What do you do on Christmas Eve?

[SilkenTofu]

What does tour Christmas Even look like? I am thinking of sorting out an activity but can't think what.

I love Christmas Eve. The morning is spent doing last minute bits at home then out with family at around 3pm then to Church for Christingle service then home fir Christmas movie - usually Elf or Hone Alone then bed.

Love it.

DP is working from home on Christmas Eve morning so the DC (ages 9 & 4) will go for a walk around the local country park, then on to the cafe for a mince pie and hot chocolate. Go to Tesco to pick up our food order, and then home for lunch - spiced ham rolls, will have slow cooked the ham the previous day.
After lunch we'll ice and build the gingerbread house. Then watch a christmas film until dinner. After dinner bath the DC, and then get everything ready for Santa.
Once the DC are in bed crack open the Baileys. Looking forward to it.

We usually go for a walk on the beach then home, tea, then new PJ's, hot chocolate, Christmas film. Then put on mince pie, carrot and a drink for santa, Christmas story then put kids to bed. Me and partner then have a couple of drinks, get pressies out, prep food for Xmas day, Christmas music on! Love it!

We will go to the local greasy spoon for breakfast, then we have a panto booked at 11am for us, DS and my parents with lunch straight after.

Children's Christmas service is at 4pm so we will do that then snuggle down to watch Elf and when DS is in bed we will have a Chinese, or maybe uber eats McDonald's.

DS is nearly three and has reaaaallllyy got Christmas this year and is so excited which has made it so much more exciting for me.

For us it's usually up and breakfast, pottering about and chilling out, nice easy tea, baths and new PJs, then a movie and early nights.

Busy morning at home ready for visitors arriving
Walk on the beach after lunch to give doggo and kid a good run
Mysterious and Magical Christmas Eve Box arrives, full of treats for an afternoon of boardgames and a Christmas movie
Quick and light dinner
Christmas Eve Pyjama service at church
Home to tuck the kid in ready for Santa
Drinks and more games for the grown ups

We have Swedish Christmas with my mum & stepdad, who's Swedish. Unfortunately, they're getting on in years so the food isn't... well... what it used to be! I wish we could just stay home (me, DP & DC) and relax before our English Christmas on the 25th but alas!

Chill in the morning - do some baking.

Christingle in the afternoon at my parents' church. We're not churchgoers, but it's a lovely inclusive community full of children and my DC love the atmosphere of the Christingle.
Come home, hot chocolate, bath, hair wash and bed to wait for Santa!

DH and I stay up and have cheese and crackers and sherry and stuff.

DH will be working in the morning, I've taken the day off so the kids will go to nursery (usually very quiet and they have festive activities on). I'll spend the morning doing the last few bits of wrapping then DH will pick the kids up and we'll have an afternoon of Christmas movies, maybe a walk if it's not raining. Then it's Christmas jammies time, kids go to bed, DH and I have a takeaway and share a bottle of prosecco and watch some tv before sorting out the stockings. Nice and relaxing...hopefully!

I’m working Christmas Eve this year so DD4 will be with grandma until I get home at 2pm
They’ll bake Christmas cookies for Santa and do a Christmas craft then have lunch together
When I get home we’ll be snuggling on the sofa with a Christmas film then having my friends and their 2 sons round for a party tea and to exchange presents
After they leave DD will be have a bath before getting into the Christmas pyjamas her elf has left her. We’ll put the cookies, milk and a carrot out for Santa and Rudolph and we’ll read ‘Twas the night before Christmas before bed
DD started school this year and all the events at school plus the usual build up have got her over excited so I want to keep Christmas Eve quiet and calm this year

Panto then pub for a nice dinner.

DD is only 19 months old, and I sometimes work Christmas, so things vary slightly year to year depending on if we are hosting etc. We are hosting this year. DH usually working if it’s a weekday but he is off this year! So this year our plans are-

DH taking DD to PILs with his sister & her children
I’m prepping trifle, veg etc
Collect meat from butchers
Boil gammon
Stuff chickens
Cuddle up with DH in front of the fire whilst DD naps early afternoon
Crib service at church at 4pm
Walk the dog
Put mince pies etc out with DD before bed (7.30ish)
DH & I will get an Indian and watch Blackadder’s Christmas Carol
Then filling DDs stocking and putting her presents out for the morning. (So excited for this! Didn’t do it last year as she was only a few months old)

Dog walk and pub lunch, afternoon flapping about with last minute preparations, church, meal out then back for midnight mass (DD's are choristers hence two church visits!)

I tidy up, hoover, change bedding etc, just for Santa . Usually. Sometimes we visit family if we're not going to on Christmas day.

At the end of the day we all have showers/baths, get into new PJ's, have a little buffet and watch a Christmas film. Then when DDs are in bed I'll wrap whatever is left.

Christmas Eve is the best day of the year! I love love love it

I have a hospital appt at 9am (not very festive!) so I’ll pop to that and then take the DC for breakfast.

We then spend the day visiting relatives we won’t see on Christmas Day and dropping off their presents.

The DCs will have a bath and wash their hair in the afternoon.
This year, I’m having an open house type affair in the evening, cooking a joint of lamb and have Greek salads, flatbreads and the like. People will pop in for a bit of food and a glass of wine. The DC will probably put a film on at some point.

Then it’s wrestle them to bed and DH will put the presents out whilst I get emotional about the whole thing, I don’t sleep much Christmas Eve through excitement

I’m working until 2pm, DH working usual day. Then home to prep all the veg etc for Christmas dinner, set the table and do a last tidy round. Anything to minimise stress on the actual day!

We usually crack open some of the Christmas food and have a snacky tea, then have a relaxed evening and attempt to get teen DCs to bed early so we can heave the present downstairs. Also leave snacks for Santa but I’m a bit worried how he’s going to get in as we had our chimney closed up this year

(Collect our food order from M&S usually.)

We put up the Christmas Tree and I decorate it (the kids are allowed to help now they're older!) whilst there's a Christmas film on and plenty of chocolate to scoff - recently that's been Dime bars from IKEA and the special edition orange ones

In the evening we have a family meal by candlelight/dimmed lighting followed by hot chocolate and lebkuchen whilst listening to Christmas stories.

Then DH and I try to get the stockings downstairs without them seeing which is getting harder as they get older and stay up longer!

Out for breakfast and then possibly to see Mary Poppins at the cinema - if not we’ll just go home and put PJs on and snuggle up waiting for bedtime

We are seeing the local panto after lunch. It's the 10th year we've had the same seats, and every year a family from the DCs primary school sit next to us. I really hope they're there again.

We try to do baking, and decorating pillow cases to hang up for Santa, but there's not always time. As dc are getting older they're happier watching a film or monopoly rather than organised activities.