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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

What are you up to on Christmas Eve?

90 replies

ArtyFartyQueen · 23/12/2018 09:01

DH is working so trying to think of ways to make it still feel special! I think we will bake some biscuits that we can give to neighbours and maybe watch a Christmas film and then I think we might be going to a friends house for some party food but DH has confirmed that yet!

Interested to hear how others spend Christmas Eve....

OP posts:

Pinkyponkcustard · 23/12/2018 11:04

WFH for a couple of hours, then off to local panto. Back to a friends house for drinks and nibbles and then home to the Christmas Eve box. Bath, night before Christmas and bed.

Wine, ham, cheese and bread for me and DH

Heartofglass21 · 23/12/2018 11:07

NHS worker here. I'll be working the night shift. I'll be keeping an eye on the skies for Santa though.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 23/12/2018 11:08

Trying to get all laundry and cleaning sorted this morning so that tomorrow is clear for fun stuff.

We leave decorating the tree until Christmas Eve in this house, as DD's birthday is today. Kids will get on with that in the morning while I cook.

Planning cooked meal at lunch (salmon with potato cake and veggies) then buffet tea, prob in front of the telly. Will prob make mince pies at some point too.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 23/12/2018 11:44

Christmas Eve is actually the main day of christmas for us.
Now the children are late teens it'll be a simple meal at 18:00 h, an exchange of small presents after that and then usually board games or reading.
We are not quite an NT family and have no other family within reachable distance so all very, very quiet nowadays.

redexpat · 23/12/2018 11:51

We have fusion English Danish Christmas. So we have our english christmas dinner on xmas eve and open presents on the 25th. We also have a christmas eve box as a token for DH. He misses opening presents on xmas eve but at the same time agrees it is much better for the dc to open them in the morning and have all day to play.

Bonus this year - the local firestation is opening its doors on xmas eve morning to distract the kids. Brilliant!

Writersblock2 · 23/12/2018 11:59

First thing we are heading into town to collect the M&S food order. Then my DH is going to work until God knows when, and I’m heading back home. I might potter in town for a bit and buy a couple of bits if I’m feeling up to it, then I’ll head home and do some housework. I don’t drive so I can’t really visit anybody, so I think I will pamper myself with a face mask and a bath with a book, then watch a Xmas movie with some wine. Bliss.

Theyhaveallbeenused2 · 23/12/2018 12:01

Will open Christmas eve box with ds aged 3 at breakfast..probably play with activity book that's inside.. then I'll work 12 till 6. Home catch up with him shower story bed (if he's not bouncing off ceiling)

DanSullivan · 23/12/2018 14:16

DH is working until lunchtime. I’ll be making mince pies for Santa, with help from the DDs. Then we’re going to meet DH for lunch.
Church in the afternoon then home for dinner (picky bits!). Bath and bed for the DDs, wine and tv for us (and hopefully a bit of Christmas sex!)

insancerre · 23/12/2018 14:19

I’m working in a nursery so I expect the children will be excited

EyUpOurKid · 23/12/2018 14:34

Get up and prep tea, I'm doing sausage casserole in the slow cooker with mash as I know DS will eat that. Get tidy and clean up. Give DS his Christmas Eve sack. Probably watch some Christmas filns and wait for DH to get up. Go to the Nativity at 4pm back for half five and have tea. Put the prosecco, ferrero richer and carrot out for FC. Bath, PJs, stocking and bed for DS (and hope for an OK night of sleep!)

Bring the presents down, get my dad to bring the big presents round, fill DS stocking. Drink father Christmas's prosecco. Go to bed.

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 23/12/2018 14:40

I'm working 7-9 in the morning then 2-10 so only got a few hours with the kids as when I get home they will all be in bed so in the few hours I have off I'll get them and the puppy bathed and maybe watch a Xmas film, we did baking yesterday and I'm off on Xmas day so will make the most of it as I'm back to work boxing day morning.

Theunreasonableone · 23/12/2018 14:41

Mine and DH’s office have both closed so no work on Christmas Eve. I’m getting up stupidly early to get the turkey and last bits of food shopping. I’ll take DDs (we always go and have treats in Costa on Christmas Eve after an early shop) and DH will have a lie in. Later I’ll do some food prep and DH will probably take the girls out. Then a Christmas film in the afternoon and children’s mass at church early evening. I’ll do a simple supper, probably just baked potatoes and fillings, before all of the rich food on Christmas Day.

To be honest I look forward to watching some good TV with DH after DDs have gone to bed and Santa has been

FTFF · 23/12/2018 14:48

Working back shift TIL midnight. I expect work to be very very quiet which will make it feel extra long.

Same on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Missing it all this year. shift work is rubbish

BillywigSting · 23/12/2018 14:52

Dp is working in the morning so I might take ds for a special breakfast.

Then we will chill out for a few hours. Make some and dm is coming over for a bit in the evening when ds opens his Christmas eve box (new pj's, old Christmas mug and book, some reindeer food and old Christmas book).

It's going to be a lovely day I think!

BillywigSting · 23/12/2018 14:53

*make some scouse

RangerLady · 23/12/2018 14:56

Ha I'm so boring! I'm cleaning out my rabbits, getting a last min present for DH granny, packing to go to in laws on boxing day and peeling the carrots to take to my mum's on Christmas day so just treating it like any other day. In the past we've made gingerbread houses though.

LaBelleSauvage123 · 23/12/2018 15:03

We have a big meal at ours for friends and any family that they have staying - 24 this year. Everyone brings food - we sit, eat, drink and chat and then everyone just drifts off when they want to, with some going to the midnight service in the church down the road. It’s a lovely tradition.

LaBelleSauvage123 · 23/12/2018 15:04

I would add that Christmas Day itself is very quiet in comparison with just 5 of us!

DeloresJaneUmbridge · 23/12/2018 15:07

It’s going to be quiet for us, just me and hubby as DS is 16 and won’t grace us with his presence.

So after the daytime finishing off bits we have various prawn snacks plus some nice fizz and will watch Christmas Vacation which is pretty much a tradition for us now. Elf may well be watched as well.

KiteMarked · 23/12/2018 15:09

Heading to Costco first thing to pick up our sandwich platters - the joys! In the afternoon we have a houseful of friends and we'll be playing board games, making gingerbread houses (boys vs girls, natch), eating easy snack foods, drinking hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies.

Late tomorrow night I'll be wrapping presents. I never wrap them in advance, I always worry the paper will rip in storage.

TeacupDrama · 23/12/2018 15:10

in no particular order
make gingerbread christmas tree
sort out red cabbage etc for christmas day dinner
make new flower / greenery arrangement with DD
get milk

only fixed thing Carols by Candlelight at church at 6.30 followed by mince pies and mulled wine yum yum

pretend to be FC once DD asleep

Roomba · 23/12/2018 15:22

i'm off to the fracture clinic first thing due to breaking my bloody wrist running to get to a parcel before the driver buggered off.

Then my relative is driving us and all our stuff hundreds of miles to my parents' house. Was due to go today but obviously can't now! And now I'm dependent for a lift back, so I can't leave when it all gets too much (previous experience).

If we get there with enough time (doubtful, no doubt traffic will be awful) we are off to the cinema with all the kids. This allows my mother to get sorted and organised in peace. My sister just rang and shouted at me for 'spoiling her plans' as it was her idea to go to the cinema. She doesn't even have any kids so no idea why she's so desperate to see Mary Poppins that she has to yell at me...

Also my Dad's present hasn't arrived yet from QVC. Hermes have apparently had it since Wednesday bit it hasn't appeared at my parents' house yet. I'm in a foul mood, hope I've calmed down by tomorrow...

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/12/2018 15:28

Dp is at work in the morning, so I might take myself out for breakfast with a book.

Probably a cheesy Christmas film in the afternoon, then out to carols and back for Christmas Eve Cheese.

Arrowfanatic · 23/12/2018 15:56

Previous years when my DH has worked ive pretty much done the same as what we're doing this year with him home.

So usually a bit of cleaning in the morning, then we go for a walk with friends across the town common and get all cold and muddy before heading into the high street and choosing a cafe to have lunch and hot drinks at. Then walk home, and I'll prep veg whilst DH entertains the kids.

They'll have new PJs and so its bath and bed fairly early. Hopefully we'll watch Elf.

Then DH and i will watch a movie whilst drinking champagne and eating nibbles and frantically wrapping all the kids presents.

mmgirish · 23/12/2018 16:18

We live in a hot place and are staying here for Christmas this year. We're going to go ice skating to feel cold and Christmassy in the morning. Then we're baking gingerbread to leave out for Santa. I think we'll go the the beach for lunch and a swim and be back early to watch a Christmas film before the children go to bed.

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