If you don’t ‘do’ Xmas, what do you do?

[Pogodog]

I’ve never been a very Christmassy person, I don’t really enjoy the festive stuff tbh (makes me sound miserable I know ), but I try to put on a good show for DS, 10.

This year though, I’m on my own for Xmas and I’m wondering what I’ll do. I’m torn between doing something different e.g go away (but where? Tightish budget and everything seems to be bloody Xmas focused) OR carve out my own type of Christmas, whatever that means.

Looking for ideas, so if there’s anyone who doesn’t ‘do’ the whole traditional Xmas thing, what do you do?

Thanks

Stay in PJs, nice food, especially cheese & wine and watch cheesy christmas TV. Then hit the sales Boxing Day! Hangover allowing lol

We are Jewish so we don't do Christmas. Generally have roast duck and some chocolate, maybe do a walk around the neighborhood. Kosher and Chinese restaurants are good options for Christmas but as I live in a Jewish area, kosher restaurants are within walking distance unlike Chinatown/bayswater. One year I walked to a Hampstead pub in the cold (DH's idea) but ended up with very bad cold so that wasn't a great idea.

I would love to volunteer on Christmas day but have never been able to access good local opportunities

Whatever I want.

I painted the spare bedroom one year. I did a load of marking another. It's the one day yo are not disturbed.

Mostly sit on the sofa and watch TV.

DP and I are going to a cottage in Scotland for Christmas. It's only a couple of hours away from home but we won't get there til late on Christmas Eve due to work so won't be bothered to do a Christmas dinner.

We will probably just have some nice snacks in and then go to the coast or out on the bikes or something. Just a change of scene.

OP, research any city re opening hours (especially in pandemic circs). But in recent years we have visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Belvedere in Vienna and the Doge's Palace in Venice - all on 25th December. Some cities may have some closures but, in general, things don't shut down for days at a time like they do in UK. In Vienna, it was just 24 hours from lunchtime Xmas Eve.

@Pogodog

So many good ideas here, and helpful thoughts.

I’m interested in the European city breaks idea. Do museums, galleries and places often stay open on Xmas Day? Bit nervous about booking something in case it all gets called off this year (again) but I’ve checked and I can get a very cheap return flight to Berlin it seems!

I googled and found this. www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187323-i135-k6856064-Berlin_Christmas_Day_activity_level-Berlin.html

Basically nearly everything closes from 2 pm on Xmas Eve. Xmas Eve is when they have their Xmas dinner. Although people say there are some bars open in the evening. Only restaurants tend to be doing expensive meals that evening.
So morning do what you want, have a decent lunch, buy some snacks for the evening.
Then go somewhere outdoor. Some ideas here.
www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/aug/17/top-10-outdoor-activity-berlin

Then back to the room for snacks, or a bar, or hotel bar for the evening.

Xmas day itself some things are still closed like shops, but more restaurants and all, museums are open. The link below explains it is basically Sunday opening hours on Christmas day.

www.smb.museum/en/plan-your-visit/special-opening-hours-during-public-holidays/

So it is only really from 2 pm on Christmas Eve itself that you will have to be a bit more creative about what you do. Next day is more like a Sunday with plenty of things open, but not everything.

I guess in Europe Christmas Eve is the celebration night isn’t it? My family in Austria have a candlelit Christmas meal on 24th.

They also put their tree up in 23rd. None of this November bollocks and advertising in August for Christmas dinner bookings!

Wow thanks julieca, that’s amazing info. I’ll look into all of it! I really appreciate you taking the time to write all of that.

Haven’t booked flight but am so tempted. I’ve looked into group holidays in the UK but there’s surprisingly little available at that time of year. Mainly oldies coach tours or Xmas gatherings for singletons in a hotel, neither of which I’m looking for

We don't celebrate Christmas do usually go away for self catering holiday to either Spain, Morocco or Portugal. There are no significant closures in any of these countries, there's always sun and they are always very cheap as its off peak. We usually get £9.99 flights. Before covid we were seeing a gradual rise in young families holidaying at this time as it is much more affordable.

If you are up for volunteering have a look to see what care leavers Christmas lunches are around. Lem Sissay the poet and care leaver usually shouts them out on twitter.

It will be hilarious with a load of older teens.

Pre children we went to Paris at Christmas and lots of things were closed. We really enjoyed it though, wandering the streets, finding local bars that were open etc.

We've now done quite a few ski holidays over Christmas week. No stress, no extended family squabbles, no turkey. Just the peace of the mountains. Even if you're not a skier OP the large towns often have lots to do (thinking Innsbruck or St Anton for instance) and whilst it's Christmassy, you can by-pass all of that if you want.

Last year we had waffles for breakfast, went for a long walk and then just lazed around, had a bath, put the fire on, watched a film etc. This year we'll have a 2 month old and providing it's not too cold to take her for a walk (it sometimes gets down to below -20c here) we'll probably do the same again.