If you could share one thing that you do that makes your Christmas less stressful.

[MaryJanesonabreak]

To counteract the current wingefest of everything irritating about Christmas, I thought I would start a thread for those of us who enjoy it.

It can be a lot of work, and I can’t think of anything more helpful to offer than as much prepping as possible. I’ve frozen a batch of gravy, the vegan stuffing and regular one, the little sausage things, the braised cabbage and a tray of cauliflower cheese which we always have on Christmas Eve with baked potatoes.

If anyone has any tips on managing the more bonkers members of the family that would be great!

I love it

Spread out the meal so it lasts from about 12 to 4 - no breakfast, no evening meal except what you make for yourself.

We have a glass of fizz and starters - usually easily prepared.

Few pressies and pause, leisurely prep and cook lunch.

Main course

Pressies and pause

Dessert if anyone wants by this point.

Sort yourself out in the evening if hungry.

Fills the day up nicely, enjoy the meal more, no stress.

Don’t start before December - no need

No elf on the shelf or Christmas boxes or pyjamas - I love Christmas but it does not need more ritual

We usually host, but we split up cooking Christmas dinner. It means my MIL does Turkey Crown - I miss the dark meat but don’t blame her. We buy in the sauces. Split up jobs on the day. Guests get jobs.

No first course! (Are people mad?!) or special Christmas breakfast. Cheeseboard and cake for supper.

When the kids were little, stockings in the morning, one present mid morning (selected to keep them busy), rest of the presents after lunch, so all wrapping paper dealt with at the same time.

No proper cooking other than Christmas Day - Boxing Day is cold cuts and more cheeseboard (which everyone loves)

All food and drink delivered. All presents delivered. No tags.

Don’t hold any parties, we do a summer one, so just pitch up to other people’s - but really only the ones that I want to (ok one or two obligation neighbour ones, but breeze in and out).

We go to relatives between Christmas and NY so get hosted.

We go away for NY with friends - just buy in ready made food.

I really love Christmas.

Same wrapping paper for everything but different ribbon for the kids presents which gets reused year after year

Christmas Eve box contains a selection box and a note with 2 films they can pick from and we can watch both in one day.

We go out for dinner Christmas eve, usually fish and chip restaurant, order huge amounts of Indian takeaway Christmas day, for all the family as no one wants a traditional Christmas dinner, plenty of ready made buffet food in the fridge for anyone to pick at if they're peckish. I will host Christmas eve and on the day itself, but refuse to have people stay over as, haven't got the space and I don't need the stress. This works brilliantly for us and makes for a relaxed, stress free Christmas, no littles at all as my kids are older teens, and adults.

I pre cook soup and freeze so it's defrosted and reheated on the day. I se my slow cooker for one meat that looks in there until serving, I also use my actifry so my oven is clear for the chipolatas/roast veg/other sides.

Dessert is ice lollies.

I set the table 2 days before so I know what space I have in the room and on the table for serving dishes.

We hang up stockings empty of Xmas Eve. So I have just started getting a small lidded cardboard box (like gift box) per person and that sits ontop of wardrobe and I can add stocking fillers to gradually over November/ December. We have in laws this year so two extra boxes.

Means if Ds doesn’t go to sleep until late, it’s easy to just decant quickly into stockings as already separate - i can also see easily then who I need to get something else for.

She probably does - she means it’s still wasteful to recycle single use stuff, as opposed to use a permanent tray.

Opt out of most organised Xmas do's eg work,hobbies etc unless you really really want to attend. Saves ££ and stress.

I love Christmas and I put a huge amount of unnecessary work in - all homemade mince pies, Christmas cake & pudding etc! I start early and do a lot of planning but, if I'm honest, I think the most important thing for me is that I have a job where I'm off for the whole period. That means that although the run up is crazy, I then have a lovely chilled 'Twixtmas' which means I don't mind the busyness and it's balanced.

Do all the food prep on Xmas eve with the kids and Xmas music. Even small kids can usefully peel carrots and wrap bacon around sausages. Is a family tradition now and they actually look forward to it as part of the excitement!

We never go anywhere Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day, and don't host on those days either. Just me, DH & the kids, no stress, suiting ourselves. Usually in pyjamas 😁

This is so true! Christmas in our house is a fusion of Danish og British, and we eat the big dinner on Xmas Eve, have turkey sandwiches on Xmas day.

For the day itself, I get the kids to set the table the night before and get all drinks ready and accessible. I like it done nicely and understandably they aren't very interested when they've got new presents to play with. It means we aren't searching for a knife while I'm trying to drain veg or whatever.

I make stuffing on Christmas Eve and I write out a rough plan of what needs to go in or out of the oven at what time. On the day then it's just a bit extra work then a normal roast dinner. I think it helps that I like cooking

My sil uses a buffet server which she swears by as some things can sit in there once done which means you're clearing down space and don't need timings to be precise. It feels a bit 80s to me but I do see the huge appeal of warm top ups mid meal!

More generally I try to make sure I book at least one thing with a friend that is Christmassy and enjoyable and just for me. So afternoon tea or a Christmas concert and I try to stop and take it it all in!

We always aim to get all presents bought and wrapped by the end of November. That way there's December salary for food and you don't have to go to the shops when in panic mode and when everyone else is there.
Definitely reduces stress levels and means I can enjoy the build up in December way more.

I get sticky labels for presents, you can get some nice ones not just ugly kiddy ones!

Biggest tip would be go to someone’s else’s house for the feast, that’s what my family all seem to do and they love Christmas - the house they come to is mine, what I wouldn’t give to just nip down the road to someone else’s!!

I make a few Christmas fabric draw string bags every year, been doing it for three years now and have about twenty in different sizes from large enough for a chunky jumper to small enough for an earring box. Last year I made a couple bottle size.

these bags are only for immediate family in our home, I took some luggage label tags and replaced the string with ribbons and these get reused year on year swopping to the relevant size bag. After unwrapping all the presents I put it all in the largest bag all ready for next year.

Reuse gift labels
Use Amazon gift bags within the household (so get to keep them)
Prep food the night before

Have never done: diy advent calendars, elves on sheves, Christmas eve boxes, starters

Main thing that reduces stress: About a week before I agree a list of 'jobs that need doing' with DH and then he doesn't get to add random extras until the list is done.

x-post with @Ponderingtosk except people gave us Amazon bags over the years so I didn't need to make them.

We are renting an apartment at the coast and will not buy each other presents. Lunch will be a veggie wellington from Lidl. We give the GC money. That’s it.

I recommend here:
https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/hertsandcrafts

for Christmas fabric bags if you don’t want to make your own. Not expensive and profits go to charity.

In my (very large) family we:

Only buy Christmas gifts to our own kids, to our spouse, and to our parents. That's a lot more manageable than buying for siblings, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, in-laws, etc.

Me and my husband get each of our kids ONE Christmas gift that cost an X amount. No stocking fillers, no Christmas boxes, no unnecessary extra crap: just ONE gift on Christmas Eve. One that they REALLY want. They have everything they need and don't need, so we don't want to be wasteful with getting them too much crap. We are also very family-oriented and religious, so, for us, Christmas is so not about the gifts. Like, at all.
Aside from that one gift our kids each get, we set money aside for them in their savings accounts instead.

We don't do overcrowding or prolonged stays. We have X amounts of spare rooms, and they are primarily reserved for those who travel the furthest, our grandparents or our parents.

Cooking is a social event / activity, not a burden that falls upon one or two people. In our family, everyone brings something, and everyone partakes in cooking the traditional Christmas dishes.

Many of mine are the same as others:

Prep what I can food wise in advance. Cold buffet including leftovers on Boxing Day and the following day (with added bubble and squeak if I feel like it).

I use a selection of pretty Christmas bags and boxes of various sizes to store my decorations, then use them for presents until they are opened, then put them away with all the decorations in afterwards. I attached the gift tags to ribbons that I can just tie around the boxes.

Last year was the first year I didn't send cards. I did put a couple of posts on social media instead to hopefully reach everyone that I would have sent cards to in the past.

I have substantially reduced the number of presents I buy and I am normally finished buying before mid-December. Knowing everything is ready reduces last minute stress.

I love taking up all the invites with friends and family!
eg Xmas markets meals looking at the lights in London making memories!!
Then I book Xmas day meal out and invite all the kids their partners and mother in law !
We don’t buy any adults presents but give the kids what they want still 😌!
Just do a normal grocery shop like I normally do but add a few extra bits and don’t worry cus I know shops open 😂!
Basically don’t worry about it and enjoy it !

I am irrationally horrified by this.