Christmas Eve 'tea' or dinner

[Tootsieglitterballs]

What do you lovely folk do for Christmas Eve 'tea' or dinner with children?

I want to try and start a tradition for our little boy - me and DH always have cheese, pate etc, but that's when he gets in from work about 10pm, so I will eat something much earlier with our DS , I'm just stuck for ideas!

I really don't want to go down the takeaway / McDonald's route, but something that can be a tradition for me and him (plus any other children we may have in the future and DH if he has a rare Christmas Eve off work)

He's only 2 now, so he won't remember this year at all, but selfishly, I will!!

We have sushi.

Baked Camembert here, DH and I have always had it on Christmas eve and 3 year old and 17 month old love it, so win win. With crusty bread and red onion chutney.

We go to children's mass at 6pm, then the children used to go home with grandparents while the grown ups went to the pub, then on for a late curry.

Now that has evolved into a family meal in the Indian restaurant after mass.

Goofy - do they?

That's interesting - our DS will literally eat anything, we have never had a problem with him eating at all, but i just never even actually considered him having cheese and pate too, and to be honest, I'm not sure why I didn't consider it!

Maybe we will stick to that then (but perhaps I will save the vacherin and stinking bishop until DH gets home!) , as that's been our usual tradition for the last 12 years any way!

I usually go out on christmas eve and get a 3am kebab on the way home

We will be going to our local children's service this year - due to one thing and other, we didn't make it last year, so this is the first year - I'm really looking forward to it. For 15 years I attended a carol concert at our cathedral, but haven't been for the last 2 years, so the children's service will be lovely to go to. Again, I would like to hope it becomes a tradition for us, and then as he gets older we can go to the carol concert again!

We have friends for a M&S buffet before children's service

We're having homemade burgers, fries and milkshakes!

Bow - our local kebab place closes on Christmas Eve!

Yes, they love cheese, especially melted with bread!
I try and give them whatever we have. Tonight we went to my dad's who'd made tapas, so they had olives, Serrano ham, patatas bravas, chorizo, prawns and scallops, albondigas (meatballs) and a chicken and chorizo stew. They tried it all, loved some and really didn't like other bits!

Ps DH and I love stinking bishop but I think the girls would draw the line at that

We alway have our family favourite Christmas ham :) leftovers used on traditional boxing day toasties. Been doing this for last 18 years.

My dc love stinky cheese, much to my dismay!

I don't think you are forcing tradition at all? Creating memories is a wonderful thing.
I'd stick with the pate, cheese and some naice bread plus some other bits you think your DS might enjoy (carrot sticks, apple/grapes). No prep and nice and nibbly plus your DH can partake when he gets home.

We always have seafood. Smoked salmon, prawns and mackerel.

We are having mini pizza, mini sausage rolls, sausages on sticks etc - proper kiddie buffet! There's only the 3 of us so we'll be having it for a few days running, got some christmas paper plates too.

I love creating new traditions
It's nice when some evolve but I think a lot of them need a little creating.
This year is my year to work on festive feasting (ie christmas Eve tea) very much like you DH and I would eat a cheeseboard after the kids were in bed. So now they are older I figured I'd bring that forward and add in buffet style items that we all like. such as; mozzarella sticks, maple glazed sausages, samosa's, crudities, sandwiches ( for DD) crackers/ breadsticks kettle chips etc
We can all dig in after crib service and then DH and I can snack on more once the kids are asleep.
I hope that helps
Happy Tradition (ing)

Forgot to add as PP said we will be eating that sort of food for a couple of days after too so there's no wasting.

We've always baked a ham and made sausage rolls and mince pies (with ready-to-go pastry), made iced gingerbread people for Father Christmas (sometimes did a house, dependent upon how much time I had . . . not often) and had a ham/sausage roll supper with various salads. Oh, and a pot of mulled wine simmering, of course. (Only because it adds to the Christmassy aromas, of course hic ) DC still like this in their adult lives. It wasn't intended to become a 'tradition', but just sort of happened. I suppose following on from what my parents did and just expanded upon a little?

Christmas ham, cheese, pickles and crusty bread here. Whilst watching a Christmas movie (Elf now DS is older)

We've always had a buffet on Christmas eve. Ham, quiches, a pie, potatoes, salads, crusty bread, cheese, olives, coleslaw, pickled onions, beetroot, bread sticks, dips, all washed down with champagne and then a dessert afterwards. If it was just me + kids I'd probably do something similar but less elaborate.

OP - I definitely don't think you are forcing traditions. Some of the best traditions grow out of parents thinking: what would be fun to do... and then you end up doing it every year. But it does take the initial effort to dream up the good ideas.

I am not understanding these threads about special Christmas Eve meals and Christmas Day breakfasts. Just do what you want!

She is doing what she wants. She's setting up a fun tradition. Just wanting some ideas for what might inspire her.