What time do you serve Christmas lunch??

[PisforPeter]

Just trying to plan & consider littlies who might get tired if we eat at MIL's preferred 6pm??

[CremeEggThief]

Ideally around 2.30, but more likely 3.30-4 p.m. My DS is a teenager now, so we don't even have breakfast until about 11! Cheeseboard and sometimes sandwiches and trifle about 8.30-9.30.

[katienana]

1pm we sit down for the starter then main served shortly after. My mum is the cook she gets the turkey in early, we all open presents together then have breakfast and she oversees kitchen operations as everyone helps in shifts. Teatime we all make our own turkey sandwiches.

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

About 5 pm. We have a big brunch type thing at about 11 am.

The children manage fine, and it makes the day much more relaxed. Also candlelit dinner, which is lovely.

[Cookingongas]

We eat between 1-3 ( aim for 1 achieve 3) as the dc are up at the crack of dawn we couldn't wait longer tbh.

[Janeymoo50]

Planning on crumpets for breakfast, nibbles and fizz at noon (onwards...) and then the main event about 3-4pm with pudding about 7pm (during call the midwife).

[JasperDamerel]

We have lots of canapés at noon, then lunch at around 3 and cheese, cake and leftovers if we feel like it in the evening.

[Bazza2]

Around 2pm. Then leftovers later. It gives you a chance to go for a walk after the big meal so you don't turn into a sprouty puddingy slug.

[hefzi]

We're all over 18, so around 7.30pm, with party-food type snacks at lunch time. We've been doing this since the youngest was around 10 - before that, around 2, as in church until 12 and didn't like to leave too much on when we were out.

[Makemineacabsauv]

We eat around 5 ish (when it's ready! ) but do it in stages as dm can't cope with a full on 3 course meal so starter 4 or 5 then main a bit later, after 5 then pudding when everyone wants it. Selection box breakfast for DC and smoked salmon scrambled egg or bacon rolls for breakfast, platter style lunch of bubbly things then seafood, Turkey, pud! All mixed with lashings of alcohol, chocolate, cake etc etc

[Asteria36]

We have a pile of Pain au Chocolate and Croissants for breakfast, post-church drinks and canapés at around 12/1, with a huge gout-inducing meal at about 6pm. Last year we had a trio of salmon starters, roast beef and a 3 bird roast (stuffed grouse inside a duck inside a goose, with extra stuffing!), every conceivable trimming and veg, then 4 different puddings (Christmas Pud, Chocolate Mousse, Hazelnut Meringues with sweet chestnut filling and a mincemeat baklava). We usually have leftovers for days...
I love Christmas food

[Ripeningapples]

4pm.
Day goes like this.
7ish, teas and coffees if people want toast, etc. They help themselves whilst I stuff turkey, prepare veg etc.
9.30 Mass
11am, smoked salmon sarnies and champagne and presents. (when the dc were small the grandparents used to take them out on bikes, etc, after presents and home for the Queen's speech).
4pm late lunch
6pm - birthday cake and presents at ours !!!!!
During the evening there are chocs, fruit, drinks, nuts as required but there is no more cooking, serving or preparing.

Usually numbers are between 6 and 10. I host - always x

[notmynameohno]

5pm here too. No-one has to get up too early to drive here. I can see DS open presents. We have bacon butties about noon with anyone who has arrived having usually scoffed something from selection box for breakfast. Means only lot of proper cooking.

[SymphonyofShadows]

If it's just the four of us then 4ish but DM is coming this year. She is elderly and eats at lunchtime as she can't handle a big meal later, so around 1pm. As PP said, no starter and we normally eat pud (baked cheesecake and ice cream as no one likes dried fruit) on our laps in front of the TV

[blackteaplease]

5pm if we are at home which is normal teatime. Means I get to see presents being opened.

If we are at PIL it is meant to be 1pm but more likely 1.30/1. 45 as they cannot time a roast dinner properly. This is my least favourite time to eat as you end up rushing presents and have whiny hungry children. Or you give them late snack and then they aren't hungry.

[Freezingwinter]

Around 1pm hopefully, we will have a ten month old and this is the usual time for lunch

[girlywhirly]

I've always had Christmas day lunch, so we will be eating around 1.30pm. Gives us time to have a walk and clear up afterwards before settling down. For tea we just have cheeses and biscuits, trifle, nuts and dates.

[PingPongBat]

When it's ready, which is usually about 2pm. When our DCs were younger they were so excited they found it difficult to sit still for a meal, so we fed them snacks most of the morning, had them up at the table for main course then let them get down to play with their new things. All the routines go out of the window at Christmas

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

After dark and finished before Dr Who

Have to time dinner to allow for DDad (diabetes) he can't go too long between meals and I can't just throw him a Twix.

[insan1tyscartching]

We eat around 2pm, have pudding about 4pm though and then picky bits in front of the TV about 8pm.

[justgivemeamo]

always preffered to eat when its dark with candles lit but I like idea of meal followed by buffet too. I may spread meal out more thisyear.

[Everytimeref]

Last christmas I forgot to put the turkey in the oven so it was a couple of hours later than planned!!
This year probably around 4./4.30.

[jelliebelly]

1pm ish - lunchtime - plenty of time to digest before evening and kids stay in routine!

[lavazzzalover]

12:30-1pm. no later. id hate to eat after this time as we'd nibble on bits all morning and not really appreciate the meal. plus we have aunt coming to the sooner we eat the earlier she wants to leave. hates noise and hates kids.

[HemanOrSheRa]

At about 6ish. We have breakfast very early then go to my Dad's late morning for a couple of hours and have loads of christmassy nibbles. Then come home, chill out and I take my time cooking the christmas roast.

[OSETmum]

6pm so we have something to look forward to. We have a big breakfast at sil's about 9:39-10 then if we get hungry we can have a picky lunch/ snack when we get home. After breakfast, we wouldn't be ready for Christmas dinner at lunch time and it really stretches the day our. There's only me, dh and DS (6) for dinner.