Christmas. What do you do??

[ChipsRedWhite]

Normally we just please ourselves at Christmas and we don’t plan too much ahead.

This year we have guests!! I’m feeling the pressure to have a few Christmas themed things planned, but I can’t think of any!!

What do you guys normally DO over the Christmas break?

They’re staying for about a week. We will have our kids (10 and 13), brother-in-law and parents-in-law and my dad (not everyone staying all of the week).

I’ll be meal planning too so if any of you have any favourite Christmas recipes please let me know those too!!

Help!!

Wow. A week is pretty full on. I would plan a walk (can you borrow National Trust membership), maybe a panto or something else in the day like bowling or cinema?

I know! Seven days of the responsibility of other peoples Christmas experience is freaking me out!!

Panto is a great shout - will get that booked.

Will definitely do walks and will check our what dates the local NT places are open too.

Just feel like I need loads of ideas so I can suggest stuff to them!!

Blimey!

Carol service/Carol singing
Pub walk
Local houses that have done loads of lights
Ice skating
Boxing day rounders match??
Go American- cinema trip and Chinese food
Cooking together

What dates are they with you?

Get a good stash of board games in. Cinema, light trails. Garden centres are often great over Christmas, could go for lunch at one. Any markets near you?

Ooh. If you have a possible space for it, set up a 1000 piece jigsaw on a jigsaw roll. It's a brilliant all-ages thing.

I second having a jigsaw set up. We did this for the first time last Christmas, on a board so it could be moved when we needed the space. Everyone enjoyed it ages 10 to 66

Panto, country/ beach walk, light trail, carol singing, other local attractions (zoo? Cinema? Aquarium?), Definitely plan a couple of days where you all get to split up and do your own thing - shopping or something. Also set up days where the guests (or maybe the kids) cook!

For things which cost money/need booking like panto and cinema I would check if they actually want to do them before you book anything.

We had a big load of family stay once, we did split on a couple of occasions to break it up and it worked well. So kids went swimming with a dad, someone stayed at home to chill, a couple of the women had a mini manicure locally.

Maybe also think about if there’s any sport or similar you can watch together? Or go to local ground for Boxing Day match (again not everyone has to go).

You definitely need fish and chips at some point, also factor in a few really simple meals like baked potatoes and beans, choice of toastie (make your own), perhaps a local cafe brunch. Don’t try to go complex every meal. Breakfast help yourself.

It might be quite fun..

Walks are key! Something to do each day with fresh air so people come home and are happy to relax

Walks to… fetch holly, local beauty spot with a view, stately home gardens, quaint village, long walk rewarded by pub lunch, garden Christmas chocolate hunt on Christmas Day

Panto, or proper kids Christmas play, cinema Christmas blockbuster, ballet

Best local carol service (a drive for a cathedral choir probably worth it), village kids service, midnight mass

games - monopoly, charades, trivial pursuit (post lunch on Christmas and Boxing Day, evening walk with mulled wine if you have moonlight or a view.

A few collective activities like making paperchains/papersnowflakes, gingerbread house, own pizza toppings for a movie night ,

Nordic buffet on Christmas Eve
Turkey gratin at some point
A lot of make your own lunches around ploughman’s lunch, and tapas type themes

I would suggest don't book something for everyday. Think about the things that are a must for you (panto? Carols? Posh meal out?) and book 2 or 3 things for the week.
Otherwise, go with the flow each day and see what the energy is like.
Get all the basic food in but also leave the cooking to others at least 2 nights in the week or get the off takeaway otherwise you'll be knackered.
Key things to get in beforehand:

• booze and cocktail fodder (assuming you drink. don't forget the baileys)
• good snacks (tell people where they are and they should help themselves)
• really good cheese and crackers (see above)
• jigsaw (see pp comment)
• radio times
• nuts in shells (is it Christmas without them?)
• at least 2 good board games (stay classic if unsure - scattergories / Pictionary vibes)

Suggest to others:

• big walk
• national trust
• Christmas market
• museum...

That's it. They're not your children to organise for. Ask them what they fancy - make it clear they should feel free to do as they choose.

Happy Christmas!

*odd

See if theres anything going on near you? Ask on local Facebook groups.

A nice evening walk checking out amazing lights (ditto asking on facebook see where the gems are!).

Get some games in, make a bowl of names/films etc for things like charades, whos on my head game.

Make a list of good Christmas films, get in some treats and have a movie night.

But also remember Christmas is a time to relax so don't feel pressured to fill every moment with activities. Good food and good company are the most important parts.

A list of ideas
Watch a Christmas film
Sing to Christmas music
A local church Xmas service
Walk or drive to see the festive lights
Festive afternoon tea at a hotel etc
Trip to a Christmas panto or market
Christmas baking session at home
Christmas game and wine evening with friends
Christmas quiz type event
Christmas puzzles
Bowling or a museum
Christmas art afternoon
Board games
Manicure or pedicure
Ice skating
Mulled wine and poker competition
Chocolate and cocktail date night affair

Wow!! Thanks so much!! Some amazing ideas here.

Love the fish & chips, family jigsaw and afternoon tea.

They’re coming on the 22nd and staying until the 29th, so all the pre-, actual and post-Christmas days!!

You’re right of course, there doesn’t have to be something everyday and the visitors can suggest things too. I’ll try to relax a bit!!

We're a big board game family so that's evenings sorted when family visits. Apart from that, walks and movies and we're set.