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!).

This year I resigned myself to not giving a shit and getting all stressed.

In laws came over for brunch which was lovely. Dbro came for the rest of the day, equally lovely. It was just a relaxing day, not rushing about stressing.

I held onto the mantra Less is More

I cooked the meal I wanted to (no turkey)

No fourteen side dishes

No 12 desserts

Still a lot of work though! I might have to pare it down further next year! --toast—

I don't do anything Advent or Christmas related until December bar adding to savings.

Observe Advent. Go to church on the four Sundays before Christmas. We have a Grimm's Advent spiral, the Kindness Elves, Mary's Star Path and Book Advent calendars. I try to read and reflect every day. A poem, literary excerpt, bible verse, etc. Focus the children on what presents they are giving rather than receiving.

Only one room decorated for Christmas. Tree up on last Sunday in Advent. Christingle Service on Christmas Eve. Celebrate Christmas from Christmas Day until Twelfth Night. Add Jesus to crib scene after bedtime on Christmas Eve and leave out until Candlemas. One gift & stocking from FC.

Celebrate Twelfth Night. Bake a cake, hyacinth pot in place of the tree to symbolise the approach of Spring, play games, etc. This year we are going to a Wassail bonfire at a local orchard on the 6th.

Make plans for the rest of Winter - Burns' Night, ice skating, ski-ing, ice wreaths, Big Birdwatch, read Winter themed books (children & adults), read seasonal poetry (Faber & Faber just republished some Ted Hughes books), Nature Detectives Winter Activities for the children, start eating the Winter menu which is about eating local, seasonal produce.

Spending it with people I wanted to spend it with and only doing what I wanted to do.

Less cooking and more supermarket prepared Christmas food. Prioritising my own family unit over the wider family - making time to stay at home and open / play with presents instead of rushing around visiting. Also having DH around so much over the Christmas period helped massively. We were all relaxed and the kids loved having him around so much

Absolutely loved your post, @stargirl1701, and agree wholeheartedly with your approach. Jostein Gaarder’s The Christmas Mystery is lovely to read each day with children 7+. It has a short chapter for every day in Advent.

I also highly recommend Nigel Slater’s The Christmas Chronicles for beautiful writing and recipes about finding the beauty of winter.

Going away for the first time ever. Stayed in a lovely hotel in a beautiful part of the country. Very low key and relaxed. Perfect. Doing it again next year.

All the inlaws round. Our DC are the only children on DH's side of the family so plenty of people willing to play with them and indulge them for the day. My parents came which was lovely, they chilled out.
Lots of board games.
I'm generally v. organised wrt present buying and wrapping so no need to brave the shops in the last run up to Christmas.

Doing lots of food preparation in advance. Peeling veg and making stuffing as well a some bought premade stuff.
Alcohol but not too much!
Time to myself once DC in bed and visitors gone to relax and enjoy a film or new book with some nibbles.
Get someone else to do the dishes.
Get all the wrapping and packaging into the bins early so the place looks tidyish.
Boxing day with no plans at all I possible but ideally get out for a walk.

DH and I finished work on 19th December which meant we had loads of time to do fun things with DS, spend some time chilling out as a family, do the food shopping, wrap the presents, and prepare for Christmas Day. Meant we could go out for a walk on Christmas Eve (as all prep done apart from making a very quick cake). We then had family round on Christmas Day (which was great as I hate when it’s just the three of us) and played game in the evening which DS could join in.

Family left at 9pm, we cleared up last few bits and were in bed nicely tired for 1015pm

The few days before Christmas definitely made Christmas Day lovely, relaxing, and enjoyable.