To think Christmas Day itself is crap?

[GingerbreadBaubles]

I'm no grinch, I love the festivities the decorations, the twinkly lights etc but I always find the 25th so bloody boring!

The same shite on the tv year after year, the cooking and getting it all ready for the same time. Is it just me that thinks it's a bit of an anti climax?

That's because you've missed the reason for the season

Hmmm yanbu- I looove the morning, evening and food bits but before dc I was a bit bored yup

YABU.

Chocolate for breakfast, presents, massive roast with all the sprouts you could wish for, and Doctor Who in the evening with a turkey butty.

Best day of the year IMO. I do enjoy the run up as well though.

Yeah it's crap. I hate Christmas. I'm hoping that'll change once I have my own DCs. DH loves christmas but then he's 35 and still gets a stocking from his mum.

I used to feel a bit like that till I started hosting it, when we used to go to my parents I used to get a bit restless, fine since we started having it at our house.

I love it.

Kids opening their stockings in our bed is my favourite bit.

Closely following by the Mulled Pear and Cranberry Cider punch warming on the stove.

Oh, and making any Playmobil structure that needs building. Cracking.

You probably appreciate it more if you all get little time off work, at the same time.

I used to enjoy the meeting up aspect of the day, then the drinking in the late evening.

My DH worked away from home and my now adult children work long varying shifts.

When the children are younger, surely the day is about their excitement?

I always buy treats, that I wouldn't have weekly, Chocolate, Pringles and Southern Comfort feature on my list.

Yabu. As with anything, Christmas is what you make it, if your Christmas is crap then you need to do something to change that.

It's what you make of it.
Personally I like to include some religion, but otherwise it is a lovely day with family. Up to you to configure the day as you want, there is no set formula.
Again, nobody is forcing you to watch the box all day. There are card games, board games, general conversation, brisk walks, bike rides etc.
Ditto food, loads of valid traditional combinations or your own favourites. Likewise there is nobody holding a gun to your head, forcing you to buy mountains of junk and then eat it, is there?
I think Christmas is one of those occasions when you get out what you put in.

I used to hate it especially the commercialism. Now that we have GCs I enjoy it much more. Our presents are modest and usually homemade. Boxing Day we go for a long walk on the beach and have a mince pie and tot of rum picnic.

Agree that Christmas Day is what you make it. If you have not been happy with the day, change it.

Do something else instead of watching the same rubbish on TV. The tv doesn't go on here until late in the evening, so have not found an issue with what's on or not on.

Talk, walk, play games. Church, local pub at lunchtime.

I sort of agree with you.

At my parents we get up, open presents, have breakfast and bucks fizz, go to church, Cook/play with presents, have dinner, play with presents while a few people doze with the tv on, go for a walk with the dog, have some tea, then play bridge or a board game till we go to bed.

At my in laws it's more as you describe. But I tend to sneak out for a walk or to church to break the tedium of tv.

I love christmas day although I have to say I enjoy christmas even more.
On christmas eve the house is tidy, we do something like baking christmas biscuits in the afternoon, we listen to Carols from Kings on the Radio while the adults have a glass of port. We follow Santa on Norad, hang the stockings. I love the anticipation, the expectancy, the excitement.
Christmas day is fun, but slightly more stressful, food to cook, keeping on top of the mess, the wrapping paper, sorting out toys etc.

We are on our own this year for the first time ever. I have two children 13 and 10.

Could you tell me your Christmas day plans if you are home alone so I can make the day go nice and smooth and and be a fun Christmas.

We usually have 12 people here so its very hectic and I don't want it to be a let down this year.

Christmas Day is about Other People. In the morning, it's the DC. That's the best bit, IMO. This year, we are spending lunchtime onwards with DHs family, at BILs house. Not esp looking forward to it. But it's only a few hours.

I prefer Christmas Eve, and then Boxing Day.

I often work over Christmas and this year dh is working. Dsd is away with her mum. No kids of our own, dh isn't particularly into Christmas. I miss being with my parents they made it so magical!

No tv this year I'll take myself off for a walk instead!

Christmas Day is great but only because of the people you share it with. I have always had a busy Christmas lots of family meeting up etc. On my first Christmas with DH in our own home with no kids yet we decided to have a lovely romantic Christmas just the two of us by 11am I was bored stupid and dying to go visit family etc. It was crap! Family makes Christmas even if you don't really see them the rest of the year they come in handy for making Christmas Christmassy!

Gingerbread as there are no kids around and DH working can you go to your parents for Christmas? (sorry if this is not possible)

We seldom have family for Christmas as they live too far away, so have to manage to make it special with just the three of us. Can't say we have ever been bored.

I think there is this idealised version of Christmas with lots of family, lovely food and everyone having a great time. The reality can be very different and Christmas can be a very lonely and distressing time. Factor in excess alcohol and it can be hell on earth for some.

Make the most of what you have.

I take myself off for a bath with a glass of bubbly and (hopefully) a new book around 11am, after the present opening and before guests arrive and dinner prep gets going, I don't have baths usually as I prefer showers, but it is nice to have a little time out from the day. Might try the walk instead this year. I do find it a little anti-climactic after all the build-up if I'm honest, it feels a bit like the last day of an amazing holiday.

The last few years I have indeed found Christmas Day to be crap - I always host, which in theory I like but in reality is a lot of work, I miss my (dead) parents a lot on the day, and I get very wound up about ridiculous things.

This year I am going to be calm and mellow, dammit.

I am looking forward to the day on our own as having so many people is very very very tiring. I seem to be always checking the food topping up glasses and putting the kettle on while everybody else enjoys my hospitality. [dh helps a lot]

By 8pm when they are all gone i am absolutely shattered.

A master plan is what I need to keep the day flowing.

It will be lush just cooking for the 4 of us. How easy is that going to be........... yipppeeeeeeee

T helps if you look at it as a whole - Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing Day
Xmas eve is the anticipation as excitement (we have 3 kids plus niece and nephew will be here this year and they all still believe)
Xmas day is a lovely massive roast which I love and seeing the kids faces openin thiernpresents and everyone being together
Boxing Day is the chill out day, picky bits to eat , kids actually sit and play rather than opening everything and not knowing what to look at first.

I do think Christmas Day can feel a bit flat - the hours spent trawling online and shops looking for that perfect gift, cozy nights in wrapping presents and drinking mulled wine with carols, the menu planning, making all the arrangements with your family, the presents under the tree that look so exciting and filled with potential, counting down the days to christmas, the assurances that this year will be the best christmas ever....

And then it's all over! I think I enjoy the run up to christmas rather than the day itself.