Christmas In The Good Old Days

[barry1010]

When I started work most people had two days off for Christmas, Christmas Day and Boxing (or Monday and Tuesday if it fell on the weekend).  No day off for New Year's Day either.  Now it seems to be a 10 - 14 day feast for many people.  

We didn't have a fridge or freezer so the meat, milk, cream had to be bought on Christmas Eve - very long queues outside the butcher's.

Do you think Christmas today lasts too long?  

[Canary42]

No, for example retail workers deserve a long break after weeks of dealing with a frantically frenzied Joe Public.

[albaqwerty]

When shops start their infernal Xmas background muzak before Halloween,  then yes, it's too long.

[bookbinder]

Yes, I do think that. However, if Christmas Day falls on, say, a Monday or a Tuesday, I can understand that some employers close down from Friday night until Thursday or Friday. Heating their premises up for only two days - after being shut down over the weekend - might be too expensive for them.

[barry1010]

I agree with you there, alba.

 

[albaqwerty]

Canary, retail workers don't get a long break, they're back at the coalface on boxing day (well, some if not most)

[-SharonA-]

Lasts too long & starts too early. I remember when I was working, the whole week before was taken up drinking,, playing cards then down to the pub!!!

[DDIL]

A lot of people now use their leave allowance to take advantage and have a decent break, nothing wrong with that 

[barry1010]

When I started work there was no flexitime - you had to take time off whilst the workplace was closed and be there when it was open. No choice.  14 days holiday a year.

[DDIL]

Well times change, employers needs have changed as have employees 

[brainiac]

In Scotland, Christmas Day only became a holiday in 1958, and Boxing Day in 1974.

My dad used to buy the tree on Christmas Eve, and then he'd get the bus to town to do his Christmas shopping.

[rowanwitch]

I remember couple of days before Christmas office Christmas party, Christmas eve ( or last working day  Office lunch in local pub restaurant and sneak off as early as possible.   Back next working day after boxing day,  possibly leave early New years eve.

When nursing .... Start run of 5 night shifts Christmas Eve,    days off, then agency nights New years Eve and New years day, ( if New years day was a Friday then try for nights over the weekend.   Earn extra, avoid family events,  and the hospital paid for taxi transport  Christmas day and boxing day. Those with  No children generally worked the holiday and there were a group of us who really enjoyed working together. 

[fiveleaves]

Christmas is actually a 12 day festival

[netherfield]

When exactly were the good old days?

 

[Peter Pedant]

When nursing .... Start run of 5 night shifts Christmas Eve,    days off, then agency nights New years Eve and New years day,

yeah when I was in the childrens sector, the admin ( doctors) demanded to run lists between christmas and new year and no one turned up. -  it showed how efficient the administrators were apparently. 

[Peter Pedant]

When exactly were the good old days?

in 1959 we had a post on Xmas day. - very hot summer and I was very young

[Peter Pedant]

Hahahahah the good olde days

At the General Hospital in Birmingham the on call doctors ( who didnt really change) were given a tray of  sarnies at 5 pm Thur and told the  next time the staff canteen opened was Tue 9 am.

spouses brought in pots of stew

[gulliver1]

Gosh Barry, how you have improved yourself .Now you are a mod on AB working a voluntary shift on Christmas Day  for quadruple pay and a big box of Thorntons . Well done. Let us know when you take your seat in the H.O.L as chief mod.🤣

[Barmaid]

I was discussing this with a colleague the other day. We both formed the conclusion that because of mobiles and emails our other holidays throughout the year are often interrupted. But with the entire legal world shutting down we actually get a break.

[Peter Pedant]

 But with the entire legal world shutting down we actually get a break.

if you watcch the Long Shadow ( ITVx) ( Leeds murders) you would be forgiven for thinkin that that whole legal world has been in limbo since 1978

[Maydup]

Christmas certainly starts too early, but there are far more people than you think who only have a day or so off work at Christmas. My whole working life was spent in an industry where no leave was permitted in December. Then there's health workers, carers, retailers, hospitality workers, gritters, waste collectors, cinema and theatre staff, actors, farmers, police, fire service, bus drivers, shall I go on?

So who's left having the 10-14 day break? Oh of course, the suits!