What time do you eat lunch on Christmas Day?

[ThankYouVeryMuchGerry]

I'm hosting Christmas Day for the first time this year and I'm not sure what time to serve the main meal.

At my parents house we never had a set time, we've eaten at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm but this year they are coming to us and I'm not sure when to serve.

My sister hosted last year (I did Xmas Eve), and when we got there at 11am, she served pastries and fruit which was very filling, and then we ate about 4pm and were comatose for the evening.

I don't want to serve pastries etc as think it will be too much food, so not sure if we should eat earlier?

My OH is doing the main meal and I'm doing everything else (including opening two dozen oysters!) and I don't want us having to get up really early.

I will have bowls of crisps, nuts and olives out before lunch, should I put anything else out?

Sorry for the rambling - I just want it to be perfect!

5-6pm. We usually drive somewhere nice for a long walk so this means everyone can have a drink with their meal. Also fits with dinner/bedtime for DC and means the morning is more relaxed as we're not trying to cook at the same time as doing presents etc. We have a big brunch at 11.30am and then nibbles and snacks during the afternoon.

6ish. I have a 6 mile drive to go and see to my horse so I don't drink before I get back. No way am I having my christmas dinner without a glass of wine.

We aim for 3.15 for the roast. Around noon we put out the dried fruit and nut bowls and have sticky cocktail sausages on sticks (or in mini rolls for those with bigger appetites) and devils on horseback then the canapé/starter hybrids around 2pm. Puddings around 5.30ish and cheeseboard a few hours later, finishing with mints and chocolates a bit after that. Guests arriving mid morning are served a fresh pot of tea or coffee and can help themselves to the mini biscuits in the candy jar.
We have a breakfast picnic that starts quite early and lasts a few hours whilst stocking diving.

2pm. DH devised a timing spreadsheet a few years ago which we still use and which works well. We don't do a starter.

We'll watch the Que King's Speech and then come back for pudding. If we have guests still around in the evening, we'll have a cheese board.

DGCs have lunch with their mum and other grandparents, then come to us for Christmas dinner at 6.30ish.
Luckily they have good apetites and happily cope with two festive meals.

Normally around 2pm but this year will be timed around toddler naps so probably around 4pm, will have a late breakfast.

Sometime between 2-4pm - couldn’t whittle it down to a more fixed time. It’s just a case of whenever dinner is ready and me getting my arse into gear in the kitchen and how much alcohol I have consumed.

Around 5 or 6. Dates back to one year when I had so much Buck’s Fizz, I completely forgot the potatoes - I hadn’t even parboiled them - so the dinner that was supposed to be at 3 ish (I’d never aim to have it earlier, too much of a rush) was actually at about 5.

However, since everyone was that much more ready for it, we’ve had it at 5 or 6 ever since.
It still works with young Gdcs present - they will have something quick and easy at their usual lunchtime of 12.30 ish.
A late brunch in the morning, and then just canapés (usually M&S) a couple of hours before dinner - I never do a starter for Christmas dinner.

Usually around 3pm.

We tend to have quite a big breakfast which keeps us going till mid afternoon.

We have dc under ten so I work back from the nibbles and fizz dh will have after they go to bed

8pm nibbles and fizz and a movie or boardgame

3pm-4.30pm a walk round the park

1.30-3pm lunch

9am pastries

7am kids up

As they get older we will lose (or have to invite them to!!) our evening celebration so the whole day will adjust.

We're going to try it at 5pm this year so I was planning on doing brunch at 10ish.

But I'm not sure what to serve. I'd like to do a help yourself type thing for ease I think. Can you buy mini pastries anywhere?

Aim for 13.30, but usually ready for 14.15.

About 2pm I am not keen on it any later as it is a filling meal and I like to have it done and eaten and if anyone is hungry later there are leftovers, we are usually up early anyway with our DD so 2pm really is late enough.

The dishwasher gets put on as soon as possible too, as my DH works Boxing Day, I like to have a nice relaxing day, not for us to be stuck in the kitchen.

We eat about 2 and then the rest of the day, snack on cheese, My partner does all the cooking and makes lots of sausage rolls, mince pies etc. so the rest of the day we just nibble on those, cheese and chocolates. It's great!

We also have croissants after the stockings and have a few bowls of crisps, olives etc. in the morning but try to save our appetites for lunch.

Around 2.30pm.

Basic breakfast, chocolates, crisps, and Buck’s Fizz. Terrible! 🤣

Light breakfast then lunch at about 13:30 at my parents. Chill there for a couple of hours then over to DH parents for evening games and nibbles (mostly choc) back home by 8pm and maybe cheese and crackers if we fancy.

Around half 1, 2 o'clock. Gives family time to have Christmas morning at their own house before arriving at about 1pm

Norm 2ish
But this year weve booked a pub so 12pm

2pm works for us. Morning to ourselves to snack on chocolates then my parents come over at 12.

About 2pm, we used to eat at 4 when we were kids, but when I duplicated that as an adult everyone just ate crap all day. Also I like to eat A LOT of Christmas dinner and I prefer to do that in the middle of the day.

We do presents after lunch though

Starters around 1, mains around 3, pudding from 5

Around 5, same kind of timing as Sunday roast. Traditionally we don’t have breakfast or lunch on Sundays or Christmas Day, or we’d not have room for the big dinner. I won’t stop anyone from eating before and there are nibbles around but no other meals are served.

Growing up we always had brekkie (a bit of toast, nothing fancy), then people would arrive from like 12/1pm and there would be crisps and nuts, maybe canapé type things, and then sit down to eat at 3pm as the sun is setting

About 1pm