Do you like Christmas Day?

[Sunset999]

I actually find it quite stressful, the morning is nice opening presents, then its full on rushing about with dh in a hot kitchen, getting the meal ready for us and guests, I cant quite relax enough, wanting everything to be perfect and go 100% smoothly ! All these ads with families smiling on the sofa in matching pjs, is it really like that for people?

More relaxed by the evening and exhausted ! Starting to appreciate the days that follow until 4 Jan!

I love it. I get to spend the day alone with DH. No cooking or anything. Bliss.

I do like it but I find it stressful. I feel like I'm tidying up for days afterwards and finding places to put things.

It seems for the most of us it is a bit stressful, you know id love to just eat a take out on Christmas day and relax but cant as have always had my family over for the big meal every year for as long as I can remember, love seeing them but getting together later in the day might be nice, one day dh and I will go away for it, maybe when the kids left home and do their own thing?!

@Turkishangora

No, I don't like it. It's been dominated by mil and her needs since we met 22 years ago. Apart from last year in lockdown when we actually got to do it the way we wanted. Bliss. But we can't leave her on her own and bil doesn't pitch in with sharing the load so we do what we have to do.

100% this. The odd occasion it has been just me and my little family I have loved it. I fucking hate having to accommodate my PILs for days on end every single year.

I love Christmas eve!

It's too much work and stress. I never used to feel this way - I used to love Christmas, even when I was skint and putting it all on the credit card! Something has changed though - the kids are older and honestly I can't be bothered with it. Just want to stay home and chill but am expected to see family. I'm grateful that they love me enough to want to see me , but I do feel like I'm on a timetable and it's not at all relaxing!

I love it although have to say I preferred last year’s when it was just immediate family.

@SarahWoodWould

No. I’m an only child so have to host my bloody mother every sodding year.

I dread it.

Why? Is she very old and frail?

Its so big here it just takes the joy out of it, if it was just for the younger ones I think it would be more manageable

All these ads with families smiling on the sofa in matching pjs, is it really like that for people? It genuinely is like that for us except I would never wear matching PJs, they are cringeworthy.

The secret is loads of prep the day before and not doing a trad christmas dinner.

No prefer Summer days and birthdays.

Look at all the expectations for a 24 hour period and how few women enjoy the actual day.

Other than accommodating the enjoyment of any children why not plan now not to do anything next year you don't want to do, and make it known to all parties that things are changing?

I bloody love it. Best day of the year. Probably helps that I like my family and my in-laws and love seeing them, wouldn't even countenance spending the day without seeing family. I also have a DH and wider family who all pitch in and nobody is stuck in the kitchen, nobody gets into debt over it and we all genuinely love the mood, the food and the company.

It's stressful because you're making it that way by setting ott targets.

I don't like it. It feels like a giant retail festival with family arguments and stress built in. But then growing up I never enjoyed it either!

I love it and am always relaxed.

I don't buy into all this "perfection" bollocks though. If my family and I are all happy then that's perfect.

I love it because we're quite casual. We usually have a brother or two of mine here, but they're laid back. My DCs are 11 and 9, and I'm increasingly aware that we don't have too many years of fun Christmases left, so I want to adapt and find new ways of celebrating as they get older.

I enjoy the morning, opening presents with little one but after that it just feels rushed and stressed. Weve decided that next year, were having our Christmas Dinner on Xmas eve, family to see little one in morning before we go to pub for a drink, come back and nibble on buffet kinda of food (prepared day before) and chill in with movies etc while lil one plays with there toys.

Much prefer Boxing day. It's not that I hate Christmas day but more am too exhausted to enjoy it.

Yes. I never host and we do exactly what we want, including a hike and eating out.
No randoms adding stress

I don't find it stressful. Cooking a roast dinner isn't a huge deal, unless you're cooking for 15 people or something. We only have 6 of us plus small kids - i cook for that many on a regular basis anyway so I don't know why Christmas is so much more stressful than a normal Sunday?

Present opening isn't supposed to be stressful either, but fun. Maybe have fewer presents or spread them out a bit more through the day.

It has nice aspects but for me it’s a bit of a hump to get over more than anything.

I don't find it stressful - have taken the relatives out of the equation, and don't feel the pressure to get food on the table for a certain time.

I do find it exhausting though. I really enjoy being wtih my children all day. talking to them and playing games. The rest of it - the food, presents and stuff I can take or leave, and I really don't like the mess and constant eating.

Its a logistical nightmare for us. We can't drink because we either have to drop off or pick up DSS partway through Christmas Day. MIL is diabetic and doesn't take care of herself so invariably always has a hypo and we've had an ambulance out Xmas day to her for 3 years on the trot. BIL hates me because I call him out on his misogyny.

I've told DH I want to go to dinner somewhere just us next year. It's too much.

I haven't voted, as you ANBU to not enjoy it, but I love Christmas day.
However, I have never felt any pressure to "make it perfect", and I've never taken on the role of "doing all the work".