What do you do on Christmas Eve

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

I want to make it magical and special but am stuck for ideas.

We will go for a nice walk and then my DM will come over in the afternoon, dinners sorted. Not sure what else?!

We always have lunch with champagne somewhere decadent and take ages over it. This year we'll have a baby do it will be local I suspect.

We don't really have any set traditions anymore - other than me giving up on OH by 9pm and leave him snoozing on the sofa while I polish off the champagne! Since having children we have fed the ducks at the park, followed by a pub lunch. We've been to the panto or to church. Had lunch with friends. Done an open house with drinks and nibbles. The only things that are consistent, are the FC routine, new PJs and a decent bottle of champagne. I do also like to eat fish for dinner.

Pre-children I always worked Christmas Eve as a half day. I used to work in a supermarket at school and I loved Christmas Eve morning. After that I worked in the City, where everyone dressed festively - glittery tops, red dresses, festive ties etc. We'd all come in late or pop out for last minute gifts, bring in breakfast to share and the chocolate tins, pretend to do some emails and play with the kids who came in with the parents. Then as soon as markets shut we would head off to the pub and have a glass of something fizzy and some fat chips. Be on the train home 2ish, or go and meet some friends for a few more drinks, before heading home to relax before going out for dinner or to the local. Was always a really lovely day with friends.

Lots of food prep ( usually in front of the tv) and the DDs bake. Dd2 usually likes to decorate a cake- usually with dubious looking Carol singers with the caption " Hark the Horrid angels sing" or sugar paste shepherds washing their socks!

We always watch The Polar Express even though the DDs are now adults. When they were little we would put their christmas letters up the chimney then light the fire and pretend to see them disappear off in a northerly direction! They would usually don Christmas PJs and sing carols in front of the tree.

When they both got to the age where they no longer believed then we got out the all the Santa letters we had kept from when they were tiny to read through and have a giggle.

I LURVE Christmas Eve!

We bake in the morning. Gingerbread men or mice pies, then we watch Christmas films with our goodies, maybe play some very basic board games (2 very young toddler dc and one a bit older) Then in the evening they can open one present from under the tree (which I give to them, it's always PJ'S ) they then get a bath and into their new pj's, snuggle up with a hot chocolate and have Christmassy stories before setting out a carrot for rudolph and a mince pie and some booze for father Christmas. Then they hang the magic key on our front door and up to bed.

Then I put the rest of the presents under the tree when I'm sure they're all asleep, drink the booze, cut the carrot top off and make it look chewed on, throwing the rest away, leave a few crumbs on the plate from the mince pie and write a thank you note from father Christmas.

H is usually off work on Christmas Eve and I try and finish at lunchtime (obviously not applicable this year) but we drive to Seaburn and have fish and chips in the car whilst watching the waves crash against the pier, then we go for a walk on the beach to try and wear the kids out if it's not raining, then we go home to get changed to go out for tea with H's family, delivering Christmas cards to the neighbours en route. The kids always have new pyjamas on Christmas Eve too. Some traditions are as old as time itself and some you make up over the years and become fond memories for your children

Love Christmas Eve so much more than the big day.

We are in and out running errands.
In the afternoon cooking the evening meal and turkey.
The children are mulling about, watching xmas films and generally getting excited.
I love the prep and anticipation.

We're all adults now so we usually have a baking day- lots of sausage rolls, Chocolate log, somekind of sweets, (dd makes delicious Turkish delight) and the prep for Xmas day.

We'll also have a long walk with the dog, watch the film Holiday and go to the pub.

We usually have ham in coke, with all the trimmings for dinner, but this year dd is now a veggie so there will have to be alternatives!

I forgot about a ham. My mum does one every Christmas Eve and the smell means Christmas to me!

Work, off Christmas Day back in Boxing Day oh the joys of retail.

Hello! Might any of you be able to help me out? My thread is "Samiklaus meets Father Christmas" - the Swiss Kindermuseum needs photos of families enjoying a British Christmas - any traditional aspects of it. I'd be really grateful if you feel like taking a look. If you have any photos, I'll PM you my e-mail address and I'll send Swiss chocolate to anyone who helps :)

I have been lucky always to get Xmas eve off, although I think my willingness to cover on-calls on NYE does help.

In the morning we all go for a decent walk. Fish for lunch. In the afternoon I make stuffing and peel veg during Carols from Kings while the DC watch a film. We go to church at 5 for the crib service - we're not religious, but when in Rome and all that. Finger buffet when we get home.

NORAD on, stockings out, reindeer food sprinkled. DC get to stay up a little late as it's the only way I can get the overhyped little gits angels to go to sleep. DH and I then start on the stilton and sherry, and invariably neglect to start the wrapping until we're a bit to drunk to do it well.

The morning is usually Christmas dinner prep, last minute wrapping and cleaning. Lots of cleaning! Because we usually have family over on Xmas day.

Last year we had an Xmas eve bag ready for my girls - this year they will be 6 and 3. In the bag we have new jammies, a Xmas cup and plate, a good list certificate, a magic key for santa, home made shortbread and hot chocolate with marshmallows. We will do the same this year.

We gave the girls an easy dinner, got them in their new jammies and sat down to watch Elf with a hot chocolate, the shortbread and some snacks. Early to bed for the girls and a takeaway for DH and I, along with cava and baileys for me.

After drinking a huge amount of cava I then tend to do a little more Xmas dinner prep and make some mince pies. Because I am tiddly by then I think I am amazing by this point!

I absolutely LOVE Christmas!!

Last minute shopping, present wrapping, and cooking a big piece of orange glazed gammon - orange marmalade with Dijon mustard and allspice - smells lovely. Won't necessarily eat any till Boxing Day.
Always watch Carols from King's, with mulled wine. To me it's not Christmas without it.
And probably The Snowman.

A walk last thing, often armed with scissors to nick a bit of holly with berries, to stick in the Christmas pud, if I haven't got around to it before.

Thanks all for the inspiration! Now I'm thinking what shall we eat on Xmas eve dinner?!

We stick the turkey on at lunchtime. Down to the beach after lunch with DH and the kids then i go up the mountain for a walk to see the sun set. Beautiful. In between this ill make some gingerbread with the kids, but they love watching Polar Express. They are 14, 12 & 8 so really lke doing their own thing! Oh and light the burner 1st thing.... twinkly lights round the fireplace and were good to go.

And Baileys is on the go.

Oh and Snowballs! Sprout prepping is boring without it.

We always used to go to a village Christmas Eve party but I'll be working this year. After work we'll go to the crib service at the local church, then home for mulled wine and mince pies (hot chocolate for dd), we'll nestle down with a Christmas movie, then set everything out for Santa, dd will go to bed. Once she's in bed I get everything ready for our North Pole breakfast, that her elf leaves for her as he heads back off to the North Pole, as a thank you for having him.

We usually do something light for dinner on Xmas eve. Pate and warm bread sort of thing.

We always do a lovely walk around a local National Trust place or similar. Then in the afternoon we bake mince pies and occasionally (if I have the patience) assemble a gingerbread house. I prep all the veg for the next day, then about 4pm we go to the Crib Service at church, take the long way for the walk home so we get to see all the Christmas lights and then we have dinner and go out and sprinkle reindeer food.

I am after suggestions for a dinner we can all have that ends up being a traditional Christmas Eve meal. Always stuck for what to do.

Oh and we always, always, read Night Before Christmas at bed time.

This thread is making me excited! I usually work Christmas Eve so always have to get prepared beforehand. This year I'm off, although DP is working until 6pm.

I'm thinking I will probably do some relaxed cleaning with Christmas music playing, rather than the usual mad, after work, dash round. Some food prep including a Christmas ham. Maybe take the dog out for a nice long walk somewhere different to our usual haunts. Then more food prep for Christmas eve night when the DP's parents visit. All in a nice relaxed and cheery fashion .

It is my first Xmas as a parent! DS will be 9 months old and I hope to set my own traditions.

We always go to my nans and this year is no exception. We help with the prep (as much as she lets us!) then go to the gorgeous chippy nearby.

This year, we will be then heading home to put DS to bed before laying out his presents from Santa!! Heres hoping the cat won't attack them overnight...