to think spending Christmas apart is a bit weird....

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... Nothing to do with me, I know

But I'm judgey

I have two friends - they are late 20s and have been together about 4 years.

They have spent every Christmas apart, because neither of them want to be away from their family on the day. So they go their separate ways on about the 23rd and see each other again on the 26th/27th.

Like I say, SFA to do with me, but I find it curious.

AIBU to think they're... odd?

Not weird at all, i would do either. DP works a lot of Christmas Eve/days. No DC together. What works for some doesn't for others. We are happy

I'm doing it this Christmas and we're happily married in our 30s. Part of the reason is I'm fed up of including his demanding and overbearing MIL in our Christmas plans. I'd rather not see him than see him with the MIL.

I honestly cannot fathom what people find weird. In my friendship circle, very few couples spend their christmas days together. None of us have kids and we are all early to mid twenties. Most of us just go back to our home cities, then see each other over the New Year. No apron strings involved, it's just Christmas is the time to see the people you don't see over the year, and take the time to have it in a big family environment rather than just the two of you.

This year, since I lost my Mum, I am not going back to my home city but spending it with a friend's familu. DP is going back to his home city. I could have come but I'm working Christmas eve and won't get a flight in time.

NYE is the bigger event anyway.

Really normal beforehand having children together

It really is quit unusual to us. They are the only couple I know that do it!

We did this until we got married. Then I felt like we were a family ourselves so we alternated who we went to. Now we have dCs we host ourselves.

I have a friend who mid 30s- he is gay and been with his partner for over 10 years and they do separate Xmas.....don't think they plan on marriage or kids so made me wonder when do they decide to be like a family in their own right with their own traditions etc.....seems a bit infantile to me....but must work for them.

Most people I know do this before they have children and it becomes more complicated. I'm very close to my family, so the idea of choosing to spend Christmas with a boyfriend rather than with them is very strange to me. Actually, DH and I always spent Christmas apart before we had kids - spending the day with my mum and dad, brothers, nieces and nephews was (and still is!) infinitely preferable to spending it with my mother in law.

My DP and I also do this, however we are early 20's and no DC.

I'm spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day apart from my fiancé, he's heading home to his family and I'm heading to mine. I'm under no pressure at all to do this from my parents - I want to. I live with him the rest of the year so want to have family time at Christmas.

We will stop doing this once we have children I expect.

I've got 3 grown up children DS1 has children of his own so stays at home and they all come Boxing Day DD alternates with her partner but again they coe on Boxing Day. DS2 comes home and his partner goes to hers. Again they are with us Boxing Day. Their choice - no pressure here - although one year I am going somewhere hot!