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Original poster

Worst Christmas meal ever? Can be because of hideous food, dreadful company, unbearable tension...or all of the above!

197 replies

sprigatito · 17/11/2023 18:07

We had some terrible Christmases when I was a child - divorced parents, nobody got along, my mother was a crap cook and had a violent temper and my stepfather had Victorian tendencies (no talking at the table) so Christmas dinner was generally horrendous on a number of levels. This wasn't improved during the years when my dad was around for Christmas, because we'd get dropped off at his (freezing, uninhabitable) house straight after dinner, where he'd have bought enough meat and cheese to feed an army and expect us to eat it all. Christmases at home tended to end with a blazing row and someone storming out in the middle of dinner/charades/the night.

I love Christmas now (and am NC with my mother) but at around this time of year I do get the slight collywobbles remembering how awful it used to be. I have this horrible but funny image of my mother's face under a gaily coloured paper hat snarling "you've ruined Christmas for everyone, now shut your mouth or I'll knock your block off"

So what's your "worst Christmas dinner ever" story?

OP posts:
Dustybarn · 18/11/2023 07:28

Christmas 1977. As we sat down to our Christmas meal on Christmas Eve there was a dreadful sound outside the window. The dog had eaten the cat. Cue screaming kids, bewildered guest, cat disposal. Hard to see how it could have been worse…

watermelonsugar56 · 18/11/2023 08:03

Sending you love & courage @Amandasummers it’s never too late to get out of an abusive situation ❤️

TwilightSkies · 18/11/2023 09:03

Sitting here in floods of tears reading these stories knowing what lies ahead for me this year. Another year of looking forward to Christmas and believing that just this one time, he won’t spoil it, but I know he will and it will be awful like it always is and I will have once again let my children down and they will be the ones adding these stories to the mumsnet threads of the future. I feel broken.

Hugs ❤️ it doesn’t have to be like this

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Events & celebrations
moggerhanger · 18/11/2023 10:23

@Amandasummers love and strength to you - you don't have to put up with that.

OneForMaul · 18/11/2023 11:20

I was 14 and my little brother was 12. My parents had a very tumultuous relationship and decided Christmas Day was the time to go nuclear. We had ‘gone away for Christmas’ so were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal and nobody else around. My parents screamed at each other upstairs all day, whilst my brother and I quietly got dressed and watched TV so as not to exacerbate it. I eventually got the courage to go upstairs and ask them to please stop because it was Christmas and we were really hungry. They didn’t stop so I took my brother out for a walk but it got dark so we had to go back. They did come downstairs a few hours later and we had Christmas dinner and presents at around 9pm but with them not speaking to each other. Not the worst story compared to some on here but I still feel sad thinking about it.

I loved Christmas before that because it was the one time that they usually ‘got along’. I love it again now I have my own family and a house full of warmth and kindness, but for a long time the whole season was shadowed by the fact that it could go wrong at any time. Come to think of it, my whole childhood was actually like that, with that twisty worry in my stomach even when things seemed okay.

justanothermanicmonday1 · 18/11/2023 11:42

Amandasummers · 18/11/2023 00:45

Sitting here in floods of tears reading these stories knowing what lies ahead for me this year. Another year of looking forward to Christmas and believing that just this one time, he won’t spoil it, but I know he will and it will be awful like it always is and I will have once again let my children down and they will be the ones adding these stories to the mumsnet threads of the future. I feel
broken.

Edited

I'm so sorry. Sending you lots of hugs 💐

justanothermanicmonday1 · 18/11/2023 11:43

OneForMaul · 18/11/2023 11:20

I was 14 and my little brother was 12. My parents had a very tumultuous relationship and decided Christmas Day was the time to go nuclear. We had ‘gone away for Christmas’ so were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal and nobody else around. My parents screamed at each other upstairs all day, whilst my brother and I quietly got dressed and watched TV so as not to exacerbate it. I eventually got the courage to go upstairs and ask them to please stop because it was Christmas and we were really hungry. They didn’t stop so I took my brother out for a walk but it got dark so we had to go back. They did come downstairs a few hours later and we had Christmas dinner and presents at around 9pm but with them not speaking to each other. Not the worst story compared to some on here but I still feel sad thinking about it.

I loved Christmas before that because it was the one time that they usually ‘got along’. I love it again now I have my own family and a house full of warmth and kindness, but for a long time the whole season was shadowed by the fact that it could go wrong at any time. Come to think of it, my whole childhood was actually like that, with that twisty worry in my stomach even when things seemed okay.

This made me tear up. Im so happy you have changed the course for yourself and your family ❤️

SeaToSki · 18/11/2023 12:32

Mine isnt that bad compared to some. My MIL is a screaming covert narcissist and hated Christmas as it wasnt all about her. The first time I met her she told me how she hated Christmas and didnt celebrate it and bah humbug was her motto (she has 3 dc and a lovely DH who all had to suffer through her moods). I grew up with lovely family Christmases, so immediately decided we would never spend Christmas day with the ILs and would just host myself. Anyway the first year she came for Christmas with us (they lived abroad) we had 2 little dc, so lots of presents and 'wonder'. She sat around with a cats bum face and took every opportunity to pick and scoff at our decorations, gifts, food, festivities, everything. I can still remember DS1 asking me why is Grandma so grumpy Mummy its Christmas time. Anyway it took me a few more visits, but I finally got together the courage to call her out and she stopped making the comments out loud (she just sniffs and tutts under her breath) and I have come to an agreement with myself that I cant satisfy her or change her, so I can ignore her.

Back21970 · 18/11/2023 13:16

I’m laughing and crying at some of these posts - what a brilliant thread.

I’ve had a couple of very bad Christmas’s and thought it was just me as people tend not to talk about these things in real life.

Did once work with a woman whose husband died on Christmas Day - can’t imagine ever enjoying the day again after that.

iklboo · 18/11/2023 13:42

They year I had norovirus.

StarShipControl · 18/11/2023 13:47

The first year I was married.
I had a horrible wisdom tooth infection and no dentists available. Dh cooked a Turkey dinner for the first time and it was revolting.
Extra dry with potatoes and sprouts over boiled.
His parents looked like they were in pain trying to chew the food.

TrashedSofa · 18/11/2023 14:06

StarShipControl · 18/11/2023 13:47

The first year I was married.
I had a horrible wisdom tooth infection and no dentists available. Dh cooked a Turkey dinner for the first time and it was revolting.
Extra dry with potatoes and sprouts over boiled.
His parents looked like they were in pain trying to chew the food.

Silver lining, at least the two bad things were combined! Be a real shame to have a tooth infection on a year where you were getting an actually nice Christmas dinner.

Deathraystare · 18/11/2023 14:32

Two I remember. One for the food

Only vegetarian in family. Usually I would precooked veggie sausages and warm up in veggie grave as little room in oven. However one year mum got some 'filleys' from Tesco. Think Quorn style 'chicken'. I had to microwave them and even with gravy they were tasteless and like cardboard.

The other time mum and I possibly Dad too were picked up by Sik. 7 seater and I was in a small seat at the back. Child lock engaged. Not sure how long it took them to tralise I was not in the house ....

Deathraystare · 18/11/2023 14:33

Veggie gravy! Not grave!

OneForMaul · 18/11/2023 14:34

@justanothermanicmonday1 ❤️ life is a whole lot better now.

xanthippe8 · 18/11/2023 15:27

Xmas 2020, my husband agreed that as it had been such an awful year he was up for actually celebrating (usually pretty grumpy about it). I found him on the kitchen floor, he'd had a stroke...he died two days later.

xanthippe8 · 18/11/2023 15:34

Sorry, should have said we bought all of our favourite foods, none of it got cooked.

OhComeOnFFS · 18/11/2023 15:46

@xanthippe8 That must have been a terrible shock for you. Flowers

ginasevern · 18/11/2023 17:35

Christmas in Torremolinos 1983. Decided it would be a brilliant idea to go abroad for Christmas. There was me (newly divorced), my widowed mum and equally widowed aunty Joyce, my DS 6 and long standing family friend Norman. It was a package from 23rd December to the 2nd January and in the brochure sounded just the job.

We arrived to a dead body outside of the hotel (a waiter who had apparently been shot) who wasn't moved until Boxing Day. The food was indescribably awful and pretty much consisted of a suspiciously grey coloured stew served from a huge pot at the centre of the dining room. In jest we called it donkey stew but I suspect we weren't too far from the truth.

On the 4th day my mother decided to steam across the dining room and tell the staff how sick we were of the donkey concoction. However, half way across she slipped on a patch of grease and went sailing towards the serving table, arms outstretched and mouth wide open. She crashed into the table sending every bit of crockery flying into the air and ended up with both her arms in the donkey stew pot. The staff sponged her down and continued to serve it.

Dear old Norman got mugged on his way to buy some fags one day and on a visit to the Alhambra I saw a ghost and had to be escorted, shaking outside. There was a present for each child on Christmas Day which turned out to be a pack of playing cards with a picture of nude women on the back. On Boxing Day, after the dead waiter had been removed, the lunctime entertainment was a fire eater who managed to set the stage curtains on fire and the whole hotel had to be evacuated.

Elderflower14 · 18/11/2023 18:08

Christmas Day 1994 was three days after my eldest son was born and lived for two hours... After lunch I sat cuddling my six week old niece wishing it was my son.
Christmas Day 1995 I was able to tell my family that I was pregnant again and ds2 arrived in July 1996.

Username109823222 · 18/11/2023 18:32

@ginasevern
Im going to Torremolinos for Christmas this year. Oh dear oh dear!

JoyandNoel · 18/11/2023 18:44

Elderflower14 · 18/11/2023 18:08

Christmas Day 1994 was three days after my eldest son was born and lived for two hours... After lunch I sat cuddling my six week old niece wishing it was my son.
Christmas Day 1995 I was able to tell my family that I was pregnant again and ds2 arrived in July 1996.

Any time is a terrible time to lose a baby but Christmas is so hard. Enjoy this Christmas with your precious DS2.

Wolfathedoor · 18/11/2023 18:53

ginasevern · 18/11/2023 17:35

Christmas in Torremolinos 1983. Decided it would be a brilliant idea to go abroad for Christmas. There was me (newly divorced), my widowed mum and equally widowed aunty Joyce, my DS 6 and long standing family friend Norman. It was a package from 23rd December to the 2nd January and in the brochure sounded just the job.

We arrived to a dead body outside of the hotel (a waiter who had apparently been shot) who wasn't moved until Boxing Day. The food was indescribably awful and pretty much consisted of a suspiciously grey coloured stew served from a huge pot at the centre of the dining room. In jest we called it donkey stew but I suspect we weren't too far from the truth.

On the 4th day my mother decided to steam across the dining room and tell the staff how sick we were of the donkey concoction. However, half way across she slipped on a patch of grease and went sailing towards the serving table, arms outstretched and mouth wide open. She crashed into the table sending every bit of crockery flying into the air and ended up with both her arms in the donkey stew pot. The staff sponged her down and continued to serve it.

Dear old Norman got mugged on his way to buy some fags one day and on a visit to the Alhambra I saw a ghost and had to be escorted, shaking outside. There was a present for each child on Christmas Day which turned out to be a pack of playing cards with a picture of nude women on the back. On Boxing Day, after the dead waiter had been removed, the lunctime entertainment was a fire eater who managed to set the stage curtains on fire and the whole hotel had to be evacuated.

Sorry but this made me really laugh. It sounds beyond dreadful though.

3amShopper · 18/11/2023 20:50

Christmas 2020, we'd just lost baby DS2, he lived for an hour after birth, very traumatic circumstances. Utterly soul destroying. Kept going for DC1

Christmas 2021, baby DD1 died in the same way as DS2 on 3/12. DH (grief stricken) spent the morning picking fault with me until I fell apart and broke down.

Christmas 2022, The dog ate Christmas dinner as it was being served because everyone fell out and weren't paying attention. We left under a shocked and distressed cloud.

Astonishingly, I love Christmas. It's my favourite time of year. My living child is my whole reason for being and loves it too. Please God, Christmas 2023 will be uneventful, calm and happy.

MouseMinge · 18/11/2023 20:53

ginasevern · 18/11/2023 17:35

Christmas in Torremolinos 1983. Decided it would be a brilliant idea to go abroad for Christmas. There was me (newly divorced), my widowed mum and equally widowed aunty Joyce, my DS 6 and long standing family friend Norman. It was a package from 23rd December to the 2nd January and in the brochure sounded just the job.

We arrived to a dead body outside of the hotel (a waiter who had apparently been shot) who wasn't moved until Boxing Day. The food was indescribably awful and pretty much consisted of a suspiciously grey coloured stew served from a huge pot at the centre of the dining room. In jest we called it donkey stew but I suspect we weren't too far from the truth.

On the 4th day my mother decided to steam across the dining room and tell the staff how sick we were of the donkey concoction. However, half way across she slipped on a patch of grease and went sailing towards the serving table, arms outstretched and mouth wide open. She crashed into the table sending every bit of crockery flying into the air and ended up with both her arms in the donkey stew pot. The staff sponged her down and continued to serve it.

Dear old Norman got mugged on his way to buy some fags one day and on a visit to the Alhambra I saw a ghost and had to be escorted, shaking outside. There was a present for each child on Christmas Day which turned out to be a pack of playing cards with a picture of nude women on the back. On Boxing Day, after the dead waiter had been removed, the lunctime entertainment was a fire eater who managed to set the stage curtains on fire and the whole hotel had to be evacuated.

This would make a brilliant play/one-off TV comedy/drama.

It sounds awful but I hope you've been able to laugh about it since. The dead body not being moved until boxing day is making me picture people having to step over it and getting so used to it that they barely offer a dissatisfied sigh as they do.