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.

I’m always flat out on Christmas Eve, preparing all the food for Christmas Day, cleaning the house, last bits of wrapping etc. It amazes me that people have time for anything else!

We don’t do much as in organised activities but there lots to do. We prep the veg for Xmas day have a tidy and clean so it’s sorted, lay the table, and I cook my ham which we snack on with other bits for tea.

We generally nip out for a drink to see friends or family depending on other people’s plans and ds5 gets some Xmas activities to keep him occupied.

Theres usually some last minute dash to the local shop for drinks or any bits missed off the big shop.Some years family pop round do we have a bit of a buffet but it’s generally a relaxed no set plans day

I've never cooked a Christmas dinner but in my many years of watching my mum, MIL and DH do it I've never known any one of them do any prep the day before.

Wrapping we do as things arrive snd don't buy that much anyway so not much to do there either.

Christmas Eve is a pretty quiet day really.

Work until 5pm then have dinner. If I'm not working the following day I will indulge in some mulled wine and watch Xmas TV.

Try and find time to prep Xmas dinner veg if we're having Xmas dinner at home.

We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, so we do all that stuff. On the eve of Eve though, we eat pizza and watch a Christmas film and go to sauna. I've asked for the day off on the 23rd this year so maybe we can do something nice in the day too, maybe go sledging if there's decent snow by then.

How do you all manage to fit in the arguments and panicking, which seem to be quite a major feature of our Christmas Eve?

We do the same thing every year.

we got to the 10.30 panto show with kids and cousins family (as it’s her birthday). Then we go for lunch, have some bubbles and come home to polar express, Christmas PJs and hot chocolate and marshmallows. I attempted to offer a change of film but got swiftly out voted because it’s our tradition.

Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the whole year. We don’t set foot inside a shop and I try so very hard to have everything wrapped before then. I like to think Christmas Eve is for anyone who has to work hard to make Christmas magically for their family. Yes I peel all the veg at some point, but generally speaking I organise ahead so I can take a moment to breathe for myself and actually enjoy the day.

🤣🌿

We (DP and me), have our Christmas on Christmas Eve so do presents and a proper fancy dinner (not a traditional Christmas dinner as neither of us are keen on a roast).

We go for a dog walk in the afternoon then stop for a hot chocolate in the local pub.

First Vespers then Midnight Mass.

Office closure on 24, 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan (govt dept)

Don't most churches have Christmas Eve services? Ours has had one - a family mass - for as long as I can remember. So why not go to one of those?

Well what we do isn’t going to help you but since you asked…
My DD (20) will probably not appear until lunch time. She’s in charge of Christmas dinner so might get some prep in.
My son (22) lives about 70 miles plus a ferry away and is working so I’ll drive to the ferry to collect him in the evening - he’s got the turkey and Boxing Day ham! During the day just chilling probably rushing to finish the throw I’m giving him in his favourite footie team’s colours.
So then latish takeaway supper and a movie - probably Love Actually or similar. Then bed!
When kids were younger I don’t think we did much on Christmas Eve - nothing planned other than getting ready to host my parents the next day. My DH might have taken the kids swimming or something.

Go to church for a carol/crib service .

Our church has a crib service. I love it.

When the kids were little we put out reindeer food and milk and mince pies for Santa.

I love Christmas Eve.

My husbands works over Christmas. Christmas Eve I just watch some Christmas movies or maybe take the dog to the beach for a walk. Christmas day he will probably do 7am until 8pm 😭. But it is what it is and I shall buy myself a bottle of Baileys, get some snacks and chill out in front of the TV and if it's not too hot, take the dog for a walk.

We dont have children so it will be a relaxed sort of day. I wish he wasnt working though.

This sounds AMAZING!!! Can I come 🤭🤭😆😆