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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can you tell me your Christmad Day routine?

94 replies

KrayKray00 · 22/12/2017 09:33

Not really an AIBU but got Christmas Day makes me stressed. We end up visiting that many family members that next year I am saying “no, if you want us to visit you can come to ours.”

The day starts quite early 7am open presents at home, go to the in laws, pop to the pub for 1 drink at lunch time go to my parents and have lunch. After lunch we visit elderly members of the family then on the night go to someone’s house for a party.

It is such a long day. One drink limit with lunch due to having the car for travel too. I just want to stay at home, play with the kids toys, lounge around, drink, eat and be merry!

Can you tell me your routine for Christmas I love hearing about other people’s day Xmas Smile

OP posts:
speakout · 23/12/2017 10:47

We never go out on Christmas day- that's the rule.

Has been since the kids were born.

No child wants to be uprooted from fun new toys and home environment on christmas day.

Wilburissomepig · 23/12/2017 10:48

Up quite early ish - kids bring their stockings through to us and open on the bed. Then downstairs and open main presents - dog always gets his first of course. Then DH will make croissants and bacon for breakfast and we'll lie about for an hour while the kids play with their stuff.

Shower next then get started on Christmas dinner. MIL and SIL/BIL and cousins will arrive about half one, I'll get stressed keeping everything hot and on the table. When we're finished eating, dishwasher is loaded, I'll open the prosecco (no one else drinks god help me) and we'll get some games out. I'll get quietly pissed as the day goes on then in the evening will get the sausage rolls and mince pies out and eat til they bugger off home.

LakieLady · 23/12/2017 11:03

We are anti-social at Christmas. Christmas Day is "our" day, to just chill and do whatever the fuck we like.

I usually get up reasonably early, 7-8 is, drink tea, eat toast.

Remove gammon and turkey from the fridge so they're at room temperature when I want to start cooking.

Might then peel spuds, might just sit on my arse and read until DP gets up.

Around 10-11, DP will be up and we'll take the dog out for an hour or so. When we get back, we'll start cooking. This is the cue for the first G&T of the day.

He'll make stuffing and put the bird in while I put the gammon on. One will do pigs in blankets while the other preps the veg.

We take the whole thing at a very leisurely pace, opening a present or two, having a drink, a sit down and chat, some olives or whatever as and when we feel like it. About an hour from TDT (Turkey Done Time), I'll put the roasties and parsnips in the oven.

When the meats are done, and the turkey is resting, we open a nice cold bottle of fizz and drink it while we're finishing off the meal.

DP will make gravy (he is the King of Gravy, I defy anyone to make better gravy than my DP) while I do the rest of the veg.

I'll set the table and light the candles, he'll open the wine. I'll slice the gammon while he carves the turkey, we dish up together and sit down and eat. It's usually gone 4pm by then.

We might have pudding soon after, but generally are too full and leave it a couple of hours. Then we spend the evening in front of the telly, which generally involves a fair degree of snoring and farting. And eating chocs and having the occasional glass of something.

Around 9pm, DP will make himself a turkey sandwich, I'm always too stuffed to want anything else to eat.

It's all very laid back, just the way we like it.

honeylulu · 23/12/2017 11:03

Up early, put muffins in oven, quick shower, all open stocking presents, muffin and bucks fizz breakfast, family service at church (only started doing this a couple of years ago when my son was confirmed and became a server but we found we really liked being out of the house for an hour or so - hate that cabin fever feeling).
Back home. Kids play with stocking presents - deliberately chosen stuff that will occupy them dvd/ computer game etc) while h and I cook and drink champagne. We have a prawn cocktail as a snack about midday and lunch about 2.30.
Presents after lunch - I know this seems a bit mean but it's what we did when I was a child. We've asked the kids of they would rather have presents in the morning but they said they actually like that they can still look forward to the best bit. )
Then telly on, clear up and veg out.
We have cheese board and Christmas pudding in the evening as too full after lunch.
We stopped going to visit anyone on Christmas day a few years ago. Some years we have guests but not usually. Last year my friend came to us as her boys were having Christmas at her exes.
We go and stay at my parents for a couple of days between Christmas and New year.
PIL are dead so no longer part of the equation.

oldsilver · 23/12/2017 11:06

Up at 730-8ish for stocking. Then the annual argument of me asking if DH and DS can have a quick breakfast and a wash just to give me some time to prep and get the turkey in, so I can be there for present opening - we normally compromise at one more present.

Present opening chaos.

Lunch at 1pm, followed by DS birthday present opening. Once lunch is finished it's officially designated DS Birthday day.

DS "plays" with presents whilst we watch christmas telly nap except for Queen at 3 - which only I watch.

Birthday tea of Christmas pud and custard followed by birthday cake Xmas Grin before Doctor Who.

The rest of the night, nibbles, drink, hoping that DH falls asleep in time for me to watch Christmas Eastenders, more nibbles and much more drink.

Boxing Day I chuck a load of buffet food on the table at lunchtime and it's every man for themselves, eat what you want, when you want - I am 'aving a day orf.

NapQueen · 23/12/2017 11:07

Up about 7-7.30. We have brews while the kids open their gifts. The pastries come out about 8.30/9am. We get dressed and play with gifts.
Down to my folks about 11.30. Lunch at 1. Home for 5. Movie with the kids then they go to bed. Dh and I have drinks and nibbles.

ArbitraryName · 23/12/2017 11:08

Ours is quite freeform really.

We get up whenever DS2 does. Every year so far he’s been the last one awake. He won’t get up until 7 regardless (because he’s well trained Grin).

We all go downstairs and open presents. The children tend to open theirs first, as we all enjoy watching them. They do their stockings after the main presents. Somewhere in amongst this we’ll have pastries for breakfast.

Then we mess around doing whatever people want and get showered/dressed at our leisure. I make lunch for around about 1ish.

After lunch it’s more doing what we feel like: playing games, watching films, whatever. We might go for a walk if anyone feels like it, but may not.

For dinner we’ll have crackers and cheese and stuff like that. DS2 will go to bed at 8ish and the rest of us will probably watch a film.

TrojansAreSmegheads · 23/12/2017 11:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gabsdot · 23/12/2017 11:24

The kids will wake us up early to go and open presents. When that's all done DH and I will go back to bed
We get up again at about 9, potter around, get breakfast which is usually coco pops or pop tarts.
Then we go to a carol service at church at 11.
I'll cook the dinner. We always stay at our own house and invite people over. This year we have 4 in-laws and my parents.
Other people clean up after dinner and I relax.
The evenign is spent in front of the TV, or I'll work on my Christmas jigsaw, play with the kids etc.
It's a nice day

TwoBobs · 23/12/2017 11:33

Last year we got up about 8am. The kids have a very small stocking filled with tat to open before we're awake.
The kids are not allowed downstairs until we say so they then come and wake us up.
I go into the lounge first to set up recording to see their faces at the pile of pressies.
Let them open half of their pressies. Have a light breakfast. Have dinner made for about 1pm. Phone family to wish them a lovely Christmas.
Open more pressies after dinner and chill out at home for the rest of the day.
We stayed in our new PJ's all day last year, it was lovely!!!

We see family immediately before and after Xmas.

We LOVE being at home just us on Xmas day. Means that the kids can play with their new toys, we can watch whatever we like on TV and there is no pressure.

daisypond · 23/12/2017 11:37

Generally just stay at home with DH and the DC. We don't see any friends or relatives at all as everyone lives too far away. DH does all the cooking - he likes it and is good at it. This year I'm working Christmas Day (and Boxing Day) so Christmas will begin when I get back from work, maybe around 8pm.

Cockmagic · 23/12/2017 11:40

7.00 dd opens presents I watch with a cuppa.

8.45 go to work.

3.00 dp picks me up from work, go to his mams swap prezzies etc.

7.00 return home watch Christmas film, consume alcohol

9.00 dd goes to bed, more alcohol.

12.00 xmas shag then sleep!

Welshmaenad · 23/12/2017 11:46

For the second year it will just be me and my two DC for Christmas Day. They will come back from their Dad's Christmas Eve morning on his way to work (retail). We will get last minute wrapping etc done, have lunch, then head to my aunt's house to deliver her and DU's Christmas hamper and collect kid gifts.

Then to my ex boyfriend's and his parents (not kids dad, from years ago, we're still very good friends) and deliver their Xmas hamper and collect more kid gifts.

Then to our favourite restaurant to meet DSis and DBIL for dinner and gift exchange before heading home to find 'elf pyjamas' that magically appear on Beds every Christmas Eve, and kids into bed before setting out gifts once they're asleep.

Christmas Day DS will get up unreasonably early, we go down and open presents, I have a lot of coffee, then we have croissants and bacon rolls for breakfast. We will chill and play with / read gifts until lunchtime, I will magic up a feast of turkey crown and ready prepped veg from Ocado, we eat, I drink a fair bit of wine, we watch movies all afternoon and evening and pick at leftovers/cheese/chocolates. There will be more wine for me, and after 7pm, probably some gin.

Boxing Day my DP is coming (we don't live together) and will have the day with us, more cheese/leftovers pickery, more movies, we exchange and open gifts with him. Kids go back with their dad about 6.30pm. The whole of the 27th will be devoted to DP and I napping, picking at cheese etc, watching old films, napping more, more cheese, probably gin.

I honestly can't wait. It's going to be brilliant. I love not leaving the house.

Rhodiolia · 23/12/2017 11:47

Get up and open stocking presents (we all get a stocking)
Have a nice breakfast (usually bagels and pate or pancakes and bacon, fruit juice etc)
Open our presents
Play with new gadgets/toys while I start preparing the lunch
FIL comes over (the only family we have that celebrates Christmas that lice locally)
Lunch around 2/3pm
Watch the TV specials and/or build new toys
Snack on leftovers for dinner, have a few Baileys
Fairly low-key but still really magical.

Rhodiolia · 23/12/2017 11:48

Some of these routines sound exhausting!

Motoko · 23/12/2017 12:21

and then i lie awake all night because i am still 5 in my head and am ridiculously excited

Reminds me of when my kids were teens, I had to wake them up, because I wanted them to open their presents, but they wanted to stay in bed!

TrojansAreSmegheads · 23/12/2017 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fairylea · 23/12/2017 17:12

Wow some people do so much! Shock

We get up whenever the youngest wakes up. Open presents. Have a fry up. Go and visit my mum - who lives 5 mins away. Come home after an hour or so. Chill at home until Mum comes round for dinner about 5ish. That’s about it!

pallisers · 23/12/2017 17:12

In the past we've had guests and also gone to stay with family who live somewhere tropical (that was great - up, go to church, go to the beach/swim, then put on a posh frock and go to the club for dinner)

We are on our own this year so

9 - put on the coffee, sausages, bacon and fried bread.
9.30 wake the teens and force them downstairs to open stockings
11 go to mass
1pm bring the dog for a walk in the woods
Required family elements then suspended until dinner and teens can go hang out in their rooms/back to bed/sit with us if they want
6 pm dinner
We will play cards and watch a movie afterwards eating crisps and chocolates.

Have to say OP that amount of driving around and going from place to place would drive me crazy.

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