What are you up to on Christmas Eve?

[ArtyFartyQueen]

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....

For us, dh is going to pop out and grab the last few bits we need

Dd is spending a couple of hours at nursery while I tidy upstairs (downstairs was done today)

Then we’re gojng to bake chocolate chip cookies and watch lots of Christmas films

Dh is going to make homemade pizza for dinner

And once dd is bathed and in bed, we have the pleasure of building her wooden kitchen and putting her scooter together

Going to midnight mass for the first time. We're not Christians, but dc sing in a choir that is singing MM in the local Minster.

Feels sort of weird, but, I hope, not disrespectful.

Normally, DH goes to collect the turkey and any last minute food items taking DCs with him (they are adults) and disappears for 4 hours.

This gives me 4 utterly blissful hours to pretend to be busy slaving over the oven, cleaning the house etc. In reality I will cook the ham, do minimal cleaning, eat chocolate and listen to Christmas songs and have a lovely bath.

However DH has a really bad cold and is quite poorly this year so I might have to do the shopping.

I’ll peel the veg while watching It’s a Wonderful life in the afternoon.

We usually have a buffet style tea then board games and A Christmas film but we’ll see how he is feeling. Feel very sorry for him as he loves Christmas and has worked so hard this year, doing loads of the shopping etc.

DS stood on my glasses this morning and bent them, so opticians
DH is working (from home, morning only) so I will then take DS to the park for some fresh air.
Make sure House is tidy and festive.
3pm Christingle, then back to ours with friends for drinks and nibbles.
They have little children so will leave earlyish.
DS bed after the usual mince pie etc rituals.
Once he’s asleep get all the presents out and bed!

We always go a drive to a seaside town, go for a walk on the beach and go in for lunch. That was after doing the mammoth Christmas chores and because I was hosting on the day. I’m not doing either of those this year but still going to the beach and for lunch

We are going to see Mary Poppins. Have lunch out . Gingerbread house in the afternoon then pub .

Harry potter
Crispy duck
Cocktails
Putting out presents and stockings
Early night as DTs will be up early.

I work for local council so we shut over Xmas.

I'm starting the day with a 4-5 mile trail run with the club; lunch in the pub after. Meanwhile DH collects the turkey + any bits we didn't get in today's shop.

Then veg out in front of the TV while scribbling this year's turkey timings in a well-used copy of St "Delia's Christmas" book.

Midnight Communion and a glass of sherry before bed.

And GO....

Husband works in EMS, so he will be sleeping in the morning. I will be getting last minute things packed up, as we spend Christmas Eve at Mums. My dd will keep adding to the pile even though we will be gone less than 24 hours.

Our big meal is Christmas Eve. We do a Chinese on Xmas day. Mum will be out and about collecting last minute bits. We will give dd her hamper around 4. This will occupy her until dinner is ready. Dinner, bath, A Charlie Brown Christmas film and off to bed with her kindle. Wrap last of gifts, eat apple pie, off to bed.

Merry Christmas to you all!

A deep clean!!!!!

I'm going to be in full-on prep-mode as many of our Christmas and Boxing Day dishes need to be freshly prepared.
In the morning, if it's dry, will take a country walk to the local farm shop to peruse fresh veggies: we have ours already but nice to top up and see if they have any special or unusual items.
Rather embarrassingly, have neither written nor posted cards this year, but am close with several neighbours and plan to write and deliver on foot, which should enhance the Christmas feeling!
Will have xmas radio/movies on in the background all day, may also collect some festive greenery for table decs when out.
No special food Xmas Eve as 25th/26th are full blown extravaganzas of consumption. Hopefully some cosy quiet time with all the beloveds during the evening.

Monday is my non-working day, so I very fortunately didn't not have to join the annual Christmas Eve leave bunfight.

If it's dry we'll go for a walk in the morning to wear the 8yo out a bit. After lunch I'll do some prep for Christmas day and make mince pies (i like cooking so rather enjoy this) while I listen to Carols from Kings and the DC watch a film. Church at 4pm - we're non-believers but keen singers and the vicar is ok with that. Party food for supper. DH is working 2pm-midnight so will rope him into last minute wrapping up tonight.

Morning having showers and hair wash. Lunchtime at my parents and then guests here for evening.

The. I suspect I'll fall asleep on sofa and wake up panicking and unable to find ds stocking on his bed 😂

Driving DH and DC's with all the family gifts, food and clothes for 5 days with the in-laws. I wish we had gone today so tomorrow would have been a bit more relaxing.

I am on annual leave (hurrah)

Up early-ish , our binday is a Monday and they are picking up tomorrow

Light breakfast then DH is off to the gym. (I might give him a lift depending on if he wants that)

Do some tidying , get the tablecover out for dinner and for Christmas Day .

Have nice brunch when DH comes back.

We'll have dinner later (used to have a big lunch when the DC were little then take them out , but now they just lounge about indoors)

Make some chocolate crispy cakes (for DS)

Do our traditional photo of the guinea-pigs on their Christmas fleece with their Christmas hats on .

Watch TV ( I want to see the soaps and the Ghost Stories on BBC2)

Set out the Christmas Eve Hampers for the DC (yes my DC still have them. They are 19 and 16 and had Hampers on Dec 1st too )

If I can , I'll prep the veg for Christmas Dinner and have a nice lie in on the Big Day

@SecretWitch A Charlie Brown Xmas film! Where have you got that from #jealous

Walk in the morning. Back home to bake, clean and finish packing for travelling on Boxing Day. Movie night with loads of junk. Set up for the morning once kids are in bed.

Hopefully a lazy morning relaxing and doing a few crafts and a movie with my ds.

Also a bit of cooking and food prep for Xmas day.

Definitely watching Carols from Kings after DS is in bed to escape the Santa madness!

Usual day here.
Work.
Home for 5 which is early for me.
Feed son.
Shower and pjs on.
And relax,either pottering online or watching tv if there's anything worth watching on,same as I always do.

Daytime will be last minute chores (DP is on cleaning duty, I'm dealing with the kids.

Big, messy family late lunch with the inlaws (there'll be 20 of us). Having a one pot dish and lots of wine. Kids will all swap gifts.

Slow walk home, admire all the Xmas lights and see if we can spot Santa.

Home to Xmas Pj's, a movie (we need to decide between Home Alone and Gremlins) and then we'll put stuff out for Santa and the reindeers.

Once pressies are out, me and DP will have a Baileys and collapse in a heap!!

I'm going to go for a run. Then we will pick up the turkey and dd and I are going to prepare various bits of food for Christmas day together. Our veg box is due to arrive at some point, so I'm hoping it doesn't arrive too late. After that it will be trying to find room for everything in the fridge.

In the evening we will have a nice dinner, watch a film and then we are going to Midnight Mass.

I like reading about different peoples days.

Jellyslice - it's not disrespectful at all. I hope you enjoy it. Don't worry about getting anything 'wrong' lots of people are newcomers or once a year people, or simply daydreamers who forget which bit of the service they are up to.

@Chimchar that's a genius idea about doing the roast on Christmas Eve! Might steal that when the kids are older.

Dh is at work tomorrow, so think me and the dc's (7 and 4) will walk to the shops to get last minute bits. Pasta for lunch, then a swim (try and wear them out!). Then pub for a family party 4-6pm, then home for new pj's and a new book before trying to get them to sleep !

Final food shop
Last wrapping
Making trifle
Prep veg

I really like Christmas Eve actually and Boxing Day more than the day itself.

Just chilling.

Watching tv and films with dcs.

Playing board games and cards.

Bit of food prep.

Eating without thinking about calories!

Might go for a walk if it’s nice.