If Christmas was left to Men.......

@p1kef1sh (45681)
November 6, 2008 8:41am CST
I have sometimes heard the phrase that if Christmas was left to men it would never happen. Now the part of Christmas that I am talking about is the family get together, present buying, wrapping, decorating, baking, cooking, washing up part, not the religious aspects. Is that a fair statement of men's involvement?
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38 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I would have to agree for the most part about this. My husband loves Christmas, only because I do. He helps me with the holiday chores but I know he wouldn't do it if I wasn't interested in it.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I guess mom invoked the holidyas into my mind. I absolutely love doing Christmass things. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I was going to say that this was going to be a vote for women Steph. But from the two responses below maybe I'd better hold my fire!
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@nannacroc (4049)
6 Nov 08
It used to be here but now the kids are grown up he loves shopping for the presents, wrapping them and writing Christmas cards. He will help with the baking but he just gets in the way. It depends on the man but most who do anything probably need to be told what needs doing by a woman and sometimes we fnd it so much quicker to do it ourselves.
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@nannacroc (4049)
6 Nov 08
You can look after the youngest grandchild and do the washing up. I know you know your place.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
We'll do the washing up together. 'Drop one. Smash one." LOL!
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
So you don't want me to come and help this year then Nanna?! I find that letting the women have their way is always the most productive thing to do at any time of the year, not just Christmas!!
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@webeishere (36313)
• United States
6 Nov 08
No way near that assumption in my family anyhow. I am the one that odes the majority of the wrapping of gifts. I love to do it and I am great at it as well. Also I am very neat at this I might add. I also love to bake etc. I do the decorating of the house indoors and outdoors also. I am always the dishwasher etc all year long as well. So this statement is false in my household. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
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@webeishere (36313)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Thank you both very much. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
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• Canada
6 Nov 08
When I saw this discussion, I immediately thought of you, Grandpa Bob. I remember all of your Christmas preparations from last year, and you're already off to a great start this year. It's really refreshing to see!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
Good to hear Grandpa Bob. I have to admit that I love to see all the Christmassy stuff in the house, but it's the Women that do it here. I do buy the meat for the Christmas meal though.
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@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Hmm, sounds about accurate. My husband would buy gifts but not near as many as I do. He would most likely forget people. He would cook but not clean up. Decorating would not be done at all. he has never been a huge fan of Christmas anyway and thinks that I go overboard. Ehh..he gets over it! lol
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
You can't expect him to cook and clean up. Goodness me. LOL. We have a rule in my family that says that whoever prepares the meal gets to sit down afterwards whilst everyone else clears. It's the most broken rule in the world. Thank goodness! We men have our uses of course. I fetch the tree and supervise the decorating and I cook the meal too. But mostly it's that Boss's domain and who am I to interrupt?!!
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Nov 08
It is a fair statement unless the guy is gay or worships Martha Stewart. My ex was neurotic about Christmas to the point of buying scented pine cones to make his own wreathes. Oh and heaven help the poor soul who fiddled around with his Winter Wonderland scene that he would set up meticulously on the DINING room table. But as for the cooking and the present wrapping that has always been my arena. The food has to be edible! Now my sweetie is suckered into the whole holiday "festivities" and I just thank my stars that he loves me as much as he does or our relationship wouldn't have made it past the 9 hour present wrapping fiasco last year :)
@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I'm quite happy myself and Martha Stewart? We used to have an Andy Stewart who regaled us with traditional Scottish folk songs on the Hogmanay in an attempt by the booze sellers of Britain to drive us all "oot the hoose" and down to the pub! I'm more a supervisor than a creator, although I do cook the meal usually. Clare does the present wrapping so we don;t have any marathons, just panic as I remember that I haven't given her my present for The Boss at about 2 minutes to midnight on Crimble Eve!
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@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Nov 08
Not necessarily, my father was much more into Christmas than my mother was. But it's probably true more often than not.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
It's certainly true in my family Dawn. Although my Dad used to make and ice the cake and I do cook the meal.
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@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Nov 08
My dad was not only into the cooking but also the decorating, the music, the presents...
• India
7 Nov 08
I think they would still enjoy it their own way, Pikey. Maybe they would take a day off work, raid the bars, or watch a Christmas football match in their shorts, while all around them would be a house in a mess--piles of newspapers everywhere, dirty laundry piled up, something burning on a stove, piles of filthy dishes in the sink, and so on and so on. :) Yup, they would enjoy Christmas their own way. Cheers and happy mylotting
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Nov 08
But that sounds like me the rest of the year! LOL.
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@littleowl (7157)
6 Nov 08
Yes you are right p1ke..there is so much to do at christmas buying presents wrapping them up, food has to be cooked that is the busiest time in the household and men would lose it doing that..decorating the house well they can help with that sometimes under real duress though..there a million to one things that has to be done at christmas and men really wouldn't know where to start!! Men's involvement is not really that much at all normally..except in the most exeptional cases..everything is left down to the woman!! hugs littleowl
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@littleowl (7157)
6 Nov 08
Good on you p1ke, there aren't many men around that are willing to help with anything at christmas 10 out of 10 to you!! hugs littleowl
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
You are right I thing Little owl. Except that here I buy the meat for the meal and I cook the meal too usually. But I leave the girls to get on with everything else. Especially the decorating. I don't like that at bit all although I do like to see the house looking smart and christmassy afterwards.
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@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
7 Nov 08
i think men are interested in christmas, but they expect their woman to do all the work, cook, clean, shop and decorate. they just want to enjoy everything and relax in their home. but some will actually go out and shop for their family or maybe help out, but not necessarily do all the work.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Nov 08
I think that's very true.
6 Nov 08
I think this is an unfair statement as when I was was about 11, my parents split up and we had a great Christmas with my dad. We were at boarding school but would go and spend the holidays with our parent, we would have Christmas with one parent and spend New Years with the other and then the year after we would alternate. My dad managed to do the Christmas shopping and cook a lovely Christmas dinner. As for now since we are older I think he would struggle with presents as its hard to buy for people as they get older. He would do a lovely dinner though. I think men just choose to leave it all to the women though!!
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I think that men do leave it to the women Cinders but would we bother at all if we didn't have too? I confess that I a, a tad lazy about it all other than than the meal which I always help buy and prepare. My daughter loves to decorate the house and the tree. Seems a shame to stop her somehow!
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@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
6 Nov 08
Hi there pike. I totally disagree with that statement and with all statements that refer to all men or women as a whole because each of us are individuals that think on our own, and even if a majority of a kind does one things that will never mean the whole will. Grandpa Bob just said that he does the wrapping of presents, and so do i, and we are people different from the point of view of age, nationality and probably much more yet we both are very involved in Christmas activities. I also like decorating the tree and the house, buying the gifts not just wrapping them, writing the cards and some of the cooking (in time more ) of course with some help from my mother and girlfriend as i am yet young and still have much to learn before i can do it on my own or just with my girl.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
Long may it last my friend. Something happens when you get married etc. LOL.
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@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
6 Nov 08
Well yeah, perhaps some people do change after marriage, but still they could / should and some actually do help around on Christmas time.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Nov 08
YES! Well, maybe not all men. However, I have to say, that in most cases, the most involvement I have seen is one getting out his wallet, and opening it for the wife to take what she needs. Silly boys, if they were really smart, they would take the time to do some shopping themselves, saving a bit of money in the process. How? Well, you know if you open your wallet and let a woman take out what she "needs", she is going to "need" all of it.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
LOL. Don't I know it! Although here it's rather the other way around these days. I shop for the meat and help prepare the meal. But other than The Boss's present; I'm pretty appalling at Christmas. On the other hand, the girls love to do that stuff so who am I to get in their way? In fact my daughter's friends have ben known to come round and help decorate.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
OK. I'll be over the week before Christmas and depart on the 23rd in time to have missed the decorations and entered the divorce proceedings (mine)! LOL.
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• United States
6 Nov 08
I look forward to December. I love to decorate the house for Christmas. If it were left to the kids and hubby, it would look just as it does all year round. My mom got a little frustrated with me a couple of years ago, I think. She was sitting, watching me fuss with something over the window for almost 45 minutes. The whole thing shouldn't have taken more than 10. It can take me days to get everything set up and arranged just the way I want it. I guess that is why I do it when no one is around. I make my family nuts, trying to make it absolutely perfect. Hey, wanna come help me? I am really pleasant to be around during this time. I throw tantrums because the lights on the tree don't work.........because I have them plugged in wrong, I yell and scream at the decorations because they don't seem to want to be where I put them, I throw things at the radio because they have played the same song for the 10th time in an hour...........yeah, I am lots of fun to be around.*L*
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@SketcherD (1114)
• Canada
6 Nov 08
My husband bought me an oil filter and synthetic oil for my motorcycle one year for Christmas. Can you imagine??? From now on I point out very specific things I want for Christmas. Never just suggest to him an idea to stem a present from again!!!
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Nov 08
Please let me know the reaction when you do!! It'll be a good post Christmas giggle.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
Now that's what I call a thoughtful gift. LOL. I have heavy hints dropped. But I always say that if we can afford them let's buy them now when we need them. Have you bought him some hair rollers and a ladyshave this year?
2 people like this
@SketcherD (1114)
• Canada
7 Nov 08
OMG that was the funniest answer ever!!! Can you imagine the look on his face??? It would be a total what the h*ll??? I should totally do that this year!!
7 Nov 08
Hi Well I don't agree at all because my husband loves Christmas more than I do. He is the one who cooks the diner wants to go out and buy the presents while I get morbidly depressed. I guess it is these social stereotypes that make men look bad when they are actually doing a pretty darn good job. Let's not put everyone in the same pot as I do believe there are many men who do more than their fair share.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Nov 08
Good for him. I think that men are more than capable of organising Christmas, but many don't really see the point of all the decorating etc. I admit that apart from cooking the meal I'm not a huge help.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
6 Nov 08
Well I would say it can not put stated about all Men but the ones I know yes I will say the Statement fits lol and they even admit it themselves
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I think that there are exceptions Gabs, but generally we have it easy over Christmas.
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@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Typically men don't care about presents, baking, decorations and all the other stuff that goes with it. I know if I didn't MAKE my husband put up the tree every year it wouldn't get put up! I know that if I didn't buy Christmas presnets for every one - they wouldn't get any thing - or MAYBE money! If my husband ever baked any thing I'd have a heart attack! I do all the Christmas stuff which I have no problem with. I do more then I have to. In fact I do my mother in laws shopping and wrapping too!
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I have some sympathetic feelings for your husband. I receive my instructions to at the glorious Yuletide time! LOL. In the main I suspect that men are just a tad indifferent to the whole thing. Of course we like to see it after you've decorated etc and we love to eat the meal which, in our case, I cook.
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@ellie333 (21016)
6 Nov 08
Hi P1kef1sh, I guess as a female I am inclined to agree with that statement, although I am also sure there are some men who are excellent at all this but the ones I know if not badgered by their kids would never bother even putting a tree up and would just put money in an envelope at a push and eat out at a restaurant all inclusive Christmas Dinner Deal. Sounds quite tempting actually and would save on the washing up LOL but to me Christmas is spending time a home with family so as tempting as it sounds I couldn't do it and I love to see them unwrap presents rather than vouchers or money. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I love to be at home for Christmas and have always resisted any suggestion that we should go to a restaurant Ellie. I'm just not very good at the decorations and I'm even worse about taking them down. I strongly support the notion of the 12 days of Christmas. But I'd happily make that 2 days! Just call me Scrooge.
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@littleone3 (2063)
6 Nov 08
Yes and no i think it depends on the man. My late husband never ever did anything for Christmas it was always left to me and the kids. He would send one of the kids out to buy my presents then get them to wrap them up. Nothing would have got done if i hadn't done it. But, my partner who i am with now is great when it comes to Christmas he loves it. He decorates the inside and the outside of the house and he is a dab hand at wrapping presents. He helps with everything, we do the cooking together then we get the kids to do the washing up so everybody does there part.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
I admit that whilst I cook the meal I leave everything else pretty much to the girls. They prefer me out of the way I think! One of my daughter's friends always decorates the outside of their house. They have had TV cameras and a website too! I'm afraid I won't let them decorate outside here, save for a holly wreath. I'm just an old misery. LOL.
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@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
7 Nov 08
I think it just depends on who they are, like my husband for instance, don't really care about doing all that stuff, he don't like spending money on presents, and wrapping them and all the decorating. Like you said, if it was up to him, nothing would happen around here, I often call him a bah humbug...lol. Then there are men like our Grandpa Bob, who enjoy doing stuff like that, and love doing it. Like I said, it just depends on who they are and how they grew up.
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6 Nov 08
Hi p1key, I think it is fair as I know most men don't do it or dnon't want to do it, they only go and buy one present for their partner, but women have to do everything, my hubby is the prime example, I do everything and all he does is eat and enjoy the festive day. Hugs. Tamara
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
6 Nov 08
But that's his way of showing his appreciation and love for you Tamara! No? LOL. XX
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