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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Are you flexible enough to cope.........................

30 replies

Rainbow1901 · 15/12/2025 22:45

with extra people at Christmas time? There was one Christmas when 2 of DHs' nephews plus girlfriends turned up just as we were finishing our Christmas dinner. We were just clearing the table ready for pudding - we already had a full table and SisIL went mad at them for just turning up.
Coming from a family who just welcome people whoever and whenever they turn up - DH and I just washed up a few plates and cutlery and let them dig in while everyone else just topped up their wine glasses and began chatting to them and stood around so they could eat. There was nothing left for bubble and squeak the next day but we couldn't give a monkeys! It was ultimately one of our best christmases ever with a real party atmosphere and it was the early hours of Boxing Day before everyone left.
Would you welcome the extra people? Or would it give you the horrors and you just put out a few crisps for them? Or would you point blank refuse to host and accommodate them? Or just what would you do??

OP posts:

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 15/12/2025 22:59

The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned. They’d be welcomed in and offered a meal.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 15/12/2025 23:00

Yeah more the merrier here too

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 15/12/2025 23:01

We have no space so unexpected guests would get a bit of sofa, some food and in on the party games! More the merrier from where we are sat

Minty25 · 15/12/2025 23:03

I probably wouldn't be happy but would still be welcoming. It's the sort of thing that would be very unlikely to happen in our family though !

TheChosenTwo · 15/12/2025 23:04

Oh god turn up, pull up a chair and get stuck in at our house.
We have hosted all manner of what I will
lovingly refer to as ‘waifs and strays’ over the years and one year our Neighbours from a couple of doors down asked if we could
spare them any potatoes as they hadn’t bought any, they ended up joining us for the meal!
We are pretty hospitable and dh cooks enough to feed several army’s, we always send people home with boxes of roast dinner for the next day and probably the day after that such is the fear of running out of anything and anyone going hungry!

DeftGoldHedgehog · 15/12/2025 23:04

Luckily I don't know anyone who would turn up randomly during dessert at Christmas lunch.

Motheranddaughter · 15/12/2025 23:05

Definitely the more the merrier for us

Pancakeflipper · 15/12/2025 23:06

There's always enough food to go round at Christmas for any extras.

One Christmas I ended up unexpectedly on my own on Christmas Day. A friend phoned to say Happy Christmas and when I said I wasn't at my parents, their mum halted the cooking of dinner, drove an hour round journey to collect me, made me pack an overnight bag and I spent an amazing Christmas at theirs. I'd always return the favour for others.

Ponderingwindow · 15/12/2025 23:07

I have had random people show up. I hated every second and was furious about their behavior. However, I did my best to pretend it was fine and to be a good host. It basically ruined my day and took me several days to recover. I am ND.

FlowersInPots · 15/12/2025 23:07

Absolutely fine here. DH always shops as if we’re expecting to feed an army even when we’re not hosting.
On our first Christmas in this house (it’s not big), we invited my parents and 1 auntie over on Boxing Day for turkey, chips etc then cheeseboard.
Thanks to some phone calls taken while they were here we ended up with my parents, SIL, 2 aunties (and uncles who were meant to be away), dsis and her 3 dc, 2 cousins and a friend who came by to drop off a present along with her DH.
Everyone just squeezed up and it was great, nice and cheery

I will say, when DH and I were younger and on a very tight budget, an extra person or 2 would have meant no leftovers that we would have been counting on to feed us for a day or two so the extra people would have caused considerable stress (we wouldn’t have said anything though).

Shinyandnew1 · 15/12/2025 23:07

There would be plenty of food so that wouldn't be a problem.

I do think it's very rude though to just turn up at someone else's house for Christmas dinner without being invited!

jadoreyes · 15/12/2025 23:08

Leftovers are my favourite bit so I always over-cater at Christmas. A side benefit is that there’s plenty to feed unexpected extra guests. I love the idea of being somewhere people feel welcome enough just to turn up.

MCF86 · 15/12/2025 23:10

I would be freaking out internally, and probably struggle to feed them as we don't have extra servings - just extra variety for the servings we have, if that makes sense.

But who just turns up anyway?! I don't understand how turning up without asking/being invited is something people do!

Alwayswonderedwhy · 15/12/2025 23:11

I don't know anyone that would just turn up like that. We're just not that kind of family and I'd find it really odd. Don't people find this rude?
Admittedly, I'm not very sociable and don't like surprises.

bevelino · 15/12/2025 23:13

TheChosenTwo · 15/12/2025 23:04

What time can I come round lol!

JLou08 · 15/12/2025 23:23

I would not be happy if 4 people turned up expecting to be fed. I buy and cook what I need, I wouldn't have enough to feed another 4. I'd be polite and offer them a drink and some snacks but there would be no meal.

QuirkyMoose · 16/12/2025 03:20

OP, you sound like wonderful hosts and I love people that can just swing with the punches and don't let it phase them, you make do as best you can and make everyone feel welcome and accommodated. That's wonderful! That's so admirable! A lot of us stress because we want to make it such a nice and perfectly planned experience for each guest but then all of a sudden you've got extra gas and you were you don't have enough, there's enough! Make do! All are welcome... I love your attitude.
I would do my best to do the same. Find something to serve, don't care if we have to sit on the floor or perch on the arms of chairs, sit in each other's lap LOL doesn't matter. Everyone is welcome, get comfortable, and I'll do the best I can for you. That is what Christmas is all about, welcoming friends and family and others into your home and being as accommodating as you can, eating and laughing and having a good time. And like you said, this was one of your best Christmases

HappyAsASandboy · 16/12/2025 08:31

Everyone is welcome here! We always have plenty of food and would do as you did and wash them a plate!

I have no idea whether we will have 6 or 8 or 11 for lunch on Christmas Day. No worries to me; I’ll just add more gammon/pigs in blankets and veggies to the oven depending on who turns up.

Extra people always welcome in the evening for cheese too. I have a friend who is often busy with others during the day but comes here for cheese and stays over. Or not, depending on how the day goes.

Everyone is welcome to come and join in with any part of the day. I would be surprised with unplanned visitors at the early morning stocking element though! I’m not dressed for visitors during kids opening stockings.

Meadowfinch · 16/12/2025 08:36

Yes, I'd cope. One year the power failed and we had elderly neighbours from both sides join us because we have a log burner and they had no heating. Thankfully it was evening so ham & salad, mince pies & a glass of fizz..

Starlight1984 · 16/12/2025 11:02

I can't imagine anyone turning up randomly without notice on Christmas Day to be honest?! But we have had last minute additions in the days and hours before and it's never a problem 😊As others have said, the more the merrier.

I do know people who are so rigid and inflexible with their plans though that they would have a meltdown if they even had to cater for one extra person. I can't imagine their houses are much fun though...

reabies · 16/12/2025 11:22

I don't think I'd particularly care, there would be more than enough food, though I'd be gutted to lose leftovers as I make enough to eat bits and bobs for days!

I'd only be annoyed if they started to interfere with the way we like to do our day. Complaining about when presents were or weren't happening, wanting everyone to shut up for the king's speech etc. If you're here then you roll with the way we do things.

Stompythedinosaur · 16/12/2025 13:00

I would cope, and feed them, but I'd think they were very rude unless there was some sort of emergency going on.

Lookingforthejoy · 16/12/2025 13:09

ND household here so we could accomdate and be polite them but it would a signifigant negative impact on us, especially oldest child.

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/12/2025 13:11

I’d be fine, there’s more than enough food and drink, they’d need to take us as they find us but if someone is going to drop in they’d expect that to be part of the deal. Sometimes the unexpected makes the day special.

Hmmmmwineandchocs · 16/12/2025 13:14

They’d be fine to stay but would probably only get a bit of turkey, we make everything else in the quantities we need so no extras available.
There would be crackers/cheese/nuts and crisps.

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