So I am hosting Christmas for the first time this year....

[mammmamia]

... what tips do you have for me?

There will be about 12 adults- siblings, parents, aunt and uncle, 2 teenagers and 4 under fives including my DC (huge family).
Everyone will bring something, but how can I make sure it is a fun day for everyone?

[FrantasticO]

I would say prepare, prepare and then prepare some more!
Could you have cold starters or soup?
Get tables sorted a couple of days before?
Have karaoke on wii at the ready? Works for adults here after a couple of drinks!
Will try think of more and good luck...or may the force be with you!

[mammmamia]

Thank you, Frantastic! Think will have to be buffet style. Karaoke is a great idea.
Anyone else??
Thanks in advance

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

You can buy little tins of cards with different games in. Like a mini trivia game. A game of tasks, like build a house of cards etc can get them from card shops or department stores.

Make sure you gave enough ice ready. And kitchen roll, loo roll, washing up liquid, clean towels and bin bags.

Get some music on quietly in the background.

Possible for the kids to play in the garden for an hour or a little local walk? Just to break the day up?

Make sure, if you don't want to hostess too much, that everyone helps themselves, makes themselves comfy and knows where everything is.

Good luck!

[picnicbasketcase]

Peel and chop all the veg you can the night before. Nothing worse than missing out on loads of fun whilst you're chained to the potato peeler.

[Durab]

Make a plan - write everything down, including what pans and serving dishes will be used for which dish, how it all fits in the oven/on the hob and what time it all needs to go in/come out of the oven.

Have a sherry very early in the day!!

Enjoy

[Chopstheduck]

disposable cooking trays!

[mammmamia]

Some great tips everyone, thank you! Am really looking forward to it.

[DewDr0p]

Are you doing Christmas Dinner? I tend to keep the veg simple as there is so much else going on on the plate. There are some things you can make in advance too. Braised red cabbage for example just needs gently reheating and is totally yum with turkey. I also make the gravy in advance and just add meat juices at the last minute. Both of those can be frozen.

I don't do a starter but ask someone else to bring some nibbles to have with some fizz and keep everyone going until dinner.

We like to buy crackers that feature some kind of game/activity. Balloon modelling was a particular favourite

Have a lovely time! It's so nice to create your own Christmas traditions.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Could you ask the teenagers to make a picture quiz and bring it along for everybody to have a go at? It would give them a role and ensure that they are around and able to talk to people (and off their phones!) for at least part of the time!

With that many people, I wouldn't bother with a starter at all - just have some nuts, olives etc around for picking at. I'd make a trifle the day before and offer trifle, (bought) Christmas pudding for pudding.

Karaoke on Wii is an excellent suggestion - everybody loves it. See if anybody has a couple of spare microphones they could bring along.

And unless it's chucking down, a walk or some time in the garden with bubbles will give the under fives some time outdoors and a chance to run around a bit. Crowded houses can get a bit claustrophobic otherwise!