What's your Christmas Day like?

[justanothermanicmonday1]

Hi everyone,

I have a 1.5 year old and a 3 month old with my lovely DP.

We have recently moved into our new home and are having our first Christmas here which is super exciting.

I'm just looking to find out what your Christmas Eve/day is like?

Do you have any traditions that you follow each year?

Would love to hear them & get some ideas for myself.

Christmas always felt really magical for me growing up. And I really want my children to feel that way from me.

Thanks x

Aw I love Christmas!! So exciting with little ones… altho also much more tiring than before!
Christmas Eve, we go to my in laws for the day, nice lunch, drinks in the afternoon, then we walk to our local pub for a couple before walking to the church for carols by candlelight. Home to put out a stocking (pillow case 😂) for the small one, Father Christmas’s plate, new Christmas jammies on then to bed. DH and I always watch a muppets Christmas carol on Christmas Eve, with a baileys while wrapping presents, we’ve done that every year we’ve been together. My son is still a wee bit young for films but maybe next year he’ll watch too.
Christmas Day, we host my in laws and some of ny family too so I’m up early! I don’t put any limits or rules on when presents can be opened throughout the day, so stockings and presents from us are done first thing, while I dole out bacon sandwiches and Buck’s Fizz. Christmas dinner is pretty traditional, three courses and I’m a proper fuss arse about how the table looks etc, then a walk around the farm after dinner, everyone goes which is nice. We don’t put the tv on on Christmas Day, I personally don’t like it, so we play games and stuff in the evening.
Boxing Day, go to the local Boxing Day hunt meet and see them off (and drink port!) then home to relax, eat leftovers, relax, drink and relax some more!

Wow. That sounds utterly divine. I like the idea of not having the TV on. We don't usually do this either when it was just me and DP. We would have dinner and listen to Christmas music & then at night we would do a cheeseboard and watch Christmas films.

This year is going to look so different. I'm really excited.

Where we live there is plenty of beautiful walks & Forrest's so I think if it's dry we are going to do this too on Christmas Day! We're having his side and possibly mines so it's going to be lovely having a full house for a change!

It's like pretty much any other Bank Holiday:
Not at work.
Stay in the house.
Read books/watch TV
Have a couple of glasses of wine

If I'm lucky, I book an actual holiday in a lovely European city, and go round a fab gallery or museum.

Christmas Eve, I finish the chilled desserts for Christmas Day (trifle and pannacottas, not everyone likes Christmas pudding in our house although I do a small one for me and my mum) and potter with my daughter in pyjamas. We'll then go down into town for the carols at a local courtyard and go to the christingle at our town's major church. We also go to a bookshop as we love the Icelandic custom of getting new books on Christmas Eve and spending the evening reading and eating chocolate. So we get home, have random party foods for tea, do the Father Christmas plate, stockings are all hung up when we decorate so they're up. We light the fire and have a cosy evening with books, chocolate and wine (milk for the little one)

Christmas Day, we get up when my daughter wakes. She's a good sleeper so the last couple of years, we've been awake and waiting for her (she's 6 now, I know the 5am "HE'S BEEEEEEEEENNNN!" could happen any year so I'm defo not smug about that) Once all up, we do presents, have bucks fizz, more chocolate and either croissants or bacon butties. Both sets of parents arrive at some point later on so that's more presents. Oh I forgot we have Christmas music on throughout, the fire on, it's lovely. Christmas dinner early afternoon, followed by watching HM The King, then the TV goes back off and we have a little walk, come home and play games (I love those ones you get in the supermarket or B&M like little quizzes and stuff) I'm longing for the day it snows so we can play in the snow on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day varies but I think we're going to do a country walk and country pub meal (which I need to book actually)

Christmas Eve daytime we normally go out for a walk and a pub lunch the in the late afternoon out on some Christmas films for Ds while I prep Christmas lunch for the following day.

Christmas Day we open presents in the morning in PJ's then we have our family over for lunch and games in the afternoon. Chilled evening eating leftovers watching Christmas TV!

Mine are a bit older now, but at that age on Christmas Eve morning we’d put on Christmas jumpers and head out for a walk in the morning to local country park or woods, swing by Tesco on way home for a hot choc and festive cake/treat and also pick up any last bits. Luckily by Christmas Eve most people had done all their food shopping and Tesco was actually quite chilled.

Come home for lunch, DC would watch CBeebies/Peppa Pig etc whilst I prepped veg for the following day. We’d have an early tea (about 4.30) as our local rotary club would come round with Santa sleigh- it usually passes our house around 6pm so most of the neighbours would be out on the pavement it’s a really nice atmosphere, then we’d go for a walk around local streets to see some of the lit up houses and then home for another hot choc. Then into pyjamas and sort Santa’s plate out.

This year DD (nearly 9) wants to make a Yule log so we’re going to do that Christmas Eve morning and then she’ll probably want to play Roblox in the afternoon online with her friends. We’ll still do an early tea, the Santa sleigh and go for a walk to see the houses. Hopefully DS (14) will come with us too.

Christmas Day morning we used to get up at normal time and have breakfast, open presents. Mid morning we’d have pastries then cook lunch. Eat chocolate in the afternoon, DC normally had pizza for tea. Then bed for them.

I love Christmas with little ones!!

We always go and see a show on Christmas Eve then we come home, have a party/ buffet tea& watch the Snowman or another festive animation with hot chocolates. The kids get new pyjamas & a new book every Christmas Eve & we leave the bits out for Father Christmas. (Xmas eve is my fave bit, to be honest!)

Xmas day, the kids are usually up & opening presents early, early. The grandparents come for Xmas lunch. We mostly spend the day just playing games, watching telly, generally relaxing. Then buffet/ party tea in front of the Xmas Strictly special.

On Boxing Day we go for a big walk & come home for bubble & squeak for brunch.

Christmas Eve deffo Elf and Muppet Christmas Carol. Magical. Christmas Day: open pressies then get ready for a brilliant day.

My DC are 4 and almost 2. I love love love Christmas.

On Christmas Eve I like to do a christmas breakfast. Nothing overly elaborate. Usually a christmas tree crumpet and some strawberries/banana in a candy cane shape. I also get the NSPCC letter from Santa which is "delivered" at breakfast time.

This year we will spend Christmas Eve travelling after visiting family. When they get in the car there'll be something new to keep them entertained during the long journey. Last year it was Mickey/Minnie christmas soft toys.

When we get home we'll decorate some biscuits for Santa (at this age I have the biscuits ready and they just decorate). Then it's tea, Christmas Eve box, some Christmas TV, then bath, Santa plate, reindeer food, Christmas story, hang up stocking and bed (this always takes longer than I think it will so start bedtime earlier than you normally would!).

My favourite moment is when Santa has "been" and I'm sitting with just the tree lights on having a final Baileys before bed.

DH is working Christmas Day this year so we'll hopefully manage to open a few presents before he goes out. Then DPIL will come round for breakfast and presents. They'll stay an hour or so and then I'll have a quiet day with the kids and DM. Then on Boxing Day we'll go to DPIL for a party with extended family.

On xmas eve we do xmas eve box which has new PJs, toothbrush, supper, hot chocolate and a book.

We get up when the first kid gets up (somewhere between 6-8 am likely) and then I go down first and the kids follow so I can unlock the room (to keep the pets out).

They see all the stuff delivered by Reindeer UPS is set up and ready to play (the big items, am I fluff attempting to wrap a bike etc... lol), they spend a minute or two scanning that but are usually hyper to start unwrapping.

So we sit in a semi circle and unwrap gift one at a time going around. It takes a while so DH might pop to the kitchen to put the over on for breakfast pizza.

After presents the kids open or play with everything working their way round. Crap xmas tv has likely been switched on so some film no one is watching is creating background noise and DH starts cooking.

We have Dinner when its ready, do crackers and play a family game. Then its time for Santa Sack and Stocking then thats pretty much bed time for the little ones.

Its just us for Xmas we don't host or leave the house so its pretty relaxed and fluid.

I think from mumsnet we might be the only people on earth that do the Stockings last right before bed though so probably not standard.

Christmas Eve day time varies, but generally I try to tire the kids out. This year we are going to the west end to Panto and a look around.

Christmas Eve evening is always new PJs, a new teddy and a bath bomb. They have a bath and get into their PJs, then put out the snacks for Santa and the reindeer. Then we sit and read The Night Before Christmas together, then they go to bed with their new teddy.

Once they're in bed and asleep, we transport all the presents downstairs and put them in stockings/ under the tree. Santa leaves a gift for each of them on the end of their bed. Me and DH have ham, egg and chips for dinner and have a drink and watch a film. I love Christmas Eve.

Reading these makes me feel so nostalgic!

Christmas Day - kids wake up early, and come in to tell us he's been. They open their Santa gift on our bed. Then we go downstairs, me and DH get a coffee and we open stockings. Then we sit and have a nice breakfast together at the dinner table with Christmas music. Then after breakfast we open the presents under the tree. Normally I get the turkey in at this point and my parents pop round to see us, but this year we are going to them for lunch. Kids play with toys, we read books, play games, kids eventually go to bed and we watch a blockbuster, eat picky bits and leftovers and get gently pissed.

It’s bloody busy!
Christmas Eve is usually me running about the house like a headless chicken cleaning and tidy, last minute shopping for anything we forgot (just to the co op up the road, not real shops in the town centre) or didn’t get delivered and wrapping, then at some point I drop everything and dh and I take the dc (old now! 19,18 and 12) for a walk. Then home, he continues with the food prep for the next day which he’s been doing all day, he cleans the kitchen and calls the dc to make mince pies.
We light the fire, are usually too busy to sit and enjoy it but the dc normally watch a film.
we eat whatever is quick and easy and won’t make too much mess.
Christmas Day we wake the dc, they do Stockings downstairs by the fire and then everyone gets showered and changed (dh is back in the kitchen at this point), then congregate again for tree presents.
soon after that our guests (about 14 of them) arrive and it’s utter bedlam from there on in until 6pm when more guests arrive and then carnage is unleashed.
ifs fun, it’s busy, it’s lovely. But my god is it hard work! Covid Christmas was the loveliest most relaxed I’ve ever had 😂

Me too, I was just about to say the same thing. X

Lovely reading all the traditions and how most peoples are similar.

Here's another question.

What food do you prep for Christmas Day, on Christmas Eve? Xxx

Christmas Eve I prep some of the Christmas dinner while the kids entertain the grandparents or play out and then we all go for a walk round some festive houses locally.

Home to watch a film and put out plates for Santa then to bed. I wrap all presents before December so it's just a case of bringing them out.

Christmas Day is a hectic house full, everyone comes to us. The full Christmas dinner and then games and lots of laughter. Carols from kings plays until it's time to clear the table and then it's something more lively. Buble gets his moment while we eat obviously.

Drinks and lots of laughter and then everyone disappears to bed or home until it's just me sitting in the quiet with a drink and Eastenders on catch up 🤣

Ours has evolved over the years as the DC have got older. They're 16 and 12 now.

Christmas Eve I put some things on to bake/steam, particularly puddings and the ham and red cabbage. Usually smells lovely.

The DC clean the bathroom and their bedrooms whilst singing carols/dancing/messing about. Then out to lunch in a pub or a v cold picnic. We meet good friends for a long walk and a hot chocolate/look at the lights. Call in and see friends/drop off gifts, maybe the carol service, then home. There's always a letter and a new book by the fire. Letter is from the head elf telling the DC about the year. Pyjamas on and then we read Christmas books, play the piano/sing, play parlour games. Dinner is either out of the slow cooker or a hot buffet. We still do mince pies and milk for Father Christmas and stockings. I read the same set of books to the DC, finishing with The Night Before Christmas and they then have a sleepover in each other's bedrooms.

I love the next bit. I prep the veg for the next day whilst listening to carols on vinyl and then set everything up ie stockings, snowy footprints, presents from us etc. Around 11pm I go and stand/sit in the garden. I love it. It's usually quiet and crisp. I think about the year just gone and the year ahead. I imagine my family and friends waiting for tomorrow. I think about how many excited children, parents, grandparents and couples are asleep in bed across the village and beyond. And I'm not one for any of that #gratitude schtick, but it feels like the most lovely pause. I sit out there for quite a while before going in, locking up and going to bed.

Christmas Day depends on a few factors but stockings, breakfast, presents, family, food, games, music. We always listen to Junior Choice on the radio and I feel emotional. My family comes for lunch and we squash into my snug to exchange presents. I go quite ott with dinner. Lots of sides, various stuffings, 3 choices of meat, vegetarian options etc. Several puddings too, usually served much later. I also do a late buffet with cold meats, pickles, cheeses, mince pies and cake. Plus naff favourites such as Twiglets and Cheese Footballs. Not much TV. We will watch Ghosts but very little else.

It's just happy and relaxed and about family and food and music mostly. I adore it with every fibre of my being.

We are small family, just my husband, me and the kid (10). Sometimes I felt a bit flat about our Christmases being so small and quiet compared to others’ and the big family Christmases you see on adverts with everyone squeezed round the table. So what we do now is go for a night in London a day or two beforehand, and have a busy couple of days there being tourists, seeing all the lights up and department stores decked out. Then when we get home I’m glad to have a couple of quiet days to recover on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We always have a ‘Bethlehem Supper’ on Christmas Eve, which is essentially posh mezze foods from the deli with a middle-eastern theme (which means there’s
nice leftovers in the fridge and saves me cooking for one night). We always watch A Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve and leave mince pie, sherry and a carrot out for Santa and the Reindeers. Christmas Day I always make sure we have new books and a game in our presents, so that we have things to keep us occupied, and on Boxing Day I think we will go to the pub at some point during the day (there are some very cosy ones nearby). We then go and visit family about 1hr away and stay in a hotel for one or two nights there between Christmas and New Year.

This is a lovely thread and giving me inspo 😊

Boxing Day we go and jump in the sea, flasks of tea and soup on the beach and then a long walk. We go to the in-laws for a warm fire and leftovers/chocolates/presents etc. 19 of us in total and it's noisy and joyful.

Not sure what we're doing this year! It's likely we'll drive the four hours to my mum and dad's house in Liverpool to spend Christmas there. Our son will be three this year so it will be the first Christmas where he's aware something is going on. Hopefully we can start some traditions of our own and make it magical for him 🥰

Christmas at home is usually presents in the morning followed by everyone getting nicely dressed and having a roast turkey lunch. We then go for a beach walk in the afternoon before coming home to watch films and have a 'pick-n-mix' tea 😬

Husband's family Christmas (small southern deep country village) is quite different! There we start with midnight mass at the church we got married in, in the morning we have bacon sandwiches for breakfast then get dressed up and go to the pub for a drink before lunch (it opens for one hour on Christmas), come home for lunch, have more drinks and maybe a film before eating a roast dinner around 8pm. A very adult occasion! We wouldn't be able to do this now we have the toddler 😅

Me too 🥰

That all sounds lovely!