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Christmas

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Original poster

What time do you server food on xmas day?

82 replies

Panda132 · 19/12/2018 14:08

Growing up we skipped breakfast and had a big Christmas lunch at around 12.30pm and then we would have left over meat in sandwiches for dinner. In laws don't eat anything all day and serve Christmas lunch/dinner at 4pm, they also don't allow you to make anything in their kitchen, so if you are staying at their house for Christmas/ Christmas eve you need to take your own snacks otherwise you are starving by the time food is served.
Is it more common to serve the Christmas lunch later in the day or around lunctime around 12ish?

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 19/12/2018 15:08

Breakfast about 9am

Main about 1.30 /2pm

Pudding about 4/5pm

And then snacks if anyone is still hungry.

popcorndiva · 19/12/2018 15:09

@msnowtybach same here. I don't get why people want to get up at 7am to put a turkey in when you can do it around 11am which is much nicer and less hard work.

Though being even lazier we just get a crown now.

reluctantbrit · 19/12/2018 15:09

When DD was younger and up at ungodly hours it was around 12.30pm. Now we prefer doing a larger breakfast, something small for lunch and dinner at 6.30pm.

Saying that we are only the three of us and it is just a more luxury roast than enough food to put you into a calorie-coma, so nothing dangerous eating late.

BiddyPop · 19/12/2018 15:13

We do breakfast (OJ, croissants, coffee-type meal) in the morning before going out to mass and have a few "smoked salmon on a square inch of brown bread" type bits in a DAunt's house around midday.

When we get home and once the turkey is in the oven, we have a pack of M&S party food (it acts as our starter) while we open the presents, and aim to sit down for dinner at 5-6pm. If we need more before the turkey is ready, we might cook more M&S food, or open a naice pack of crisps and something to dip them in.

akmum18 · 19/12/2018 15:13

We never have strict timelines it’s usually served between 4-6pm though never made one at lunchtime before. I do make a small party food style buffet around 1pm to keep the kids going as they’re usually too excited for breakfast and snack on chocolates

BiddyPop · 19/12/2018 15:35

If we travel, we end up having
breakfast in the rented cottage (tactic to maintain our own sanity), before going to mass
turkey at ILs at 1pm
turkey at my DPs anything up to 10pm (earliest would be 7pm)

There are snacks available in DPs before then, just a different attitude to cooking and eating than most places that has only got worse with years.....

Raggedyaine · 19/12/2018 15:40

5pm. Never earlier or later, in 46 years.

lauryloo · 19/12/2018 15:43

round 2 here - but usually just when it is ready!

pallisers · 19/12/2018 15:44

sausages and toast at around 10 when opening stocking (kids are older teens so we have to wake them up). Church at 11 then around 1 or so we go for a walk with the dog. Snacks etc are out at around 3-4 and we eat at 5 or 6 (which is early for us)

Aethelthryth · 19/12/2018 15:46

Breakfast, as people emerge
Lunch, about 1.30-2
Supper- help yourself buffet from about 7

Fevertree · 19/12/2018 15:54

12.30 as we have church at 4pm. Then arty food tea at about 6pm.x we do this on Christmas eve though x

ThanosSavedMe · 19/12/2018 15:57

Doesn’t matter what time we plan for. It’s always 3pm!

Veryflummoxed · 19/12/2018 15:58

Breakfast very simple for those that want it after the stocking chocs. We are a 12 30 lunch family. DH cooks and is happy to get up at 4 to put in the huge turkey, the rest of us wake up to the smell of turkey. Very leisurely meal then presents in the afternoon. Left overs, snacks, goodies in the evening for those with room.

ImportantWater · 19/12/2018 16:17

I love waking up to the smell of turkey!

Floralnomad · 19/12/2018 16:19

I’m aiming for dinner at 3:30 , so we will have a normal breakfast .

Bigonesmallone3 · 19/12/2018 16:22

I'm making my first Xmas dinner this year and aiming for 2/3o'clock

ChanklyBore · 19/12/2018 16:24

Starting somewhere near 4-4.30pm to last into the evening. And no, I don’t serve anything else all day either - same as on sundays. I thought that was traditional for a feast day. Being hungry by the time the food is served is basically the point.....

Asj0405 · 19/12/2018 16:45

7am bacon sandwhiches
Always aim for 1pm Christmas diner but never ends up ready until 2-3pm Blush
7-8pm buffet

purpleleotard · 19/12/2018 16:50

At last I have broken the tyranny of having to visit relations, the second Christmas in my own house in 38 years of marriage.
So this year we are eating: what ever breakfast the children want. A light lunch after guests arrive at 1pm and "Christmas" dinner at 7:30.
Leaves the afternoon free for the walk along the beach etc
Though I am a veggie so the turkey plus plus is not on the menu

ChipsAndKetchup · 19/12/2018 17:10

Crickey. I guess my family is early then at 1pm lunch. But my small DC won't want to wait til 3-4pm.

Tea then at 6 or 7pm which is snacky food, cold stuffing balls and a big cheeseboard.

anyoldname76 · 19/12/2018 17:42

we have our Christmas dinner around 1 o'clock, buffet tea around 5ish, i like get the dinner out of the way early then i can have a relaxed afternoon/evening

purplecorkheart · 19/12/2018 17:45

5.30 to 6.00 is normal for us.

WWlOOlWW · 19/12/2018 17:46

12.30pm starters
2.30pm roast
4.30pm dessert
6.30pm cheese board

During this time we chat and play games.

Arrowfanatic · 19/12/2018 18:50

When the kids were really little we did it for around 1pm. They're still pretty young and so we now aim for around 2.30pm give or take.

We have a full house of guests this year and more to cook so could take longer. I'm wondering how my sister will cope as she can't even manage a trip round the shops for a couple of hours without having to stop for her post lunch/pre dinner meal and we won't be putting on any food other than a few choccies and naice crisps.

Babyg1995 · 19/12/2018 18:53

3/4pm for us