NO Christmas lunch on Christmas Day!!!

[Staringatthetiles]

Has anyone ever done this and if so what was your alternative?

I don’t want to go into the reasons why but would love to hear if anyone opted out of cooking Christmas dinner especially any creative alternatives that will appeal to a family of 5 with 2 preteens.

@slaybellsringing

I refuse to have anyone over on Christmas day, as I know given half the chance dhs family would all be sat here on Christmas day, laughing and enjoying themselves while I slave away in the kitchen dh almost accidentally invited everyone the last time we were all together and I very clearly said that actually no, I would not be hosting on Christmas and it would be 'just us'.

Having said all that, I really enjoy making an Xmas dinner for just us so that's what I'll be doing dh and I usually do it together - and then the dc help with the cleaning up, so it's a joint effort and never just me holed away in the kitchen.

We have take aways and other kinds of food throughout the year, and so on Christmas it's our opportunity to really make something special, dress the table and make a special moment out of it

Your post made me so sad for your husband

Doing our Christmas ever then nibbles this year for Christmas Day,

@Chronicallymothering

We’re flipping it this year. Buffet on Xmas day. With various things many people like. Main meal on Boxing Day.

We've done this for years and prefer it like this. The kids briefly thought they wanted Christmas dinner on Christmas Day last year, but when I started to plan it, they decided they'd prefer buffet, as usual!

In 32 years I have never eaten any kind of Christmas lunch or roast dinner. Just be imaginative and eat whatever you like - beans on toast is fine, if that's your thing.

@thisplaceiswierd really ? was it my post that made you sad or your presumptuous, judgemental little mind?

Yep, we do Xmas dinner on Xmas Eve here and then have the big day free for presents, games, etc. We used to live in a long, thin house so present unwrapping would be going on at the front and I'd be running to the back of the house to the oven. Only did it one year and said never again. Kids love it! Xmas Day, we've done cold meats buffet, cheese board, nibbles (30min prep, food left on table, people graze all day), one year I did a posh afternoon tea. What I notice is kids are much more willing to muck in, help pop things on trays, lay table etc as well! Not sure what to do this year, possible idea of Christmas pizza (turkey, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce) as we now have an Ooni!!

One part of my family has BBQ & side salads (Australia)
My dh family who live in the west (originally Pakistani) have tandoori turkey with side dishes
We have roast (Hallah) turkey -our Muslim butcher takes orders in December for Turkey. Years ago we couldn't get turkey & had chicken its amazing how things have changed (& my dh family sends me Christmas cards)

DP is of nationality that celebrate on the 24th so we do the big family meal then with their traditional foods (my family are in a different country so I rarely see them at Christmas) On the 25th it's just the two of us and there's no way I need a Christmas dinner enough to be bothered cooking one for 2 people.

My preference for the 25th instead is a lazy all-day graze of cheese, cold meats, pate, crackers, bread and lashings of red wine. Oh and some pigs in blankets. Can't be without them entirely.

I hear what everyone's saying but I just don't think I could do it!

The food on Christmas day is a huge part of it all for us.

We wake up & have coffee & mince pies as we're opening presents in our dressing gowns. Then we make brunch which is most usually a full cooked breakfast with champagne/ bucks fizz & we take ages over this.

We don't eat dinner till at least 7pm, could be 8pm. And we do canape starters, then turkey, glazed baked ham, roast potatoes, stuffing - the works & we set the table beautifully & light candles. We have nice wine & we relax & enjoy the meal with no rush or hassle

We've always eaten in the evening.

Next day the best part of Christmas happens for me- dh brings me a turkey, cranberry & stuffing sandwich on fresh white bread with real butter - in bed with coffee & very often sherry trifle too! I lie in bed reading new books & it's bliss!

That day is all about the leftovers & pretty much grazing all day.

One year we were in New York for Christmas & we had incredible cheeseburgers for dinner - that was memorable!!

We have a hot and cold buffet type spread of everyone's favourites. Very random but thoroughly enjoyed.

I'm amazed by all these restaurants and takeaway places being open on Christmas Day. In NI - apart from hotel-type Christmas lunches - I believe everywhere else closes!!!!! Are pizza/Chinese/Indian etc restaurants open on the 25th in each of England, Wales and Scotland then?

I let the DC choose when I was a single parent.
One year we had roast pork in baps with apple sauce, gravy for dipping and chips. It was epic!

@BetsyBumble

I'm amazed by all these restaurants and takeaway places being open on Christmas Day. In NI - apart from hotel-type Christmas lunches - I believe everywhere else closes!!!!! Are pizza/Chinese/Indian etc restaurants open on the 25th in each of England, Wales and Scotland then?

@BetsyBumble if you know of a chippy open on Christmas Day in South East would you let me my mum know? . It's her all time Christmas Wish.

I have a friend who has fish finger sandwiches every Christmas Day. I'm quite envious!

One year we had Peking duck

We’re having a buffet lunch this year- it’s just me, ExDP and DS, and DS just won’t sit down and eat on Christmas Day- he’s too engrossed in Lego, so making a 3 course dinner for all of us seems daft, and trying to make him sit nicely at the table for two hours doesn’t make DS happy, or add to his Christmas at all. I’ll make sure there’s a good mix of stuff everyone loves (even if it’s a bit mish mash) and we’ll have a fancy (bought in!) pudding.

Ill put a fresh “picnic” style plate together for tea for DS, and in the evening when he’s in bed (usually quite early on Christmas Day- poor lamb was asleep on the sofa at 6 last year ) exDP and I will have a naice but “quick to cook” dinner - probably rack of lamb followed by a cheeseboard.

Christmas should be about as many people as poss, being as happy as possible, however that looks for them. I wouldn’t sweat it.

I’m truly amazed in a non judgy way that so many of you don’t have a traditional Christmas dinner!

We usually host - and just immediate family is around 18 adults and children.

I absolutely love cooking for everyone and do a lot of the cooking and prep on Christmas Eve, so there le is less to do on Christmas Day.

I can’t imagine Christmas without the full on / over the top roast with all the trimmings

My sister and her husband had lots of nice cheeses (from a fancy cheese shop) with an array of crackers and much wine one year instead of a traditional Christmas lunch. Think they enjoyed it much more!

Had a cauliflower cheese and sausages last year as it was just the two of us due to lockdown. Loved the simplicity of it but missed my family so I’ll be doing the whole thing this year.

Where do you all live that you have the option of takeaway on Christmas Day?

We only have one Chinese, one Indian & a kebab/chicken shop that deliver at the best of times! Let alone Christmas.

I would love to have our main dinner on Christmas Eve but will be at work until around 7pm. Sounds great to just have a more relaxed Christmas Day.

We had pizzas one year...my partner was on call and we didn’t want to go to loads of effort only for him to be called out.....as it happens he wasn’t.... so we just enjoyed our 🍕..... much prefer a Roastie though

I'm open to all ideas this year. We will be 15 - all adults. Although we could take a wall down (we have considered it) and use several tables it would still be a squash so instead we have decided to have a buffet lunch. We will definitely be having lasagna, salad and garlic bread and who knows what else! I quite fancy chili and rice.

On Boxing Day there will only be 9 of us so we will sit round the table and have turkey and roast potatoes then.

DH has spent many a Xmas day having to work so Xmas day is movies,pizza,treat foods.

We go out for dinner on Boxing Day with the extended family so we still get a Christmas roast dinner.

Tbh the not having to shop,cook or clean up afterwards for Christmas dinner makes the whole experience more relaxed.

My kids would love nothing more than a party food picnic. Christmassy themed party food buffet spread out in the dining table. Eaten in the lounge in front of the TV.

America here:
Our big - cook until you drop - meal is Thanksgiving. ALL the traditions - turkey, ham, potatoes, dressing, corn, sprouts, beans, cranberry sauce sweet potatoes, yeast rolls all covered in gravy.
Plus at least 3 pies: pumpkin. apple and mincemeat and 3 cakes'
coconut, fruitcake, and chocolate.
Christmas Eve - Chinese takeout
Christmas Day - Hot cocoa and blueberry muffins when we get up
A mid-afternoon buffet of finger foods (some brought by each family) and a punch bowl filled with our family's traditional nonalcoholic cranberry punch. People can chat and watch football and sing carols and graze whenever they feel like it.