Who has Xmas dinner and who likes to go out/have a takeaway?

Christmas dinner here as DH and tthe in-laws would be horrified to skip it. I could take it or leave it, would much prefer a takeaway. A glorified roast is not a treat to me.

https://www.tandooriparlour.com/index.php/offers/

Been here a couple of times They do the turkey dinner AND the curry.

Christmas, i prefer the traditional or a upmarket sunday dinner version
sundays its nice if its sunday dinner but overall its a mix

I have been out for Christmas dinner a couple of times and enjoyed it.

I think I’d be fine with a curry or takeaway too.

I guess it’s about being with those you love rather than the food.

I live in Australia and I was excited to return for Christmas with my 2 older teenage kids. I wanted the traditional British Xmas experience but my in laws (who I would describe as traditionalists) completely floored me by booking us into a curry house for Xmas day. I think it was too much for MIL (perfectionist cook). In the end covid changed our plans and we couldn't go out anyway so had take away.
It was lovely but felt completely wrong. (And my kids never got their proper British Xmas experience)
However, at the end if the day, it was our last Xmas together and we had a good day together whichbis the most important thing.

As long as the curry is a proper authentic curry I'd be happy.

You never know OP you might really enjoy the day.

@Plastictrees I would have preferred my microwave meal to be honest.

Yes it’s not an ideal choice… the times I have been out for dinner on Christmas Day I’ve not enjoyed it as much. That’s a nightmare re your oven, hopefully nothing like that happens this year!

@Tintackedsea yes I dislike roast dinners too.
The rest of the family like them so they have it (husband cooks) and I improvise.
To me Christmas dinner shouldn't be about what you eat....but the environment you eat it in.

I've had a traditional Christmas dinner once in my life!
Indian meal out twice, really nice and they don't put the prices up so was reasonable
Not sure what I'm having this year

Curry is my favourite food but not for Christmas dinner.

I would not want to go out to eat either. Roasts are never as nice in restaurants as you can make at home. The roast potatoes and yorkshires, in particular, are never as good.

Me and DH go to my family but we cook as none of the others like cooking. We cook for 16.

The turkey/goose roast is totally essential in my house.

I hate roasts and I particularly hate Christmas dinner. The most boring food all to be served piping hot to loads of people on a day when I've done a thousand other things. It's shite.

I'd love to have a curry.

Ever since I moved somewhere that it's a possibility, I've always wanted to just get a takeaway delivered for Christmas Day.

It hasn't happened yet, as someone always wants to cook - which is lovely but it always involves more effort from everyone, not just the person that wants to do the cooking. Maybe next year...

@Plastictrees oh see I'm the opposite. A few years ago our oven broke just before Christmas. I went up to Sainsbury's and got everyone a microwave meal (in laws were there) as we still had the microwave.
The oven ended up being fixed but I would have definitely chosen a microwave meal over going out.
I would hate the environment of a restaurant on Christmas Day and would prefer to eat a sandwich if that's all there was at home.
(I think father in law would have preferred his microwave cottage pie.....he loved them)

xmas dinner to me is just a sunday roast with more veg.
I dont do xmas anyway hate it.

Oh no @Needmorelego that’s a stressful thought 😂I think I’d consider eating out in that instance but only in a place that was suitably festive!

Big turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings , no takeaways or restaurants open in Ireland. You can book dinner in a few places but not local to me .

We always did Christmas dinner whilst our kids were young, but there all grown now, so we usually have a takeaway curry now, after cooking it for 40 years, was sick of doing it lol

@Plastictrees I meant if for some reason the meal couldn't be a roast would people prefer alternative food but at home with the crackers and hats etc or they MUST have a roast so they'd go to a restaurant.

Definitely both for me. Having any other food but a traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Day would just feel wrong! Even more wrong with crackers and party hats etc.

Unsure what your last question means.

I'd feel uncomfortable about the chefs and waiting staff having to work on Christmas day. Perhaps some do it by choice. But I'm sure some don't...

Shes rude for not asking if you wanted to go for a curry, and just telling you she'd booked it.

I also don't agree with eating out on Christmas day, it means people have to work it. If they don't celebrate Xmas thats a different story.

Reading this thread makes me wonder what is actually more important to people....
The traditional Christmas dinner (turkey etc)
Or
The Christmas "table" environment - crackers with silly jokes and hats, nice decorations , relaxed atmosphere where bored children can wander off etc.
With the second one you could all eat beans on toast because to me the environment is what makes it Christmas - not the food.
People saying "oh I couldn't eat a curry on Christmas day" would you be happy with it if everything else was traditional Christmas stuff?
Do people really prioritise a roast dinner over the comfort on their own homes?
Genuine curiosity 🤔

I've always cooked Xmas dinner with my mum. Except for two years, once where we went to a Pakistani grill restaurant with a group of about 25 and once where we spent it in Spain at my cousin's gf's family home.
The Xmas dinner in Spain was amazing. So different from here. So many courses. I can't even put into words how exciting it was!
I love my own Xmas dinner though 🤣