Is it strange that I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner at 36?

[Crouchingdragonhiddentiger]

When I lived at home my mum cooked it, now I’ve been living in my own house for 10 years with my 7 year old DS and my partner, we go to his parents or mine on alternate Christmases.
We also have a very small house so in no way big enough to host for family & friends.

Just wondering if I’m alone in this, because my Christmas memories were of my mum out doing the Christmas dinner from morning until we ate.

I haven’t either as we’ve always gone to family.

But even when away at family, do you not help with cooking?

I feel the odd one as I'm 46 and have cooked loads! Even when I spend Christmas alone I cook myself one as I enjoy cooking and love a roast.

I’ve never cooked one either, we never bother tbh. Just chuck something in the oven at some point and enjoy watching DC open presents and playing with stuff. Don’t have anyone to host and none of us care that much so why spend the day in the kitchen?

I've never cooked one, and I'm 66.

I’ve never even made a roast let alone a Christmas dinner. My husband does it all and I’m absolutely clueless.

Seems to me there are those who host and those who don’t. I’ve hosted, not always through choice, since I was 26 whereas my mum went to her grave having hosted a grand total of twice. Both times making a complete fuss and martyr of herself. Used to piss me off that she somehow skipped her turn but I’ve accepted it now.

Not strange but lucky!

My ex in-laws decided to pass down the responsibility when they got tired of it and all of us had to finally take our turns.

Neither of my adult daughters has ever cooked one.

I loved cooking Christmas dinner, it was part of the whole Christmas ritual for me, down at 8 am to get the turkey in the oven and happily busy all morning, on and off. I even managed it (with a few short cuts) last year when I'd been diagnosed with cancer, but sadly I don't think I'm up to it this year.

Luckily my son-in-law isn't too bad at cooking and eager to help, and my daughters will help out, but I will still miss it.

"Did your mum never get to enjoy Christmas morning because of the dinner prep? I find this quite sad actually."

What's sad for ME is knowing I can't do it any more, because that was HOW I enjoyed Christmas morning. Mind you, we have always had presents AFTER dinner, kids and all apart from stockings (a controversial topic on MN, I know!) so when the meal was over all I had to do was slump onto the sofa with champagne and enjoy the mayhem fun of the gift-opening.

I’ve done about 40. Am looking forward to not doing it this year, and may decide I have hung up my apron for good round Christmas

I'm 66 and never cooked one. Not going to start either

Didn't do it until in my fifties as mum always like to cook for us all .

My adult dc have never cooked because their houses aren’t big enough. I’m happy to cook and we have a great day.
Tbf, my dd’s would love to host and I’m sure will do so in the future.
An offer has been made for me to sit in the lounge whilst dd and her dp cook in my kitchen but I’d be way too interfering 😂

My mum cooked it when i was a child but her roasts are not very nice at all plus some years she just made things like lasagna but would half burn it! The year i was pregnant with one of my daughters who born few days after christmas mum cooked but i can’t remember much of that meal.

Im 42 and cook it and my mum brings deserts. (from sainsbury’s). My oldest is 21 and learnt to make beef wellington so for last 3yrs he cooks that. My youngest daughters birthday is 3weeks before christmas so when she was 3weeks old i was cooking christmas dinner for everyone although my partner did help and i kept it simple that year.

If i was invited out id either bring couple dishes, desert or send some money in advance to contribute

This (except I'm not 53!).
I'm in charge of pudding, same as every other meal when we have guests. And I do the washing up.
I don't think I've ever cooked a roast. I've done roast potatoes before, but never a bird or joint of meat.

I cooked my 1st Christmas dinner in 2019 at the age of 54 because mum was no longer able to do it. That was the 1 and only time as both my parents had gone by Christmas 2020 so we no longer have it as I don't really like roasts and as it's my birthday that day we eat what I want.

I'd definitely make one if I was on my own. Bloody love a good roast but my partner loves cooking more than me so does it now.

I don't think I did one until my mid-40s and possibly only started during Covid. I love doing it my way, with sprouts the way I like (fried wth bacon) and bits like red cabbage that weren't on the traditionall family menu because no one liked them. And sometimes, we don't even have turkey!!

I finally did it for the whole extended family last year and it was great (I did mess up the sprouts though).

Weirdly, it was a blessing and a relief and I was free of obligation/guilt and having to do the dishes!

I’ve done it and am 37 but I’m not shocked you haven’t at your age! Lots of people go to their parents so it’s understandable

48 and never cooked a roast dinner never mind Christmas dinner

I hope you at least clear away and unload the dishwasher
clueless is not knowing which way a saucepan works ? ...... how clueless are you. Turning on a tap ......

My sister is 48 and has never cooked christmas dinner. She does live on her own and is still quite dependent on our parents to look after her at Christmas time.

I first cooked christmas dinner when I was 30, but haven't done it every year since. Probably only done it five or six times in total.

Me neither.

If DH and DD (the cooks in our house) were both incapacitated, I suppose I could heat up a nut roast, roast potatoes and a couple of other veg pre-prepared by M&S but I wouldnt be happy about it.

45 - I've only ever cooked Xmas dinner for DH and DS, joint effort with DH though.

I don't have room to host.

I'm 46 and have never cooked one. DH and previous partners have always done the cooking. I sort the rest of Xmas out so it's only fair 😁