What do you do on Christmas Eve?

[byefelicia62]

Looking for ideas. In previous years I’ve booked breakfast with Santa or we’ve gone to the pantomime but haven’t been able to manage to get tickets for anything this year. In the evening we will get cosy and have a buffet tea as we do every year but I’d like to try and do something nice during the day. Both Dh and I have the day off work. Kids are 4 and 12.

Always watch Santa Claus the Movie. Go to church. Open our Jolabokaflod chocolate and books and while away some time reading by the fire. We also bake our mince pies and sausage rolls Christmas Eve.

@JDM625

It’s a gift! We get to keep it all. The one year I didn’t answer (was not deliberate- didn’t hear the door) my neighbour sent me a message to say she’d left a bag of mussels on the step. No kidding: 3kg!

When the kids were wee I remember crabs chasing them round the kitchen because they escaped from the bag.

It is a lovely thought but Christmas Eve is perhaps not the best time!

Usually having a childs 1970s type party, things on sticks, jelly and blancmange, egg sandwiches, sausage rolls and pasties as it's my partner's birthday and we started it when we met mainly for the benefit of my niece who was 4. She's now 15 and it is now a tradition.

We collect the Christmas food first thing, and make sure everything is ready. Then I like a walk after lunch to blow away the Christmas crazies, then it is our traditio to have takeaway pizza and Christmas film with the kids. We've always done that and they still want to even though they're young adults now. then for the last couple of years my husband and I have gone down to church and then had a wander through town seen the.decorations and stopped for a cocktail after . It's really nice starting new traditions as life moves on

Go for a long walk with kids and dogs to get plenty of fresh air before being in on Christmas day. Go for a pub lunch, come home and watch a film and then go to carols on the green in the village.

Usually work but have this Xmas off. Both DC will be home on the 23rd (one from uni and the other from London) we haven't all been together for a while. We are going into our local town to the Abbey to light a candle for DD best friend who was killed this year which we are all so sad about. Then we are going for a glass of something fizzy to toast being grateful for being together this year. I am not a Christmas person but after what has happened this year I am just happy to have my DC with me.

Dc's birthday so full on! We have to celebrate it properly before because you can't expect anyone to turn up then. Usually family get together, at home, or just us. Then my sister's birthday Christmas day and DH boxing day! So always the same, birthdays and Christmas mixed together, it's mad. Not to mention the other 8 family and friends birthdays in December, relentless lol 😆

Haven't known it any other way for so long it's just our schedule. Xxx

Cry and wish it were the 27th.

I’ll get my coat…

Bloody hell that is full on. DS is the 27th and that is bad enough I can't imagine all of those too!!

Oh also while prepping as we host Christmas day, it all seems to work out. Xx

How does everyone manage to get Christmas Eve off work? In our team, 1/3 of staff have to be in on Christmas Eve. I've never worked anywhere that it's ok for everyone to have the day off.

Ahh that's sad. Why?

Perk of university life. We close at 5pm on the 23rd and don't reopen until 9am on Monday 5th.

Crossaints for breakfast, nice walk, crib service, Xmas eve boxes and pjs, hot chocs and Xmas movies before kids off to bed and we Santa up the place!

@byefelicia62 ice skating?

Lol it really is! Now we're all a bit older there isn't the same madness of going out (pre DC) so it's more a let's just celebrate together affair. We also don't buy Christmas presents for adults any more, much easier. Xx

We always go to the panto on Christmas Eve and out to dinner. When we come home the elves have been with the Christmas Eve boxes and there's usually games/ activities in there for us all to do.

We’ve done lots of different things local family farm park or theme park.
visiting a national trust house or similar

Though always ends with waffles dessert and muppet Christmas carol and Christmas Eve box (new pjs)

We negotiate. Most of my team like the time between Christmas and new year off, so happy to work Christmas eve. I'm happy to work new years eve so pans out. Plus, over Christmas we all wfh and it's pretty quiet but appreciate that's not the same for everyone.

My last place of work, we closed on 23 Dec til 2 Jan

My DCs are all shift workers, so our Christmases are always a moveable feast. This year they are all coming on Christmas Eve, including the dog, the cat and DiLs mum.

Everyone is bringing food (picky bits). We will chat and have a few silly games. Knowing their track record, we will have enough food to last us through New Year. They are all great company so it will be a really chilled out day.

I left nursing for education sector. Best. Decision. Ever.

For 15 years I worked at least every other Christmas Day. And on the years that you got Christmas Day off you had to do the late Christmas Eve and early Boxing Day shifts so you couldn't fully relax.

Now I get school holidays and it's flipping wonderful. 10 years on and I'm still ridiculously excited about my holidays and never take it for granted.

i feel for those who do have to go to work (and hate it, some folk i know don't mind). Hated leaving the kids on Christmas day.

I think that's why I love having lazy days at home. Not having to go anywhere is the best. Pay cut worth it.

I book annual leave .Kids are all young adults: late teens and still spend Christmas with me . They exchange their gifts to each other on Christmas Eve - always have.
also do a Christmas Eve box - more alcohol and food based nowadays though !
will make mince pies and maybe go pub early doors .
still make them all reindeer food and still leave a carrot out for Santa 🧑‍🎄 😂
we track Santa on NORAD .
watch Christmas film and drink alcohol .
they are normally still awake when Santa os trying to deliver his stockings !

The past 2 years I’ve taken dc to a fancy cinema to watch a Christmas movie. One of the cinemas where you get food served to your seat. dh stays at home wrapping presents and cleaning. I then do some food prep for the next day and then we head out for an Indian meal in the village. Back home, light the fire, new jammies, G&t and another Christmas movie.

Quiet day, we might book bowling although swimming is a good idea. We always have M&S food for tea. The kids go with DH the week of Christmas and stock up on lovely treats.

Usually gym (yes even on Xmas Eve), last minute shopping, crib service, Chinese take away.
After my DCs performance at last years crib service 🥴 I’m going to knock that on the head. I am working this year but will still have a take away and chill out.