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Christmas

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Original poster

Does anyone have their big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve?

40 replies

ToastyFingers · 14/09/2018 10:15

I used to work with a woman who did this and said it was perfect as she got to spend Christmas relaxing and eating all the lovely nibbly bits we all end up too stuffed for.

We wouldn't be hosting anyone for dinner on Christmas day, so no fussy great aunts to accommodate as dds are 5 and almost 3 so wouldn't care either way.

Does anyone else have a traditional Christmas dinner the day before? Do you manage to get all washed up in time or is it just two stressful days instead of one?
I spent a huge chunk of the day last year cooking and it would be nice to be able to relax (and eat a dozen mince pies without 'spoiling my appetite').

OP posts:
Happycow · 14/09/2018 10:19

I think it sounds a lovely idea!

I love a 'proper' Christmas lunch, but am sad about being too full for nibbles greedy fucker that I am .

Also not spending half the day in the kitchen even if you do prep in advance sounds like a winner.

Not sure my dp or dm would agree but id say crack on!

BarryTheKestrel · 14/09/2018 10:20

Yes and no.

MIL does Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve for the whole family. We then all help tidy up and her and SIL and SILs children have bubble and squeak and nibbles on Christmas Day instead.

They've always done it since FIL died 15 years ago. I joined the family 8 years ago and it works for us because my family are very much traditional Christmas Day people so me, DH and the children get 2 Christmas days and to spend a great day with both families.

RockinHippy · 14/09/2018 10:36

Sort of. Xmas day is a good cooked breakfast with quality ingredients we might not eat at other times. Rest of the day is nibbles, cheeses etc etc. This allows us to relax& enjoy the day & can deal easily with any visitors as buffet food is already there. If we don't have any invites for Boxing Day we have Xmas dinner then. If we do, we might have Xmas dinner as a later evening meal on Xmas day, or we have had it on Xmas eve on one occasion.

Basically, sod tradition, we are flexible & do what works for us on any given year. Might be a back lash of too many years with inlaws landing & expecting what was for us a stupidly early Xmas dinner, meaning my morning was taken up cooking & I didn't get to enjoy playing with DCs with their new gifts. Bollocks to that

NoWordForFluffy · 14/09/2018 21:20

We do buffet / nibbly stuff on Christmas Day and our roast on Boxing Day. It works for us!

HollowTalk · 14/09/2018 21:22

Why are you spending so much time in the kitchen? Buy it all from M&S and bung it in the oven!

SnuggyBuggy · 14/09/2018 21:24

My parents do this. DSis goes to them on Christmas Eve and then her in laws on Christmas day so she gets two meals 😁

Scatteredthoughtss · 14/09/2018 21:27

The French do this.

Emiliamoo · 14/09/2018 21:30

We did Christmas Eve dinner last year and then another dinner on Christmas Day with the other side of the family.

This year we are trying it again but this time doing a buffet/nibbles on Christmas Day following a full breakfast for DH and pastries for me. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping it means we can enjoy more of the day without being in the kitchen. It's taken me ages to convince DH we don't need the big dinner on Christmas Day so I hope it plays out how I planned.

margotsdevil · 14/09/2018 21:34

This is common in continental Europe - I know that France, Poland and Germany all have their main "feast" (and presents) on Christmas Eve.

Lallybroch · 14/09/2018 21:43

We have our main Christmas meal on the evening of Christmas Eve, candles, music and really enjoy it. Christmas Day is a nice breakfast followed by a running buffet. Makes for a really chilled out day

RomaineCalm · 14/09/2018 21:45

When it's just us for Christmas we've either had Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve or else abandoned it altogether.

Perfect Christmas...

Big Christmas Eve roast dinner
Christmas Day picnic - long walk followed by soup, turkey sandwiches and mince pies
Christmas Curry in the evening

Plenty of space for nibbles and snacks!

Doilooklikeatourist · 14/09/2018 21:49

I like the idea
Sadly no one else in the family does
But , I’m the one that cooks
So , we’ll see

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 14/09/2018 23:25

I love the idea of a nibbles-only Christmas day. MIL would probably pass out at the thought though!

LeMesmer · 15/09/2018 00:54

If there are just the four of you just do what you want. I know it isn’t easy to get past all the ‘traditions ‘ , but if you don’t enjoy it don’t do it. I hate the idea that women have to be cooking all day, for me Christmas is a holiday where you should primarily enjoy time with your family .

KTyoupigeon · 15/09/2018 01:13

Noword we are the same. I have a baking day with the children on Xmas eve and then have a big cooked breakfast on Xmas day and nibbles from what we've baked the day before. On Boxing Day we have our big roast dinner

fieryginger · 15/09/2018 01:29

Christmas Eve is such a hectic day in our house.

I love the giving of presents on Christmas Day but after that, doing the dinner is a massive faff. I'd love to take it easy. Christmas Day is hard work, but I love the run up and the traditions.

moredoll · 15/09/2018 01:31

The Queen

KatieMarieJ · 15/09/2018 01:42

We do! It is wonderful and means Christmas day is special for all of us instead of me being stuck in the kitchen.

Alanamackree · 15/09/2018 06:40

Isn’t that what Boxing Day is for? Christmas Eve for frantic preparations, Christmas Day spent red faced in the kitchen and then a whole glorious day lying about on the couch eating left overs while DH atones for the guilt of enjoying Christmas while I was slaving* over a hot stove, by bringing me cups of tea and rubbing my feet.
I’d be too afraid to disrupt the delicate balance to risk changing the days

*redness may be due to marinating the chef in generous quantities of wine and Baileys
**while there’s a frantic half hour of veg cooking/gravy making/potato roasting toward the end, there’s a lovely stretch while the bird is cooking to faff about with my Christmas table while DH does manly things with screwdrivers, batteries and lego and the grandparents keep the dc busy.

lovewatchingrainfall · 15/09/2018 06:50

I know someone who does this and can I just say I think it is genius. She does a full dinner on Christmas Eve and then she says she is so relaxed and not having to rush around or feel like she is missing Christmas day with the kids as she is not having to keep popping to the kitchen all the time. I am tempted to try it.

SnuggyBuggy · 15/09/2018 06:54

My DF has to go back to work on boxing day (got to get the Easter eggs on the shelves 🙄) so this set up suits them better.

NoWordForFluffy · 15/09/2018 07:36

@KTyoupigeon. Exactly the same here with the baking! Works perfectly for us!

Snoopychildminder · 15/09/2018 07:40

We are too busy on Christmas Eve, cinema trips, Christmas markets, and lots of ginger bread men baking and drinking got chocolate.
It’s just the three of us Christmas Day so doesn’t feel like I’m constantly in the kitchen and Boxing Day is cheese and crackers day 😊
Can’t wait for this year already

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 15/09/2018 07:51

we did a couple of years ago, as DH was working from 1pm - midnight on Christmas Day. we had a buffet on Christmas Day, and it was really nice not having a list of jobs and series of timers on the day itself.

bigsighall · 15/09/2018 07:54

Yep our family do. Common in Europe. Gives more room to eat chocolate on Xmas day Grin

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