Christmas - when did you stop alternating?

[ThousandCows]

DH and I have always alternated Christmases between his family and mine - well, technically we've alternated between 'his choice' and 'my choice', but up until last year it worked out as going to each of our families.

This year we've got our two DC (2.4 and 4m) and I'm starting to wonder about starting our own tradition with our 'new' immediate family.

So, did you start spending Christmas Day apart from your parents/in-laws? If so, when? What do you do instead? And why?

We alternate because we enjoy Christmas with each of our families - fortunately for us it’s not an obligation but a pleasure

You are so much better than the rest of us.

We alternate because we despise each of our families equally and like to spread the misery

@Notsureifthisiswhatiwant. The problem with taking DC to other houses is hiding the presents in the car on the way down. Three year olds have hawk eyes. DS spotted that Father Christmas used the same wrapping paper as us for a couple of presents (DH I'm looking at you!).

Not in the least glasgowbound - I said “fortunately” because I’m aware many people don’t have families that are easy to get on with. But that is why in the short term we aren’t going to stop alternating - I can see that some people have done so with relief, but it wouldn’t be like that for us

Adagio - we’ve 16 for Christmas dinner (and staying with us). The dinning room table has an extension section which we slot on when we have large numbers.

whiteroseredrose I think you need to be more imaginative. I did the hiding routinely and I was not driving a few miles down the road but flying long haul. Main toy there and lots of nice letters from Santa explaining where the toys would be at the return home did the trick, the guy believed in Santa until I had to tell him it was me when he started defending the existence of Santa on his first year in secondary school

For me Christmas is about family, not about the plastic/wooden tat I got him every year. His best memories of Christmas are spending time playing with his cousins and being fussed over by relatives, that is my childhood experience of Christmas as well.

We usually alternate with doing Christmas dinner at home and my mum and dh's single best mate comes for it and dinner at dh's family which they kindly invite my mum to. It's at home this year and boxing day at in-laws. I love dinner at home.

We still alternate but have changed how it’s done now.
For the 2 years pre-kids we hosted my parents Then pils. Then first Xmas with 1dc my parents, 2nd pil. This year (first with 2 dc) we are hosting my parents and next we’ll invite my pil. We live far from family so travelling means any visits are at least a few days. I like spending it with family though and this year it will still only be 5 adults and 2 kids so not crazy.