To ask if there are people on here who've never cooked a Christmas dinner before?

[FortunesFave]

And how old are you? I was really surprised when someone I know on FB posted that they were so sad not to be travelling to their parents with their family this year and that she's never cooked a Christmas dinner in her life.

She's 50!

Her parents are in their late 70s and early 80s!

Do these people not feel guilty or weird about going home like this every year?

I mean...going home is lovely...but surely you could muck in with the cooking if your parents are that elderly?

The first time I can recall cooking it was when I was 36 as I had moved overseas six months earlier and I know I had family visiting. I might have done a mini one before then as I spent the odd Christmas just with a boyfriend during my later 20s.

I'm so surprised! I love roast dinners so began making those as soon as I left home....Christmas dinners, DH and I used to have every other year at home with the DC rather than go to parents so I've been making those since I was about 30....don't you all want to try? To see what yours is like?

..don't you all want to try? To see what yours is like?
Nope, DH's is great, I have no desire to try and compete with that.

I'm 30 and never done one. I normally go to my parents as they have a bigger house, I'm a single parent of one child. I'll be on my own this year so I'm not bothering making a whole dinner just for myself.

I'm 36 and never cooked one. Only eaten a Christmas dinner once

Dad and Uncle are in their 50s and have never cooked one. They are Jewish but Nan still always made a Christmas dinner for my cousins and I more than anything. They never even offered to help looking back. She still cooks one for my Uncle now (he still lives with her). She cooks during Hanukkah too so double whammy but usually celebrates with lots of friends in ordinary circumstances so they all bring a dish. Often jokes about how my Dad and Uncle don’t know how to make latkes. I think it’s rather pathetic of them.

don't you all want to try? To see what yours is like?

Honestly? Nope, not really 🤷‍♂️. I enjoy cooking but I'm just a bit meh about roast dinners, far too much cleaning up and dealing with greasy pans for my liking.

I love a roast too and we have one almost every week throughout autumn/winter/spring. But a lot of people aren’t into cooking and even amongst those who are some people don’t like to cook roasts.

Never cooked one, I’m 32. I’m a vegetarian so I wouldn’t do the meat, but I find traditional british food quite boring, so I wouldn’t eat a roast dinner minus the meat.

I do however do all of the cooking in our home year round.

I cooked my first Christmas dinner at age 47.

Me (42). My mum always cooked (by "cooked" I mean M&S'd it) and since her death 4 years ago I've spent Xmas with family, who either cooked or went to restaurants. Due to Covid I will be alone this Christmas and don't bloody feel like cooking for one person! Will probably order something yummy in. 😋

Never in my life. I'm 34. DP and I are quite excited about how its going to turn out - ready to laugh at an undercooked/overcooked Turkey crown on the day 😆

Me! I’m 33 and this will be our first year at home but I have made roasts before. I’ve spent from March onwards practicing all my Christmas sides so I’m pretty confident and there’s always wine if it goes tits up

I cooked my first full Christmas dinner at 33 .

I've only ever been allowed to prepare the veg, kilted sausages or ham. I've already prepared and frozen the veg to defrost on Christmas Eve (part-steamed the bits that need longer so it'll all take the same time in the oven). We have the tiniest turkey joint in the world that's pre-basted, so won't need to do much except the ham and laying the table. I was pleased to get to choose good crackers, but it's not much comfort.

42. Either my mum cooked, or we went our for dinner, now my DH cooks.

Me! I'm 32, giving it a crack this year for myself and DP. Lord only knows what will happen..

If you've never hosted Xmas you won't have cooked one. There are loads of reasons why a person wouldn't have hosted Xmas - size of house, position in family, geographical location etc, all sorts of logistics and loyalties in play.

I will say though, for anyone who's previously been in this position but due to restrictions is now in charge and feeling nervous, that it's basically a roast dinner with posher sides and nothing to be worried about. Get your timings worked out, start your peeling and chopping as early as you can, stick some festive tunes on and away you go.

I'm 36 and I've never cooked one. I once managed to set fire to broccoli when I tried to cook it, I'm pretty sure it's a good idea that I stick to entertaining the kids and tidying away the wrapping rather than incinerating the much anticipated Christmas roast...

Me. My husband likes to make Christmas dinner. I help, do lots of peeling and chopping, washing up, make the starter, lay the table. But he knows all the timings and is generally in charge of what’s going on. Suits me, I don’t love cooking, he does.

I'm 50 and have never hosted Christmas or cooked a Christmas dinner. My mum hasn't either. We go to another family member's house. If people wanted to come to my v.small place they could, but it's never been suggested. So no, I don't feel guilty or weird; not about that anyway!

Cooked my first when I was about 20 for uni house mates. Can't imagine getting to 50 without having done so. I guess it all depends on family dynamics but even when my mum was still around as soon as I had my own proper house I wanted to cook so she got a day off. But I enjoy cooking generally.

That said, I wonder how many men have never cooked Xmas Dinner- the majority I imagine!

31, I've never even cooked a roast dinner let alone a Xmas one.

Tbh I can't stand roast dinners, the smells and the sloppy food makes me feel sick. If DH is ever desperate for a roast he makes it and I just have a bit of Yorkshire pudding and a couple of veggies.

I actually only remember my mum doing a Xmas dinner once in my life she's... 53 now. We usually go out for Xmas lunch with my family so everyone can choose what they actually like, only mums husband goes for a turkey roast.

This year we're going to Mils for Xmas lunch and I'm dreading the traditional Xmas meal, I've got horrendous morning sickness so my least desired meal is going to be even worse. (I obviously don't make a fuss when I'm there I just eat what I can and fill up on crisps later)

Never cooked a Christmas dinner in my life. Late 30s.

I actually hate roast dinners, so I'm quite looking forward to cooking my own non-turkey based meal this year! Silver lining of being away from my family...

I havent! I have helped when visiting relatives ie peeling and chopping veg, making pigs in blankets etc but have never been the overall in charge or done anything with the turkey. This year will be my very first in my house with my kids and my dh is cooking as roasts are his speciality! I dont think it's that weird.