To prefer Christmas dinner rather than Christmas lunch?

[SparklyMistleToes]

A bit of a pointless post really, but saw another post discussing Christmas meals and the majority seemed to all have their Christmas meal earlier in the day. I grew up eating Christmas dinner in the early evening (so let's say 4:30pm onwards, but mostly 5pm-6ish). Now that I cook it I tend to serve it between 5-6pm as well.

I couldn't imagine having our main Christmas meal at lunch. Each year we have a decent size Christmas brunch followed by an afternoon of cooking and a relaxing while the children play with their toys. And then dinner between 5-6pm.

Why do people prefer a Christmas lunch? If you eat so early don't you get hungry again in the evening?

Also what time do you all get up and start cooking for your meal to be ready at lunch time?

Does anyone else prefer a Christmas dinner to a Christmas lunch or AIBU? I just feel like it's so much more pleasant and relaxing to end the day having a nice sit down meal followed by dessert and watching TV and then relaxing and winding down. I think I would feel a bit lost if I had my meal at lunch.

I prefer it at lunchtime. I like a buffet with lots of cheeses in the early evening.

I agree ! We usually start about 430/5 ! I honestly cannot work out how anyone manages to get a full dinner ready for 1230 !

My mum always did Christmas lunch for 1pm. The turkey would go in around 8amI didn't mind it cause I didn't know any different. We would then snack or have cheese and crackers in the late afternoon.

However, we always spend Christmas with my in laws now and eat about 5pm. I much prefer it in hindsight, it makes more sense. Cheese course about 7 and pudding at 8ish. Lovely!

Church, brunch, long walk, telly/rest, open presents with champagne and nibbles, then dinner at around 7.

Breakfast is croissants at around 8/9am Christmas Dinner at 2pm. Leftover pigs in blankets, stuffing, roasties etc at various stages as we feel like it. There's only the 2 of us again this year so we do a pretty low-key Christmas - but even as a child that was my Christmas Day.

We have bacon sandwiches early (7/8ish), Christmas lunch at 12/1 and then a big cheese board and chocolates later on

My people!
We've always had Xmas dinner around 7pm. It's usually very boozy so suits the evening, and means the rest of the day is really chill. My in-laws think it's mad, but I think it's even madder that my MIL would get up at 4.30am on Xmas day to start making a massive lunch, and consequently never enjoyed any of it as she was knackered.

Christmas Eve for my meal 5 courses through the day main about 2 or 3 for meat course.

Full Scottish breakfast at about 10am

Christmas dinner from about 3pm.

It takes us about 3 hours as we have breaks between courses

I'm Australian and have always done Christmas lunch. It's far too hot here to be cooking a big meal in the afternoon, so it's always ready to eat around 12-1pm.

Late breakfast involving Buck’s Fizz

Big Prawn cocktail for lunch

Main meal at around 6 and since it’s Christmas you can have what you want. No rules.

No visits, no stress, perfect.

When the kids were little it was up at the crack of dawn, open presents, Christmas lunch 1 - 2.
Rest of day spent watching TV and Eating chocolate-
Now they are all grown up we still like an early start.
Walk, lunch about 2pm
'Kings' speech , chocolates, TV - Dr Who, call the midwife - Downton.

And present opening after lunch.

We also do about 4-5, I’d not like it at 1 or whatever. But we have a lovely decadent breakfast, at about 10 , then Canapés about 1. Then dinner between 4 and 5 and pudding is about 8 or 9.

I prefer it at lunchtime. Yes I defo do get hungry later but that’s the perfect time to have a Christmas sandwich or some oven-cooked party snacks.

We’ve always had a hearty brunch and then eaten later. My kids do that now. Never watched the queens speech so that was never a consideration.

And the leftovers saved for Boxing Day. Yum!

I prefer Christmas dinner too. I used to do Christmas lunch but I felt like I missed out on everything because it felt like I spent the day in the kitchen then everyone was tired in the afternoon. With Christmas dinner I get to enjoy the day, take it slower and play with the DC and their new toys. I sometimes even do Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve instead so I get to enjoy Christmas Day more.

We usually eat at around 2:30, have normal sized breakfast at 9ish, then to friends for drinks late morning.

We ate later a few years ago, and it was far too stressful. I felt like I spent the whole day thinking about and then doing cooking, and also was too drunk and burnt my hand.

Lunch on a couple of glasses of Cava, and THEN starting on cocktails is better.

Yes we have it at dinner time then drinks etc after. I cannot imagine sitting down to a big meal at 2/3o’clock.. it just wouldn’t be Christmas to me! But most people seem to do that

We always have it between 2-3pm then have an evening tea of turkey sandwiches, cold meats, cheese and leftovers.

Ours is between 3 and 4. Couldn’t imagine eating earlier but we always eat at that time (if it’s a roast).

We didn’t open presents till after dinner either!

YANBU - having Christmas dinner 4.30 onwards gives the time necessarily for champagne breakfast, present opening and eating loads of chocolate!

Much prefer dinner! When we were young my parents did Christmas lunch but switched it to dinner when we got older. It was a revelation - my mum wasn't spending all day in the kitchen, we had a nice lunch anyway, walks, plenty of time with our presents. And it meant we still had the dinner and drinks to look forward to - we always had special cocktails and got drunk with our parents as we got older, then stayed up listening to music and chatting around the table, it was great. My fave part of Xmas day as an adult!

Our kids are young adults & mid teen and STILL get up at the crack of sparrow fart on Xmas Day.

So we generally do breakfast at 9ish, Xmas lunch at 2ish, and buffet/leftovers at 7-8ish.