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Original poster

Christmas dinner on Xmas eve?

26 replies

I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 12:30

I'm debating having Christmas dinner on Christmas eve instead of Christmas day . But it would feel odd to do that .

But im also thinking it might be less hectic and overwhelming. Adult dd have bipolar. GS has autism. DS also has autism. Teen DS has emotional dysregulation. The combination. Plus other children/adults that do not have any special needs /mental heath. But can still has a knock on effect on them .

GS definitely finds it hard to cope which can lead to screaming, crying , breaking things . .Then it's a complete madness. Then the living room is full of people and presents/toys etc i cant tell the younger 3 to take their gifts to their room because they need supervising.

If I was to do Xmas dinner on Xmas eve . I feel like it would be more relaxing. And enjoyable due to having more room . Not so over whelming. Won't need to worry so much when leaving them when I'm in the kitchen .

Then Xmas day could be . Help yourself day . And just do gifts /playing etc

OP posts:
Silvertulips · 14/12/2024 12:33

You buy ready prepped food.

Turkey in the oven - ready made roasts, pigs in blankets cut up carrots Aunt Bessy Yorkshire’s and just put in the the oven.

Us the time to take a breather. You don’t have to supervise when there ar either adults around.

WaltzingWaters · 14/12/2024 12:34

If that’s easier and more enjoyable for you all then absolutely. Due to work schedules we’ve done the full xmas dinner on Xmas eve, then done leftovers and nibbles on Xmas day which has been lovely and relaxed and hasn’t felt odd at all.

Alternatively, do as much prep before xmas and freeze stuff as you can. We do this when we have xmas dinner on Xmas day and it’s mostly just keeping track of timings that’s the job on xmas day! (Or to make it really easy, just buy pre prepped stuff).

NoWordForFluffy · 14/12/2024 12:35

We do a buffet on Christmas Day for similar reasons and it works well for us. We did dinner on Christmas Eve last year and will do it on Boxing Day this year. It's a moveable feast, as it were! Xmas Grin

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ExplodingCarrots · 14/12/2024 12:45

We do Xmas dinner on Xmas Eve now and have done for a few years . Much better for us . We literally slob out Xmas day eating loads of cheese and nibbles and watching Xmas tv and playing games . No one is stuck in a kitchen .

MounjaroOnMyMind · 14/12/2024 12:48

So you'd do the food on Christmas Eve and the gifts on Christmas Day? That sounds like a good idea. Just do a buffet for Christmas Day and enjoy it.

It sounds like you have your hands full with so many demands on you. I hope you have a really good Christmas.

Bryonyberries · 14/12/2024 12:49

When mine were little we always set up a buffet and just nibbled through the day. Children could carry on playing with their new things and it was far more relaxing.

We do a roast now they are grown but my eldest two in particular (now adults) still prefer Xmas buffet!

WildCats24 · 14/12/2024 12:55

Try it out this year and see how you feel? A few years ago our guests had their flights cancelled, so we had Christmas Dinner on the 26th, so everyone could join in. Nobody died and nobody suffers from trauma from the incident to this day.

Original poster
I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 12:58

Ah thank you. It sounds like it might be a good idea. I will need to make sure it works for others . Hopefully they are up for it.

OP posts:
ribiera · 14/12/2024 13:05

We do this and are much happier for it. Leftover pie on Xmas day - still feels festive

MontgomeryClift · 14/12/2024 18:02

Sounds like a great idea. Go for it.

Mairzydotes · 14/12/2024 18:11

We are going to have the Christmas dinner on boxing day .

Sometimes everything is too much for one day , and there isn't anything left for the other days.

Reallybadidea · 14/12/2024 18:18

We have done this for the past few years and it's great. No rushing around on Christmas Day, we all just chill out and then have a nice buffet in the evening. Would thoroughly recommend it

Wendysfriend · 14/12/2024 18:29

You've a lot going on 😇and I would do whatever makes the day(s) most enjoyable and easy for everyone. We've often had to switch up Christmas due to different demands and tbh it always worked out fine.

Natsku · 14/12/2024 18:44

We always had our proper Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve growing up, and we'd always invite another family too. It was my favourite part of Christmas.

I still have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve now but we celebrate on Christmas Eve so its essentially having the mean on Christmas Day anyway.

Tomatocutwithazigzagedge · 14/12/2024 18:50

Go for it OP! You'll be doing the same as nearly every country in Europe after all.

Havalona · 14/12/2024 18:59

Many European countries do this, have their celebration meal on Xmas Eve.

I like that idea a lot really.

I'll be in Andalucia for Christmas and it's hard enough to find a (Spanish) restaurant open on Xmas Eve. Most things are open Xmas Day though, which is nice as that's so different to home.

OP, do what works best for YOU and your family. Permission granted!

user2848502016 · 14/12/2024 19:00

Do whatever works best for you, there's no Christmas police!

Original poster
I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 21:00

I asked adult dd and adult ds. They are both fine with it. So we will do it Xmas eve

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 14/12/2024 21:17

Do whatever works - it's not like it's the law!

If you try it that way this year, you can always change back or do something different next year.

Original poster
I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 21:39

LonginesPrime · 14/12/2024 21:17

Do whatever works - it's not like it's the law!

If you try it that way this year, you can always change back or do something different next year.

It feels like the law 🤣

OP posts:
JennyWren83 · 14/12/2024 21:54

My friend always has
The full Xmas dinner on Xmas eve.
Then they spend Xmas day playing with new toys and picking at an all day buffet.
They LOVE it.

Ginkypig · 14/12/2024 22:11

I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 12:58

Ah thank you. It sounds like it might be a good idea. I will need to make sure it works for others . Hopefully they are up for it.

My favourite meal of the whole year is eating all the leftovers from Christmas dinner with a side of cheesy potatoes (prepared the day before. It’s basically potato gratin but with cheese sauce instead of cream)

all of it just gets bunged in the oven or microwave because it was all cooked the day before it doesn’t need long, it just needs heating through! except the cheesy potatoes which is prepared the day before but gets put in the oven a bit before the rest.
The red cabbage, Carrots, sprouts and parsnips go extra roasted and lovely!

no faff but wonderful to eat!

HoppityBun · 14/12/2024 22:13

What difference would it make what day you have it on? except that people will be working on Christmas Eve.

Original poster
I4gotmyname · 14/12/2024 22:37

HoppityBun · 14/12/2024 22:13

What difference would it make what day you have it on? except that people will be working on Christmas Eve.

Ds is working Xmas eve and Xmas day. My family has kids with special needs and also bipolar. It can become quite over whelming. So i thought maybe if I split it. Into Xmas dinner on Xmas eve . Then Xmas day for opening presents and just enjoying the day. It might be easier for everyone.

OP posts:
thedefinitionofmadness · 14/12/2024 23:33

We do that! It works!
Christmas Day very chilled, but with a generally agreed and understood timetable with staggered presents.

Turns out we have 3 generations of neurodiversity in the family but we'd already designed the christmas we can manage.