Christmas Eve

[angeltattoo]

What do you do on Christmas Eve? We never plan anything and it always then just feels like we're 'waiting' all day.

The kids are a bit older now (8 & 6) and I don't have to spend the entire evening wrapping and also for the first time in 8 years I am not cooking Christmas dinner, so no mountains of veg to peel.

So it would be good to do something nice but I can't think what, what do you do?

Thanks

I usually work the morning. Then we go for afternoon tea in a nice hotel or restaurant. In the evening we play games then watch Arthur Christmas. Now DS is 16 we watch films together until we go to bed.

We keep it low key. Visit friends, pick up anything that’s been forgotten and then home for dinner. The front door is closed physically and metaphorically and that’s us done with the socializing. From that point it’s just us, my parents and the kids. We can relax and enjoy Christmas.

I love Christmas Eve.

I like taking dc to the cinema now they're teens but when they were younger a trampoline park to wear them out was a good shout.

We prep for Christmas day and then the DC make Gingerbread houses. We used to go to a Carol and Crib service when they were younger but they're not so keen now so we go for a walk to see people's Christmas lights. When we get back we get into pyjamas and have soup, bread and cheese while watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol.

We always host so tidying and getting ready for the next day

My DH is from a European country where Christmas Eve is almost as important as Christmas Day, so we celebrate following his traditions on the day, including a very long video call to his family.

Then do the same again the following day with my traditions, my family!

Usually food prep for Xmas day, and a whole lot of Christmas Eve films on the Big Telly - Muppet Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life and Die Hard via Elf (my sons wander in and out but always watch Elf in full). Usually have a special dinner (pasticcio has become a favourite because you can prep it the day before) with some sort of indulgent pudding, booze, coffee and crackers.

Mine are teens so I don't 'arrange' stuff for them to do, but this is how the day has become shaped, if you know what I mean. DS1 is old enough to go to the pub this year so he might be off after dinner... 😲

We usually go to the cinema to watch a Christmas movie and pick up a takeaway on the way home.

The kids bake something easy to leave out for Santa and then we watch a film together in our pyjamas.

Lunch prep for the next day, probably a walk/trip to the park, Christmassy film the afternoon with hot chocolate and popcorn, very easy dinner.

Lol @beachtosunset. I love Christmas Eve too, it's the best. Christmas Day is so much work, I'm completely frazzled by about 6pm. Christmas Eve is pure magic.

Mine are the same age. I like to nip out (very early) just for a bit of atmosphere and to get a few last minute groceries. I always grab a sneaky mince pie and a coffee in a coffee shop. Come home.

Clean and sort things and last year brought the dc to the cinema. Come home prep food.

Cleaning, a workout, get the kids out on their bikes and to a play park for a bit. Coffee/Hot chocolates, watch a Christmas film together while eating stuff we've baked on the 23rd - contenders are usually Home Alone, The Grinch, . DH and I watch Die Hard once the kids are in bed.

We went to Monkey World last year. It was fab. Then home for our traditional Christmas Eve meal of fajitas and nachos. We always do something, usually the cinema or similar.

@PacificState

Lol *@beachtosunset*. I love Christmas Eve too, it's the best. Christmas Day is so much work, I'm completely frazzled by about 6pm. Christmas Eve is pure magic.

same! @PacificState

p.s. I also put out hazlenuts for the Squirrel and sunflower seeds for the birds.

As I was told when we were little, 'Remember the birds, It's their Christmas too!'.

Kings Cambridge carols whilst preparing some veg etc for Christmas day - just lovely - & a film.

@beachtosunset

I prefer Christmas Eve to Christmas Day because of all the magical atmosphere. The promise of it all to come: Decorating the dining table, my list to Santa, listening to the Carols at Kings with homemade sausage rolls, hearing Rudolph's hooves on the roof top, watching A Christmas Carol.

I'm 8 years old and have an MN account.

🤣🤣🤣

Love Christmas Eve.
We always go to the theatre in the morning with friends, just a 45min kid friendly production. Then out for lunch. Home for sone relaxing/food prep for me then out about 4 to look at the lights locally. When we get back the elves have normally dropped off a package with PJs, bath bomb, hot choc, snacks. We then have a bath and yea, normally Xmas ham with salad and french bread. Watch a film, put a mince pie carrot etc out and the kids are off to bed. Time to relax with wine, then off to bed for us. It’s the loveliest day of the Christmas period.

Carols from Kings and cooking.

Have you got a pop up ice rink near you? Followed by a hot chocolate. Afternoon/early evening Christingle service. Then just before bed we ceremonially lit the candles on the chocolate yule log, read The night before Christmas by the available candlelight whilst stuffing our faces with the chocolate log. Teeth, bed.........and crack open the Bailey's.

We used to read "The Night Before Christmas" before putting the kids to bed. Can't remember if we did it last year (they're 17 and 20)!

We are going to have a nice sit down breakfast, help the kids bake some mince pies to leave out for Santa and then take them to the park to tire them out before the grandparents arrive for tea. Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year. I can’t wait

I love Christmas Eve too.

Making mince pies to the background of Carols from Kings
Setting the Christmas day table
Putting holly around the pictures in the dining room
Cutting the first slices of Christmas cake
Going for a twinkle walk to see all the neighbourhood Christmas lights
Listening to Christmas carols
Snuggling down under a blanket to watch TV movies

Usually head to Dsis to help with getting neice and nephew ready for bed all excited, they do their Xmas Eve tradition of reindeer dust and carrots etc on the steps outside the house. Magical for the kids

We go bowling. We made it a new tradition when I married second DH. Then I always cook a huge boiled ham.