Why is everyone so bothered about the rule of 6 and Christmas.....

I’m with jenniferEccles, Christmas is over 100 days away ( I think) so I’m hoping for the best.

Good grief, Christmas is three months away! At the moment, all I can deal with is the here and now.... Who knows where we'll be in December? IMO it makes sense to get on with life as best we can and to make the most of each day as it comes. I continue to gather up Christmas gifts as I go through the year (these are all modest gifts, in my family) but (for me) "plans" simply can't be made at the moment.

Succinctly put as ever, M0nica. (Good to see you back again). It really shouldn't bother anyone, whatever religion or not, that Christmas is reduced to limited numbers, just for once. It is what the situation requires.

I have friends of different faiths and none, and we’d all be disappointed if Christmas was “cancelled”. All the families I know of the Islamic faith have get-togethers, trees, stockings, cards. When a well-meaning temporary headteacher of mine decided it wasn’t culturally sensitive for our multi-cultural school to have a nativity play, carol service or Christmas Fair, the loudest protests came from the Muslim community. Of course they were disappointed about Eid, as I was about Easter, but they really don’t need anybody to be outraged on their behalf.

It's a case of never mind others as long as I am allright. The media is whipping up a storm. Other religions did have restrictions placed on their celebrations and probably as will be for Christmas if the rule of 6 still applies some ignored and some complied with them. At times I feel sad at how hypocritical we can be given how churches are being sold off due to lack of use yet so much time and money is spent celebrating Christmas. Santa Claus is another matter.

Good post grannywanny agree it goes without saying

I truly hadn't thought that far ahead until various people mentioned it. Small price to pay in order to be around in 2021..... In my humble opinion. In any event I'm guessing the majority will carry on with their normal big Christmas apart from Christmas Eve at Church.

I think there was upset over cancelled Eid celebrations! Some of us have large extended families who enjoy Christmas get together and I think it is perfectly ok to feel disappointed that this year may be different

I live on my own, so yes, I am really bothered!

I too am sad at the thought that I may not be able to be at a family gathering at Christmas. It does help to remember the families who will have their first Christmas without those who have died this year. The things I will miss are the crowded children’s church services on Christmas Eve and the various get togethers with neighbours and friends as well of course as the time spent with the family. Another thing I will miss is going to our local war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. I doubt that will be possible this year.

M0nica yes I agree with you but I think sadly its because more money is spent at Christmas. Shops have got Christmas goods out early.

We had restrictions here over easter this year when we usually have a big family gathering, so my husband made the usual big roast dinner with all the trimmings, we bought take away containers and everyone did a drive by and got their easter lunch. Worked a treat. If there are any restrictions by christmas here thats what will be happening again.

grouse shooting.. pubs.... etc... that is the difficulty..

so. to keep to the thread...
of course, there is the assumption that none of us "felt" for other communities... or are we just taking everything from the media?

as for Christmas and me... least said I think

I think we will do Christmas in two households this year to keep to the rule of six. DH will attend midnight mass in front of the computer! While it won't be the same as previous years, Skype and facetime will help us see presents being unwrapped, etc. Staying safe is so important and hopefully next year will back to normal.

At least we are warned in advance about Christmas, the Eid celebrations had no warning at all.

I won’t be sorry if Hallowe’en doesn’t happen. It is much to commercial and imported from USA. Certainly wouldn’t seem appropriate for youngsters to go from door to door collecting and handling sweets etc handled by others.
Christmas will happen and it will possibly be different, but Christmas will come again as it used to be. We must all be grateful for what we can do.

I have only seen one member of my family, apart from my son that lives with me since December.
My sister brought me some eggs and flour at the beginning of lockdown, we stood on my doorstep, socially distanced and chatted. Since then I have been in contact with her only on Facebook.
We normally have a family barbecue on what would have been my mums birthday in August and then a family Christmas meal at the beginning of December, plus another barbecue on what would have been my dad's birthday at the end of December (yes really, in hail, sleet, snow, rain etc!)
There are anything up to 17 of us so if the restrictions continue (and really expect them to) , It will have been a year then since we have all seen each other.
We have tried to think of different ways we can get round it but as family members come from Cornwall, to Leeds, to Wales, I can't see that it is going to happen.

I haven't heard all this outrage the original poster is going on about. I have seen people very accepting of the situation. Most understand why...

Id happily see the end of Halloween forever! Creepy and commercial, never celebrated when I was a child.

As for Christmas, looks like I'll be spending it alone as to join either daughter and family as usual will put them over the six. Boxing Day is my birthday and I've always had everyone at my house for another feast and fun, but perhaps not this year.
Just have to get some delicious snacks in for me and make the best of it.

MONICA.
What a very sensitive sensible post.
We must do what we have to do to keep this
horrible virus under control and make sure that we re all safe.
This year we are all making sacrifices and hope that next year will be different.
My best wishes Carole.

Because the uk is a Christian place so we celebrate Christmas not any of the other religions festivals but I guess you were fishing for that answer to pull your rascist card?

And how about sparing a thought for those of us, who's families live as far away as the U.S and Australia, like both my daughter's and their families, we don't know when it will be safe for us to see them again. At least some of them have their families in this country

M0nica fyi the Government made absolutely no apology for shutting churches just before Easter which is a more important Christian feast.

For the majority of people in the U.K. Christmas has reverted to being a mid winter festival. Christianity is in steep decline.

JenniferEccles I admire your optimism but I am afraid this pandemic is going to get much worse before it gets better.