How many people actually have *parties* at Christmas?

[QueenoftheNights]

The medi a is full of pary food, party frocks and 'how to behave at a party'.

I don't know anyone who has a party.
Most people I know catch up on sleep, have close family round for a couple of days, slouch about in their oldest comfy clothes, watch telly and cannot be arsed with the idea of party .

Who and where are all these party people buying canapes and wafting about in velvet dresses?

[treaclesoda]

I don't know anyone who hosts a party either. In fact, I'm in my 40s and the last time I ever heard of someone having a party, of any variety, was when I was at school.

[QueenoftheNights]

I think I went to a Christmas party about 30 years ago, some colleagues of DH who we hardly new. It was tiresome .

In my mid 20s I went to a friend of a friend's house- big pile in the country- and we played charades and stuff- this was daytime.

[tierraJ]

At my workplace I've got 2 Christmas parties to go to (dressed up hotel dinner & disco parties) so I suppose those are the kind of parties the media refers to?

[RobertDeNiro]

I’ve often wondered this. All this talk of ‘Party season’ etc. For the vast majority of people it’s one work party and that’s it, not an endless round of soirées in sparkly dresses.

[QueenoftheNights]

I was really meaning parties at home.

The media is full of how to make perfect food blah blah and keep your guests happy. All of my friends just want to crash out with family, avoid being sociable, and hibernate for a week.

Maybe that's the kind of friends I have.

[Beerincomechampagnetastes]

I host a Christmas party every year for the neighbours [santa]
We move around a bit so I find it a good way to get to know people!

[Nacreous]

We usually have one at new year, or if we go elsewhere for new year then drinks and nibbles before Christmas. Good to catch up with old friends!

[OhTheRoses]

We used to have a neighbours party (at the pub but with a oroper room booked), we have three christmas drinks invites on the mantelpiece.

[Violetroselily]

I know 2 or 3 families who host a party each Christmas

[RatRolyPoly]

The only proper drunken? rowdy? grown-up party I've ever hosted was a Christmas Party! I co-hosted with a friend (but at my house) so the workload was halved. I'd love to do it again because it was ace!

I've never been to anyone else's Christmas party though...

[MNisforlosers]

We used to have a family get together every year when I was a child with a big meal. Would that constitute a party? Three generations and about 15 of us?

Now I often think the same thing you do. I don’t know anyone who has these parties that they need umpteen packets of frozen party food for. No one.

[RatRolyPoly]

I've never been to anyone else's Christmas party though...

As in there haven't been any, not that I wasn't invited!

[FrazzyAndFrumpled]

I’d love to throw a Christmas party every year! DP said no as he thinks it’s too expensive.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Us! We host a party most years, the Friday before Christmas, same this year.

And we’ve got 3 ‘house’ parties to go to - the 8th, the 14th and the 29th December.

[Ragwort]

We host a drinks party for friends & neighbours the weekend before Christmas, we serve canapés (not the frozen ready made type ) but no one really dresses up. It’s all quite low key & hopefully everyone has left by 9pm (except a couple of DH’s mates who don’t seem to realise that an invitation for 5pm to 8pm doesn’t mean hanging around all night).

[Caprisunorange]

Beerincomechampagnetastes I’d love to do that! How do you get them all to come?

I would love to host a Christmas party but out friends and family don’t live locally to us, and lots of people are really busy at Xmas. We often have a family party but literally 10 people!

[hugoagogo]

We don't and I don't know anyone who does. There will be a work 'do' which is a meal in a pub.
Who are buying all theses platters and whatnots?

[StereophonicallyChallenged]

I went to about five last year.

Only 2 so far this year (in people's homes) but am considering having one myself between Christmas and New year
Won't be consulting any `helpful' articles though

[QueenoftheNights]

All my neighbours are anti social or the ones where I am friends with the women as friends, say their partners dont like socialising, so I never invite anyone.

[Ragwort]

Frazzy swap husbands, I don’t really enjoy our own party but DH is the one who loves inviting people round .

[Parker231]

We host a Christmas party at home every year for friends and any family who are in the UK. It’s always the Saturday before Christmas. I love it.

[Ragwort]

Queen why don’t you just invite your women friends round then? I much prefer socialising with women friends without their husbands/partners tagging along as well.

[Stephisaur]

Sometimes our neighbours have a party around Christmas.

Often my family will have one in the run up to Christmas.

Any excuse for lots of food and dressing up!

[CiderBrains]

"and wafting about in velvet dresses?"

That is so funny!

[AgentProvocateur]

I have a pre-Christmas party for neighbours, then I always have a Boxing Day party for about 30 friends. I love it.