To think if you invite someone over for Christmas

[Jerryyyyyy]

That means you'll serve Christmas dinner?

I live quite far away from family - same country, half a day drive away. They have come to us for most christmasses. We have space for them to stay but they don't have space for us so logistically it's always made more sense. They've decided they don't want to come anymore, which is fine. It can be intense here, a lot of family from the other side. DH always cooks a huge Christmas Dinner.

This year they've made arrangements so that we can go to them for Xmas and we will have somewhere to stay. We're thinking of driving down on Xmas day so that we xan do prezzies with our DC at home. Will prob be with them by 3 at the latest and will stay a couple of nights. Found out today they think we're only there for the afternoon and so they're not cooking Christmas Dinner which means we won't have one!

Just tell them you'll be down in plenty of time so will be lovely to have Christmas dinner at their's this year?

So don’t go?

Are they not cooking Christmas dinner at all, or is it that you’ll miss it if you arrive at 3?

Do you have to go? Just stay home if it bothers you.

3 in the afternoon is a bit late tbh, most of the day is gone. Do you really want to spend so much of Christmas Day in the car?

(if you were visiting us I’d still do a dinner though)

Go boxing day and cook at home.

That’s what I’d do

Three is quite late to arrive on Christmas, you're sort of ruining their day a bit because they'll be waiting about for you all day... I mean, I don't think they'll all be sat around in expectation but waiting for people to arrive does unsettle a day.

No way would I choose visiting anyone over a proper day including lunch!!
Christmas day at home and see them boxing day..

YANBU

Very awkward time to arrive tbh. Most Christmas dinners are served for lunch/afternoon time, so I'd assume you didn't want one or thought you'd miss it. Unless you usually have one in the evening?

I can’t see the point in spending Christmas morning at home so that the kids can open their presents, only to then stick them in a car for half of Christmas Day, ensuring they get a very minimal time to enjoy the presents. Sounds like a tedious day all round! Just go Boxing Day instead

I think you’re bonkers to spend half a day driving on Christmas day, what a rubbish day for your children! Whether or not you have Christmas dinner when arriving after 3pm would be the least of my worries - either go on Christmas Eve or boxing day.

If someone wasn’t arriving until 3 I’d be a little put out at having to do dinner so late as we normally eat earlier (although I’d still do it). I don’t really understand why you’d chose to spend so long in a car on Christmas Day though especially with DC.

Getting in at 3pm is late unless they always do xmas dinner in the afternoon.

This ^

Id also travel on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. Do the kids really care about where they are when they open presents?

If you were my guests id try to sort a Christmas timetable around you (ie - do the main meal later), but it’ll it was tricky with small kids/ other relatives/ whatever I wouldn’t necessarily feel able to.

What time have you usually served Xmas Dinner when you're hosting? Do you tell everyone 'dinner is at x o'clock' or do you say 'we'll eat when everyone gets here but take your time, no rush, we'll wait for you'?

We don't have Christmas dinner until about 6pm so you'd be fine at ours!

I wouldn't be upset about missing Christmas lunch though. That's assuming that there will be something for you to eat when you get there at 3pm and you're not going to have to survive on Quality Street and mince pies for the rest of the day.

I'd happily skip the Xmas Dinner part myself though. Presumably there will be nice nibbles and champagne? Kids can have a bowl of pasta/chocolate etc.

Something like this.

I usually hope to be comatose with a cocktail of roast potatoes, quality street and central heating by 3pm, all that’s left of the day by then is to cry at Mary Poppins and claim you’re never eating again, only to manage a sandwich of leftovers with a couple of pickled eggs and a wodge of Christmas cake on the side around 6pm, then fall asleep on the sofa. You may as well arrive in mid-January as 3pm!

3pm is a bit late when you e been invited to spend Chris with someone. I wouldn’t be pleased if my Christmas Day guests turned up at that time. Go earlier and have Christmas lunch with them, or go the next day.

You can't turn up for Christmas Day at 3pm expecting dinner! Eve or Boxing, you choose

Why can't they do dinner late afternoon after you arrive?

V odd to spend half a day travelling to someone on Christmas day to find they've eaten before you arrive. Not sure I'd bother

Oh give over @Duttercup , "ruining" the day by turning up at 3?! At my house my family are always welcome whenever they turn up as long as I know who's coming for food, and I would always feed people who had to travel whenever they arrived