Last time I checked, Christmas was meant to be fun!

[DrSeuss]

Following on from last night's thread in which some poor woman got slated for wanting to serve frozen food for Christmas dinner, I want to put the feline among the flying vermin by asking, why the Hell not?

Sure, the meal would be nicer if everything were home made and fresh. However, what would her day be like? Would she enjoy it? Would she see people open the presents she had spent time choosing? Would she not turn into the Asda mum, all doing, all organising, knackered and pissed off?
My late mother would accept no help with Christmas dinner and would never take short cuts as this was almost seen as cheating. Most Christmases saw us sitting there in an atmosphere of tension, waiting for her to blow. A truly fun way to spend the day, let me assure you.

Christmas is meant to be a nice day, you know! If you hate your family so much that you prefer to spend the day in the kitchen, fine. Otherwise, Aldi have some great shortcuts!

You can be a feminist and pay people to clean. The two are not mutually exclusive. Real feminists earn a lot of money and take power from men. They don't have a miserable Christmas being everyone's virtual servant whilst/ yet again presenting a position to children that women serve and men earn.

I do think though that we have now achieved a Christmas everyone likes. I can remember much more rushed Christmases in the past where things like buying presents had to be part of it. For me the bits I like are doing loads of singing. I often come bearing the massed four part Carols for Choirs books and woe betide anyone not prepared to sing and cannot sight sing in parts....

Real feminists earn a lot of money Xenia?

Oh

I don't know why everyone makes such a big fuss of cooking Christmas dinner, I really don't. Just do exactly as I have done and marry a chef.

Does she get off from being deliberately obnoxious?

I don't know why everyone makes such a big fuss of cooking Christmas dinner, I really don't. Just do exactly as I have done and marry a chef.

There's only 3 of us. Dh is a vicar and is totally knackered by the time he's done the Christingles, carol services, midnight mass, 8am and 10.30am Christmas day services and I usually end up cooking something that looks suspiciously like Sunday dinner.

This year we are having the Christmas buffet at our very good local Thai, just after church

Ah, madmouse, that sounds like a happy solution. I always feel sorry for our vicar at Christmas - usually sweet and genial - he looks as though he's just come back from the trenches by Boxing Day, all hollow cheeked with dark circles under his eyes.

yeah, its meant to be fun, but dinner is also meant to taste nice. And why wouldn't you get to see people open presents just because you are making dinner? Doesn't make sense.

i cook christmas dinner every year, usually for 10-12 people, and still manage to have fun. there is no tension in my house on christmas day. there is a good reason for this- veg gets cooked christmas eve, then drained and stored in airtight tupperware in the garden (no room in the fridge) the meat gets cooked christmas eve, carved then put on a plate. cover with clingfilm put in fridge. potatoes parboiled then put into cold water overnight, stuffing balls made christmas eve ready for cooking. the only thing i buy pre-prepared is the pigs in blankets. last year we had dinner at 3pm (usually later) and it was the most chilled christmas we have ever had.