet Yep ,pubs seem to have a unique atmosphere on Christmas Day lunch time really enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Kevin Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 You have to make a great Christmas for kids ,there will hardly be an adult that doesn't have special memories of Christmas as a child. Whatever we think now [and I love Christmas ,hate New Year] it's all about giving them a good time and don't forget to enjoy yourself at the office Christmas bash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share Posted November 22, 2016 42 minutes ago, StivePesley said: Anyone else go to the Pub on Xmas Day? Our local always opens at 11am for a a few hours, and it's a recent tradition that we head down for a festive pint before dinner. Always packed with a great atmosphere, and happily no Soap Opera-type fights or revelations have ever taken place Yet Why not stage your own?. Along the lines of Eastenders "You're not my mum", "Yes I am" type thing. A bit of fun for you and a talking point for everyone else over their overcooked sprouts. Maybe best to choose a pub where you're not a regular, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1977 Ram Raider Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Something really cool we do for my daughter who's now 6 is a website called portable North Pole. You enter your child's name, interests, school, photos etc and when you playback the video it's santa talking to your child. When my daughter was 3 the look on her face was priceless. Best of all it's free too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Watched the International Space Station go over when my youngest was about 4 and told him it was Santa. He doesn't believe it any more as he knows what the ISS is, but in actual fact - watching the ISS is pretty magical on its own merit even as an adult! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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