Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Christmas dinner on Christmas eve, good plan or not?

36 replies

mogs0 · 20/09/2011 21:06

I've just been reading on another thread about having Christmas dinner on Christmas eve and think it sounds like a great idea.

My main reason for thinking this is because I am hosting it this year for the first time ever and think it would make things calmer on Christmas day without the stress of cooking the meal.

There will be 8 of us - mum, step-dad, aunt, sister and sister's inlaws. Ds will be here too but wouldn't care if all we ate was chocolate for the whole Christmas holiday Grin! Everyone, except my sister's inlaws who live about 3 miles away, will be staying on Christmas eve.

Anyone have any thoughts? I appreciate that being my family, I know what their reaction to this is likely to be but wondered if anyone can think of any reason why they might object to this?

OP posts:
Original poster
mogs0 · 21/09/2011 16:52

Crystal - that sounds very well organised. I think that is the plan for us too it's just a case of which day it will actually happen on Grin.

Onlyaphase - how unfair for you to spend so many years cooking food you don't even like very much, if at all! Maybe I should put my foot down now rather than in 10 years time.

I've just spoken to my mum about it and she seems pretty definite that it's not a plan she's willing to consider.

In my head, I have decided that we will be having Christmas dinner on Christmas eve and buffet food on Christmas day. I just have to work out how to let them all know that! I'll leave it a few weeks, maybe until 23rd dec Grin.

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 21/09/2011 20:20

Last year my mum put her foot down. We used to go out for Christmas dinner as there are so many different dietary requirements, likes and dislikes in our family plus my dbrother and I both had young children. It was fantastic and I loved it.

However, as time went on, it became increasingly obvious that my dbrother and dsil would not control my dniece in the restaurant and it was deeply distressing for my ddad (who was also paying a fortune for the shame).

Then we moved to having a meal at my dparents house, which is a truely grim affair as my ddad has issues - it has to be bang on time, boiling hot and perfect in every way.

We campaigned for years just to have our favourite family meal - a meal that EVERYONE in the family liked - with salad and bread but my dbrother grumbled about wanting a traditional meal so we never did.

The year before last my dparents finally noticed that my dbrother sat on his rear end throughout proceedings, not helping with the food or the dcs, getting it all his own way.

Dmum decided enough was enough so last year, on Christmas Eve, she made the meal we ALL like ready for Christmas day so on Christmas day all she had to do was prepare a salad.

The meal was served bang on time, piping hot, without the faff and all were happy. My dbrother did grumble a bit but he was not so upset that he has offered to host this year or anything.

The point of my now lengthy rant Blush is that it is your house, your Christmas day too and you should be allowed to enjoy it your way. If other guests don't like the arrangements they should not be so rude as to mention it.

Wormshuffler · 21/09/2011 20:33

We did it last year as DH had to work on Christmas Day. It was great, it meant I could actually spend Christmas Day with the DC's playing with their toys without worrying about the cooking. When the in-laws came around I could also actually converse with them mind you that could actually be a negative) in the lounge without having to shout from the kitchen.

budgieshell · 21/09/2011 20:49

Do what you like. Tradition is a family thing so start your family tradition now. Don't give in to what other people want because what ever you do the first time will be expected every time.

Christmas eve works well, but don't forget putting the presents under the christmas tree takes longer than you think.

What ever YOU decide to do I hope you have a very merry christmas.

Original poster
mogs0 · 21/09/2011 21:15

Thanks, everyone, for all the replies. It is encouraging to know I'm not totally crazy for even thinking of doing such a bizarre thing Grin!

I might need some help wording an email closer to christmas letting everyone know what the plan is going to be.

OP posts:
prizeelliott · 21/09/2011 22:55

WWWW You've got me all excited for christmas now!!! (trying to ignore gift buying angst and financial burdon!!) Hope you all have a lovely time no matter how you decide to play it. Who knows may have a lottery win to change everything! Barbados, waited on by topless sex gods! May even insist the Turkeys moist!!!

Enjoy xxx

girlywhirly · 22/09/2011 12:17

Cook the turkey fully on Christmas eve, cut it all up and reheat in gravy on Christmas day, in a big casserole dish. It will take up less room in your oven, so you will have more room for other things. You can't have the ceremony of carving at the table, but it saves you a lot of time and effort and the meat won't be dry because its in the gravy.

As others have said, prep veg and accompaniments in advance, so that they are ready to go; home-made stuffing freezes well so can be made a long time in advance, just thaw out in the fridge in a cooking dish and it's oven ready on the day. As your guests are staying, they can help with all the prep on Christmas eve.

chrisrobin · 22/09/2011 12:25

We go the other side of Christmas and have Christmas dinner on Boxing Day, just like my family used to do when I was small. On Christmas Day the DC can eat whatever they like whenever they like, we stay in pjs for as long as we want and all snuggle up to watch any films we want to see. That way the children can play with their toys as long as they like, eat some of the chocolate from their presents and we have a truly fun family day without one parent having to keep a check on the oven.
On Boxing day we have the full works and the children are calm enough to eat and enjoy it. It spreads the excitement out as well.

prizeelliott · 22/09/2011 21:23

Chrisrobin this also sounds lovely....DD number one has her birthday on the 27th, therefore boxing day is a hungover struggle to make a birthday cake and find wrapping paper etc that I wish I had been organised about before
the shops were full of x mas to the exception of all else!!! Sorry I digress!!! x

orangina · 22/09/2011 22:00

Vair continental.....

tyler80 · 23/09/2011 20:09

OH is Danish so we have Christmas dinner on Christmas eve. Much prefer this arrangement to be honest. We have a cooked breakfast on Christmas day and then cold meat/crackers style meal later on.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread