I hadn't heard of St Nicholas Day traditions, but I've had a google, and that sounds like a lovely idea, thank you
Christmas 2023
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I’ve looked into them again this year and went on a review site and the one star reviews were so damning I couldn’t bring myself to pay it (the one I was looking at was closer to £350!). Idk I’d rather spend that money on something outdoors-y too - like with a train you’re so enclosed your experience will inevitably be impacted/somewhat determined by who you’re sat near too - not meaning that in a snobby way at all as we’re all at the mercy of our kids’ moods, just paying a chunk of a grand to not be able to move away from some random’s mentally b is not for me 🫣 and this is snobby but I don’t trust the food and drink component of it tbh.
I find children enjoy simple things like a visit to the garden centre or farm, doing something like a jigsaw with relatives, growing a Christmas plant, baking something Christmassy especially if it's for Santa.
Anything where they can have a bit of time out if they get overwhelmed.or tired.
We visit the garden centre or department store to choose a new bauble. Go to see Fenwicks window and see the Christmas lights and get a treat from the market. Go to panto, usually do some kind of Santa visit or a light trail.
On Christmas eve we have a buffet for our main meal. We always try do something outdoors to tire the kids out more and walk round our local area to see the lights and advent windows. Then put the treats out for Santa and bedtime.
On Christmas eve we have a buffet for our main meal. We always try do something outdoors to tire the kids out more and walk round our local area to see the lights and advent windows. Then put the treats out for Santa and bedtime.
I totally agree. I looked at some afternoon tea experiences with santa and it was over £100 per person. When you break it down it's not worth it. You can do the same sort of thing at your own pace for half the price. Because these places are always decorated beautifully as you walk around. You just don't get the cheap gift and luke warm mulled wine
I do like doing breakfast with santa at a pub. That's really nice for little ones. My 5yr old absolutely loves it. We normally go Christmas shopping afterwards
It's could be billed as a nice alternative to the bloody elf if you need one - ie. Santa's watching, not some elf you have to move every night.I hadn't heard of St Nicholas Day traditions, but I've had a google, and that sounds like a lovely idea, thank you
I was introduced to it when I lived in Germany. It's very much a thing in continental Europe.
Yes!! This is the other part, feeling like cattle just being churned through a process at their timings doesn’t really appeal either.
Can’t help but wonder if lot of it is just competitive parenting driven by social media? Like in normal times/the real world you can get a ten course tasting menu from a Michelin star restaurant for ~£150. Admittedly sans drinks and ex-London! But how in the month of December does that same £150 buy you a grubby seat on a decommissioned train with tea from one of those church kitchen huge metal tankers and a fox’s biscuit*? It’s mad.
*don’t get me wrong love both those things at a play group that didn’t cost three figures!
I agree - was a bit gutted about the cost of the baubles. Definitely a "nice to look at online" rather than an "excitedly buy EVERYTHING."
Also, they have tons of glass baubles - is this a thing?? With two small boys, they would be a recipe for total carnage in our house. To be fair, even with just me trying to get them on the tree, they would be a recipe for total carnage.
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Absolutely! We have an illuminated steam train near us. Very lovely, really clever lighting and a great idea for train-mad little ones. But it is incredibly expensive, hundreds for a family, and we find that the best experience is waiting where the track goes through town so you can see the train from the outside; otherwise, you sit in your window seat peering through the condensation at the same string of lights for the whole journey and rely on your flashing wristband to make everything look Christmassy! (To be fair, you get a brilliant view at the station, but we found it all a bit overpriced for what you get).
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Deffo a competitive element to it all these days. It is very easy to get carried away and lose sight of what YOUR family enjoys doing, rather than what you think you should be doing.
I felt like a bit of a crap mum because I didn't do a pantomime, or Disney on ice etc. But I know my money would be wasted because my kid just won't sit there and watch it all.
I booked a grotto a couple of years ago that cost quite a bit and it was awful! It was advertised as festive arts and crafts for the children while they waited for santa, Xmas movies playing on a large screen, free mulled wine, snacks and juice for the kids. We got there on time and then had to wait for like an hr and a half to see santa, we were in the grotto about 3 seconds for a photo and the gift was a £1.00 book from The Works! I was fuming!!
never will I pay over the odds again.
I went to the chill factory in Manchester a couple of years ago as I'd heard it was amazing, we bought the cheapest package which wasn't that cheap. We were told there would be crafts, etc whilst you waited, it was a table with some colouring in that you couldn't get near. The father Christmas was OK, but not great and the toys were from poundland. The best ones we've done have always been the cheaper ones. Last year we were at Disneyworld and the Father Christmas we saw was free, thee children didn't get a godr, but he spent ages talking to them. I wish we had something like that over here, a simple free grotto.Deffo a competitive element to it all these days. It is very easy to get carried away and lose sight of what YOUR family enjoys doing, rather than what you think you should be doing.
I felt like a bit of a crap mum because I didn't do a pantomime, or Disney on ice etc. But I know my money would be wasted because my kid just won't sit there and watch it all.
I booked a grotto a couple of years ago that cost quite a bit and it was awful! It was advertised as festive arts and crafts for the children while they waited for santa, Xmas movies playing on a large screen, free mulled wine, snacks and juice for the kids. We got there on time and then had to wait for like an hr and a half to see santa, we were in the grotto about 3 seconds for a photo and the gift was a £1.00 book from The Works! I was fuming!!
Gonks - do we love them? Or hate them? I do have a few but I don't put them out every year. They seem to have gained in popularity the last few years
Not a fan TBH.
And they're everywhere
who started it I wonder? They don't seem all that festive do theyhttps://www.therange.co.uk/christma...#in_stock_f=true&sort=relevance&page=1&lpp=24 274 products?!
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Hate them! Don’t get the appeal at all
Also not a Gonk fan. They make me think of Noddy and his chum in the car. Whose name escapes me currently.
I'm genuinely tempted by this advent calendar - https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent. If it's still there after payday, I may indulge. The chestnut spread sounds
I'm genuinely tempted by this advent calendar - https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent. If it's still there after payday, I may indulge. The chestnut spread sounds
me too! Some of the jams sound a bit flowery for me but it looks beautifulAlso not a Gonk fan. They make me think of Noddy and his chum in the car. Whose name escapes me currently.
I'm genuinely tempted by this advent calendar - https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent. If it's still there after payday, I may indulge. The chestnut spread sounds
Probably AmericanAnd they're everywhere
https://www.therange.co.uk/christma...#in_stock_f=true&sort=relevance&page=1&lpp=24 274 products?!
. I saw a Gonk tin with biscuits in at B&M the other day.
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The wrapping paper is £5 a roll! no thanks I've bought mine from B&M £1.50 for a 3m roll.
Yeah, same but they're the ones my friends and family will get. Still, a grim weekday morning in December and there'll be an interesting preserve for my toast. Plus they're cute jars for storage.
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