How many people do you spend Christmas Day with?

[ErinAndTonic]

If you host, or if you visit someone else - how many people are there sitting down at the table for dinner? Do you have any other visitors drop in?

We will have 7 this year and the most we have had is 10 (all adults no kids). A friend commented this is a big group to cook for and I'm wondering how it varies for other people. We don't have people drop in either, everyone is there for the day. She has just the 3 of them - her, partner and child. That sounds more cosy and less stressful, but equally the Christmas quiz and board games are a big part of the day for me and that requires more people ☺️

10 this year! Had more, had less!

Just the 2 of us and our dogs this year. Usually 6 of us.

Me and DH go to my sister and brother in law's house. Her children and their husbands are there plus my other sister and brother in law with their children and husbands

So 14 of us. Me and DH do the cooking as we both love cooking and sister doesn't!

Before they died last year, my parents were always there too. Never spent a Christmas away from my family and I am in my 60's.

DH hated Christmas when he was young but from when we married he has loved it

Six. DH, myself and our four DC. Perfect.

I have 23 for dinner and then we’re being joined by 7 more for the evening. Same every year and cannot wait. Our house is big enough for it; everyone sits at a proper table to eat with a proper chair so nobody is crammed in.

Just four of us for Xmas Dinner. Rest of family all speak to us but not eachother so have to see them other days

I used to cook for 16 in my last job (not a catering job - support work - technically I was supporting young adults with learning disabilities to take their turn at cooking for the household, but often this was slightly more onerous than doing it by myself).

I preferred that to cooking for extended family though as the diners had more down to earth expectations!

We're 6 usually - our family plus FIL. When mil was alive she hosted and there were usually 10-12 people, but the last of the generation before her died the same year as her, and DH's siblings have coupled up moved away, so there's just FIL with nowhere else to go.

We have 6 for dinner a couple of times per week anyway, but additional teen friends of my teens aren't stressful to cater for.

I don't enjoy being responsible for the expectations of a Christmas meal although I don't usually mind cooking for a big group.

Me and 2 elderly parents plus an elderly uncle. They all eat like birds and 2 of them don’t drink.

My 3 siblings spend it with their immediate families and have never once stepped up and offered. I’m single so it falls to me. I’d love a big, noisy, board game playing Christmas.

Too many ! 😆

We do Christmas morning at home then go to my mums for lunch where there’s usually 8-9 of us- me, DH, DD, my mum and dad, my sister, grandma, aunt and my granny (but she alternates between my mums and another aunties)

Growing up it was the same people, minus obviously my husband and daughter, so it’s lovely to continue all the same traditions. I’m very lucky to still have my grandmothers around so really cherish seeing them at Christmas.

I’ve had years where there’s been 18-20 people but this year is just my daughter and I, we’ll have a few visitors but mostly just the 2 of us.

4 in my family
Plus my mother
My sister and her husband and 1 child

They are all staying the night ..so 8 for Xmas dinner

Then on Boxing Day we all going to my other sisters for lunch so 12 that day

Just me and OH once he’s dropped his kids off at their mum’s. I go for a walk, have a read, and then we eat at teatime.

Just me and the children (single parent with no extended family), but it's always magical and cosy (if a little lonely at times).

4 adults - us and in-laws. Thank god, all get a lie in and do whatever we like

Last year (and the 2 previous) we had Christmas lunch at my SIL's house and there were 15/16/17 of us - adults and children.

This year we are hosting part of the family so we have 9 - 7 adults, a 3 year old and an 8 month old. This is due BIL and SIL divorcing so I'm gutted to not see my nephews, niece and SIL on Christmas Day but me, DH and our children will be going to see SIL and the children on Boxing Day

It varies. If it’s immediate family (children/children from other mothers grandchildren) then it’s 19. If any of my childrens in-laws are visiting from abroad then it’s 26 and if they have a friend who lives here and they’d like to invite them then it can go up to 31. Plus I have my sons care team so that adds another 5 so 36. Then there could be some others invited by my children just because they’d like them to be with us - it meant that one Christmas just a few years go we had 43.

it’s a lot easier than Eid though when I can have up to 60 people through the house for a very traditional Eid Breakfast before 12 midday.

The numbers sound huge but I am set up for it in every respect and we’ve done it so often it really all just falls into place. Everyone has their jobs starting the day before and it’s lovely.

Just me and my teenage son. No extended family. I’m just so happy with the time off work being honest .

Just me and my 3 adult DS's( and dog) At DS1's this year
It's a rare occasion we're all together

Just me. Not feeling sociable. CBA. Too much crap recent years. Will probably eat wat I like go for a walk,have a bath and a cry a d read. Infinitely better for me than pretending I on top of the world to appease others😫

My brother lives abroad and comes to us every other year as they alternate with SIL’s family.
They’re coming over this year so there will be 9 of us - me, DH, our two DC, my mum, my brother, my SIL and our two nephews.

In laws will come over on boxing day.

It’s just the two of us here and we are happy with that. Will likely video call a few people but not that bothered. Some films and a take away - peaceful bliss frankly..

There’s usually 15 of us for Christmas dinner.

19 last year, 4 this year!

19 is very immediate family, my mum and dad, my two brothers, SIL’s and their two kids each, my sister and her fiancé, our 4 kids and MIL.

We do a year ‘on’ and a year ‘off’ so this is an off year, my brothers and sister go to their in laws, MIL goes to DP’s brother, and our kids go to their dad and mum so it’s just DP and I and mum and dad left! Sometimes we’ll invite friends on an off year but this year they’re away.

We’ll all be together on Boxing Day though but that’s a much more casual buffet affair

Christmas Day with older DD and her family, younger working, Boxing Day always have a party so 20+. Often have Christmas with friends also, make your own rules