Christmas Day - so what time do you sit down for the main meal?

[BournemouthBaubleBabe]

I want to start my own tradition - Mum would usually serve up the turkey & trimmings at 3pm which I hated, so do you eat the main meal at lunchtime (12-1) or dinnertime (6-7) ?

(I'm drooling reading the Serious Foodies thread, btw!)

lunchtime, aiming for 1pm !

Between 5 and 6 in this house. Early enough to incorporate DS and late enough to make us feel like grown ups........IYKWIM.

12 - 1 That is like a late breakfast IMO

Sorry Lizs

As Sherlock in this house

My mother insists on around 2pm so I haven't had time to clear the choccie tins of my favourites!!

We do brekkie too - lol !!

1pm. Then off out for a long walk after The Queen's Speech.

My mum also did it for 1pm, which I quite liked when I didn't have to cook it! Now I can see that you end up spending all morning in the kitchen, and its dark by the time you've finished eating....
DH's family are a 3-4pm family, which I don't like as its nowhere near a 'normal' mealtime (I do so hate getting out of my routine!!)
Last year I tried my own tradition of 5pm. It was ok but I missed having christmas tea (which in my childhood was sandwiches and trifle!)

We all head off to the pub with kids in tow from 12 until 2 and then head back for dinner totally famished!! DP's mum prepares everything before we go and then just cooks the veggies when we get back.

Can't wait now, am so looking forward to Xmas this year.

Merrycompo, that must be a long walk in the dark then?

ALways been as follows....

Breakfast - croissants and bacon or salmon and scrambled eggs at 8.30am

Lunch - FULL WORKS - no later than 2pm

Tea - cold turkey sandwhiches/whatever you fancy - whenever you want it!

Cheers everyone, think I will aim for 1-1.30, have a quick walk round the park, then there will be room for trifle later!

when we get round to it

we are very relaxedabout xmas

BBB,have you contributed to that thread???
I will bump it for you.

Always have Xmas at my Mums and the day goes like this ---

6.30am - Arrive at Mums, fight with other siblings over mini cereals (everyone wants coco pops) then straight in to open presents always starting with the youngest and working up to eldest my Mum has had 7 kids so this takes forever but is great fun.

Mum then goes of to kitchen with Dad to start cooking whilst we all clear the front room of so much wrapping paper you know a small forest was destroyed to make it. Play games with siblings argue and fight over the rules. Help in kitchen when required, set table.

1pmish - Xmas Lunch is served, generally my Mum does the whole shebang about 4 courses with cheese and biscuits to finish. Mum goes and puts her feet up whilst we all clear away and then all settle down to another game and plenty of fighting.

Brothers and sisters ages range from 14 - 35 but we are all about as excitable as 7 year olds at Xmas This year might be different as my Mum has just bought a load of land and has chickens on it that they have to see to

Blimey,you get there that early?!!

arrive at 6.30am???????????????

flippin eck

I always have this dilemma - I much prefer eating it in the evening when its dark and you can have christmassy candles etc but DP and his parents have always had it in the day which I dislike because I always feel so sleepy afterwards and takes such a big effort not to go for a lie down which would be incredibly rude!!!!

Yeah we really do get there at 6.30 kind of a family tradition last year my Mum said don't you dare the door will be locked till at least 7.30 - 8.00 but at 6.25am my mobile went of and it was them demanding to know where we were everyone was waiting to go into the drawing room to open there pressies, so this year I shall be extra early.