Keeping Christmas simple

[GuyForksAndKnives]

How do you do this, everyone?

I’m 60-ish. Adult kids and their partners coming to stay over Christmas. No grandchildren yet.

i just stick to the important (to us) things and do them well.

Decorating:
Real tree (but 5’, not gargantuan), wreath on front door. That’s it. No oversized nutcrackers, novelty tea towels, Christmas pyjamas etc.

Food:
Christmas Eve - fish pie
Christmas Day - Turkey etc
Boxing Day - cold ham and salads
Anything that can be done in advance is done and frozen - eg gravy, red cabbage etc
I don’t buy those plastic tubs of Quality Street etc chocolates anymore. I just buy our family’s favourite chocolates and stick to that.

Plans:
I try not to make too many plans. The nicest times are sitting about chatting with a cup of tea, not having to rush to be ready because we’ve got to be out by a certain time.

Presents:
I only buy for my immediate family.

Cards:
I’ve pared it down to about two dozen (older people who we never see).

Christmas is so OTT wherever you look and it can feel overwhelming and not enjoyable. By keeping things simple I stay relaxed (well, relaxed-ISH!). Because if I am strsssed and martyry then it spoils it for everyone. If I’m relaxed and happy, so is everyone else.

Sounds good. Do the kids help? Hope they at least do the clean up after!

Good food and drink and don't buy too much as shops are open after the main days anyway.
Not too many expectations on having everything perfect. Decide what your priorities are and follow those.
Don't overspend on gifts and where possible reduce gift giving for the sake of it.
Don't get sucked in to all the advert hype I just keep saying to myself this is just consumerism.
Doesn't mean you have to be bah humbug I love Christmas but I don't need new plates and candles and place settings etc.

I bought some cards from a local crafter. With girlfriends we're having a price limit and sending a list with things we want rather like a secret Santa. Buying from local makers where we can. Doing a lot in the lead up to Christmas so it's a season not focused on the one day.

So far we've planned: (with different permutations of friends)

Advent service
Kate Rusby
Local folk carols
Chatsworth
Movie night
Christmas Eve service
Festive afternoon tea
Boxing Day dinner out
A Christmas Carol on stage
Cinema and meal NYE
New Year's Day dinner out

So far I'm only cooking on Christmas Day itself and then watching TV all evening!

We have an artificial tree (we have a dog with fluffy paws so sadly no real tree) and decorations that we have had for years. We don’t go for decorating trends or fashions so no need to change every year. We don’t have outdoor lights or decorations.

We don’t send cards except to a handful of very close friends and family. This really became an issue because we don’t live in the UK full time and we aren’t around in the run up to Christmas. It has saved a fortune as the cost of stamps has gone up.

We only give gifts to immediate family and alas there are only 6 of us including adult DS and his GF.

We don’t do any Christmas PJs, Christmas Eve stuff….we don’t have little kids though and I understand the pressure people feel.

I’ve stopped buying stuff like nuts, biscuits no-one eats, making a Christmas Cake that won’t get eaten. We stick to things the family love and will actually eat rather than feeling it’s not Christmas without whatever.

We enjoy things like a walk round town to see the lights, the concert at the local church, the local markets. We are in France before Christmas and it’s much less commercial here (it’s changing but thankfully not too much).

We stay off social media.

No elf, no Xmas eve box, no ridiculous over the top stuff.

I put up gable lights and real Christmas tree in December. stockings and decorate the sitting room,

Special breakfast, classic roast with all the trimmings, traditional puddings for lunch, then cold meat & salad for anyone who needs supper. Good quality treats and snacks. Lots of family & friends.

One large present and a few smaller ones for ds. A few nice things for me. See friends on Christmas Day then chill out and watch a Xmas film, and be lazy.

So what we don't do:
. elf on shelf
. new pjs
. Christmas eve boxes
. hot chocolate station
. themed decorations or wrapping up
. multiple paid Christmas activities
. put tree up early
. drink lots of booze
. special breakfast
. special anything on 1st Dec except get advent calendars out (1 reusable, and 1 chocolate)

Secret santa with siblings and spouses one side (15 quid limit). Only children's presents the other side and £10 per child. I don't buy for friends or DH so it's just my parents. Lots of second hand bits in stockings and for presents for my own DC. No elf or Christmas Eve box or matching pj's etc. Going to the grandparents 😂 so no cooking!

That sounds like a lot of things to plan around .
My Christmas is fairly simple , tree /decorations up 2nd weekend in Dec , a few new but mainly our precious decorations collected over many years , lots of greenery ,candles and fairy lights.
Good traditional turkey etc , just a big roast dinner.
No novelty purchases or trends , just a cosy home with our family.

These are all throughout December and into January though.