25 day lockdown versus no Christmas gatherings

Interesting poll on GMB today that approx 25% of respondents would be ok with having family gatherings at Christmas, with the price of that being a 25 day lockdown in January.

Personally I would rather we cancel Christmas altogether and concentrate on getting this virus under some sort of containment until the vaccines are available.

Christmas is not fit for purpose, is no longer a Christian celebration, it promotes debt, loneliness and depression and has become another retail feeding frenzy. Perhaps it's time to have a serious think about the whole ethos around this event.

 

I agree to postpone a national celebration/festival in terms of having folks visiting each other Having said that, having had a crap Covid year, Christmas was the shining light people are holding out for.

Personally I love Christmas despite its commercialisation.

 

I think it's a vital time for families to get together. It could be done at any time of year and vary from family to family but I guess Christmas is a time when everyone has time off work.
That aside, you're right. To most people it has sod all to do with religion and has been totally hijacked by consumerism.
At a time when the world is wrestling with climate change we're still racing round every December buying presents for all and sundry that they likely don't really want and stocking up piles of food a good percentage of which will be thrown in the bin or forced down because it "needs" eating.
Like many things today a huge rethink is needed.

 

So was the Grand National. Perhaps we could have a virtual Christmas?

 

I personally do not like xmas & look forward to the 2nd of january when normality returns , however , xmas is for children & childhood ,& throughout this awful year kids have had a raw deal & for the young it is a special time & therefore every effort should be made for families to enjoy their christmas , it might just give a lot a people a much needed lift .

 

I think this issue in its isolation is a perfect example of where we are as a society and certainly westernised nations, and its not a poke at anyone, more a distanced view of ourselves as a whole.

We're in the midst of a global pandemic thats so far killed over 1.3m people, and in the uk, a minimum of 53,000.

The virus is highly prevalent at this time in large parts of the uk. But the conversation is should we lift the lid on trying to control the virus, spend money we don't need to, waste food galore and indulge in garish displays of excess.

I'm no different, I do it too and its a welcome excuse to see family and complain about how much crap is on telly! I enjoy christmas. Typically I'd be away twice in Europe enjoying christmas markets that are more about people meeting and enjoying native traditions than bulk buying anything left on a shelf. Spending other weekends in London venturing in areas with more festive activities. Having a christmas dinner out and about somewhere (Roast at Borough Market last year was outrageously good!) and watching the snowman at the theatre and being in the rows where bubbles fall as snow at the end. Watching the skaters at Somerset House and wandering along the south bank before reaching a youngs pub with riverside views back towards the City drinking a few pints of winter warmer. Walking through Marylebone and looking in the window of Pierre Marcolini chocolatiers. Down to St Christophers place and continuing down to Libertys and out into Carnaby Street. The numerous christmas hymns and concerts in some of the Londons churches and in particular the Mayors event at Southwark Cathedral. Trying to catch the salvation army outside Fortnum and Mason. All in December before finally heading to family and then inlaws until just before the new year.

I enjoy that, and I'll miss that.

But if we can't collectively look at a tokenist day amid a raging pandemic and say, maybe this isn't the wisest idea just now. Yes, it would be nice to do, but really, do we have to, especially how we always have done it... well, I'm not sure we have it in us to do anything for the greater good ahead of a short term sugar fix.

We have to do something about our rampant thirst for more because even though we enjoy it, it is slowly consuming us and the planet we live.

 

I’m with Lordy.
Once the kids find out Santa no longer exists then Christmas is just on big consumer fest.
For me personally Christmas is a bore. Waiting on 7pm to come around and get off to the pub for a few pints and meet up with like minded people.

 

Either we need to be in lockdown or we don't. Trading so we can have a few days off at a price down the line is utterly ridiculous.
My personal experience is most people are ignoring the lockdown anyway and doing whatever they like. So it's a but of a moot point at this stage.

 

We'll be celebrating Christmas no matter what. We'll be celebrating New Year too. We'll be sensible and limit it to three households at any one time, but ultimately the risk is worth being able to see friends and family and having a laugh.

 

This is easy for me. Relaxing restrictions and undoing any progress that might have been made,,,,,,,,sheer lunacy!!

 

Masses of people can't even wear a face mask properly.

 

If we can't make simple compromises that are very easy to do, we've no chance with anything more difficult and requiring sacrifice rather than mere compromise. And that extends beyond covid.

 

Totally agree.

 

you seen the santa talking to kids about corona video on the bbc website - telling kids to stay away from people and not to put food and drink out for santa cos of the virus. FFS. cringe.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54994584

oh and this elaborate story about elves wearing masks etc... lol been better off saying Santa uses his christmas magic to make imself immune to go with the rest of the backup story he uses about coming down the chimney etc...

 

Scrap gatherings this year.

Learn to live with it next year and start afresh.

5 days freedom at Christmas will only lead to another 25 days lockdown in January. Not worth it.

 

Alright Mr happy!! Jesus Christ......I’d say this year for millions will be enjoyed even more given the fact how much of a cop out this years been!! A feel massively for people in there own at Christmas but there’s millions of kids worldwide who will be giddy as hell at the thought of Christmas Day.....my 2 girls haven’t stopped talking about it for over a month!!

 

If you ban gatherings over Christmas, what % of the population will take a blind bit of notice.

This is all going to be about damage limitation.

 

Interesting how gatherings were banned over Ramadan (and Divali) due to the risk of it being spread around - and generally supported, but Covid ignores gatherings at Christmas and to many its seen as "Special". With current infection rates, it is likely that a fair few parents and grandparents won't make next Christmas.

Santa is over 85 and therefore qualifies in category #1 for the vaccine, and being a good boy he made sure he was vaccinated (and wearing a mask) before undertaking any activity that poses a risk of infection to himself or others.

 

This is the key point - people won't abide by restrictions over Christmas and it will lead to a lot of resentment amongst those who have cancelled their own Christmases. You can imagine people posting photos on social media of their family on Christmas day whilst other sit alone abiding by the rules.

I say relax the rules slightly and introduce some guidance on making your Christmas as COVID safe as possible (e.g. limiting contacts in the fortnight before and after, all the hygiene messaging etc.). Christmas is the highlight of the year for a lot of people, and after the year we've had people need it more than ever.

 

This.