Christmas Day on the 24th...

[Trudee]

Dh is working xmas day so we're planning to move everything forward 24hrs so we still get to celebrate xmas day as a family. Has/does anyone else do this? Just wondering what dc's make of it really, ours are old enough to know the date since they have their own calendars and tv channels state the date etc so we're planning to tell them that fc delivers early to a few children with special circumstances.
How has it worked out for any of you who have celebrated early?

You could send the children a letter from Father Christmas explaining that he has so many deliveries to make on Christmas Eve that he has chosen some special families to deliver to a day early.

I think you can easily have Christmas Day on the 24th as long as you have something nice planned for the 25th so it's not a massive anti-climax. Obviously most places will be shut/ massively expensive if open but you could hold back 1 present each to have before/ after your husband is at work and plan to snuggle up and watch some Christmassy films and definitely plan a nice meal that isn't Christmas dinner, eg a buffet or let the kids pick their very favourite meal.

if its any help. we do our xmas on xmas eve every year. traditition in south africa/zimbabwe for some families. my dp thought it would be bizzare the first year we were together but i actually think he enjoys them now (4yrs on..). we have snacks all evening and watch as many christmas movies as we can fit in and when everyone starts getting impatient/excitement gets too much, my dad goes to the car/ for a cigarette and comes running in shouting he's heard reindeer bells! and we all run upstairs so he doesnt see we're awake and we come down to the tree being surrounded by presents! its very magical at night in my view :)

we then visit family and relatives xmas day and get to play with all our toys and board games and get included more in the cooking of xmas lunch and setting the table etc. my 10yr old dd has never complained or commented too. her freinds have asked their parents to do the same too (presents earlier than everyone else!!

I've always celebrated christmas eve, presents on the 24th. No big deal :)

We had our family Christmas meal and get together on Christmas eve last year as we were both working on Christmas day. Santa still came at the usual time though there was just no Christmas dinner so they got the chance to relax and play with their toys until they had to go to grandparents house for me starting work.

If you're worried about father Christmas, would there be time for them to do stockings on Christmas day before your DH leaves for work?

Many years ago when I was a teenager my family had Christmas Day on Boxing day as my brother had to work. It was lovely and made not a hoot of difference as we were all together. (Of course there were no young DCs about which can make a difference).

For me the event is about all being together rather than the date on the calendar.

I was talking to a Polish friend the other day who said that their most important time was Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day so plenty celebrate on the 24th.

I would do whatever you could on the 24th to make it a special day and still do something nice on the 25th - even if it's letting DCs wear pj's all day watching movies and eating chocolate. Sell it to the DCs as an exciting fun thing to do. If you sell it the right way they will think it's an adventure even if it's not.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I think the dc's should be fine with it as long as fc makes his delivery which tbh is all Christmas is about for them. We've already booked the panto for the 23rd so that will now be our Xmas eve activity. Plus I don't need to worry as much about forgetting anything for lunch as the shops will be open!
The 25th is probably going to be spent at my mums now (we usually see her at new year) so apart from the hour each way drive I can relax and enjoy playing with the dc's new toys. Dh won't be home from work until the morning of the 26th so I'll have Xmas day telly to myself when we get home (as well as copious amounts of chocolate) so win win me thinks!