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Original poster

Christmas “dinner” - can someone explain please?

160 replies

Notcontent · 27/12/2020 11:28

I am not British although I have lived in the U.K. for some time now. For me, the main meal on Christmas Day has always been lunch. This would normally be at 1 pm or or a bit later.

On mumsnet I see a lot of people talk about having Christmas dinner, but at round 3 pm or later. Is this like a cross between lunch and dinner? I find this quite confusing...

OP posts:
movingonup20 · 27/12/2020 11:58

Varies from family to family but tends to be a late lunch as people have a nice breakfast or perhaps go to church in the am. The tradition of eating a meal at lunchtime on Sundays is waning so some families just stick with eating at their normal evening meal time especially when there's no kids

Ducksurprise · 27/12/2020 11:59

The earliest we've had it is 11.30am when the kids were small as they then had a nice long afternoon nap, but as they got older it got later and later. Now we always have it on boxing day, so Christmas day is just lovely fattening buffet food.

KatherineJaneway · 27/12/2020 12:00

'Dinner' does not mean the time of the meal. It represents the most substantial meal of the day. Therefore you can have it at lunchtime or in the evening.

We always have ours at about 1pm. 3 - 4pm is far too late. We like to save the calories for the dinner and not waste them on breakfast but each family had their own traditions.

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movingonup20 · 27/12/2020 12:01

@mindutopia I used to cook about 4pm, just worked for us due to going to evensong.

ChanklyBore · 27/12/2020 12:01

No rules, really, do as you like. But for us it’s the same as Sundays. One big meal for the day served late afternoon. We don’t eat meals before or after, because you save yourself for the big dinner.

Catlover77 · 27/12/2020 12:03

Dinner is the evening meal in the UK. It has not been the name for the mid-day meal for centuries.

However Christmas Dinner is usually mid afternoon - for some inexplicable reason

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/12/2020 12:03

We have a late breakfast.
Kids eat chocolate and treats

Dinner when it’s ready

ThePricklySheep · 27/12/2020 12:03

You can just rearrange the day to suit. We have sometimes eaten at four which works quite well, brunch at 11 then smoked salmon at about three to keep us going.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/12/2020 12:03

@Catlover77

Dinner is the evening meal in the UK. It has not been the name for the mid-day meal for centuries.

However Christmas Dinner is usually mid afternoon - for some inexplicable reason

In the South maybe.

In the North East, meals are Breakfast, Dinner, and Tea. Possibly followed up by an 8pm bowl of cereal (supper).

TheSilentStars · 27/12/2020 12:04

@Catlover77

Dinner is the evening meal in the UK. It has not been the name for the mid-day meal for centuries.

However Christmas Dinner is usually mid afternoon - for some inexplicable reason

Except in that 50% approximately of the UK where the mid-day meal is called dinner. Hmm
CremeEggThief · 27/12/2020 12:05

We (as in my family) eat Christmas lunch/dinner anywhere between 3 and 6 p.m., as we don't like heavy food earlier in the day.

AlwaysLatte · 27/12/2020 12:05

Lots of people call it dinner because traditionally they call their midday/afternoon meal dinner. We're in the South East and call it Christmas lunch, usually at 2.00, then our evening meal is always what we call supper. We have tea sometimes when for instance we have visitors and we might have sandwiches, cakes and tea and about 4.00 (not at Christmas though). As it's a regional thing it is very confusing!

Ducksurprise · 27/12/2020 12:05

@Catlover77

Dinner is the evening meal in the UK. It has not been the name for the mid-day meal for centuries.

However Christmas Dinner is usually mid afternoon - for some inexplicable reason

Then what are the people that dish out school meals called...... And I'm in the south.
Catlover77 · 27/12/2020 12:07

Lunchtime supervisors

RaininSummer · 27/12/2020 12:08

Christmas Dinner is a funny beast. Its a full dinner but families serve it to suit their plans anytime between 1 ish and probably 7 pm. I am for 2 30 so we are hungry after a small breakfast around 9 and because we open main tree presents after the dinner and dessert. Then it's game time with nibbles and booze in the evening

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/12/2020 12:08

We had Christmas Dinner at 5.30... on Boxing Day. (We had a BBQ on Christmas Day, between 3&6)

There are no rules about when meals should be eaten.

stuffedforchristmas · 27/12/2020 12:11

It's a terrible idea.

KatherineJaneway · 27/12/2020 12:11

Dinner is the evening meal in the UK. It has not been the name for the mid-day meal for centuries.

Total bollocks.

warmandtoasty2day · 27/12/2020 12:11

we eat lunch at about 1ish and dinner at 6pm.

Catlover77 · 27/12/2020 12:12

@RaininSummer

Christmas Dinner is a funny beast. Its a full dinner but families serve it to suit their plans anytime between 1 ish and probably 7 pm. I am for 2 30 so we are hungry after a small breakfast around 9 and because we open main tree presents after the dinner and dessert. Then it's game time with nibbles and booze in the evening
Your day soundscape similar to my family’s day
Catlover77 · 27/12/2020 12:12

Sounds

peboh · 27/12/2020 12:13

@BertieBotts

Dinner in the UK just means the main meal of the day, it could be at lunchtime (commonly working class) or the evening meal. If you have dinner at midday your evening meal is called tea and would probably be lighter. If you have dinner in the evening your lunch would be the midday meal.
I disagree with this statement. For those of us that use the terms 'breakfast dinner and tea' tea is the main meal of the day.

Christmas dinner is served at different times in different households. Between my family some serve at 12pm, some about 3pm and we serve about 4/5. Usually if it's a later one you have breakfast and then snacky foods or a light bite for dinner.

Pipandmum · 27/12/2020 12:13

We est Christmas dinner about 4.30-5pm. We've generally had a substantial brunch about 10am after opening gifts. No need for lunch.

laudemio · 27/12/2020 12:14

We always have Christmas lunch, then people help themselves to leftovers in the evening

Moltenpink · 27/12/2020 12:16

Oh and the main meal at a wedding is called breakfast, now that’s the confusing one Smile