If your family gets together to celebrate Christmas early, what do you do on the 25th?

[Idlewilder]

This year we'll celebrate our main Christmas a week before, as that's the date most people can get together.

But - one person can't make that weekend. And also, we need a plan for the 25th that feels festive and not an anti climax.

So if you have an early Christmas get together, what do you do on the 25th?

Another full Christmas dinner? Or something different?

I quite like the idea of something different that still feels special, but can't quite imagine what that might be. Any ideas?

I would go with a fried breakfast and a buffet style dinner/lunch. All your Christmas faves.

I wonder whether you could order some really nice buffet items from the M and S food on Ocado and have it delivered on the 23rd/24th.

You could perhaps start the day with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs etc and then create a kind of rolling smorgasbord from your fridge.

We have christmas day on our own. Me, DH and 2 children. We see Dh's family the weekend before and my family boxing day. We love Christmas day, it's very relaxed, we're fully focused on the kids. No time schedules, no-one has to be anywhere or watch the clock. Until now we've still done the proper turkey dinner but the kids aren't fussed about it so this year we're going to do a big buffet breakfast. Smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages. Crumpets and nutella, big fruit platter. Mid-late morning then late afternoon have like a mini starter buffet. Soup and crusty bread, prawn cocktail, pate, cheese, crackers and oatcakes etc and deserts.

I would do the pre Christmas roast as beef. And Christmas day as turkey or the other way round. So it's still special but different

I'm liking these. Huge brunch, huge afternoon tea, maybe a walk, some board games and a movie, I'll take that for a chilled Christmas Day...

You might think about asking DH and D.C. what they would like to do, just to make sure. I thoroughly recommend the ‘just us’ actual Christmas. It really is brilliant.

We don't have any parents left and the children are now adults, so we go out for a meal the week before Christmas. On the 25th, we do a decent late breakfast buffet for any of the family who are available. They then go and see their inlaws / go back to bed / go to work. DH and I go for a walk, play a board game and then eat leftovers or cheese and crackers. After years of trying to please everyone, it works perfectly for us.

I’d ask the people who are going to be with you what they’d like to mark the occasion and, above all, to enjoy the day.

Remember that unless you’re particularly religious, Christmas is a season and used to last 8 days. Monasteries used to mark the octave of Christmas, starting on 25 December and then repeating the festival 8 days later. So in a way, that’s what you’re doing.

Everyone likes a roast dinner, whatever the day. Celebrate the time you’re having together and rest.

This was us last year. Had Christmas early with adult DCs and DGCs and then on 25th it was just DH and I. Popped round to some friends for a morning coffee then we went to our favourite Indian restaurant for lunch just the two of us. Curry on Christmas Day was amazing! Home for some drinks, a nap and TV before bed.

It was such a fab day that we're planning on doing the same again this year but the DCs want to come with us!

We’ve done a few versions of this. Some were because we were going abroad for Christmas and wouldn’t have the option of a traditional roast.
When we’ve done it at home we’ve done eityer a second, smaller roast on Christmas Day, a steak dinner (this was my favourite) and a curry.
Ask others what they’d like but I’d try and do something other than a roast and see if you all enjoy it.

We get up have a fabulous brunch. Go for a long walk… back for movie, games, books, cheese, pate , crackers and chocolate! It’s perfect

You haven't said if you have children op but if I didn't or had teenagers maybe i might think about going out for christmas dinner if there's only a few of you. Can you even walk somewhere and have lunch or even walk to your local pub for a couple if it opens

Very relevant question - all children are young adults and live in other cities. We've asked them what they want, and if they want traditional, we'll just go with two Christmas dinners.

But have also suggested, following some of the ideas on here: full on brunch on 25th, presents, optional walk, board games, afternoon tea/buffet incorporating some elements of Christmas dinner but no turkey, try and find a brilliant film for evening.

The idea of a meal out might work but actually a few of us love cooking and I don't think we'd be that bothered about eating out - we can do lovely food at home, it's more deciding what that should be.

Thanks everyone, really helpful.