Is it strange that I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner at 36?

Not strange but lucky!

My ex in-laws decided to pass down the responsibility when they got tired of it and all of us had to finally take our turns.

Seems to me there are those who host and those who don’t. I’ve hosted, not always through choice, since I was 26 whereas my mum went to her grave having hosted a grand total of twice. Both times making a complete fuss and martyr of herself. Used to piss me off that she somehow skipped her turn but I’ve accepted it now.

I’ve never even made a roast let alone a Christmas dinner. My husband does it all and I’m absolutely clueless.

I've never cooked one, and I'm 66.

I’ve never cooked one either, we never bother tbh. Just chuck something in the oven at some point and enjoy watching DC open presents and playing with stuff. Don’t have anyone to host and none of us care that much so why spend the day in the kitchen?

I feel the odd one as I'm 46 and have cooked loads! Even when I spend Christmas alone I cook myself one as I enjoy cooking and love a roast.

But even when away at family, do you not help with cooking?

I haven’t either as we’ve always gone to family.

Have you never offered to cook or at least help when you're away at Christmas?

I'd never.made Christmas lunch until I was 33. I'd always had lunch with my parents. My mum did most of it. She hates cooking and is pretty bad at it, but wouldn't dream of letting anyone help. My dad was only allowed in the kitchen to carve the meat and make the gravy, and they squabbled all the time.

I had my son in November 2011, so we invited my parents for lunch as we didn't want to travel. We made it as easy as possible. Just got a turkey crown that you cook for a set time and pre-prepared veg with instructions for how long to cook. I didn't enjoy it, as I am not a roast/veg fan, but it feels as though it has to be done. DH and I now invite my parents every year and it's a joint effort but I secretly always wish we weren't having a traditional Christmas dinner, as I'd much rather a steak or some nice pasta. I get no joy from cooking at all - although I love being a hostess and setting the table, etc.

39 and i've never cooked one.

I transitioned smoothly from eating my mother's Christmas Dinner to DH's. 6 years ago (when we moved to a house big enough to host) my mother made the same transition 😂

I've never done any prep either but I hover about and wash up as much as I can as the cooks go then clear up everything else later.

"my Christmas memories were of my mum out doing the Christmas dinner from morning until we ate."

Did your mum never get to enjoy Christmas morning because of the dinner prep? I find this quite sad actually. Did she not have any help?

I don't think it's weird not to have cooked a Christmas dinner but I think it's weird if you've never been involved in prep the day before and Christmas morning. (Maybe you have?)

47 and not done one yet.

I am sure I could, I do roasts. Just haven’t. Ex was the cook when we hosted, and we alternated with family.

I’ll probably do one next year though.

I'm 40 and I haven't either, always went to mum's for Christmas.

Yes. 😊 No, not odd.
46 yo.

I’m 41 and never cooked one.
always had one cooked for me at home and dh has done it for the last 20 years 😂
Everyone comes to us. It’s bloody tedious tbh, cries of “oh our house is too small to host” - well so was ours but we managed in a much smaller house and everyone still came to cram themselves in 😤
Dh enjoys the cooking and feeding of lots of people and the dc love it all. It’s only me who wishes for the covid Christmas when no fucker could come round!!

Nope. Just relax.

In my 60s and never cooked one. I can cook a roast dinner though.

You're not alone.
I made my one and only at 39, we stayed at home, it was boring.
My house is a small terraced house.
I do help Dsis cook the dinner in her beautiful spacious kitchen, she rotates with Dbro as they both have big houses.

46 and never done it. Only ever cooked one roast in my life and that was with DH leaving me instructions with precise timings.

This year we are at my parents but mum getting the year off. DH and SIL will cook, DB my dad and I will clear up.

I vastly prefer cleaning up to any aspect of cooking.

I am 53 and never cooked one either. Husband cooks and I sous chef. Or more often, MIL gets in the way helps so I hide in another room with a glass of fizz.

Do you cook roast dinners? If so, that's pretty much it with a bit more faff.

Do you give your parents a hand with the cooking?

45 and never done one either.

When I moved in with DH we’d usually go to my parents or occasionally to ILs at Christmas.

The last 10 years we’ve had at home but DH cooks dinner. I do, however make the cauliflower cheese in advance and I always do the Boxing Day buffet.

I'm 55 and never cooked a Xmas dinner. I've only ever cooked one roast dinner. It was very nice.