For all those who had a fabulous Christmas

This is a lovely thread to read and see so much positivity! We also had a lovely Christmas Day, 10 to eat at ours but my DDs are 2 and 4 and was much easier being at home where they could do their own thing!

DSD’s (16) mum came to pick her up early evening and came in and sat and had a drink with us all.. which made me proud of what we me and my husband have built over the past 11 years as it’s not always been easy!

im sorry for you loss this year… must have been a difficult Christmas but a testament to you all that you made it a happy day. Wishing you the best for 2026 x

Ours was ‘fabulous’

not by social media standards but because we had a quiet time with love and respect for one another.

Lovely dog walk. Lovely roast dinner - a nice bottle of wine to share.

not posh not fancy - but full of love - simple but totally wonderful - stress free and just fun and laughter together.

We had a magical day. My parents were well enough to come over and my DS came home with his adorable new girlfriend. I just loved it

We had a super day too! I absolutely love hosting but last year we had 14 and it tired me out, so i decided we'd go smaller this year. We had our family of 4 plus my parents and an uncle. It was super relaxed, we all love food and booze so all contributions were thoughtful and welcome, we had bucks fizz and smoked salmon bagels for brunch, with presents. H and I love cooking, we prepped most stuff christmas eve so didn't have to spend too much time in the kitchen, uncle cooked Xmas eve dinner so that was no bother and parents sorted starters, pudding and a cheeseboard. The kids were very relaxed (both mild nd, found a busy Christmas too stimulating), they loved their presents, we all spent most of the day in pjs, watching tv, playing games and chilling by the fire plus a lovely dog walk. It was exactly how I'd spend a "perfect day" and I think that's the best. I feel for people in awkward hosting situations, or with difficult relatives or not able to have the Christmas they planned. I feel v blessed this year

Very sweet, nice day here.

The teens got stuck into the cooking and made some amazing food.

Beautiful table.

We sat to eat at 6pm and left the table at 11.15pm! it did not feel like a long meal though.

In terms of gifts - small, considered, and not flash. All tat given as pocket money to teens.

Harmonious, engaged, lovely.

Fab day here, some amazing reactions to both much wanted and suprise presents, no fighting, all very chill. OH cooked a lovely dinner, his dad was good company (and left at a reasonable time), it was light when the kids got up and I ate 3 bowls of trifle!

Good day!

We had a dear friend staying with us who’s relationship is tricky atm and we had the MOST lovely day.

Dog walk in the morning, liberal champagne, DH did all of the cooking - fabulously, board games in the evening, great conversations, deep and shallow… just a truly lovely, relaxed day. One of the best I’ve ever had.

While I’m glad you had a lovely Christmas it reads a bit unkindly saying dsc chose you over their mum, criticising her cooking and saying you must be doing something right! That’s not nice. After saying how inclusive you are with your ex.

Had a wonderful day. DH was away at his mum’s as she’s old and very frail so he wanted a one off Christmas with her and his family. My ds and ddil said they’d host-I supplied turkey and made a dessert, my dd cooked a wonderful breakfast and she drove to ds.My ds did all the cooking, marvellous meal and conversation, long walk in the local park, film and lots of chat. My ddil’s friend who is recently single and whose family are abroad also joined us. I felt very lucky to have such lovely kids. I was orphaned very young and spent plenty of Christmases alone and then divorced from the kids’dad-we used to do Christmas together so the kids didn’t have to split their time but now we are both remarried. This is the first time any of my kids have hosted and it did feel a bit weird-but was so proud of my ds and felt very spoilt.

Grateful for a lovely relaxed one. Dh cooked most of the lovely dinner and dc helped clear up afterwards. Really enjoyed seeing them laughing and joking together. Played some family games, chatted and also had space to read our books or have a siesta in peace. Chilled, low key and lots of fun.

Child and I came to family, I don't have in-laws, I don't have to be with anyone I dislike, we all get on. We all help with the cooking and washing up, we all play Scrabble and charades, we all sit around eating chocolate and drinking off-brand Bailey's and it's lovely.

We had a lovely day, my husband had an accident the day before Christmas eve but he's ok, he's going to heal ok, so the traditional expectations could get to fuck, what matters was all good.

We had a perfect day. Both sons home, we took them at their girlfriends out for cocktails and lunch on Christmas Eve. Then yesterday it was just the 4 of us. Got up late, lots of champagne, husband cooked the best Christmas dinner, opened presents in the evening, then ate copious amounts of cheese and played games until 1am.

It was so relaxed and lovely to not have a houseful for once.

We had a glorious happy day with four little ones five and under and my brother and sister and our husbands and wife. I grew up in a home where Christmas meant a drunk and volatile dad and an emotionally abusive mum and my sister and I were talking about how incredible grateful we are to have broken the cycle. Our children know nothing of that world and we never forget how lucky we are

Feel very grateful for a lovely Christmas yesterday. My (not so) DM has spoilt it in the past but is now too old to do so. Other than her insisting on going home (driven by my DH) at an inconvenient time, we had a lovely day. No arguments or tears, loads of food and games and Christmas TV. I will never take it for granted.

Same as you, have had horrific Christmases in the past. My ex ILs 😱

It's been lovely for nearly two decades now but I still really appreciate it. However, in honour of all the stories I've read on here, yesterday I got dressed. Somehow in other years I've never quite gotten around to it, but yesterday I made the effort 😆

Lovely peaceful Christmas, to my surprise. Horrific bereavement this year and was utterly dreading it, but DH and DD pulled out all the stops. Even sourced some Christmas treats for my allergy which was just the sweetest thing for them to do. Tired now but feeling better than I have for months.

Always have a great Xmas !
No rushing around buying any gifts adult children always have money or. Holiday abroad paid for !
Braved supermarket for some nice food nothing over the top !
Christmas day we eaten out with adult kids and partners and mother in law came back to ours nibbles drank wine chilled played Scrabble and had lots of laughs simple and easy !!!
Boxing day everyone at our eating pizzas !!
Simple and daughter bought a hamper for everyone to share and today she has contributed home made sausage rolls and cake son has decided he wants to do his own thing and that's cool with me !

I had a great day but I always do! We just have small family Christmas's so only those that we love and actually get on with we spend the day with. And today seeing some more extended family. Perfect days and everyone is happy.

I'll be honest, I don't understand people who have huge Christmases with family they don't like or even have much of a relationship with just for their day and everyone else's to be ruined. My sibling makes absolutely no effort with me, hasn't even met my kids and doesn't like Christmas. I'm at a loss as to why I should invite him to my house on Christmas just so he can turn up empty handed, whinge through the whole day, ignore my kids and generally ruin the whole day for everyone just because he's "family" and for some reason he shouldn't be left alone. No thanks!

No living parents but my 4 children, 3 partners and 3 grandchildren and DH had a lovely day. Thoughtful gifts exchanged, dgc well behaved and no arguing (tween and teens so growing up now), lovely dinner (if I say so myself) and we even played games at the table. DD cleared the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher which I was very grateful for.
Oh and the three additional dogs were just settled and calm all day as was my old dog (she sleeps a lot anyway).
I do love having them all round and am very grateful that they all want to be here and enjoy spending time with each other.

I hope you continue doing well on your cancer journey. A couple of years ago my disabled daughter had major cancer surgery just before Christmas, it was hell. The following year we were all just thankful to be together. Nothing else actually mattered.
Wishing you peace and all the best x

I had a lovely Christmas day with family at the coast yesterday, today I'm hosting more family and am looking forward to another day with lots of laughs and a happy time together.

Except for the oven packing in mid roasting the bird all was well and lovely. We got it going again though and dinner was just a bit later than planned. A merry Christmas! Today I’m eating cheese and reading my book. Hurrah!