franc11s

1. Can American women understand how unattractive it is to see them in a Christmas cardigan (straight after the organge pumpkin ones). they are pathetic.. Something you might wear if you were two years old and it was knitted by Granny... Ladies - unattractive is an understatement - DON'T wear them..... :scared:

2. Please STOP sending me christmas cards disguised as photographs of your entire family. What is that all about?

3. Americans who turn up for the Christmas party / dinner party in a jumper, jeans or less than even Friday casual wear (or said cardigans). You can tell the Europeans because we all make an effort and it's nice and the women look great....

I LOVE Christmas but these things make me cringe. Bah humbug .

Elvira

You've got a point...

But what I find wierd is the fact that they don't see a need to take a break. Off on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day they're back at work.

I finally got around to sending out my Christmas e-mails to my clients in the UK. Got back 2 dozen Auto-Replies... "I'm out of the office now until ... 3 January ... 9 January ... " And today is only the 22nd!!

That's the way to do it!

TouristTrap

Oy, leave my Christmas jumpers alone.

After all, it isn't just an American Tradition. Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones wore them didn't they?

Coming from a nation that has absolutely zero Christmas spirit (just way too many spirits hic) I love the way that people celebrate over here.

frrussre

I agree.

Plus then feel some very small guilt, about throwing those photo cards away. Very small. I have noticed this year, we have several, mom, dad & children cards. Previous, were just children photos.
Reg. Frank R.

ironporer

Arn'e you forgetting the Christmas (xerox) Family Newsletters? I hate those (and I'm American!!)...

...And after we were appointed UN Chief council.... we got back from treking the great wall of China and saving panda bears.... and little Susie has graduated Suma Cum Laude from Harvard..... little Joeseph has been promoted to CEO of "Save the Squirrels".... and of course Johnny is still in the Amazons saving rainforests.


Give me a freaking break..we all know Susie is a cock sucking ass kisser, Joe is a poop pusher in a San Francisco Spa and Johnny never has been able to kick the cocaine adiction.

anotherlimey

I like the effort they put into their celebrations, the number of Christmas lights on my street is far higher than the number for the entire Southeast of England.

That being said, I don't like some of their attitude towards Christmas, its very commercialised.

I was going to give out Christmas cards to everyone in the office - something we always did in the UK - but someone said there was no point in doing it unless I gave them something with it so I bought a cheap bag of candy and let them all take a piece as I gave out the cards.

ScousePete

Valentine's Day is also different over here. At home it used to be a time to give a card to your secret admirer (or in later years to your wife!) Here I am encouraged (by HR) to give multiple cards to multiple co-workers, kind of like saying thank you.

Just not the same

TouristTrap

Christmas is a stressing time though. I recall one of my closest friends coming over on holiday a few years after we arrived, and asking to meet some of our local friends, having a bbq or something. It is difficult enough juggling one the rest of the year, but in December? No such luck. He wasn't impressed

elfman

Loads of Americans (at least in the north east US) leave the Christmas lights up on their houses for months after Christmas - is that a tradition or just apathy?

BritGuyTN

Nope - its just trashy

AmerLisa

LOL!

AmerLisa

Too cold to take them down? Or just trashy, as BritGuy said.

We're a non-starter, hubby refuses to put them up. He says they all look tacky to him.

ironporer

Hell... down here one of the guys actually had to cut the xmas lights wire out of the bark on his tree...as they had been up so long the bark had grown around the wire.

Wintersong

Is it just me who has noticed a distinct lack of Christmassy food in the supermarkets? You know the kind of thing - party foods, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, Lebkuchen, cream with different liqueurs, brandy butter etc etc

I find it all distinctly unfestive

AmerLisa

I'd love to find some decent cream with different liqueurs! Also, miss the little mince pies from Sainsburys and the German Stollen cake.