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Original poster

Drinks with neighbours on Christmas eve..or is that family time?

53 replies

Justjoinedforthis · 19/10/2021 06:33

We have such nice neighbours and ever year I mean to have them over for christmas drinks but always bottle it. I was thinking of a few drinks at 6ish on christmas eve, but wondered if most people would be busy or consider that family time?
I know everyone is different. I always think of Xmas eve as more for friends.

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 19/10/2021 06:35

i dont think it is purely family time

Igmum · 19/10/2021 06:37

Invite them. It's a lovely idea. If they're busy they can say no

SmallGreenStripes · 19/10/2021 06:37

Family time for us

Fdksyihfd · 19/10/2021 06:38

I think it can be either and if you don’t ask then you’ll never know

CeeceeBloomingdale · 19/10/2021 06:40

Family time for me.

EerilyDisembodied · 19/10/2021 06:40

I'd rather not TBH. When I was younger and going back to my parents for Christmas I would meet friends in the pub on Christmas Eve but now it is a time to spend at home (we have teen DCs). So last minute wrapping, presents under the tree, food prep and getting the kitchen straight for the next day with Christmas music on and a film later on. If we're going to do drinks with friends it is usually the weekend before Christmas.

BeetleyCarapace · 19/10/2021 06:42

I think, regardless of whether they can come or not, they would appreciate the invitation. So I say invite away.

EerilyDisembodied · 19/10/2021 06:45

Yes, it is nice to be asked. There aren't many occasions when I wouldn't be happy to meet friends, I would probably suggest earlier in the week. Or maybe if it was just for an hour and agreed a few days earlier so I got all the wrapping etc done beforehand I'd do it. Wouldn't have when the DCs were younger though.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/10/2021 06:48

Just invite them - they can always say no!

"Family time" is a weird, weird, stilted phrase imo - family time is any time you spend with your family I guess, but its not some weird sacrosanct time slot; lots of families spend lots time together as and when it suits them all without getting offended if anyone unrelated speaks to them, invites them to something or schedules something optional. Lots of parents work shifts, lots of children (especially teens) have lots of sporting or similar commitments. Getting huffy about family time is a recipe for resentful teenagers and forced, sulky, stuffy Sundays and religious holidays IME.

Chunkymenrock · 19/10/2021 06:52

I'd say the 23rd or 27/28th are perfect for this.

Cattitudes · 19/10/2021 06:57

I would maybe just give them a couple of dates and see which stick assuming you are just talking about one or two neighbours each side of you. If more of a wider network I would probably go for a few days before Christmas. It is not as much that early Christmas Eve is just for family, more that I would be worried about what time they might leave. Some might interpret a few drinks as an evening of drinking while I planned to wave goodbye about 8, shuffle the children off to bed and get stockings organised.

PurBal · 19/10/2021 07:03

Absolutely not family time. You could invite them a bit later for mince pies and mulled wine before midnight mass?

Ragwort · 19/10/2021 07:07

Agree just ask them, my DPs always used to do drinks on Christmas Day after church, a surprisingly large number of friends and neighbours always came.

boobot1 · 19/10/2021 07:09

Definitely family time for me.

Dollywilde · 19/10/2021 07:09

My parents always go over their neighbours for a quick tipple on Xmas eve these days. I don’t think they would have done it back when we were small, so imo it depends the age of their kids, if they have them. Anything secondary school and over (where they can feasibly leave them across the road by themselves for an hour) I’d say fine, if they have little ones I’d probably say the 23rd is more appropriate.

Silkieschickens · 19/10/2021 07:10

I would consider that family time and frantically wrapping presents time for DH but ask, would say 23rd or 27th would be a safer bet. If its just you and them just invite them and ask them, it will vary by family. You can always suggest a different time after. In our street everyone does new years drinks first weekend of January.

doubleshotcappuccino · 19/10/2021 07:10

If you invite them make sure they know whether it's a few drinks or an evening - mortified to say we got chucked out of our neighbours one year after one drink .. we were just settling and and their dh had a word with dh to say we needed to move on - could have died of embarrassment

icclemunchy · 19/10/2021 07:12

Prior to covid we used to invite our whole little street for drinks Xmas eve (16houses) it was a lovely chance for us all to catch up but most would stay late and head to midnight Mass after so something to bare in mind if you have small people.

For us it means the kids go to bed and actually go to sleep because they've stayed up late!

CalmConfident · 19/10/2021 07:12

We have open house 4-6 Christmas Eve - mince pies and drinks. I kick everyone out prompt at 6 😆 That time works well

ElftonWednesday · 19/10/2021 07:13

It's a Friday night this year, people might have plans. I'd say it's a lovely idea but do it earlier in the month.

Silkieschickens · 19/10/2021 07:13

Yes here people tend to put a start and end time, peoples idea of drinks varies from one to lots.

Original poster
Justjoinedforthis · 19/10/2021 07:30

Ah thanks for all the replies! I think I will say 6-7pm for a mulled wine. I’m working earlier in the week, and I completely de-christmas the house on Boxing Day 😃

OP posts:
ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 19/10/2021 07:33

I would love that d would come. Plenty of time to see family before and after.

I’d definitely put a time on the invites though (6-8?).

TreaslakeandBack · 19/10/2021 07:41

We do drinks with friends on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are family time, Christmas Eve it’s nice to be sociable IMO.

hotmeatymilk · 19/10/2021 07:41

mortified to say we got chucked out of our neighbours one year after one drink .. we were just settling and and their dh had a word with dh to say we needed to move on - could have died of embarrassment
Grin I would have put my house on the market on Christmas Day to escape them after that.

Just ask them! Christmas Eve is different at different stages of life, I think: sometimes it’s closed doors sacrosanct traditions, others it’s “teenagers to pub, parents do whatever”; some years it’s trauma some years it’s great. A sparkly drink offer is always welcome – if they can’t make it but like the idea, sure they’ll suggest Boxing Day or similar if they like you. Or move house if they don’t.