Adjusting to Adult Christmas

[WhyOhWine]

DC are 18 and 19 (and at uni). No young children in the wider family. I feel like this year we need to mix it up a bit because so far since the DC have been older we have just continued our usual traditions and it has started to feel a bit flat and a bit more like a normal lazy Sunday with a few guests for a roast lunch rather than a special occasion (admittedly covid impacted the last 2 years).
Any suggestions on adjusting to an adult only Christmas that still feels special?
Not sure how many wider family members we will have this year as plans are still being finalised but could be anywhere between just the 4 of us and 10 (all adults between 18 and 80).
For some reason I dont particularly fancy going out of our Christmas day meal, but potentially might book somewhere nice for Christmas Eve dinner. My mum (who we wont be seeing this year) suggested we could go on holiday. I am open to this for future, but i think this year because it is the first year DC have both been at uni, they will probably prefer to have Christmas itself at home.

So any suggestions for a special grown up Christmas day?

Our son turns 18 in a few weeks so we have booked a week abroad for Xmas! Must admit I'm quite excited!

Is that a week away without your adult son......... ?

Haha no....we aren't that mean. It's part of his birthday celebrations 🍾.

At 13 Christmas was rubbish the magic died most as an adult rubbish as well either dealing with an first ex drunk or grumpy stbx this year chilling out no grumpiness favourite dvds 007 novels Tudor themed Christmas.

My christmases died at 13 too and it sucked, my kids made it better for me again as now I get to make magic for them and now I can look forward to it.

Hope your xmas this year is better and more magic filled.

My older DC do still seem to like having stockings, presents to open, chocolates etc. then Xmas tv/films/music. We always do charades in the evening too.

We go for a short walk if weather permits.

Ds who is was absolutely horrified when we asked if he was coming here for Xmas. I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to change things OP.

Pre-pandemic we had a family tradition of an Christmas Eve trip to an area 45mins away with beautiful chocolate box villages. Tea in a tea room, look round the little shops for a few last minute gifts and Christmas music in the car on the way home. Even as a stroppy teen I enjoyed it

Thank you so much it’s my first alone I’ve no family nc years ago but making it magical for me in supported housing for older people with bad eyes and loving it still own flat so independent but friends to chat too and staff who have been fantastic. New church too😊

Xmas eve: Friends/neighbours for drinks, then dinner and midnight mass.

Christmas Day: being able to go out for a long walk while the turkey is in the oven, having civilised canapes while/before opening presents, having dinner nearer dinnertime to allow for max daylight.
If i were near the sea I'd go for a dip.
Last year i really enjoyed a long walk in the morning, doing the rounds of local friends for drinks around lunchtime, before heading inside to cook and do presents

Not sure how our Xmas will pan out yet. This will be the first one without DS as he is going round to his girlfriends family . We also lost my father in law and dog this year so lots of empty space round the table😢.
We will still have DD back from Uni so I think we will do our usual Xmas Parkrun. Then brunch with champagne, presents then a late Xmas dinner. Not sure about games as there will only be 3 of us (maybe scrabble which we all like).
Boxing Day will be our big family gathering when DS and his girlfriend come round