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Christmas

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Original poster

Ideas how to spend Christmas alone (but not lonely!)

48 replies

Andreaoid · 15/12/2025 11:28

For anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas for religious or other reasons, what do you actually do? Please share your ideas!

I'm in my 30s, recently widowed without children, the whole extended family is abroad. So, I will be spending Christmas alone for the second time. I have a dog and live in quite a small town in Midlands so there's not much diversity going on and everything is pretty much shut for the day. Even our diverse places like local Chinese etc are closed for the Christmas period.

Last year, the dog and I drove to the seaside for a long walk but nothing was open for us to have a coffee or something to eat. And the rest of the day we just spent at home. I was doing some wholesome and mindless activities like a jigsaw puzzle and cross stitch.

I'd love to hear some ideas how to enjoy the day off without feeling heaviness in my heart. I'm not keen on volunteering (I know it's selfish but it's my day off!) and I can't leave the dog for an extended period of time alone.

OP posts:
BillieNoM888 · 15/12/2025 11:35

I have faith but don't really celebrate it.
Treat it as a day of doing not much. Have a nice lunch - nothing fancy. Used to toast the Queen's speech (aka have a G&T).
Text a few messages. If the weather's nice, i might potter about in the garden or go for a walk.
That's about it.

Melsy88 · 15/12/2025 11:35

I love dog walks on Christmas morning. Everyone is in a good mood, and chatty - its really nice. So I'd keep the beach dog walk! Or go for a country dog walk and end in a pub for a festive drink!
Then personally, I'd make myself my favourite food, and watch some Christmas movies.
Sounds like bliss to me!

iamnotalemon · 15/12/2025 11:42

You could go to the seaside again if you enjoyed it but take a picnic and a flask if nothing is open. I love being by the sea so I would do this.

GrinchyScroogus · 15/12/2025 13:49

Cook a small turkey breast or crown with all the trimmings. Sorts your food out for a few days and the effort of doing it all and timing it fills your time up AND gives you a great sense of achievement.

Watch the Queen's King's speech

Plan your tv watching ahead so if there is a film you've been wanting to see save it for Christmas day.

A walk is a good idea.

Call people you know who are also alone just to wish them a happy christmas. That's a two way service because some people may never speak to anyone at all otherwise.

FourFiveEightNine · 15/12/2025 14:43

Definitely focus on things that make you happy, rather than the imaginary celebration promulgated on TV and SM. You don’t mention cooking, but for me Christmas is an occasion for elevated versions of all my favourite food and drink, though it may well not involve any sort of roast if I’m spending the day alone.

So my morning would be taken up with FaceTiming relatives, eating and drinking, maybe a walk if I’m away from home. Lots of loud music. Admiring any particularly good gifts.

I’d also save up a book I’ve been longing to read. (Although one Christmas Day that was Edith Wharton’s ‘The House of Mirth’ - so I spent the evening in floods of tears and was traumatised well into NY.)

Boxing Day would involve a walk, and the cinema.

The whole beauty of it is that there’s no set agenda.

Original poster
Andreaoid · 15/12/2025 15:26

FourFiveEightNine · 15/12/2025 14:43

Definitely focus on things that make you happy, rather than the imaginary celebration promulgated on TV and SM. You don’t mention cooking, but for me Christmas is an occasion for elevated versions of all my favourite food and drink, though it may well not involve any sort of roast if I’m spending the day alone.

So my morning would be taken up with FaceTiming relatives, eating and drinking, maybe a walk if I’m away from home. Lots of loud music. Admiring any particularly good gifts.

I’d also save up a book I’ve been longing to read. (Although one Christmas Day that was Edith Wharton’s ‘The House of Mirth’ - so I spent the evening in floods of tears and was traumatised well into NY.)

Boxing Day would involve a walk, and the cinema.

The whole beauty of it is that there’s no set agenda.

This is probably what I'm going to do. I also buy some ridiculously expansive or indulgent meal that I normally don't eat and have it for a couple of days. Read, do jigsaw, drink, call relatives, go for a walk...

It's funny how there's this feeling of longing for lovely family Christmas but in reality it's utter chaos of pretending you're getting along for one day in a year. Thanks to Mumsnet I'm well aware Christmas for many women is really taxing.

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MrsBobtonTrent · 15/12/2025 15:45

I like contrasts, so it would be a cold, blowy seaside or hilltop ramble with flask of tea. Then home for hot bath, cosy clothes and blankets, candles, good music, good book or an old film. Defo cinema on boxing day if it works with dog. Eat what you want, when you want - not need to cater for others or fit in with their schedules. Maybe periodically pop onto MN and read the stressed threads about Christmas hosting/visiting before feeling smug and returning to your cocoon of bliss. I quite like a sparsely attended Christmas service - midnight mass at a church usually dominated by old people who can't stay up that late. Or early morning Christmas service (often BCP) unlikely to attract crowds or families.

If you are in or near London, it's a great day to walk around the City - all the offices closed, no traffic, some of the churches open. It's a place with a lot of history, weird little passages, quirky pubs (check openings as many will be closed, but there's usually one or two. But on weekdays it's hard to see the interesting bits - Sundays are good, but Christmas Day is peak.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 15/12/2025 15:49

The beach is a long from the Midlands but is there a nice walk locally? Lake or canal in the countryside?
I would get a mini Christmas dinner, maybe roast a poussin and share it with your doggy. Lovely starter and pudding. I would buy yourself some presents and chocolates/nice wine. I would make the afternoon cosy with candles and listen to some hymns or music you enjoy so you relax fully. Have a wonderful day.

RenoDakota · 15/12/2025 16:06

What about walking at parkrun? There are a lot of parkruns on Christmas Day and you don't have to run! Starts at 9am and is all done by 10 or thereabouts. Walkers are actively encouraged to join in and dogs are very welcome too. It is always a very friendly and fun social occasion with lots of cheerful runners and walkers. But, equally, you don't have to talk to other people if you don't want to! Suits absolutely anybody.
It is a great, feelgood, fresh air burst, leaving most of the rest of the day free to do other things.

Original poster
Andreaoid · 15/12/2025 17:42

Sadly too far away from London but we used to live there for 10 years, but actually only 1 hour from the sea. No parkrun in my neck of the woods.

I don't like turkey (I know, I know!) so I'll be cooking something different - maybe I'll try some new Indian for a change.

Honestly, I don't like to be too traditional because following the scripted 'christmas' schedule (roast, church, kings speech, etc.) can feel like I'm missing out on the actual 'real' thing. The best is to make it quite unique and different. Who knows how many years of spending the holidays alone I have ahead of me.

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Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/12/2025 18:14

I treat it like any other day off. Probably painting this year. And toast, hot buttery toast!

FourFiveEightNine · 15/12/2025 18:14

Remember you don’t always have to spend it in the same place. Once in a while if I know I’ll be alone at Christmas I book a hotel I’ve enjoyed earlier in the year; occasionally I’ve house sat for friends in a place I adore. I want peace and quiet this year, but next year I may well host people I’m fond of …

Thistooshallpsss · 15/12/2025 18:18

Or be completely untraditional and start a major diy project just remember to get all the paint/ screws/missing hammer/ critical plumbing bits beforehand

Specialagentblond · 15/12/2025 18:23

I’d save or buy something to binge watch.
or do an at home spa day
hire myself a hot tub

Meadowfinch · 15/12/2025 18:26

I'd plan each day, as a mix of:

  • long dog walk with picnic/home made coffee & festive snacks
  • cooking my favourite food
  • Christmas films/tv
  • A chance to rest, relax and exercise.
MysticHalfWitch · 15/12/2025 19:05

I’m spending it alone this year. I’ve bought myself two new pairs of posh pyjamas, some Jo Malone bath oil (the BIG bottle) and some champagne. I’m going to go for a long walk with the dog, eat nice snacky foods and drink my champagne in the bath. Then I’m going to watch films in my new jamas and maybe read a new book. The kids are worrying about me being on my own bless them; I’m actually really looking forward to it

MysticHalfWitch · 15/12/2025 19:22

@FourFiveEightNinethanks to you I’ve just bought the House of Mirth 😆. I’m going to read it now though, not save it for Christmas Day.

flowerlover1990 · 15/12/2025 19:25

I’d go to the coast for a long dog walk, pack a flask of hot tea and something nice to eat. I’d come home and have a bath or shower with some lovely products. Get in fresh pjs and have a movie marathon with picky party food. Sounds like heaven!!

FourFiveEightNine · 15/12/2025 19:27

You have been warned, @MysticHalfWitch!

WonderingWanda · 15/12/2025 19:32

If I was on my own I think I'd go on holiday somewhere hot so I could read on a sunl lounger while sipping a cocktail.

BillieNoM888 · 15/12/2025 19:49

@WonderingWanda, If you are feeling lonely, you'll feel lonely on holiday.
A good book can be good company though.

FourFiveEightNine · 15/12/2025 19:51

This thread isn’t about ‘feeling lonely’ though, @BillieNoM888.

WonderingWanda · 15/12/2025 20:03

BillieNoM888 · 15/12/2025 19:49

@WonderingWanda, If you are feeling lonely, you'll feel lonely on holiday.
A good book can be good company though.

I disagree. If I was sat at home or going for walks watching families celebrate together and feeling stuck for things to do because everything was shut then any loneliness would be amplified. If I went somewhere gorgeous and hot like Thailand where there will be Christmas festivities but it would also be a normal working day. I could sit on a beach in luxury sipping cocktails and someone else would be cooking a lovely meal and if I picked the right location / hotel there would be other singles to spend time with. Maybe I could go for a snorkel, maybe have a massage etc. The point is there would be things to do in other countries. That's just my opinion of what I would do

Of course you could just tell the op not to bother as everything will make her lonely so she might as well give up now.....but that's inaccurate and unhelpful. Do you have any helpful suggestions @BillieNoM888?

BillieNoM888 · 15/12/2025 20:08

@FourFiveEightNine I took it to mean how to spend Christmas alone without feeling lonely.

Original poster
Andreaoid · 15/12/2025 20:10

WonderingWanda · 15/12/2025 20:03

I disagree. If I was sat at home or going for walks watching families celebrate together and feeling stuck for things to do because everything was shut then any loneliness would be amplified. If I went somewhere gorgeous and hot like Thailand where there will be Christmas festivities but it would also be a normal working day. I could sit on a beach in luxury sipping cocktails and someone else would be cooking a lovely meal and if I picked the right location / hotel there would be other singles to spend time with. Maybe I could go for a snorkel, maybe have a massage etc. The point is there would be things to do in other countries. That's just my opinion of what I would do

Of course you could just tell the op not to bother as everything will make her lonely so she might as well give up now.....but that's inaccurate and unhelpful. Do you have any helpful suggestions @BillieNoM888?

Edited
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Unfortunately, having a dog prohibits me going on holiday over Christmas. All boarding places near me are booked up by February so you need to be super organised and know what you're doing over Christmas almost a year ahead. Which sadly I never do.

Just to add I haven't ever been on foreign holiday by myself. I'm still not ready to do that.

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