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Original poster

What was your best Christmas ever and why ?

16 replies

StiffyByngsDogBartholomew · 12/12/2023 23:04

christmas 2019

DH was working 12hrs. I declined the invitation to MILS for the usual massive family crimbo as I hate it (not my mil, she is wonderful but being an only child I find the big, rowdy family gathering full of kids running round overwhelming) was the first time since 2007. My parents did a rotary thing every year so we never had any pressure to spend the day there. DD and I spent the day on our own, ate Chinese takeaway we'd collected late on Christmas Eve and played monopoly all day. We went down the yard in the morning to see her horse and everyone there. It was brilliant, no pressure, no clearing up and I spent the whole day in my dressing gown.

i would give my eye teeth to do that again this year but regrettably circs are now very different.

OP posts:
justanothermanicmonday1 · 12/12/2023 23:35

Probably the first Christmas with my DP. I was 6 months pregnant at the time with our DD. It was the first Christmas I was truly happy and felt loved and special and Christmas felt magical again.

Now we're about to have our 3rd Christmas and we now have an almost 2 year old and a 5 month old and I could cry with excitement and happiness!

Poke · 12/12/2023 23:55

The first year I had my daughter. She was 3 months old.

We went for a long walk with family in the snow and then went to a pub for a couple of drinks, then back home for lasange. It was relaxing and lovely.

ArchetypalBusyMum · 13/12/2023 00:01
  1. Happy with future DH, was able to afford to host Xmas with everyone invited and had a good laugh getting dinner ready and doing presents on the day. Xmas is usually an act of determination to enjoy it despite xyz of some reason/issue or another so I'm glad to have had a good one at all.
NickMarlow · 13/12/2023 00:04

Also Christmas 2019, just the 4 of us. Kids bursting with excitement at their stockings and loved seeing friends at church. Dd1 was nearly 5 and delighted with all her presents, spent the afternoon dancing in her Rapunzel dress. Dd2 had taken her first steps 3 days earlier and spent the afternoon toddling around with her new doll and pram with a massive smile on her face. We cuddled up on the sofa in PJs after tea and watched the Snail and the Whale together. Just a lovely day 😊

Dogcatmousedog · 13/12/2023 00:07

My favourite Christmas was when I was 23 . I went to my parents with my boyfriend,we played trivial pursuits,drank too much,my mum made the most amazing vol au vents yes I know very dated and we had great time! From what I recall my Mum had her first and only spliff😂She was in her late 50s !
I still make vol au vent for my children and they really love them …even if they take the piss a little bit.💕

TheRulerofThings · 13/12/2023 00:10

DS2 was born the week before Christmas. I spent Christmas Day lying on the sofa with a newborn sleeping peacefully on my chest while DS1 played with his toys and DH shoved the M&S ready prepped turkey in the oven. No entertaining, no pressure, no stress. The most lovely Christmas ever.

Nonplusultra · 13/12/2023 06:37

I was 5, bursting with anticipation for Christmas and was allowed open one present on Christmas Eve , that was from my aunt. Creeping downstairs to find a new bike. It was absolutely amazing. everyone was happy, no one shouting.

Lying under the Christmas tree watching the light reflecting off the glitter ball baubles, and the foil chains strung across the ceiling.

Holding chocolate digestives to the fire for as long as my fingers could stand the heat and licking the chocolate off. My big brother quality sweet wrappers in the fire to see different colour flames.

jellybe · 13/12/2023 13:06

Lock down Christmas. Spending time just me DH and the kids without any pressures to go here there and everywhere to accommodate wider family. We did what we wanted to our own time scale and it was lovely.

Beinghonestforonce · 13/12/2023 13:08

As a younger kid, i just loved seeing my grandparents, it was so exciting waiting for them, i loved them both so much and couldnt wait to show them my presents. Both long gone now :'(

Fluffyc1ouds · 13/12/2023 15:32

Mine was before we had kids. We went to the pub on Christmas Eve and found ourselves cooking the Christmas ham at 1am on Christmas day morning before we went to bed. When we woke up we had a cocktail for breakfast. We then relaxed and ate a delicious Christmas dinner at FILs house (he's great fun and a great cook), then later went to a house party with a huge group of friends and danced until the early hours.

VERY different to how it is now! Which might be why I think of it so fondly. Christmas with kids is truly amazing, but I love that memory of letting my hair down and doing as I pleased.

pinkhousesarebest · 13/12/2023 15:39

Mine was my first Christmas with my dh, in a different country from our families as I was pregnant and declined to travel. I remember the utter freedom of buying our own turkey( and not eating it until Boxing Day!)It snowed on Christmas Eve and the city was absolutely fair tale beautiful. I remember leaning out of the window and feeling such happiness at what we had and what was about to come.
There have been wonderful Christmases since but none as full of promise. Oh to have that time again!

WinkyTinky · 13/12/2023 15:42

1978, I was only tiny but can remember it in detail. Mary's Boy Child on the record player, the biggest selection box you've ever seen, and sitting beside the air duct heating to keep warm while watching the spiral tree decorations twirling round.

nepthysrising · 13/12/2023 16:12
  1. We had been planning to host extended family, but a couple of last minute disasters meant it was just me, DH and our 7 year old. I got a ready prepped meal from M&S on Christmas Eve, so minimal cooking! 7year old had his first games console from Father Christmas, so was very very happy to play all day with it. DH and I sat on the sofa with our books and chocolates while little one played, and we chatted with him, and amongst ourselves. I went to bed that night so relaxed and happy. It lives on in my memory as a wonderful day
Original poster
StiffyByngsDogBartholomew · 13/12/2023 19:14

Love reading these memories, funny how so many revolve around just relaxing at home, no pressure. The opposite of the "perfect Christmas" beloved of magazines that we dutifully do

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Ebokebok · 13/12/2023 19:27

All of them with my parents, as a child and as an adult. Treasured memories and my heart aches for those times still. They were both disabled and housebound. I bought them a Wii one year and we spent the day playing games. The last few Christmas with my abusive ex have been awful. I ended it last Christmas and will be alone this year.

GoodlifeGlow · 13/12/2023 19:37

Covid Christmas. Didn’t have to host guests (whole family) for 4 days, we did what we wanted, it was brilliant!

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