What makes Christmas magical?

[quirkyquerty]

I'm hosting Christmas for the first time this year, it will be me and DH, our 5 and 2 year old DS, my parents and brother and his parents and grandma.

I'm feeling the pressure mounting as we have only recently moved into our home, it all needs decorating so it's not a 'lovely' house to visit at the moment.

What will give Xmas day that magic that I used to feel when I was younger? What is it? Obviously presents under the tree, turkey and all
The trimmings, but I'm worried I won't be able
To make it feel special and magical for everyone like my mum used to be able to do for us. Or am I overthinking it?

Be welcoming! That makes a big difference! For example if they are staying over get slippers for rooms and a little basket of treats...

The magic of Christmas is the kids and the absolute joy on their faces! So having your parents see your kids on Christmas will def make it magic!

Having everyone together that's the magic x

For me it was Santa, the sacks being empty on Christmas eve then peeping through the door Christmas morning and they were full. Having my grandparents over for a meal as we didn't do that often apart from Christmas. Going for a walk Christmas day and saying Merry Christmas to everyone we saw (small village). Everyone just seemed happy.

Lots of fairy lights 😁 and everyone being together.

Pretty lights, nice decorations, laughing, cosiness and family.

The anticipation! And twinkly lights!

Relaxed hosts.

Prep food in advance and order in anything you don't want to do from scratch.

Have the table laid.

Set out drinks and glasses with instructions to help yourself.

Accept offers of help.

Make time for yourself and your DC.

Make the table special, polish the glasses, a few nice decorations in between the dishes. Pretty fairy lights!

Nice table setting, always feels a bit special. Christmas tree and garlands, door wreath. Family, bacon rolls for breakfast and a nice tipple to sip through the day in the 'fancy glassware only for special occassions'. Tin of chocolates on the coffee table. Kid having new pyjamas to come downstairs in, Christmas jumpers or dressed up in something a little more sparkly for the rest of the day. Christmas music, julia donaldson feature on tv (smed and smoos I think this year). Hot chocolate bar. All fairly cheap and cheerful.

If you've just moved in, I would concentrate on getting the sitting room and wherever you will eat sorted out and straight even if the rooms aren't decorated. Hide any moving boxes, etc, in another room.
Then a beautiful tree, lots of lights, nice Christmassy scents (candles/wax burner/reed diffusers) and festive music on in the background.
Most of all a big smile when people arrive and enjoy their company x

All lovely suggestions above. But do remember that ‘magic’ is mostly because you were a child-I don’t find Christmas magic now I’m an adult-but I appreciate the time off work and lazing around eating. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, get others to help out!

Twinkly lights and people.

I think for kids part of it is definitely about loosening boundaries, being 'allowed' to stay up late, and deviating from the routine.

Awe and wonder are super powerful emotions, I always try to do something that makes me feel small and part of something bigger than my everyday life, whether that's beautiful countryside or city lights. Being more mindful and more grateful for things in general.

I try to give extra time fo the kids even though it's not always super easy. We play a lot of games and jigsaws. I find that people get sucked in if we start playing, and then it creates that shared interest across the generations. I found a few jigsaw swap groups on Facebook so it doesn't have to be too expensive.

I’ve been in two houses as a guest where one did Christmas really well and the other felt a bit sad. I think the difference was all in the bits.

So, lots of (battery) lit up decorations, table looking pretty with crackers, napkins and red table cloth and a decoration on the table. ‘Nice’ nibbles rolled out on pretty plates with pretty napkins. Candles and shit.
Good lighting, ie lamps rather than main light.

Just nice, classy food rather than slightly sad normal things.

Did you notice that you’ve written “I’m hosting Christmas”, not “we”. Even though it includes his parents and GM. Make sure it’s a joint enterprise otherwise you are likely to end up stressed and (understandably) resentful. Hard to muster magic if it all falls to you.

For me growing up, it was the little treats - selection box or chocolate coins for breakfast, everyone sitting around the table together and telling the rubbish jokes from the crackers and wearing their paper crowns.
Now I'm an adult, it's still those things but watching the next generation do them. My 6 year old nephew loves telling the cracker jokes, my 10 year old nephew helps his grandma make brownies for dessert and loves watching everyone eat them. Watching my 6 year old niece and my dd play with their new toys wearing their matching dresses.

Came on to post exactly this

Enjoying the day yourself makes all the difference. My DM and I get a bit tipsy on the Buck’s Fizz at breakfast and giggle our way through making dinner.

One of my best memories is the time the carrots were left in the microwave and discovered about a week later. We also have a running joke about bread sauce that is made and ignored every single year as everyone hates it.

its the little things that make the memories.

When my DC were little I bought them gorgeous fleece blankets , (this was pre Christmas Bedding) one for each bed and one for the sofa.
You can get some lovely ones , Dunelm are a good source.

YY to lights, LED are safer than candles

You can make it ‘magical’ for kids with things like fairy lights. But for adults I think it’s just about 1. actually enjoying the company of the people you’re spending time with and 2. having a reasonable amount of nice food and drink.
If your family generally get on well you’re 90% of the way there to people having a happy Christmas.

Oh and as others have said, getting your DH to do a fair share of the work.

I agree with lcb. Once the children have grown up its not magical anymore. Its a nice day but no more than that. Used to love the dcs piling into our bed to open their stockings early. Now they will get up around lunchtime, do presents,have dinner,job done. Nothing magical about it

Something like Pictionary that is easy to play across the age ranges

Relaxed atmosphere

Do as much prep as possible so the actual day is just finishing touches / heating everything up and serving

Accept offers to clear up!

A couple of film options to have on when everyone is digesting!

Everything being clean, free of clutter and smelling nice. Not too hot and not too cold. A million fairy lights and battery operated tea lights. Lamps rather than a main light. A selection of fruit and chocolate for people to help themselves to. A nicely decorated table. Lots of welcoming smiles and putting your DH in charge of jobs, like making sure that everyone has a drink and that you don’t run out of clean glasses. Ice and lemon for drinks. Speak to everyone and find out what little things make their Christmas. For me, I like a Terrys Chocolate orange, wearing my slippers, limeade and a lot of sprouts. Will it ruin grandma’s day if you don’t have her favourite tipple? A game like Articulate, where people can play in teams and nobody has to move seats to crowd around a board and throw a dice. Have some background music on at a low volume. Hide the remote control so nobody argues between watching repeats of Morecambe & Wise, the Kings speech and Elf. Talk to DH about your Christmas experiences. What did your parents do that made it magical for both of you? Can you do some of those things?

Advent calendar (doesn't have to be a chocolate or gift type one) and an Advent candle

Christmas crafts - anything from making a door wreath to homemade cards or gift tags (potato print ones are great for younger dc), simple baking such as star shaped cutters using ready made gingerbread dough (these can double up as tree decorations

Stockings with silly, fun presents

What did your parents to make it magical for you and your brother?