What do you contribute if not hosting Christmas dinner

[Star2015]

On the back of the how much do you spend if hosting thread, I wondered what you contribute if you’re not hosting.

We are going to my parents for Christmas Eve tea, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and have bought 2 nice boxes of crackers for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day day lunch.

Christmas pudding from M&S for Christmas Day.

Some fizz for Christmas Day from M&S.

I will make some homemade sausage rolls for Christmas Eve when we have hot pork sandwiches, as well as homemade mince pies.

I’ll make the terrys chocolate orange and malteasers Christmas pudding for Christmas Day.

We have bought a new board game to play Christmas Day.

I think that’s it... we will pick up a nice bottle of red wine and some biscuits to take around.

My brother and his partner will rock up and won’t contribute anything (no problem as my parents don’t expect anyone to).

Is this enough? I don’t think they are spending anything like £1600 some people have quoted but seeing it on paper it doesn’t seem like much.

What else could we contribute (other than cash?)

I asked what they wanted me to bring and they said alcohol so I'm taking 2 cases of beer, a case of cider, 2 bottles of wine, 3 bottles of fizzy stuff from M&S. 6 people.

@Star2015 not to completely derail the thread and miss the point but could you share more about the terrys chocolate orange and Maltese dessert?

I’d check with your hosts, but tbh you’ve contributed lots. @Star2015 you’d be a very welcome guest at my house just for your thoughtfulness, unlike my in laws and b in law who turned up a couple of years ago with not a thing, didn’t ask and proceeded to do nothing except eat and drink all day. Dh and I have avoided that ever since! 😁

One year we bought the turkey for in-laws. Other times we have taken a selection of cheeses or a crate of 12 bottles of wine. Depends what the host requests really. Sounds like you are taking plenty :-)

@KTD27 the terrys chocolate orange with malteasers is basically just that - malteasers stuck to a terrys chocolate orange using melted diary milk and then white chocolate melted on top and holy made from icing. I’ll attach a photo for you.

I also make a terrys chocolate orange trifle which is absolutely delicious.. it’s the Sainsburys recipe...

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/christmas/terrys-chocolate-orange-trifle

Although I’ll make that Sunday when they all come to me.. I’ll also make the Jane’s Patisserie gingerbread loaf too which is delicious.

I’m making two of those Saturday as we have been invited to a house warming drop in so will take one with a bottle...

Hopefully my photos have attached!

Thanks for all the responses on this.... good idea re texting me brother... he’s extremely busy with work at the moment had has hardly been in touch with anyone so I think my mom and dad would appreciate it.

We host for my DGPs, DPs and Dsis, DBIL and DN.

Only my parents bring anything. It drives me mad! I wouldn't expect a lot. Just a dessert or a bottle of something.

If you're anything like my family, turn up with bugger all! Text from one sibling "do we need to bring any booze xmas day or have you sorted it?"

Surely it depends on the norms in your family? For all meals, not just Xmas. DHs family the host does everything, guests turn up with a bottle of wine. My parents and I tend to do more of a shared thing, my brother hasn't ever been in a position to host, buy

@justdoityourself think we have the same brother!

Oops
But has cooked Xmas dinner at my parents. If he and his family come to us they tend to bring a lot (desserts, drinks not just booze, cheese board) as they are in a position to reciprocate. I feel better sticking with family norms than expecting dh's family to accept interference in the kitchen!

I'm doing a Christmas day buffet for 8.

My PILs will bring a bottle of Black Tower, Blue Nun or Liebraumilch (spell check)

For Christmas Day we’re taking are sausage meat stuffing, cauliflower cheese, desserts and fizz. We’re back on Boxing Day too and bringing all the stuff to make turkey tacos with the leftover turkey!

And that's not a reverse Queenofthree post, my ILS have not moved on from Le Piat D'or era!

We go to my in laws every Christmas Day and we've never taken anythingnot that I think they mind, they'd probably be insulted if we did!

Boxing Day at my mums with siblings and we're bringing crackers, cheese, mince pies and chocolates😊

You’re taking LOADS OP!

I ask people to bring wine. I don't drink and my husband drinks beer so we're clueless. I provide everything else.

Ask the host...ive been asked for wine and taking them and some chocs too. At my dsis so family might take some flowers too.

I would be a bit irritated if you brought that much! A bottle of wine or non alcohol posh drink and a box of chocolates would be perfect. The box of crackers is a good idea too.
No one ever brings much to ours but they would if I asked. I wouldnt want to be having to find room in my tiny kitchen for loads of stuff, and I would already have puds etc.

@Star2015 they did!! Thanks that’s a great idea

I always ask what they want us to bring and then add some stuff to cater for our kids and then some treats

This year we are taking
Cranberry sauce & brandy butter - as I make it from scratch and MIL would otherwise buy a jar.
Pigs in blankets & satsumas - ILs are also buying them but will almost definitely underestimate my kids ability to put these away, I do & I live with them!
Mince pies & panettone- I was asked to bring these.
Stilton - DH always buys a half one for Xmas so we take a huge lump
Bottle of nice gin & tonic water - MIL loves G&Ts but won't buy it for herself
Drinks for the kids
Snacks for the kids
Cereal for kids breakfasts
We host alternate years so the financial burden does tend to get shared albeit over a longer period of time and although there are more of us ILs have a penchant for drinking v.v expensive wine at ours so it levels out.

I used to host my Mother, brother and niece every year. Once I asked Mother to bring nibbles, brother to bring dessert, what I got was no nibbles and a 99p Bakewell tart. It died right there, never invited them again.

Usually ask what they’d like us to bring.

If not specified, wine, chocolate and flowers if we pass a florist/supermarket day before to buy them.

Do your family know you’re bringing that much?

I actually think you are taking loads also, especially of host hasn’t asked for desserts etc. The host already probably has the Christmas pud, deserts, etc so what are taking could be seen as overstepping the mark. Don’t get me wrong, you are being very generous, some hosts would consider you taking the Christmas pud, desserts etc has muscling in, (and indirectly criticising their hosting abilities).

Not quite sure if I have explained that properly.