Celebrating Christmas on Boxing Day?

[Clovers84]

Hi, sorry in advance for the long post.

We have 6 children, 3 adult children and then 3 younger children, 8, 14 and 16. We also currently have our 2 grandchildren (5 and 2) and daughter in law staying with us due to covid and my son being away on duty.

We love Christmas in this house and always make a big deal, but this year DS1 is away on duty and will return late xmas evening, DD1 and DD2 are both working Christmas day.

DH really wants to celebrate Christmas day on boxing day when all the family can be together. My only worry is that the younger children would feel like they're missing out on Christmas day without their presents etc.

What would you do in this situation?? Thanks x

i dont think the youngest children will be upset if no one makes a big deal about it being actual christmas day, if you see what i mean. Perhaps you could have one present christmas morning and a smaller but nice lunch/dinner that day and then have the big celebration all together the following day?

Could the younger and grandchildren open a stocking and gift from Santa on Christmas morning. Have a movie and nibbles day all together then Boxing Day open all other gifts together, share a festive meal and celebrate?

Well tbh I'd have a two-day Xmas. Stockings and a festive dinner on the 25th, family presents and a family dinner on the 26th.

You have an 8 year old. I think on the 25th I'd give them an extra present from Father Christmas.

I’d do it as normal on Christmas Day. And then do it again the next day!

Yes have two. Then everyone is a winner. Except you perhaps- making two Xmas meals!

I'd do a party buffet of M&S party food or whatever meal everyone wants on Christmas day my local Indian is open I'd let everyone open stockings, a few Santa & friends/distant family presents. Then on the 26th would be the maineal and opening of main gifts.

We do a small Christmas day at home, me, dp and dd, she opens presents, we get takeaway, watch a Christmas movie, go see lights, just relax.
Boxing day we do the family thing in city, see in laws and dd cousins. It works well for us and she effectively gets 2 Christmas's as there gifts from in laws, cousins and to hand out to them.

Just have twelve days of Christmas

I think it would be nice to have the big family meal and main presents on the 26th.

But maybe do stockings and a Christmas movie on the 25th.

Bit of both. Santa, presents, movies and special but easy to prepare food on Xmas Day.

Save some presents for Boxing Day (Santa found them at the bottom of his sleigh when he got back to the North Pole and came all the way back especially for them) and the proper Xmas Dinner on Boxing Day.

Ask the children? The 5&2 are probably too young to realise the actual date. The 8yo is probably the trickiest. The 14&16 should hopefully understand. But even the 8yo would probably like being with their whole family for 'real' Christmas.

I do this with the kids birthdays... Their (Army) dad is often away so we ask when they want to celebrate, they pretty much always want to wait a few days for Dad to be there too (or we celebrate early). We moved Christmas by a month once.

There's a letter online you can download from Santa saying he will deliver on a different day for children whose parents are working on Christmas Day.

We have switched day before due to dh working (forces)
We had a letter arrive on Dec 1st from fc explaining the change.
I think the idea of opening a small gift/stocking is quite nice

Thank you guys 😊 I did speak with with dd3 (16) and ds2 (14) and they are more than happy to wait the extra day as long as they get pigs in blankets twice!