How can I make Christmas fun?!

[daffodilrosedaisy]

This year, my twin will be abroad for Christmas. It will be me (23), my Mum (late 50’s), Dad (65), Aunt (68) and Granny (90). My Grandpa passed away 2 years ago and was the jolly one who really added the Christmas spirit to the day. My Aunt and Granny aren’t massively chatty/jolly people.

We always do the same thing every single year and I know this year is just going to be the same old. We’ll just miss the two people who aren’t there, sit around and be bored. I’m single so no partner/new person to add excitement/make it different, and no young kids in the family. The other half of the family do their own thing and we can’t think of anyone else to invite. Aunt & Granny don’t like too much change either (e.g inviting homeless or elderly person for lunch wouldn’t be an option as they wouldn’t want to).

I want make it fun for everyone and a bit different this year, but finding it really difficult to think of anything. Any suggestions?!

I think I'd go and visit my twin if I was you, is that a possibility

Maybe have a look and see if there are any good Christmas lights near you that you can drive past. Gets you out the house without needing to walk. You would need a dedicated driver though so might be better on Christmas eve if you all want a glass of wine.

Novelty crackers that have the bells in them that you get to make music with.
Christmas selfie sticks
Inflatable christmas themed ring toss

OP, if none of these suggestions work, you might try making an exciting Christmas for yourself on another day. By that I mean, plan something special, (dinner, the theatre), maybe include your mum, so that at least you have something.

A friend of mine usually spends the day at her ILs or has an ungrateful sibling over on Christmas day. A week before the 25th, friend has a Christmas buffet for her friends and calls it her Christmas.

Wigs.

One year, before we had kids (so it was just grown-up siblings and our parents - lovely but rather dull) I bought a load of wigs and put them on the table instead of cracker hats. By the time we’d all tried them all (with much hilarity!) everyone was much more animated than normal and we had lots to talk about too. And not as ‘organised’ as games, which can be a bit forced if people don’t really want to play.

That was about 10 years ago and we lost dad last year. It’s still one of my happiest Christmas memories and I treasure the pictures of dad rocking an Elvis wig. and the Vicky pollard one

The wigs are now played with by our DC

Thanks so much everyone!!

Sadly not an option to see my twin as I wouldn’t be able to get the time off work, and would feel bad going off and leaving my family!

Love all the other ideas especially the one about having a separate Christmas week/day! Really grateful for everyone’s comments 😊

Could you make some DIY Christmas crackers and add a conversation card, trivia question, inspiring quote in it etc as well as a small gift.

Or just buy conversational cards with questions on and work through them.

Or maybe ask everyone to bring photos from christmases past or their childhood and make a display and talk about them?

Could you make everyone a Christmas stocking/ buy matching pjs and make a vat of baileys hot chocolate in the slow cooker and recreate the childhood magic?

What about some sort of craft contest? Eg everyone has to paint a ceramic gnome and you put the results on Facebook for people to judge.

Or what about a Victorian themed Christmas where you play old parlour games and eat old fashioned food etc?

I get what you mean about not wanting to leave your family but I have twins and I would hate to think they felt they couldn't do something like that because of family. However that's irrelevant if you can't get the time off work.

I'm getting some ideas from here!

Ours is sometimes a bit boring. We've decided this year to walk down to the local (nice) pub in the afternoon. For a couple of drinks, chat with some of the neighbours who are likely to be there. Then walk home. Just to break up the day and get out the house for an hour and a half.

You’re much more considerate than me at that age, when I usually went out late xmas eve, then spent most of the dull bits online sales browsing

Agree with PP’s suggestions, especially of a drive somewhere pretty, if weather OK, and very short walk with hot drink, jigsaw or puzzle type thing and classic comical DVD.

Indoor fireworks?

Thanks everyone (and sorry for slow reply) - indoor fireworks?! What are those? Love these suggestions making a list of them all to show Mum, thanks so much xx Craft contest could go down well, definitely! Feeling more positive about things now!