What are you doing this Christmas that's a bit different..

[Hushabyelullaby]

..to what you normally do?

Our extended family (siblings, their partners, and their kids), is increasing in size year on year. We like to spend Christmas together, but there are too many of us to comfortably fit in someone's house, so we have decided that this year we are going out. There are 18 of us going to an Indian restaurant. I don't think I've been as excited about food over the festive season for years, if at all.

So, what are you doing that's different?

Almost the opposite with the same outcome. Me, DP and his parents are going to the Indian as we don't see the point in cooking for just us!

Staying in a lovely country town inn for two nights. Just arrived. Huge bed and a cream tea in a few minutes.

First Xmas without adult children. Going walking in a beautiful place .

We are not going to my parents.

Just had a baby so having Christmas as a new little family of 3.

We’re having a 3 bird roast. Never had one before and can’t wait to try it!

Christmas just the 4 of us for the first time ever!

Staying in a 5 star hotel for 2 nights - can not wait!

DF isn’t well so for the first time in 18 years my parents aren’t coming to us for the day. We’ll visit the morning then I will take some dinner over to them later. Going to be strange.

Going out to eat, never eaten out on Christmas Day.

Been to relatives to eat but not out for a paid lunch.

It means no prepping today, or buying food !

Not feeling sorry for my abusive stbxh knowing he is likely on his own.

Not misding him either.

Gone skiing - never been in December before . Snow covered mountains instantly take away stress and we’ve sun forecast for tomorrow .

Always with extended family (17 - 21 of us), but this year we have opted out and its just the 4 of us at home. Really looking forward to it.
Also we're not having turkey - I have bought some beef and EVERYTHING else is ready prepped! So easy.

Five star luxury hotel in a warm climate , just a slight suggestion of Christmas decorations and absolutely no Santa 🎅 !

Having Xmas dinner at 2pm instead of 5pm. Am in my 40s and all my life it has been late and I want to have it in the middle of the day but DF said it was 'tradition'. Finally made him realise that tradition meant that we spent all day distracted by cooking instead of playing with DD (just 3 of us).

We are also having a 3 bird roast so should be much quicker and easier than a whole turkey as well

Relaxing about the whole thing.

I am not going to stress ..it will be what it is and I will enjoy it,

Potentially giving birth

Santa now that IS different,

DS was 16 on the 20th December...2002 was a bit of a Christmas

How lovely all your plans sound!

@Ohio, go you! I hope you have a magical time

Probably not going to church. We're going to Christingle right now and last year DS was so out of control at the service (and there were no other DCs unlike the previous church which had a special bring-a-present show and tell.) I know DH will want to stay home but I'm not keen to have the DCs (or me) home all day plus I like the service.
So I have no idea what we'll do.

Christmas Eve evening with friends. We've had lots of fantastic invitations this year since dh died. I've always had Christmas Eve as our special day at home - cared more about it than Christmas Day tbh - but I'm really grateful to be going out and seeing people.

We had our Christmas dinner today, so tomorrow we can have a lovely lazy day and nibble on leftovers. Has been brilliant

We are having a baby! Our granddaughter will be here, so we have had to leave the ornaments in the loft- reducing how much time I have spent decorating to the point I have considered having another child to keep this up for another few years...
We're also having turkey for the first time, we always have lamb or chicken, AND DH is cooking dinner!

Not going to visit the in-laws to go mad with claustrophobia and listen to MIL's non stop moaning just the two of us this year, eating and drinking what we want when we want and absolutely not doing any Christmas stuff

Driving- I'm learning at the moment and will be driving our car for the first time tomorrow on nice quiet roads. Feeling v nervous but it has to be done

Spending it in my pyjamas (when not walking the dog). No stressing up, no dressing up, no ceremony. Just chilling with some nice food, nice family and a bit of Xmas telly. My first Christmas this way for years.

Having a baby hopefully. Or just the two of us watching this very squirmy bump.

So my mother-in-law doesn't normally have Christmas dinner with us but always seems to turn up just as I'm about to serve up(both a bit of a bone of contention, but never mind...)

Well, she decided to book a holiday so she doesn't have to spend with her DPs family and so I can cook Christmas dinner for whenever the hell I want and not worry about it getting dried out/cold because of her timing.

Plus nobody has to wear hideous Christmas jumpers she insists we wear. So many beautiful pictures of my kids at Christmas marred by her wearing flashing earrings and reindeer antlers. Huzzah!