Doing Christmas on Christmas Eve

[KatharineClifton]

We've had the same kind of day for years now, just me and my DC and no visitors and no going out. Presents, all the nice food but no Christmas dinner, playing all day, Doctor Who and Downton Abbey with a cheese board. Boxing day we go to my parents in the afternoon with the rest of the family.

But, this year I'm working in a care home and as a newbie most likely will be on either a 7-2 early or a 2-10 late. The early wouldn't be too bad as we could do presents on Christmas eve, and the rest of the routine would stay the same.

Does anyone do the whole lot on another day? How does it work for you?

We don't do the whole lot another day, as we are religious so it would not really work.

The children are very set in their ways about Father Christmas visiting everyone on the same night, and the magic of Christmas Eve etc. too

Depending on who is working, we just work around it. The children would rather spend the night with grandparents if I work Christmas Eve, than mess with the dates.

Presents on Christmas Eve can be lovely though, if your children don't mind.

It's done that way in many countries, with the main meal and present opening on Christmas Eve, and leftovers and more fancy food, games, and visiting on Christmas Day.

I'm a single parent so can't make another way around it. I think half and half will probably be the way we go. I have mentioned the Scandinavian way of presents. My DC are almost 14 so can understand it, but I still think it's unfair for them.

Hey, I'm a midwife - not sure if I'm working Christmas yet but if I am working the early shift, but off Christmas eve we'll be moving Christmas day to Christmas eve :-)

We do X'mas Eve as X'mas day with my mother have done for years open presents, go out for lunch watch tv together and small buffet in early evening. My parents used to just go out and do it all with kids but when my do a d had dementia I went out with my mum and dh looked after my dad. My mother has never liked X'mas not tight or anything just doesn't enjoy it not helped by the fact that my dad passed away 4 days before X'mas so now this is our tradition she speaks to us first thing X'mas day to hear what Santa has brought then spends the day on her own through her choice.

Last year we had our xmas meal (turkey) on xmas eve in the early evening which worked out really well. Except for a light buffet type meal on xmas day which took little effort, it allowed us to spend the day as a family rather than one or 2 of us being couped up in the kitchen for hours. Most relaxing and enjoyable xmas day I've had in years.

cooped, not couped...

I don't understand the xmas eve thing. Couldn't you just do what you did but on xmas day and have Boxing Day to relax etc?