What do you do on Christmas Day?

[TalullahDingleberry]

Christmas used to be a large extended family affair so lots of catching up but this year we’re staying at home.

How do you fill your day?

Running around to different houses visiting different family members because they are never all in the one place. It's shit and boring and Im just looking forward to boxing day. No one ever comes to visit us and dp won't even consider not doing it for a year. (his family) so I just grip and bare it.

My first Christmas at home too.

My plan is to start with stockings in bed. Then breakfast (probably pancakes), presents, set up buffet (not doing roast), then crafts (making snowman out of paper plates, decorating gingerbread men), then hopefully play in snow if there is some! Movies in the evening.

If I didn't have my son it would be the same beginning but then just snuggling with Christmas movies and hot chocolate for the rest of the day!

Fuck all. It’s lovely.

We have our winter celebration on another day so 25th Dec is literally the one day of the year where we eat beans on toast and watch telly all day.

For the last 3 years we've been at home just me, DP and DS.
We open presents and eat breakfast, my sis calls in, I cook ready for 1pm, cold starter then I dish up for FIL and DP takes it to him (long story) then I've got everything on the table ready for him coming back, we then eat and drink fizz (I may have had a few already) watch TV, PJs on early then play games etc, I love it this way

Im going to keep an eye on this thread as for the 1st time ever since being married and having our girls we don’t have any family staying nor are we going to visit as they all 500 miles away!!! I’m so excited about it but equally hope it still feels special and not just like another day!!

We spread present opening throughout the day as do believe for kids the anticipation and opening of presents the best bit.

DH will go and sort the ponies and the girls will come into bed with me (we have a strict not before 7am rule) once DH is back in he will check if “he’s been” fire will be lit, carols and candles on, double check the fizz has been chilled and kettle is on...

We have variations of 1st thing, wrapped door ways, lots of balloons but traditionally I think that “long” wait before they can go downstairs where they are so excited and happy is the best and most magical bit.

Stockings are free for all and then with their sacks they take in turns to open a present each. This was one of the best decisions we have ever made about Christmas morning, everything is much more calm, and they and we get to see what everyone has got.

Stop for breakfast, fizz, smoked salmon, scrambled egg and croissants, I normally get one of those naff but fun brioche Christmas trees from Alidi and the girls love it.

Normally then we have a bit of a break, kids take presents up to their room, I’ll have a Hoover round and we make a start on Christmas dinner, my eldest two are now nearly 13 and 11 so there is a lot of preening going on, hair getting curled, baths with new bubble baths and music on. It’s a bit crazy but lovely all at the same time.

We are planning on having an evening meal this year opposed to lunch but with posh nibbles around 4 so I think we might go for a walk or possibly even a ride depending on time and I’m sure the poor horses will be have tinsel and Santa hats on before you can say MERRY CHRISTMAS

Back to get dressed up (although it has struck me that if we don’t want to there is absolutely no pressure and if he just as happy with the 5 of us in PJ’s although I’m sure the girls will want to get dressed up.

More fizz and posh nibbles in the living room while DH puts Santa hat passes presents out from under the tree, think we might also play a game for a bit fun (looking for recommendations that aren’t board games)

Music on and bit of a party while we make Christmas dinner and hopefully sit down and eat about 7 .

Table set nicely with a table present for everyone.

After new toys out (youngest dd is only just 8) things set up and built, we are quite strict on what they can open on Christmas Day and we learnt that the hard way after many brand new barbie shoes, camera lense, vouchers and LOL’s being lost within hours of opening them.

Games, we are playing bad Santa for the 2nd year running after it being a huge success last year and have a few extra ideas do make it a big different.

Girls up to rooms, no strict bedtime but usually find they are pretty pooped, DH and I stick on some music, open a nice bottle of red and enjoy the last of the evening together.

I love these threads and hearing about everyone's plans for the day.
We stay at home just us (me, DH and the DC).
Kids come into our room to open stockings, then go downstairs and make a big pot of tea, put carols on and open our presents by the tree.
We then have a cooked breakfast (I cook this) and Buck's Fizz for the grown ups, after this we will take the dog for a walk on the beach and call in at our local pub on the way home. A few of our friends will be there and one of DS (17's) mates works there so he will have a catch up with him. We only stay for an hour but it's lovely.
Then it's home - bath with new bubbles/smellies, get into new Christmas PJ's and DH will cook the dinner while I chill and kids play with their presents.
We eat around 4pm then just play board games and watch a film or whatever before bed.

@3littlemincemeatpies I love the idea of a little table present and am going to copy your idea this year.

I'm lucky, my kids (8&7) don't wake up before 8am Christmas morning (or any other morning for that matter) so by the time they've opened gifts from Santa it's between 9 and 10 am and then we have breakfast before I clear up the dishes and we'll get ready for the day ahead, shower and change. I usually try and straighten out the living room and sort our the gifts from Santa before we tackle the gifts under the tree. We open those gifts one by one which usually takes about an hour and then afterwards it's time for lunch and we have it at my mothers house and by the time that's done its 4pm. The kids just want to play with their new toys while me and OH will have a couple of drinks, tidy up. We dont really have time for much else, Christmas day is always a really busy day for us and it's always gone in a blink of an eye! I alternate Christmas with the kids dad and this year their with him so it'll be a little bit more relaxed in the day time and the kids are not back until 5pm so that's when all the gifts will be opened so I'll have a very relaxing Christmas morning this year and a very chaotic evening 😂

We do - kids wake up and everyone (including Niece and nephew if here) comes into our room to open sockings. We then all go downstairs and kids open santa presents.
We then have breakfast and all get washed and dressed. I'll put the turkey in the oven.
We then sit down with drinks and open all the other presens under the tree. this takes a couple of hours. We then mill around cooking/drinking/setting table/playng with toys etc until 1pm ish when we have starters. then a small gap where we play games etc at the table then main course and then chill/tv/film etc until later when we have pudding.

I love these threads too We get up at stupid o'clock with DD and have to creep down the stairs to see if he's been. DD starts to open presents and I'll make bacon sandwiches (she just tends to have chocolate for breakfast tbh). Usually we host but my parents have just had a fancy new kitchen/diner so this year we'll go for a walk up on the moors for an hour or so then my parents for 12.30 ish. Lunch around one with table presents then we'll swap proper gifts after. DD will get a ridiculous amount of attention with the grown ups helping set up the new toys and we'll all just chill til 5/6 ish. Then up to SILs for their annual Christmas Party. The kids run round like sugar filled lunatics and the adults drink copious amounts. Either stay over or taxi home in the small hours. Might stay this year because I'll be 33 weeks pregnant and will almost definitely want my bed early.

I love these threads too We get up at stupid o'clock with DD and have to creep down the stairs to see if he's been. DD starts to open presents and I'll make bacon sandwiches (she just tends to have chocolate for breakfast tbh). Usually we host but my parents have just had a fancy new kitchen/diner so this year we'll go for a walk up on the moors for an hour or so then my parents for 12.30 ish. Lunch around one with table presents then we'll swap proper gifts after. DD will get a ridiculous amount of attention with the grown ups helping set up the new toys and we'll all just chill til 5/6 ish. Then up to SILs for their annual Christmas Party. The kids run round like sugar filled lunatics and the adults drink copious amounts. Either stay over or taxi home in the small hours. Might stay this year because I'll be 33 weeks pregnant and will almost definitely want my bed early.

After six years of seeing both sets of relatives and flying between them on Boxing Day, this will be the third year of staying at home.

We:
Get up and open stockings, and maybe all presents if time.
Breakfast.
Dress in naice clothes.
Go to church.
Come home, put the goose or turkey crown in oven and start other dinner things (veg and starter prepped Christmas Eve)
Drink sherry
Call relatives
Open more gifts
Eat 3 course lunch
Watch Queen
Play games while eating chocolate/drinking fizz
Watch a film or Christmas tv special
Bed

But this is our first year with baby DS so will be different - though we'll still do these things in a similar order.

I also forgot late afternoon tea of cold meat sandwiches etc, cheeses and Christmas cake followed by more games.

Get woken by children. They open stockings. Then we all get up washed and dressed. Breakfast is done by my brother. Wash up and then it’s main presents. After I start cooking. Dinner is at 3. Ish.

We potter, go for walks before and after. Mum may go church.
Evening is games and films with nibbles. Chilled and no real schedules unlike the royals! There are 6 adults and 2 children.

This Christmas our boys (14 and 16) go to their father’s for Christmas Day lunch after Christmas Eve and morning at home.

We’ll be going to see Star Wars on Christmas Eve, then home for silly games, homemade pizza and a wine before bed. We all get up late ish Christmas morning. Open presents with coffee and then have a big breakfast before they go off to their father’s.
Me and DH then go for long walk on the beach before coming home to cook steak and some rather good red wine we’ve treated ourselves to. Boxing Day we’re still alone and will usually do more walking/tv/fizz/pjs/port and cheese/serious relaxing doing nothing. Boys home the 27th - all family and friends coming over for dancing, drinks and food at ours. It’s usually a big baked ham, salads, cheese board, chilli and desserts. Really looking forward to it

Up early and do stockings in bed.

Downstairs to see if “he’s been” and to open presents. Breakfast is whatever anyone fancies. Usually chocolate and coffee.

We’re going to my mums this year for lunch so there will be us and my brother and a pile of presents for DS to open there.

After lunch my mums neighbours (and whoever they’ve got visiting) usually come in and there is lots of drinking and nice nibbles, sometimes a game or an impromptu disco. There is always lots of laughter and noise, the more the merrier, it’s fab.

We get up when the dog kicks off. DH takes him for a quick walk and then we all go downstairs for cuppa and present opening.
This year my mum and sdad are coming about 10 for breakfast and they will probably go about 12.
We are going out for a curry at 2 (just the 4 of us) and then home and another dog walk. Then we will chill out, watch a movie and have a drink. We might get invited to the neighbours for a drink
We used to run around tying to please everyone and now we just say what we are doing and if anyone wants to join us they can

We don't do big family groups. Just alternate between seeing my parents and in laws.

This year it's in laws so we will wake up at home, stockings, breakfast, presents under tree, get dressed, play a bit and watch TV, pack an overnight bag and drive 45 mins to their house late morning. Turkey dinner with them, then presents from / with them, walk after lunch, TV, board games, snacky supper, sleepover at their house. Home next day.

Our rough plan is: up at the crack of dawn to open stockings in pjs. Then downstairs for a few more presents, with pastries and bacon sandwiches, and ring my mum to tell her we are opening presents without having gotten dressed (she never allowed this!) The morning is taken up with cooking, opening a few presents at a time and playing with them. My dm, db and dmil arrive at some point. We try to go for a walk mid morning with the dog.

We have lunch around 1, and after that we play board games, continue to snack and maybe watch a film if we are running out of steam. Visitors go home around teatime. We have leftovers or snacks for tea and put the kids to bed. Then do and I eat baked camembert and watch a film.

I get wrapped up in Christmas Day stories and am wistfully imagining myself and my family going for a brisk morning ride after reading @3littlemincemeatpies

Obviously I haven’t been on a horse since I was 5 and live in a 3bed semi on a naice estate but I want to gallop across the broads with my hair streaming

Mine are a bit older now, but still like things done as we always have. Children wake up whenever and open their stockings, then bring them through to us at a more sensible time (8ish). We get up and on goes the turkey. Breakfast is quite ordinary and then it’s church time. Back from church, play with stocking toys, set table, continue cooking lunch etc. Have a drink or two. We are usually sitting down for lunch at about 1.30. Table presents - bought from a mystery present stall so no one knows what they’re getting. Eat turkey and trimmings. Clear table. Have crackers and party poppers. Pudding. Hopefully finish in time to watch The Queen. Then presents from under the tree. The youngest give them out and then we open them one by one. Play with presents. Buffet tea if anyone is hungry. More playing and then bed.

It's just the four of us. We'll do stockings and then probably a light breakfast. Then we are all off to Christmas Day parkrun where we will be volunteering while others run. I imagine there will be some champagne to toast the runners with.

Then home and bacon sandwiches and big presents. Time for playing and lounging about. Dinner will be about 4pm and we have a rolled Turkey breast so it won't take long to cook. DH will do the food as I don't do roasts.

Some kind of Christmas TV. Maybe some board games. But just hanging out together really. Then once the kids are in bed I'm thinking more champagne and Die Hard. We went to visit relatives on Boxing Day last year so had to watch the drink. This year we are not even doing that, so we can totally chill out.

Second year in a row we’ll be doing just us. We get up whenever the toddler wakes, open presents, FaceTime family, have Buck’s Fizz (OJ for the toddler) and bagels, go to mass then go to the park if weather permits and then walk 20 minutes downtown to gorge ourselves at the Four Seasons hotel’s Christmas buffet. Walk home, toddler in bed around 7pm and DH and I watch a film in our PJs with a good bottle of wine.

Up at 6.30 for santa. DH goes to work for a few hours as pigs and sheep don't do Christmas holidays. Get ready for the dinner, moving furniture to seat 10-16 for a ridiculous amount of food that usually takes about 3 hours. Then family & friends gifts and games/chat. When everyone has gone and the kids are in bed I have a quiet half hour stripping the turkey carcass and Christmas day is amost over. I have to stay up until midnight to make the most of the special day.

Just me and DH and then we host few family later on. We get up late, open presents and then start the dinner. We have dinner around 3 and then watch a film. Then later on we play a board game or VR before family leave about 8ish. Then me and DH relax, clean up a bit and watch another film. It is pretty relaxed, which is why we love it.