Christmas Eve-how important is it to you?

[Boredofthinkingofaname]

Sorry to be bringing up the C word this early.

I live abroad with Dp and toddler. Due to covid etc, we won’t be returning to the U.K. for Xmas, didn’t last year either.
Dp’s workplace last year worked until 1 on Christmas eve and then went for Christmas lunch etc and ended up getting home around 6 pm.
Christmas eve is my favourite time and v exciting for our Dd. Last year, we waited for him to get home to eat and it was all a bit rushed and really not special at all.
His boss is older with no children
Aibu in thinking the workplace could finish the day before and have their special lunch then, even if it meant coming back to work a day earlier after Xmas (they take two weeks off)
It’s not a profession that *Has to work on Xmas eve for any reason at all

Yanbu.

I’d hate that. I love Christmas Eve and it’s an exciting time for children.

It's my favourite day of the year and I'd refuse to spend it eating with my colleagues.

Surely most people work a half day at least on Christmas Eve? It’s stupid having their lunch on that day but not unreasonable for people to work on Christmas Eve for a few hours at least. It’s counted as a full working day where I work but you can leave after a few hours.

Why doesn't DP take Christmas eve as annual leave. That's what my OH does every year as I think it's really important too. He'll miss the dinner but surely better to be with family. I think it's odd to have the meal then as loads of people take CE off I'd have thought.

I love Christmas Eve btw! But the early hours of it don’t really count 😀

I love Christmas Eve, even more than Christmas Day. I have for as long as I can remember.

Christmas Eve is a working day in the UK, usually. Unless you're a school or something, most workplaces are open, and closing early is a privilege really.

As a child though I do remember getting excited on Christmas eve though, but only once it got dark, because that was when the magic started, I thought.

Can’t he just opt out of lunch and state why? Make that’d make them think and perhaps change next year

If it's a problem, can he just take holiday?

It's not a bank holiday here (obviously that might be different where you are), so it shouldn't be an expectation to have it off.

Dint wait for him. Have your christmas eve excitement with activities and food and he can join in when he gets there.

I love Christmas eve, more than Christmas day. But also wouldn't mind someone coming home at 6pm.

I have to say I chuckled at 'can't dps work, sort their schedule around a day I like' though.

I also love Xmas Eve.

It's the whole build up and in many European countries it's actually the main day!

It was his first year working there for last Christmas Eve. The boss made a big deal of it, how he’d like them all to eat together (he pays for it all) as a thank you to them all. He also gives the end wages then and any small bonuses.
I just don’t understand why this can’t be the day before 🤷🏻‍♀️
Last year it was just a bit sad with just Dd and I, our friends were all doing things at home as a family.

We love Xmas Eve, we cuddle up with a movie, picky food and adult drinks, prep food and just enjoy the day, we love it.

I’d simply refuse to spend Xmas eve dinning with colleagues.

@itsgettingwierd It’s the main day where we are! Boss is British though, so celebrates Christmas Day. A couple of the employees are from the county we’re in, so have to rush home as they have their main meal Christmas Eve night, it’s daft!
I’ve asked Dp if he can sort of ask now/plant the seed about not working/doing this on Xmas eve, he’s happier to lose more days at the end of the time off than this

@Nightbringer It’s a really nice day for children

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend Exactly, such a nice time for kids especially

Sadly when work pays the bills what the boss says goes. Many kids don't have two parents at home on Christmas Day let alone Christmas Eve

@dryasaboner But doesn’t it seem bizarre that the boss would want this? Doesn’t he realise families may want to be together, especially with small kids?

[quote Boredofthinkingofaname]@Nightbringer It’s a really nice day for children[/quote]
I know it is. Its my favourite. But the office isn't going to change its schedule because you want it.

One of the reasons I moved jobs was that it's in my contract that I finish on the 23rd til new year. I get its annoying, but they really aren't going to change it. Your dh can tell them he can't make the meal though

@itsgettingwierd

I also love Xmas Eve.

It's the whole build up and in many European countries it's actually the main day!

Absolutely this! My family origins mean that, as children, we always treated Christmas eve as the main celebration. Main meal and presents on Christmas eve. Christmas day is more like a Bank Holiday in many countries. Theses days, both Christmas eve and Christmas day are very important to my family, but nothing will ever beat the magic and anticipation of Christmas eve.

By the time he got in, it was almost DD’s bedtime, he was pretty ill from drinking too much, just wasn’t nice.

He even asked if we’d come to pick him up (his boss suggested it so we could join) really didn’t want to do that on Xmas eve! Drive quite far out to eat with his workmates on Xmas eve, wanted cosy nibbles, hot chocs and films and music just us etc

I feel almost like his boss makes the meal then to make them all come? Like they can’t really say no?
Working, just actual working until midday or whatever wouldn’t be so bad, but to take up the whole day with the lunch etc is annoying

@Nightbringer That’s the thing though, the obligation for the meal, the pressure of it as boss is paying and then pays bonuses during it.

Do you think he should ask him if he can take Xmas eve off and work other days to make up for it, explaining how important it is as a family, especially since we’re in another country alone