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Christmas

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

Original poster

Can I ask what people generally do on christmas eve...? Looking for ideas.

108 replies

iloveholidays · 08/10/2012 13:34

We are usually at family on Christmas eve then home at 5ish to get girls to do stockings, bath bed etc.

Because it falls on a Monday this year and DD3 is due in November we've decided to do family on Sunday 23rd instead, have Christmas Eve at home, then Christmas day and boxing day with family again. Hoping it will give me and DDs a chance to rest up before a hectic couple of days.

DP is the type of person who would usually just go and move in with family Christmas eve for a few days... Loves having lots of people around! So basically he's happy to have Christmas eve at home, but said he doesnt want it to turn into any other day so I'm looking for some Christmasy ideas to be festive but not tire us out!! :)

I'm thinking of making some festive cookies, watch a Xmas film and maybe go for a walk.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

OP posts:
SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 08/10/2012 13:36

That was pretty much what I was going to suggest. Hot chocolate after walk. That sounds enough and then an early night before you wrap all the presents Santa comes

CMOTDibbler · 08/10/2012 13:42

We go to the panto at 11, then hot choc with lunch, then go to childrens carol service at 4. Home, bath, watch Prep and Landing. Bliss

ArthurShappey · 08/10/2012 13:45

We bake (we make Nigella's Christmas morning muffins) ready for breakfast and we usually make gingerbread. We go for a walk or bike ride (weather permitting). We watch Christmas movies.

Pretty much stuff you've already suggested.

So pretty much what you already suggested.

Petsinmyputridpudenda · 08/10/2012 13:47

Me and ds1 goto the panto at 5pm( toddler ds2 stays with dh)
We tend to just potter around in the morning

Nottigermum · 08/10/2012 13:49

I let them go to bed late they watch a christmas movie in their PJs (something like Polar Express). Back home (Canada) we always celebrate more on CHristmas Eve than Christmas Day and it's a bit strange for me that here we open presents on Christmas morning... we used to stay up until midnight to open our present, usually distributed by a (often a bit tipsy) uncle dressed up as Santa. I'm not suggesting that...

mrsmplus3 · 08/10/2012 13:54

Every single year I picture me, my husband and 3 kids walking around our busy city, enjoying the atmosphere and lights and stopping somewhere for a late lunch and festive drink.
Instead, what really happens is I end up cleaning and prepping all day long in the house while the kids climb the walls with excitement, watching all the Christmas films and asking me every hour "how long now til bedtime?"
Maybe it will happen this year! Grin

Original poster
iloveholidays · 08/10/2012 13:59

We're going to do a Christmas hamper this year so the girls will have a couple of bits to open late afternoon, PJs, DVD, chocolates/biscuits.

I did think about doing some Christmas crafty things, but planning to do some of them in the lead up to Christmas.

Not sure what to do for dinner.... DDs not big eaters so not like I can do their favourite meal as don't really have one! Maybe a Christmasy buffet/picnic. They'd like the novelty of that...

OP posts:
mrsmplus3 · 08/10/2012 14:00

On the plus side, by staying in all day I get to hear the kings carols, make my house look beautiful and enjoy the kids anticipation. Always read the night before Christmas at bedtime and love playing Santa once they're all asleep.
Ahh, can't wait now ..

Original poster
iloveholidays · 08/10/2012 14:03

Thanks everyone. I am so excited!! Don't think I've been this excited about Christmas since I was a kid!! Saves me panicking about DD3 arriving in a few weeks :)

Need to find a festive film for me and DP to watch in the evening as well...

OP posts:
mrsmplus3 · 08/10/2012 14:08

It's a wonderful life. Obvious, but brilliant.

OhTheConfusion · 08/10/2012 14:51

We head into town around 12.30 to hear the local hospice carol singers then go for a late lunch/early tea. We get home around 5pm to find a christmas hamper under the tree filled with new pj's for us all, hot choc, marshmallows, gingerbread and a festive dvd (im hoping Arthur Christmas is out this year).

We all pop on our new pj's, watch the dvd and then it's time to set out some port for santa and sing christmas carols on the way to bed :-) Oh ho ho, I am getting excited now!

kiwigirl42 · 08/10/2012 15:44

drink lots of alcohol if DM is in this hemisphere.

SpottyTeacakes · 08/10/2012 15:50

Ooo this is making me excited!! Dp usually has to work for Scrooge but hopefully as it's a Monday he won't have to, he's a builder. Love the idea of going to the nearest town for lunch or hot drinks and hopefully to see carollers Smile

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 08/10/2012 15:51

we go to the Christingle too

Annunziata · 08/10/2012 15:56

DH and I are normally working, but it's strangely nice to work on a Christmas Eve because there is such a good atmosphere, everyone is so happy. It is great to finish though! We come home, have dinner (always fish) and then we go to Midnight Mass.

BlameItOnTheCuervForHumanBlood · 08/10/2012 15:58

We go for a walk late afternoon we look around the village at the lights. While we are out the neighbours jack frost visits and leaves a parcel for ds. Containing pyjamas, qraindeer food, mini bottle of brandy and a book. As well as handwritten note informing him that fc is on his way, and to put out the foodp and brandy for him, then best get to bed. Jack frost is also a surveillance elf. He watches all the children and leaves frost to tell us he's been here. From the 1st frost, ds is a model child!

Fairyjen · 08/10/2012 15:58

We usually have a sort of Xmas buffet. Dp and dd make sausage tools and honey roast ham etc and I make cookies or gingerbread. Lots of festive music on in background. We will all watch a festive film, elf is my fave! Depending on weather will have walk Or play in the garden then snuggle up in festive pjs etc.

Fairyjen · 08/10/2012 16:00

*rolls!! Although sausage tools sound interesting... Bloody phone

Alaska77 · 08/10/2012 16:01

Oooh I love feeling Christmassy! On Christmas Eve morning this year we'll be at the IL's because we're staying over on 23rd. Normally we go out to a Santa's grotto somewhere. In the afternoon we go to a family carol service at the local church with the neighbours, then back for tea, bath and bed. Looking forward to when DS is old enough to settle with a Christmas film!

CiderwithBuda · 08/10/2012 16:07

We are normally at my parents in Dublin so I am normally doing last minute Tesco shop, cleaning, tidying, prepping veg for next day etc.

This year we are staying home and have MIL coming to stay. DS is 11 and doesnt believe any more. Sad.

We always have lasagna for dinner - tradition from years ago. Would rather have lots of lovely nibbley bits and cheeses etc.

Planning on having the lasagna ready prepared and in freezer. Will do some Xmas baking with DS. Bought a Xmas tree shaped silicon cake tin in Matalan this morning and am planning on making a chocolate cake and decorating it with red and green smarties and sime icing sugar.

Maybe a nice walk but I suspect DH and DS won't be keen! Lunch out sounds like a nice idea.

Xmas movie for sure. Not sure which one yet.

fuzzpig · 08/10/2012 16:17

Elves drop off the jammies, Xmas tree dec, movie etc, we will make biscuits for Santa (he doesn't want mince pies at our house Wink), maybe watch White Christmas with DH in the evening.

We were planning to build DCs' present (playmobil castle) once they are in bed so it will be out in the morning, but I've been warned it'll be too stressful leaving it til the last minute as it's hard to build? So we are going to have to build it sometime earlier and somehow store it somewhere else Confused and then just bring it down before we go to bed.

Definitely need a few more traditions and plans! :)

Original poster
iloveholidays · 08/10/2012 16:20

Loving the ideas. I'm wondering about going out for a brunch at the local garden centre as its quite nice and they have a huge Xmas display. DD2 has a nap after an early lunch so keen to be home at that time as no doubt naps will be messed up the following two days!!

Ciderwithbuda - how much was the cake tin? I feel a trip to matalan coming on.

I think I might be lazy with food and buy lots of party food for late afternoon/evening for us all to pick at. I bet m&s do nice stuff. I'm keen to do some festive cookies but not cooking a full blown meal in the afternoon... Rather sit in front of a Christmas film!! :)

OP posts:
Original poster
iloveholidays · 08/10/2012 16:22

Know what you mean about starting traditions. DD1 will be 4 next April so feel like this year is the year to start...

I'm still yet to win over DP into having Christmas day at home!!

OP posts:
Flossiechops · 08/10/2012 16:27

We would do panto but it's too expensive so instead we take the dc to the cinema. There is always some Christmas movie on then it's to a local restaurant in the park for food. I'm working Christmas dy again this year and love Christmas eve more than the days itself.

FreakoidOrganisoid · 08/10/2012 16:38

We do hot pork sandwiches with hot spiced cider (apple juice for dc) in front of a Christmassy film. Also get new pjs. Then outside to feed the reindeer before the dc go to bed. Started this when dd was two. We either see extended family or go for a walk during the day