If you enjoyed Christmas in general and Christmas day, what things made it enjoyable?

[Nineoutoftenducks]

I have not enjoyed Christmas for probably 10 years, so rather than wallow in misery I thought I'd try and find out how to get it right!
Granted one of the things not helping is my current and not very happy relationship but that aside I'm sure there is more I could do.
The children seemed to enjoy things but I think they could get more out of it.
In previous years I have closed my ears to the post Christmas chat because I've found it painful to listen too. This year I'm working on the basis of no pain, no gain so fire away please (even with tales of holudays away and lavish gifts!).

2 whole days off work.
Lots of running.

No overnight guests - ever.

Less pressure to buy a mountain of gifts, or spend all day traveling to visit people. We spent time playing board games and had plenty of lovely food. It’s been brilliant.

For me it was accepting that my son can no longer cope with all of his siblings and their families here on Christmas Day so for the second time running we all went to my daughters where all the presents were and we had a great time. Mad but just great.

We also have brunch that we organise beforehand and everyone makes a few things with some surprises being made by me just because.

By 1pm I’m home and I spend the rest of the day with my son and his care team. We have turkey about 4pm and when he comes from his daily walk we have an ice cream cake that we have made for him. By 7 he’s in bed and we just sit and have a laugh.

It’s all very easy and suits everyone fine.

Everything was lovely and chilled. The DC opened their stockings in bed, we had breakfast and lunch interspersed with presents, dinner around 6.30 and the DC in bed late. The DC only got dressed because they had new clothes and they wanted to.

Two of mine are possibly not repeatable

Not cooking dinner on Christmas Day we were invited to PIL for the first time in 12 years (and probably the last) it was really nice though.

Doubling our usual budget for presents/food. We didn't spend it all but it made life much easier, meant I could start shopping later and got people fewer gifts but better quality ones.

These are lovely, thank you. I think I’ve lost the art of it all. I did order things from Ocado for Christmas lunch to make the table more festive but they were cancelled at the last by DP due to being a waist of money which was a bit sad.

There are definitely some things I can do for next year which would be an advance on this year.
As adults do you receive many presents? I get the odd thing from DH but that’s about, extended family no longer buy for us, mainly because we had a very tough few years and quite literally couldn’t afford to join in with the present buying so they all stopped accordingly. It feels a bit odd to start buying again now.

Did all gift buying and wrapping beginning of December. Sent a tiny amount of cards.
Only saw people who we wanted to and only accepted invites that we thought would be (and was) fun.
Went on long relaxing walks every day as the weather has been dry and not too cold.
Didn't buy a mountain of food etc. Only bought some speciality chocolate from the local chocolate and a few from hotel Chocolat.
I did my own baking which I enjoy.
None of us got ill.

Posted my previous post too soon, Pam was bubbling over!!

Simple things that we enjoyed.
Special breakfast on Christmas Eve. We had pancakes in the shape of Christmas Tree's and chocolate chip panettone. I laid it all out the night before with our Christmas mugs, crackers and a pack of quiz cards I'd picked in the sales last January. The kids loved it even my older two. It was a festive start to the day.
Later we had a massive walk on Christmas Eve, collected foliage for the table and stopped at a pub on the way home.
Ribbon tied around sprigs of holly, bay etc looked lovely on the Christmas Table at PILs.

Made mincemeat and mince pies with the children. Smelled very festive and were delicious.

Going for a short walk on Christmas Day.

Bought and wrapped presents early enough that I didn't get stressed.
Preprep the veg and the veggie main the night before so they just need to be cooked.
Stayed at home and had dm and dmil come to us.
Had realistic expectations of how it would be.

As much preperation done in advance as possible. I peeled and chopped all the veg on 23rd and left them in fridge bagged up - absolutely fine to cook on Christmas day. Red cabbage and leeks and cheese sauce made a week before and frozen.

If you've got guests share it out. My mum bought stuffing, cranberry sauce and mince pies. Our friend bought puddings. You don't have to do it all.

No timetable, no rush, plenty of snacks and wine

Short walk round block after dinner seemed to settle the kids a bit

Spread it out over 2 days, I didn’t emotionally blackmail my grown up kids to visit on Christmas Day. We had our big family day on Boxing Day.
Christmas Day was lovely and simple visiting my MIL ( in care home) in the am then DH and I had a lovely walk then home for a chilled day, just pleasing ourselves, didn’t overeat but had special treat food.
Listened to beautiful Christmas music (CD from York Minster)
Decorated the whole house in good time for Christmas, lots of lights everywhere so my granddaughter went round on the Boxing Day saying wow all the time, very cute ( she’s 2).
Cut down on the no of presents, was much more relaxed. Got crackers with wind up racing Santa and elves they were great fun, and can be kept for next year.

This year I had to take a step back from some of the stuff I normally do and that was good, definitely share the load. I still like presents, the small thoughtful thinks made me very happy. Family time, by son is amazing. Seeing my granddaughter just after Christmas, far more joy than I can say.

I haven't enjoyed a Christmas as much as this one for quite a while.
I think it is a combination of:
~It was just the 'house family' this year, so no pressure to have massively cleaned / tidied beforehand
~I've gradually cut down on the number of presents I used to buy, so have been far less stressed about that.
~My dc are all older now so I've not had to try to make sure they have 'the same number' of presents - they understand some things cost more and that sometimes, someone just happens to need / want something and that it evens out over time
~We've both been able to have a fair bit of time off work this year, so have been able to get together with his side of the family and my side of the family all over 'the festive period' without feeling like we are rushing from pillar to post
~Being at home this year, and both having had a fair bit of time off, we've gone to things we like to go to (Carol services etc) and seen friends we want to ('Christmas drinks' in a few places) so it seems to have spread the festive period out, again without feeling pressure
~2 of the dc drive now so at various times, everyone has been able to have a night where the have a drink
~We too play some board games and family games for a laugh at Christmas, which isn't something we do at any other time of year.
~Overall, we've 'relaxed'. We've reached an age / stage where we know it doesn't matter if the decorations weren't really up to much this year, or (not this year but) the food wasn't cooked to perfection or we'd forgotten to buy something or forgotten to send a card to someone, etc. In the scheme of things we know it doesn't matter and that 'lack of pressure' makes for a much better time.

My top tip is to lower expectations and that way you won’t be disappointed. I spend less money and buy in less food as the years go by.

A massive shitload of presents for everybody makes Christmas enjoyable.

We had one of the best Xmas's ever this year, we spent it with a group of friends, the kids, young adults, all get on well and to be honest we had a blast, from drinking champagne all day to playing charades. It really was a lot of fun and we laughed lots.

I’ve always enjoyed it because we’ve never hosted for family or had to go to theirs either. I’ve always made the Christmas dinner myself the way I like it and we’ve always stayed home on Christmas day. If I were surrounded by relatives I’d hate it and be utterly miserable .

Honestly, I prefer Christmas Eve to the actual day. The build up is always the best part. I have set traditions we always maintain every year which may sound anal but they’re enjoyable and really add something to the Christmas period. It’s honestly nothing crazy but baking, Christmas crafts, Christmas movies with hot chocolate, new pjs and slippers on Christmas Eve etc.

Christmas Day is just good grub, usually alcohol but I couldn’t this year due to breastfeeding and watching the kids enjoy themselves.

The bits I love are decorating and making everything festive and cosy, spending time with family and friends, playing board games and drinking copious amounts of champagne. And eating shit loads of course!

Not putting the decorations up too early so that you are sick of them by Boxing Day.

Not placing too much pressure on 25 December. It’s only one day and it will inevitably fall short of expectations. Remembering that Christmas is a twelve day festival, and while most people’s work commitments mean that it can’t be a twelve-day holiday, I find it helps to plan things throughout the Christmas period, rather than a massive build-up to the 25th and then feeling inevitably flat until the new year.

Not trying to please other people - we say no to visiting people and don't tend to have people round on Xmas day.
I enjoy church on Christmas eve, starts it off nicely for me.
I don't ten to stress about the food, I do a few buffets so I'm not always cooking.
Dh and i exchange gifts but nothing outrageously expensive.
We play games as a family and sing karaoke and generally have a laugh with the kids.

I love Christmas, I always have. I get to spend the time with people that I love and adore spending time with.
I do a Sunday roast because that's how I view a Christmas dinner, so no stress, open a bottle of something.
People arrive, we eat drink and laugh, then open presents play games drink and laugh loads.
Most will stay over, I do a full English for all after a lazy start. Most will go to the match the ones left behind settle down with drinks and snacks to watch a couple of Christmas films. Perfect.

I buy everything ready made from m and s. Well, it still has to cook in the oven but there's no long preparation. I really enjoy eating Christmas dinner and as many really nice chocolates as I want. The rest of the time I am on slimming world.

I also buy all my own presents. I don't really want surprises from DH because it's never exactly what I want, but rather what he thinks I would like. I'd rather get the exact thing I like! I find it really fun to buy myself things throughout Nov / Dec and set it aside. Not all expensive things, even just my favourite scented hand lotion, etc. For me it really gives me something to look forward to knowing I'll open exactly what I like. I craft as well and DH would be hopeless at choosing fabric or wool for me.

Lastly, I try to not have any guests except occasionally MIL. It's so much more relaxed without trying to make Christmas perfect for everyone else. Or having to clean the house from to to bottom beforehand and make endless drinks and cups of tea all day long.

I am very confused as to why people get so excited and spend months looking forward to a day off and some nice food!?
It really is very perplexing.

Presents were all purchased and wrapped by 14th December, cards were sent 1st week of Dec.

OurChristmas day was perfect - we decided for the second year running to eat out for lunch (i save from Jan £20.00pm which paid for 4 adults & 1 child,) my ds came this year which made it more enjoyable. Visited our gd, she opened her presents before going to eat. Got home by 7.30pm just the two of us enjoying a chilled xmas evening.

My dd said last year I am so less stressed due to eating out.

Same here henny, I purchased my own presents from dp this year, it was another thing that made Christmas day perfect.