I was all set to write a post about how I’m going to struggle getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Then I had a quick trawl through my archives to see if I’d used the smutty “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” gag before (I have, twice), and realised that every December since I started this blog I’ve written a post about how I’ve been struggling to get into the Christmas spirit. So I suppose there is nothing new there really.
Apart from this year, for the first time since I’ve had children, I’m going to be working on Christmas day. From 1:30pm until 11pm to be precise.
To quote the ever perceptive Tricia Honea who responded to my complaints about the situation on twitter, this “Sucks balls”. In fact I might even go a little further than that. I think you’ll find Tricia that it actually sucks great big hairy monkey balls.
Still, I work in a 7 day a week, 365 day a year service. Somebody’s got to do Christmas day and I’ve been pretty lucky in avoiding the duty up to now. Plus, as Lee pointed out to me on Google Wave (I hope I’m impressing you all with my web 2.0 credentials here) at least I’ll get some karma points for doing it.
Still sucks monkey balls though. Plus due to various family members being away, working, or not doing Christmas this year, Kerry will be on all on her own with the kids after I leave. Even more ball suckage.
So we’re thinking about moving Christmas.
I’m not working Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, so either of those would be good. I mean the kids aren’t going to know. It should be easy enough to fool Amy with a bit of creative advent calendar fiddling, and Evan’ chooses to name his days according to who’ll be looking after him rather than any archaic conventions based on obsolete gods (is it Daddyday today or Nurseryday?).
But still, moving Christmas? Is that acceptable? I mean we move the kids birthdays to convenient weekends, but that’s small fry compared to messing with the big X. Although, thinking about it, there’s no reason we shouldn’t. We’re not in any way religious, and even if we were it’d make no difference as Christ was supposedly born some time in January anyhow. And don’t other nations make more of a big deal about other days in December rather than the 25th? I know Arjan gets his presents from Sinterklass on the 5th of December.
So what do we think then? Move Christmas and then try to pretend the 25th is just a particularly good TV day, or stick to the rules and try and cram as much seasonal cheer into the morning before I have to go sit miserably in my office?
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Nothing at all wrong with moving the day. I say do whatever works for you. Assuming the kids will be on break for a few days, you’ve got lots of wiggle room.
Enjoy, whichever day you choose . . .
tysdaddy´s last blog ..Loaded
@tysdaddy, They have two weeks off, so we could stage it any time really. although i think waiting until summer would be pushing it.
I guess you guys usually do a big Christmas dinner the evening of the 25th? Presents that morning? or in the evening?
If it’s not going to throw the kids off too much, you could do a big Christmas Eve dinner and then prezzies in the morning… the kids will be wiped out or engrossed in Wii or something by the time you leave for work.
They probably won’t be too emotionally scarred by that. Then again, you may figure prominently in their memoirs with a big wire hanger on the cover…
PS- I used to have a job where I was on-call and we had to do holiday (and 24 hour) coverage and that sucked many animal appendages. Boy, am I happy I don’t have to do that now, except for some occasional weekend stuff.
JJ Daddy-O´s last blog ..Adventures in Retail
@JJ Daddy-O, presents in the morning, dinner in the afternoon, sleep and burping in the evening.
I;m not sure how exactly we’re going to do it. Need to consult with senior management first. However the whole big dinner on the eve and the presents in the morning is certainly one of the options.
I have been there–and yes, Virginia, it does suck big hairy monkey balls. In fact, this year my wife has the great fortune to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (she also worked all of Thanksgiving). We’ll probably end up with a double celebration–the big one with her family that she won’t be able to attend and then a smaller one with just us when we can all be there.
Ed´s last blog ..What About These Pants I Got On?
@Ed, surely if you work thanksgiving you should get christmas off, or vice versa?
Damn sick people messing up christmas.
Personally I would go with the big Christmas eve dinner with a couple of presents (the one’s that you are most excited about) with dinner. But it really is what best suits you guys, we’re having my side of the family’s Christmas day the day after Boxing Day where I shall meet my nephew finally.
On a semi related note I too was thinking of writing a Christmas post until I remembered I pretty much write the same thing every year (my favourite Christmas films that aren’t specifically about Christmas, Die Hard etc.)
Lee Sargent´s last blog ..Jurassic Park SNES
@Lee Sargent, you should still write it. Could be your own christmas tradtion.
I was going to suggest moving Christmas Day but you beat me to it. We have Polish friends and they celebrate on Christmas Eve. They eat their Christmas dinner then and open their presents afterwards. I’m sure if you started the celebrations a little earlier than usual you could easily pack in a fun-filled 24 hours. The kids will love it and by the time you go to work they’ll be exhausted and you’ll all be ready for a break in the proceedining. Then continue the party on Boxing Day!
Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..My child is clearly not related to me, Part 1
@Rosie Scribble, Boxing day is reserved for dragging everyone on an unnecessarily long walk. it’s the law.
I quite liked working on Christmas day – admittedly no kids when I did – but it kind of gave the whole thing a sense of balance.
M
Mark´s last blog ..Nablopromo
@Mark, you are far more zen than me.
Back in my days on the farm it was work everyday, didn’t matter what holiday fell on it. Now I enjoy my holidays but wouldn’t worry about moving it as long as all the cheer was still there.
I would do it.
Seattledad´s last blog ..Big Dirt Pile Blues
@Seattledad, didn’t you put santa hats on the cows? You disappoint me.
S’easy.
Nominate a present that you don’t like on xmas day, curse a while about how you always get rubbish presents, and then storm out of the house in a rage clutching said present and declaring that you are going to find that Santa Claus and sort him out once and for all.
Return at the end of your shift with a theatrical blackened eye and tell your kids to never mess with Santa, that mofo is one bad-ass mofo and he gets his elves to jump you when you complain…
Gary´s last blog ..I was just about to leave for the match when …
@Gary, Pure genius.
PS – if it helps I am on call on boxing day and xmas sunday.
But even worse than that is the fact that I have five holidays left and have booked four of them during the xmas/new year week, I’ll lose one day as we can’t carry them into next year. I’ve now been told that I have to cover two days in the xmas/new year week too, so that three days hols I’ll lose – and I’ve already booked eight days off between now and xmas … yes thats right, don’t ever go a full year without taking any of your holidays from work, its a buggah of a job trying to fit them all into december.
Gary´s last blog ..I was just about to leave for the match when …
You suck monkey balls for a living? Sweet, or salty, I suppose.
Like Rosie says;’I love it when you talk dirty’ sorry, that’s something else. The point I was actually going to make was that my Danish chums, and it seems a lot of Central Europe, make more of a fuss of Christmas Eve, and it is then that they have their traditional dinner. So it could be an education as well as logistical side-shifting genius.
SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Ignoring the injustice
@SingleParentDad, Educting my kids? i dunno about that. What if they start getting smarter than me? Who’ll i beat at connect four?
I would definitely go with moving Christmas ! You’ll just have to keep the kids away from other kids for a few weeks until all the furore dies down so noone gives the game away !!! :o)
I always think its whatever works for you and your family !
Penny
@PennyAW, my kids are too young really to work out exact dates, so as long as they don’t see anyone the day before or after it should be fine.
Ha Gary’s suggestion works for me!
Sam´s last blog ..Treading Where Millions of Photographers Have Trodden Before
@Sam, you never could come up with anythign original could you.
I’m moving christmas this year!
The OB and I are spending actual christmas with our respective parents, so we’re holding our christmas a few days early….”christmas eve” (20th december) we’re going to mass (well, Robin Ince’s 9 Lessons and Carols for Godless People), “christmas day” we’re having a big dinner and present giving, and “boxing day” we plan to do sweet FA, before then going visiting on the 23rd
Clair´s last blog ..What’s your favourite bit of where you live?
@Clair, I really fancy that robin ince thing. Heard a lot about it last year.
Move it! Loads of Europeans celebrate on Christmas Eve. So big meal and some presents on Chrismtas Eve. The rest Christmas morning. Work for you in the afternoon and Christmas films for the rest of the family. And strong bracing walk as, you know, that is what happens on Christmas in order to rid kids of excess energy from too much sugar.
It does suck big salty monkey balls to have to work on Christmas, but like you said, you are lucky to have avoided in this far. fingers crossed that next year you won’t be working AND you’ll get into the Christmas spirit on time.
@Brit In Bosnia, I think that may well be the way to go to be honest.
Move Christmas to Christmas Eve – always better to get presents early rather than late. However possibly worthwhile having a “stocking from Father Christmas” in case they insist on presents on the 25th.
This year christmas is going to be easy, Tom will be happy chewing the wrapping paper and we won’t get a worse night’s sleep than we usually do.
fluffypinkduck´s last blog ..Rock Band
@fluffypinkduck, I challenge you not to go completely overboard with Tom’s presents. Oh I know you say you won’t now, but I bet you will.
We frequently move Christmas, and whilst Moo is only on her second this year, it’s never affected my nieces or nephews. My sister is a nurse and Hubbie’s brother used to run a pub, so it was just a case of co-ordinarinf which day worked best for which family.
This year my sister is working on the day, so the real Christmas will be on boxing day, although we’ll go to the in-laws on Christmas day.
Go for whatever works for you! And damn those advent calendars for giving the game away. My eldest niece is now 8, so think she’ll notice this year, but no harm done.
@Bumbling, I didn’t realize moving Christmas was so widespread. I shall feel less guilty about it now.
growing up, christmas was a big family affair and we always celebrated and exchange gifts on Christmas eve.. up until Midnight, and then the jolly ol’ elf would show up, to hand out a present or two. Poor Uncle Deo never got to see Santa.. he always headed home shortly before the big guy showed up.
Christmas morning, we woke up to stockings at home, and played with all are gifts from the night before…
I was always a happy kid! :) I got my presents before most of my frineds.. and I was allowed to stay awake.. or at least I believed it was midnight.. was it?!?! I dunno. Best part.. I saw Santa every year!
@Amanda, I’ve never felt comfortable with getting presents in the evening really. when do you get to play with them?!
I concur, move the day! It’s not the date that matters, it’s family. And too much food. And presents.
@Catherine, I think we’re going to end up splitting the day in two, with the food one day, and the presents the next.
I say move it, BUT….
Will the kids not turn on the telly on Christmas day? Queens speech? Top of the pops?
Martin´s last blog ..Infancy insolvency
@Martin, Queen’s speech? Is she still alive?
I live in Canada, but we always kept the European tradition of having Christmas on Christmas Eve. To this day, I can’t imagine opening presents in the early morning. On Christmas Eve we light the tree and the candles and turn on the radio to a station playing festive music. We have a Christmas punch, and some great home baked cookies and chocolates on individually decorated star-shaped plates. Then we all take turns opening the presents — no one is allowed to just rip them open and toss the wrapping. Each present is given it’s due attention. I love this tradition ! So, by way of long answer , YES go ahead and move the date :) and as for the advent calendar, just sneak one day out between now and then :)
@Hanna, we always opened gifts in turn too. It seems more thankful somehow, and also draws out the event.
Not nice to have to work, but as you say someone has too. I would change it to christmas eve. Christmas Day is not a biggie for us, MadDad comes from farming stock and cows still need feeding and milking on Christmas Day, so it is just the way it is!!!
TheMadHouse´s last blog ..Day 3 and Pipe Cleaner Crystal Decorations
@TheMadHouse, there is something very nice about being outside on christmas day though, something peacful and quiet. I imagine the romance goes if you’re outside every other day of the year too though :)
Another vote for Christmas Eve. In my dim and distant past I spent several happy Christmas’s in eastern Europe and Christmas Eve was always the big day.
Steve´s last blog ..Still utterly butterly
@Steve, maybe we should move to the ukrane or something.
I’ve worked on Christmas Day once ever in my life and it did indeed suck balls. Hated it. Mind you, the double-time was nice.
Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Invaded
@Kevin Spencer, I only get time and two thirds. Same as a Sunday.
I’ve worked it twice before and was absolutely miserable.
I worked for many years in the healthcare industry (24/7). Since we all had to work one of the holidays I was always picking Christmas eve with the idea that I didn’t want to miss Christmas day with my kids. I did this for years missing my husbands side of the families “big” christmas celebration on christmas eve.
It finally occured to me that working on Christmas day was the way to go. (granted, I didn’t have to be at work until 3pm). By the time I left for work, the house was a mess, the kids were knee deep in new toys… no one ever missed me leaving.
@Dorice, I’ll see how it goes this year, but i doubt I’m going to be converted:) I always offer to work new years eve night in exchange for having christmas off, but it didn’t work unfortunatly.
Big pooh to having to work and yes to moving xmas, you know I have a feeling Jesus wasn’t *actually* born on the 25th December so I’m sure it would be okay.
Are go go hamsters the in thing in your house this xmas or is it HSM all the way? It’s all films featuring zombies here and Lady Diane too of course.
@Morticia, it’s Hannah Montanah if anything, although Amy got pretty much all she wanted for her birthday.
Evan just wants every single thing he sees on TV adverts, so that’s pretty easy.
Totally acceptable, we moved it last year to the 24th as my folks were flying out to Australia on Boxing Day to spend New Year in Sydney (show offs). Santa and gifts were all done on 25th but the eating and drinking and fighting were all brought forward 24 hours so they could leave for Oz all fresh and back talking to us. It’s important to make up when when you’re flying half-way round the world, apparently.
MrsW´s last blog ..He wasn’t THAT nervous
@MrsW, we don’t tend to argue much on christmas day. but then again we never really had an extended family with whom to argue with.
Dan´s last blog ..A Confession
Ooops, I failed to see the problem here. I mean, EVERYBODY celebrates and gets presents on the 24th. Except, of course, zee Brrrits.
Move it to Christmas Eve an call it a “Continental Christmas”. Sounds chique and does the trick.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas!
@Kath., the website box was optional you know :)
If a continental christmas is anything like a continental breakfast I want nothing to do with it. Pastry and chocolate instead of saussages and bacon. Pah!
But you’re right, we should sell it like it’s a cultural learning experience.
So sorry, I forgot that I do have one after all.
And actually, a continental breakfast is more like an espresso and a cigarette. Or was it a vodka?
it’s Sinterklaas with double a of course.
Anyways..I’ve celebrated it yesterday (3rd of dec) with my colleagues and will even move the 5th of december more extremely with my parents, brother & sister to a whopping 19th of december..how’s that for adapting..that’s almost christmas!!
*hurray..got the 3 hour dvd of Das Boot yesterday.
@Arjan, That’s how the website spelt it, so blame them.
Three christmas celebrations seems a little greedy to me.
@Dan,
we don’t have presents at christmas but yes…greedy nonetheless:P
Of course you can move it!
Do you know our kids only get their presents from Sinterklaas on the morning of the sixth? Everything is relative. I know parents who do “New Year” at nine pm every year. Even change the clocks to fool the kids.
You the daddy. You can change it.
Mwa´s last blog ..Gay Porn part V
@Mwa, I’m rather tempted to let Amy and Evan stay up to midnight on new years eve. That’s mainly becasue they will be spending it at the grandparents rather than us.
I wish Whit would consider that since I’m at my moms house and don’t know when I’m going to be home.
@Tricia Honea, it would sound like a good plan to me.
Hang on… I haven’t just get embroiled in a domestic argument have I?
Dan´s last blog ..Star Wars: A Small Hope
I wouldn’t bother moving it. Do the parcel thing before or after work. Let them have the day and enjoy it at the same time as everyone else.
And besides, Dads aren’t needed once the batteries are in the toys (and hey! you’re getting a break from having to do the cooking).
Craig McGill´s last blog ..twitter tool test
I am so sorry! this is the hardest thing to do. Young kids don’t always understand the reason for it.
Angie´s last blog ..Mini Choppers