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Original poster

What is your timing schedule xmas day?

73 replies

Molly333 · 15/12/2019 07:23

Hi all im trying to fit a tea in at xmas but usually everyone is too full . My timings work like this-breakfast is usually me and hubby only, as kids are not really interested . Guests arrive and dinner at 2 which can take 2 hours, then no one really wants tea later as stuffed . How does yr day pan out please?

OP posts:
BlackSwanGreen · 15/12/2019 07:29

We are hosting DH's family this year - aged from 0 to 80. Guests arrive between 11 and 12. Have a drink and a chat. Lunch at 1.30. Supper at 6 (this can be flexible - earlier for hungry toddlers or later for adults who are still full from lunch). Most guests leave at 7 except those who are staying the night.

Penguin34 · 15/12/2019 07:30

Every year I say I won't buy tea as it's a waste of money as no one is really hungry by then then every year I do and it's a waste!

This year I've stuck to my guns and just bought a cheese board and pate.

Dinner for 10 about 2pm, dessert about 4pm, cheese and crackers etc about 8pm

Oh and snowballs at 12pm!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/12/2019 07:32

Serve dinner earlier, at 1pm or 1.30. No dessert. Then do an afternoon tea of puddings and bubbly bits at 6.30.

Remember- Christmas is only as complicated as you make it.

ChessieFL · 15/12/2019 07:34

We never bother with tea on Christmas Day, most people are still too full from dinner (we don’t usually eat until about 2) and anyone who is peckish just helps themselves to whatever they can find in the kitchen!

Oysterbabe · 15/12/2019 07:40

My kids are 2 and 4.
It'll be get up at sometime between 5 and 6 as that's when they'll be up. Open presents and have breakfast then head over to MIL. She'll serve a roast at 1. The kids will have a snacky type dinner at about 6 then go to bed for 7:30. We'll all then have a dinner of cold meats, cheeses and pickles at around 8:30 while we watch Gavin and Stacey Grin

Jeezoh · 15/12/2019 07:58

We stick to normal timings - breakfast at 8ish, light lunch at midday and main meal around 5ish.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 15/12/2019 08:00

There are just 4 of us this year. Presents first, then breakfast. Lunch around 2pm, we don't tend to have a proper dinner as we are still too full, so just things like cheeses and pate in the evening.

Normandy144 · 15/12/2019 08:01

We eat the main meal at 4pm so we tend to have a large cooked breakfast in the morning to keep us going and then canapés before dinner at 4pm. There's cheese and desserts so people graze into the evening as they please.

Countryescape · 15/12/2019 08:03

Same as you. You can only do one proper meal on Christmas Day.

MrsBricks · 15/12/2019 08:03

Three kids 2, 5 & 9.

Get up about 7am, open stockings, breakfast about 8
Tree presents, kids eat bodyweight in chocolate grandparents arrive about 12-1pm
Dinner 2/2.30pm
Spend rest of day eating chocolate, leftovers, cheese board & Christmas cake

maddiemookins16mum · 15/12/2019 08:04

I do a Supper and pudding during Call the Midwife.
Cheese and biscuits and a Christmas Trifle.

CherryPavlova · 15/12/2019 08:04

People can make themselves a sandwich, heat soup or do a plate of cheese and biscuits, if they want. I don’t cook supper.

Minniemagoo · 15/12/2019 08:04

I never do 'tea', I just have leave out leftovers and other sandwich bits (coleslaw, cheese etc) so whoever wants can make themselves a sandwich. I buy nice bread and freeze it and then take it out Christmas morning so it's as fresh as possible. Usually people wander out about 8 and make themselves a plate.

katienana · 15/12/2019 08:07

My kids are 3 and 7. Up at 6am opening presents, croissants at 7. Starter at 12, lunch at 1. Tea when kids ask - turkey sandwiches. The Christmas sandwich is the best bit!!

Puppymania · 15/12/2019 08:07

Presents opened first, breakfast is chocolate, Turkey dinner between 1 and 2pm. Christmas pudding about 4 or 5 pm, no other meal. All too full.

mincepiemaven · 15/12/2019 08:08

I'm making cinnamon rolls for breakfast this year so I'll cook them the night before. Then we have Christmas lunch at about 3/4pm with a view of moving it later as the years pass. I've got my scrap of paper (that I protect with my life!) that has my timings written down on it and hasn't done me wrong in 8 or so years.

Always make sure there's plenty of food for picking at later and the kids can eat chocolate if they want as well.

BillHadersNewWife · 15/12/2019 08:10

We never eat breakfast. We just can't ever manage lunch if we do! Tea is just chocolates and whatever cheese or leftovers people want. BOxing Day is the day for tea!

LettuceP · 15/12/2019 08:10

Wake up, kids bring their stockings to our bed to open then downstairs to open the presents
Nice breakfast about 10am
Guests arrive about 1pm (11 in total for Xmas Dinner)
Start eating at 2pm, it takes as long as it takes, 2 or 3 hours.
Will have some nice bread, leftover meat from roast, cheese, crackers and nibbly bits available if and when people want them in the evening but that's mainly for kids who will be saying their huuuungry by 6pm Grin
Hoping everyone will take the hint and leave by 8pm so we can get the kids into bed and relax.

Runwayqueen · 15/12/2019 08:13

I'm working till 8am on the day (normally dp or I have to work). I'll go straight to parkrun with DD and complete that, so hopefully breakfast (bacon and Brie baguettes) at 1030, gifts after. Main meal at 3.30/4 ish, and just nibbles in the evening if needed.

BiblioX · 15/12/2019 08:15

Kids 8 months, 2, 11, 12, 15
7am - breakfast and stockings
12pm - Christmas meal
Afternoon: presents and mince pies
Evening from 5pm: Turkey sandwiches and chocolate orange trifle.

Bluewall · 15/12/2019 08:15

Breakfast after opening presents
Lunch - soup sandwiches about 12.30
Dinner - 5pm
Games and drinks after

How do people get tidied up, dressed up, and cook Christmas dinner for 1pm 😬😱 (Our house is still chaos at that point )

Jenniferturkington · 15/12/2019 08:15

Up with the kids opening stockings at 6. Breakfast about 7.30. Tree presents and playing, possibly a dog walk before main meal at 1. Put cheese and biscuits etc out about 6pm and leave out until after call the midwife.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 15/12/2019 08:24

Stockings when we wake up, followed by breakfast of fresh fruit, pastries, mimosas.
Walk and then cook Christmas lunch for about 1pm. Tree presents after lunch and then tea if/when we feel like it in the evening. Cheese, crackers and pickles.

yikesanotherbooboo · 15/12/2019 08:37

Timings have changed over the years but usually; stockings, spot of breakfast, church, lunch preparations, visitors at 1 , food at 2 , presents with post prandial coffee, games . When children were small sandwiches and bed but now we all graze from leftovers , drink and watch tv.
We used to also fit in a trip to local hospital and dog walking but no longer need to and am really not sure how we managed to find the time!

Emmacb82 · 15/12/2019 08:37

We will have Xmas dinner at 12, my 3 year old won’t be able to wait much later! I’m working a night shift that night so want it all to be out of the way so I can have a little relax before I go. Will maybe have a light tea of crackers etc but will take lots of goodies to snack on overnight!