Favourite Day of Christmas

[BigcatLittlecat]

Hi all
I'm starting to get organised for Christmas and I was talking to a colleague today and we were discussing what day was our favourite day of Christmas.
I think it's that feeling on Christmas Eve when everything is done and the shops are shut and it's all ready! Hers was Boxing day!
Which is your favourite day?

We have 4 days of Christmas due to having such a large family.
Christmas Eve is usually busy shopping for fresh veg & M&S desserts. Hot chocolate at Starbucks has become a tradition. Carols from Kings is a must, as we prepare the food for Christmas lunch. We then usually head off to watch a Christmas movie at the local Cinema. DS is a chorister so we head to Midnight Mass at 11pm.
Christmas Day sees up bright and early. Breakfast and opening a couple of gifts before heading off to the Minster for the Christmas morning Service. It's then home to relax, open our gifts and have a late Christmas lunch (there's usually a few glasses of fizz consumed on the day.
Boxing Day is chaos. Our older children and their partners come over. Another day of gifts, another Christmas lunch and board games.
27th December, we travel 30 miles to spend the day with my husbands family. More gifts to exchange and generally good fun,even though it's ver noisy. By the 28th were ready for a PJ day and a catch up of all the Christmas TV that we didn't have chance to watch.
I think that our Christmas is just perfect ☺

Another for the evening of Christmas Eve and its stillness.

I also quite like any 1 day that I can just slow down and either go for a good hike up the mountains near us (weather and other things dependent) or curl up beside the fire with a good book and just read for hours (other people visiting/household leaving me alone dependent - haven't managed this one in over a decade...)

Christmas Eve without a doubt.

Our children are grown up now, although still at home, and while Christmas isn't the same as when they were small there's still a lovely feeling of anticipation for what's to come the next day (which is usually an anti-climax but still, we're all together and there's good food to eat).

Now on Christmas Eve night we don't have the stress of trying to get them to bed and to sleep, we now all go to a nearby pub for a couple of drinks.

Christmas Eve and the last day of term, driving home with Driving Home For Christmas playing full blast!

Christmas eve, all the magic and excitement before the big day. Love it!

I just love Christmas Eve.
When work is finished and everyone is safe at home. Just lovely. Xx
^ this^
Although I’m going to say, I do love the whole lot of it. From when we all finish work/school on the 21st, the 22nd will be spent tidying work away and making sure everything is ready for a week of minimal housework and I will love having less rushing and more time for lounging about and just being chilled out. I was talking about this to some of the older children I look after this morning, I love the whole thing, spending time with friends and family, it’s really important to me and I love the whole week!

Christmas Eve at the moment due to the excitement- DS is 6.
Otherwise Boxing Day- total PJ day in our house.

I love the day school breaks up.
Everyone loves Christmas Eve night.
Really early Christmas morning.
Boxing Day lunch. Best meal of Christmas I think.
Day before New Year. Excitement of avNew Year celebration without the maudlin bits.

Boxing day, we stay in and have a second Christmas dinner like a second Christmas day without the stress of whether people will like their presents and trying to cook the perfect dinner. So relaxing and festive and no more Xmas prep to organise. Also time to go through presents properly and play any new board games and enjoy Xmas telly.

Thanks everyone for all you're lovely posts! I love hearing about everyone's Christmas!

Chrisstmas Eve is magical. However this year it maybe boxing day as we are going on holiday with family and neither DC nor their cousins know. They will find out Christmas Dsy.

Ha not many seem to like Xmas Day the best! Normally xmas eve for me but this year I think it will be xmas day as we're not seeing anyone! No stress at all :)

28th December. We always host Boxing Day - anything from 30-50. 27th is spent tidying up & putting the house back together. 28th is our family day when it’s just us. This year it’s theatre & dinner. Perfect.

Definitely Christmas Eve. I get to watch tv whilst making mince pies and sausage rolls and usually the screaming and fighting amongst the kids is on hiatus as they’re still young enough to believe Father Christmas might not come if they’re naughty. Bliss.

Christmas Eve once all the shopping is done, presents are under the tree and drinks are in hand - even more so this year as I was pregnant last Xmas Eve!

New Year's Day, because all the work is over, and I've got through it for another year.

Ada gets me through! But I agree with the sentiment

I love the whole lot of it!

There are so many favourite parts.

1. Picking the DC up from school on the last day of term. You can feel the buzz of excitement from all of the children. They've probably spent the morning watching movies and Christmas crafting and then they finish early, running out to their parents proudly clutching the sparkly Christmas thing they have made in class. I also love it when they have their Christmas party days - seeing them dressed up all excited in their party outfits and Christmas jumpers.

2. I love when the decorations have just gone up, you light the tree and sit back with satisfaction at how pretty and cozy everything looks.

3. Christmas Eve and the anticipation of the big day and "Santa coming".

4. Christmas morning, watching the DC open their presents and then seeing everyone on Christmas Day.

5. Eating my body weight in yummy food and lots and lots of chocolate.

6. Boxing Day - trying out new gifts and slobbing in front of the tv.

My least favourite is afterwards - I get the post Christmas blues. 😂

Have to stay in hospital now until Dd2 is born - So after cSection looking at the 22nd (ish) of December- just get her here safe!
...think that'll be my favourite day ever of any Xmas - (really missing my lo's x looking forward to just cuddling on sofa watching cartoons for at least a week...that's it x)

Oh bless Tadda

I was in hospital with dc1 from the beginning of December till around the 8th January. The staff did do their best at Christmas but I felt for the mums who had visits from their children in the day.

Lovely thread OP. I love the posts about Christmas Eve, that's my favourite day as well - apart from the year when I was working at Woolworths when I was a teenager. It wasn't even that busy, but I hated being there when my sisters were all at home eating tangerines and watching The Slipper and The Rose, or whatever they were doing. Dad came to pick me up, and I was so keen to get home that I legged it across the carpark, tripped and went flying and ended up with a massive cut on my knees and grazed hands!!

I've worked a few C Eves since then in different jobs, but this year I'm off and am so looking forward to it. That feeling when all the shops are shut and you can't go out and do anything else, that's it, this is the start of Christmas and there's no going back! Love it.

Thanks @ipromise x (feeling a bit teary today- seems like a long way away - dd1 only 14months, missing her loads) - trying to think of positive things (anything!) to do over the next month (!)- feel a bit 'orange is the new black'! At least I can get visitors I suppose- and so thankful for internet shopping- Christmas in the post.....

Indeed - my stay was 20 years ago. Visiting strictly enforced. No TVs, mobiles, internet! There were 3 other ladies that I shared with. We were all the ‘long-timers’. We’d get takeaway, play cards & cheer each other up. The staff were great as we were all on bed rest so we were very well looked after.

Tadda just read your post hope everything goes really well for you.

Sorry should have added that if you are a long-timer & there are other long timers ask if you can be together (if you get on with them of course). They really were my lifeline. It’s tough but you will get through it. Good luck