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??

[DinosaursRoar]

12:30 - 1pmish - but then I buy everything ready to bung in the oven or prep in advance so it's ready to go in - oven on at 8am when we get up or more like 2 hours after the DCs wake us up turkey just shoved in at 9ish, I buy one that only takes 3 hours to cook so out and resting at noon, various other things put in oven at appropriate times through the morning, then by the time I've made gravy, am about ready to start serving around 12:30/1ish.

Small people couldn't last much longer otherwise and I can't be bothered doing it as dinner rather than lunch.

[ChristmasZombie]

Around 1ish, but we're at home so it's easy and we can do what we want!

[FunkyPeacock]

We normally sit down some time between about 1:30 and 2:30

[NotCitrus]

With small children, it's around 12.30 now and doesn't involve as many side dishes as it used to. And much less booze... used to be 2-3pm at the ILs, once I declared the turkey unlikely to give anyone food poisoning, and we'd be quite tipsy by then.

Now it's stockings in the morning and a present that might keep them occupied until lunch, trip to the park after lunch, then pudding and more presents. Quite often takes a week to unwrap everything thanks to ILs who bring mountains of gifts for all.

Evening meal is leftovers and cheese and biscuits. Ditto as many more days as possible!

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Late afternoon - when it is dark so that the dining room is lit with candles and fairy lights. No starters and we usually vacate the dining room to eat pudding while watching Dr Who. Youngest DC is nearly 9.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Around 2.30, then we have pudding (if anyone wants it, most don't) in the evening and no other meal generally needed although there are crackers and cheese if needed. Leftovers (if any, we try and just cook what we need) go in the freezer to be used up in a few weeks, none of us want them over Christmas itself.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Usually around 1-2pm ish if I'm cooking. I'd rather crack on and get the cooking done so I can relax later. And I love leftover turkey and stuffing sandwiches so it's quite important to have it early enough to fit those in later Also means I don't have to faff about providing lunch.

Dm prefers to do it later in the day but that just means the cooking takes over the full day and we're all starving.

[MummyPig24]

I like to have it at 1pm. Not wildly different to the dcs usual lunchtime, then we visit family and have a cold buffet in the evening.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

Between 1 and 3. I like eating the main meal then then having the rest of the afternoon and evening to drink and eat buffet food/leftovers.

[hels71]

12.30. The after that tree presents.
Tea is a help yourself bread/ham/cheese/salad type thing between 5 and 6

[DragonMamma]

Ours is usually around 3.30/4pm. It's a massive rush otherwise. We have a substantial breakfast around 9/9.30 and then a few chocolates as we go, until the main event.

The DC usually don't eat after their Christmas dinner and DH and I usually just have a cheese board later on, if we're peckish

[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.

[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.

[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.

[jelliebelly]

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

[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.

[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.

[insan1tyscartching]

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

[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.

[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

[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.

[Freezingwinter]

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

[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.

[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

[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.