Christmas dinner police

[Namechangesecretsignature]

Can’t sleep and endlessly reading MN. Oh how I loathe the Christmas dinner police. Policing what “should” be on a Christmas dinner, calling it Christmas lunch (urgh), all the formalities and “musts”. Reminds me of my ex DP who was aghast for about 4 years straight that no one in my family liked turkey so we had beef for Xmas. His mother called my mother to clarify it was true (after a drink) and I’d go round to theirs over the Christmas period and the whole (large) family would be saying things like “I can’t believe you don’t have turkey on Christmas dinner.” “It’s not Christmas dinner without” “without turkey it’s tasteless” (????) “you must buy a turkey and a ham for Xmas even if it doesn’t get ate its tradtition” from the same people who buy 3 turkeys (Xmas day, New Year’s Day redo, then another on Easter(!!!!))

anyway I digress, I loathe it!

I voted YABU because I’ve not noticed any Christmas dinner police’ threads or comments.

I agree, it's so prescriptive. I don't like rules around food or ritual type meals. Dh cooks Christmas dinner because he's a bit of a control freak about it and it gets so stressful. I try to hide away and do cleaning whilst he fusses on over the food. It's all so unnecessary. I breathe a sigh of relief once it's eaten and I've washed up 🙄

I don't wish to be unduly pedantic but unless you're eating in the evening it's most definitely Christmas lunch

I find Turkey boring and bland.

We do beef and lamb for christmas dinner.

Lock me up😅

Not unless your northern. Breakfast, dinner then tea. Lunch doesn’t exist.

I've never had turkey on Christmas Day. Considering I am the only person who cooks the meal I will cook whatever I want.
This year it's going to be Persian lamb shoulder slow cooked, roast potatoes and dhal

Turkey is fine once a year, makes great left overs. Turkey, Chips, Salad, Coleslaw on Boxing Day. Yes Turkey is dull but surely for one day a year it’s fine with all the trimmings

My xmas dinner is steak and chips. Has been for years.
I am awaiting my arrest from the xmas dinner police.

Only if you're posh.

…and then it would be Luncheon…or it was when I was a Gel.

Don’t get me wrong I’d love to go alternative on Xmas Day and have done many times when abroad for Christmas - think sandwiches and crisps from a boat shop on a Thai beach, prawns and chips on a deck overlooking a beach in SA. But the parents expect traditional - so turkey it is

In that case I double dare you to start one where you mention having sweetcorn, Yorkshire puds, aunt Bessie’s potatoes, or GOD FORBID frozen veggies!!!! Last year on mn someone got called a tramp for using pack stuffing 😂

Wedding breakfasts.

My only gripe is when people have Yorkshire puddings on their Christmas dinner, now that IS shocking! Yorkshire puddings are gorgeous but they’re for roast beef and have never been part of Christmas dinner. I just don’t get why people stick to some of/all of the other traditions of stuffing, sprouts, roast potatoes etc and then shove yorkshires on?!?! Why don’t people know the difference between a Sunday roast and Christmas dinner?!

You absolutely can’t comprehend people having different traditions to you? Or or change traditions to things they actually like instead of carrying on made up traditions that actually ruin their day?

Posted on one of the other Xmas dinner threads about my mother. She is a XD police officer.

It MUST be at lunchtime. ETA but it must be called Dinner....even though calling the midday meal anything other than lunch as children would earn us a thick ear.

It must NOT include.....
mash (ok, I am with her on that, roasties are easier and why make more work just for tasteless carbs?),
Yorkshires (hard disagree),
Anything that isnt a usual seasonal veg cooked and served as-is (once suggested cauliflower cheese and she took to her bed for two days).

And must never include a sauce that "doesnt go". So yes to cranberry.....imo its only there to give some semblence of flavour to otherwise tasteless turkey, no to mint (lamb only), bread sauce doesnt belong as "no one likes it" aka "I dont like it so no one else should either".

Oh and pudding never happens as "no one wants it after a big meal do they?" again....aka "I dont like it so no one else should want it".

This year is going to be fun as she will probably have a coniption when the plate of Yorkies hit the table, (in her house no less!!) and pudding will be served and hoovered up......as I am cooking!

I have had roast beef for xmas dinner, and that comes with Yorkshire puddings.
Shoot me.

if they want to be traditional then it’s goose.
im more upset they said must have turkey even if doesnt get eaten. There’s Starving ppl in the world…

It actually isn't. Traditionally the evening meal was moved to midday on Christmas Day, to give the servants the afternoon off. So it absolutely is Christmas Dinner, no matter what time of day it is eaten.

I am 47 years old and have never eaten turkey.

My husband would love Xmas dinner at your house😂 I alternate every year so it was turkey last year but lamb this year. Though I do get some rump steaks for boxing day 😊

It's a bit ironic @Namechangesecretsignature that you're ranting about people who "police" other people's menus but in the very same post you're laying down the law about what the meal should be called! Who cares if people want to eat beef or call it lunch?!

😮 are you trying to give your mother a heart attack? 😂

I never give my servants time off so it’s always Christmas lunch in my house

They’re sheep. Heaven forbid you go off script!