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Christmas

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Original poster

Have you ever invited someone you don’t know well for Christmas?

63 replies

tealandteal · 17/12/2022 04:05

DH has said that his boss, who he gets on quite well with, will be on his own for Christmas. His dad is dying and he can’t be with his family this year, he has no wife/partner/kids. We have talked about inviting him for Christmas, has anyone ever invited someone like this? I’ve never met him but would be up for inviting him. I’m just not sure how he will find Christmas, it’s going to be a bit manic with two children (5 and 6 months), 4 dogs ((not all mine) my PIL and my mum. Worried he might feel pressured to accept? We have enough food.

OP posts:
lurkinglittleladybug · 17/12/2022 13:09

I haven’t, but it’s a lovely thing to do… Too many people suffer loneliness, and especially at Christmas time. If every family invited someone they knew would otherwise be alone at Christmas, then perhaps no one would have to be alone on Christmas Day.

This is the kind of act of kindness and generosity that Christmas is actually about. 🥲

caz198917 · 17/12/2022 14:58

Hellocatshome · 17/12/2022 08:12

My family did, an elderly lady whose sons had both moved abroad and rest of her family were dead. Initially she just used to come for Christmas Dinner but now she comes in the morning and stays all day and gets taken home at the end with all her presents and enough left overs to keep her going for a long time. She is basically part of the family now but ik not sure we have many Christmases left with her which is very sad.

She loved the chaos of a Christmas with kids and now the kids are teens she is fascinated by all the things they talk to her about and has stared in countless Tik Tok videos.

This is so heartwarming! What a lovely person you are! Xx

SalP75 · 17/12/2022 16:22

I'm amazed how many people have welcomed people. I wish more did. English people can be insular at Christmas time.

Original poster
tealandteal · 17/12/2022 20:40

I’ve said to DHmy vote is to invite him, and I’ll pick up a few bits to make sure he has some presents. It’s DHs boss so his decision ultimately.

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 17/12/2022 21:47

So far I’ve had…
my flatmate’s brother’s best friend who’d just got out of prison
a sofa surfing post break up friend of a friend.
an acquaintance who was living miles from family
2 different employees of my husband with no family/ whose parents were away for Christmas

All accepted, none were awkward.

RocketsMagnificent7 · 17/12/2022 22:27

Hellocatshome · 17/12/2022 08:12

My family did, an elderly lady whose sons had both moved abroad and rest of her family were dead. Initially she just used to come for Christmas Dinner but now she comes in the morning and stays all day and gets taken home at the end with all her presents and enough left overs to keep her going for a long time. She is basically part of the family now but ik not sure we have many Christmases left with her which is very sad.

She loved the chaos of a Christmas with kids and now the kids are teens she is fascinated by all the things they talk to her about and has stared in countless Tik Tok videos.

This has given me a genuine warm and fuzzy feelings. How lovely you and your family are. I bet you've made such a difference to this lady's life on more than just Christmas Day.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/12/2022 22:29

Yes several times. It’s always been fine. The natural Christmas chaos makes it relaxed. Have a few mini jobs for him to do to help him settle in.

RosettaStormer · 17/12/2022 22:32

I invited a friend of DD one Xmas as he had no family or friends and had just had a bereavement. It was awful. He complained about how much we ate and criticised the way we did things. He was from a foreign culture and obviously found us outrageously decadent. He then started talking about his bereavement which we were all sympathetic about, but it kind of ruined the day. He didn’t thank me, didn’t bring anything and no note afterwards. I wouldn’t do it again.

SoftSheen · 17/12/2022 22:35

We did this with my work colleague who would otherwise have been alone. She was someone who I liked and got on well with, but didn't know all that well. We just invited her for lunch, so she came at around 11.30, we had lunch from about 1.30 onwards and she stayed until around 4.30. It was all very nice and we had some family time at the beginning and end of the day too.

legofrostqueen · 17/12/2022 22:45

DH's family often invited strays & stragglers for Christmas lunch. To me, it epitomises the meaning of Christmas, to share & celebrate with others.

We've had a few additions over the years.

Last Christmas, we invited a neighbour who was on her own, in the end she decided to come during the afternoon only but it was really nice. This year I'm overseas with DS but DH will be spending Christmas Day with our Ukrainian houseguest & her extended family who are staying with another host.

RethinkingLife · 17/12/2022 22:53

This is about Thanksgiving and inviting strangers to lunch. This particular occasion, it involved a Chihuahua with a healing ministry, and people who talked about their dead spouses in extraordinary detail. I read it every year for Christmas because it has remarkable echoes of my family Christmases.

Donna meanwhile was going on and on about some story or other about the one-eyed husband, when she all of the sudden exclaimed, “Oh yes. That’s when the quadriplegic dwarf moved in with me after his wife left him for another man. He lived with us for four years.”

sassysundry.blogspot.com/2006/11/thanksgiving-with-dead-and-chihuahua.html

oknowimscared · 17/12/2022 23:18

Problem is, it’s hard to say no (even though it shouldn’t be). It is putting pressure on, however well intended. You could do a breezy “everyone’s welcome” off hand thing, but honestly - being a “who’s this” at someone else’s Christmas is my idea of Hell. I’m single, and if I can’t be with family, I go away. Mainly to avoid being asked to gatecrash other people’s celebrations)

SapphireSeptember · 17/12/2022 23:33

I've been the invited person, Christmas 2020 I spent with a woman who I met via Mumsnet and her husband, and I think we all had a good time, this year my friend invited me to her family Christmas.

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