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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What will you do different next Christmas?

147 replies

MsMiaWallace · 26/12/2022 18:07

Mine would be a different venue for Christmas Eve dinner.
We went for carvery this year & the place was scruffy!

OP posts:
AbsoluteYawns · 27/12/2022 14:27

This year the last night of Chanukah fell on Xmas day so double celebrating!

Do the same:

  • prep all veg the night before. Especially sprouts!
  • buy a Turkey Crown - so much easier!
  • give everyone a 'menu' made by the kids so can plate up in the kitchen - faffing about with self serve and bowls was awful last year.
  • let each child and guest light their own Chanukiah- it made it feel so special.
  • Plastic free crackers - no one missed the plastic tat that inevitably gets thrown away. We had stickers inside instead.

Change:

  • buy less chocolate
  • make my own donuts for Chanukah
  • buy more fruit and healthy foods.
  • be more patient with in laws!!
Shodan · 27/12/2022 14:40

I will buy far less sweet foods. We seem to be overrun with chocolates, cake, jellies etc etc.

Actually I'll buy less food altogether I think.

But things I did differently this year, which I'll definitely do again-

Buy a turkey crown, not a whole bird. It was much better and still have leftovers.

Cook the main meal for about 5 or 6pm. Much more leisurely than the race during the morning.

BellePeppa · 27/12/2022 14:47

I won’t buy supermarket ‘party’ food. I’ve got a fridge full of the stuff (guests as well as myself buying it) but no one really likes it!

Cruisebabe1 · 27/12/2022 15:22

notangelinajolie · 26/12/2022 19:31

Every year I moan that I’m not doing Christmas dinner ever again and everyone can sort themselves out next year because I will be off on a Caribbean cruise.
Finally, this year it became a reality. Today is the last day and I’m currently sitting in departures at Grantley Adams Airport.
Definitely doing this again next year.

I bet you had a brilliant time , the Caribbean is just fabulous.

Ericaequites · 27/12/2022 16:12

Find a girlfriend because I miss the companionship and happiness of sharing my life.
Eat less. My sister in law and her family made a wonderful brunch dinner with many treat foods. I ate unwisely and too well.

oakleaffy · 27/12/2022 16:23

tobee · 26/12/2022 19:29

Not pour hot goose fat on my bare foot just before serving up

Ouch!!!!
Are you ok??
I once hoofed over a just boiled kettle that was on the floor-While carrying something that obscured my view.
ripped off my sock, held foot under cold running water for 10 mins but blisters came up

Hot fat is way hotter than boiled water.
Feet are not good things to burn, so say.

I had to have it attended to daily at local Surgery, til it began to heal.

KatherineJaneway · 27/12/2022 16:24

I thought I used enough butter when cooking the turkey. No where near enough.

Talapia · 27/12/2022 16:30

Remember to buy cheese.

Reduce present spending a little.

Crucible · 27/12/2022 16:36

Bought Christmas crackers and they were crap. Had to remove the snaps so they didn't frighten my dog. Waste of time even though they were completely recyclable.
Excellent turkey this year.

Fleurdaisy · 27/12/2022 17:18

Perhaps spend Christmas Eve with family then fly off somewhere. I really, really dislike Christmas and find the days after very depressing.

Fairislefandango · 27/12/2022 17:20

Hopefully host my side of the family and then go to PIL for NY.

Beautiful3 · 27/12/2022 17:25

I used gift bags this year instead of wrapping paper. It was a real game changer. I saved so much time and zero mess. Definitely doing it again next Xmas. I bought fewer gifts, opting for less pressies but expensive ones. They were a big hit, rather than the cheap pressies I used to buy to make the pile look bigger. I bought hardly any chocolates this year, preferring to use up those gifted. Hate having so much left overs.

Lovemusic33 · 27/12/2022 17:29

Hopefully spend Christmas with my dp, it’s a new relationship so he hasn’t yet met my DC’s so this Christmas would have been awkward. I am hoping next year he can join us (if all goes well).

Everything else was perfect this year. We reduced the amount of presents and family mainly gave us cash (which we spent today in the sales).

OodieBoogie · 27/12/2022 18:30

Not be anywhere near my awful sister or get badly behaved, untrained, lovely but completely feral dog. She kicked off as I was serving up, everyone was so shocked that we didn't notice it climb on the table and eat Christmas dinner.

We'll be at home next year, invite will be extended to parents, she can swivel. They won't come because they won't want to upset her and we live life on eggshells because you never know when she's going to fall apart spectacularly next. She made my six year old cry and hide in anxiety/fear on Christmas day so she'll never darken my doorstep again.

CrepuscularCritter · 27/12/2022 18:37

KittenCatt · 26/12/2022 20:24

I’m going to be spending Christmas in New York next year (my DM’s 60th birthday gift since her birthday is on Christmas Eve!). So everything will be different for us 😊

I am your DM's birthday twin. Have a fabulous time! I've had one birthday in NY before and it was incredible.

CantFindTheBeat · 27/12/2022 18:38

tobee · 26/12/2022 19:29

Not pour hot goose fat on my bare foot just before serving up

Oooh... ouch, @tobee

I bet that was painful. Is it still bad?

mackthepony · 27/12/2022 18:43

We'll be elsewhere. Either UK for Christmas or renting a cottage somewhere. I'm not doing it at BIL's again. It's just the same old stories

Essexexile · 27/12/2022 18:51

Every year I say I’m not hosting xmas day & Boxing Day the next year & every year I do although this year, I only hosted xmas day.

Every year, I say I want to go to a nice hotel for xmas, perhaps next year we will.

Babasghost · 27/12/2022 18:56

I'm trying hard to understand how I can change things to make them happier.

I'm nobodies priority and often simply alone whilst the restvofvtge family are together. I have 2 dogs which means I'm never an overnight guest and frankly I love my dogs so much it's to painful yo be without them during family stress!

I travelled 400miles to be near them and spent 650 quid. It's been so painful.

So I'm wondering what that 650 would buy me next Christmas that could make me happier.
It's difficult to cut the painful cord .

X

Wexone · 27/12/2022 19:18

I will be staying at home next year. Dinner will be cooked by himself and will be fabulous. not like the one I had this year 🤮 please tell me how can you create a layer of water on top of the gravy and when you pour it, it's still separates even though you mixed it?

take time off work earlier. I did this year but was still wrecked

save more money for Xmas too didn't save enough this year

what I did right this year was not go mad buying presents. nieces and newphews all got vouchers money. it was far easier. didn't go mad buying way to much chocolate wine or food. bought enough

Crucible · 27/12/2022 19:19

@Babasghost that made me a bit sad to read. I will be thinking of you making plans for a better Christmas in 2023 for you and your dogs. Whatever that looks like, it'll be good, I'm sure.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/12/2022 19:45

weirdstuffhappenig · 26/12/2022 18:49

Going away! To a fully a tarred chalet somewhere with snow and stuff to do.. saving now!

That’s exactly what I want to do. Maybe club meeting but I think that might exceed the budget by some way!

i want to be somewhere different, with different things to do. Less presents and less ‘we usually do / don’t do…….’

VeronicaFranklin · 27/12/2022 20:08

next year I'll bet hosting Christmas at home and not traipsing around family all Xmas with my dd in tow!

pompomdaisy · 27/12/2022 20:32

Not book Boxing Day dinner out it wasn't that special and expensive. We cook really well so don't know why we bothered.

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 27/12/2022 20:47

@KittenCatt i spent Christmas in New York about 10 years ago and it was lovely, but I definitely missed Christmas in the uk. We ended up going to the zoo as everything is open as normal so felt a bit strange. I think Christmas in the uk is a bigger deal and thanksgiving is their big celebration. It might be worth planning something special for the day itself as it could be a slight let down otherwise.