What you do on Christmas Eve? Share with McDonald’s - £300 voucher to be won

[EllieMumsnet]

Whether Christmas Eve in your household is the calm before the storm or the storm before the calm, it can be a great day to just spend some quality time with family and/or friends. Christmas Eve is celebrated in a whole host of different ways, with traditions varying from going for a long walk, to having chinese takeaway for dinner, to even guessing what the presents around the tree are. With that being said McDonalds would love to hear what you and your household gets up to on Christmas Eve.

Here’s what McDonald's has to say: "“We know it’s a hectic time of year for families, so if it’s a quick coffee when you’re out shopping or popping in on Christmas Eve for some free Reindeer Treat carrots, we are here to help you get #ReindeerReady on your way to Christmas 2018!”

Is Christmas Eve a time where you stay in your Xmas pj’s all day and watch films? Perhaps you like to go to you the pub with friends and family? What about going for a winter walk around your local park? Are you still prepping the presents and dinner for Christmas day? Do you and your family host an annual Christmas Eve party? Or maybe you have a traditional Christmas Eve breakfast, lunch and dinner that you look forward to all year round?

Whatever you and your family gets up to on Christmas Eve share it on the thread below and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

When Dc we're young we'd read them the same
Xmas stories at bedtime each year - the Polar Express etc.

I always make macaroni cheese for tea- I've no idea when or why it tarted but it's become tradition! Then get the carrot/ mince pie etc for Santa and the reindeer. We drink hot chocolates while we watch The Snowman, and try to get the kids up to bed as early as we can!

During the day I usually make dessert ready for Christmas Day. Last year I was in the supermarket at 6am getting the last bits and pieces- fresh bread, fruit, vegetables etc. I was home and back in bed before anybody else woke up 😂 This year I'll try to get it all on the 23rd!

*started!

We watch a film with a buffet to pick at and some decent wine. Bliss

We get excited about the final day of the advent calendars. Family arrive ready for Christmas morning and we cook up a whole salmon on the BBQ (it’s too big for the oven}) for tea. Mince pie, Carrot and Port under the tree for Santa and we’re done!

Christmas music, buffet tea and being together as a family

Is Christmas Eve a time where you stay in your Xmas pj’s all day and watch films? Perhaps you like to go to you the pub with friends and family? What about going for a winter walk around your local park? Are you still prepping the presents and dinner for Christmas day? Do you and your family host an annual Christmas Eve party? Or maybe you have a traditional Christmas Eve breakfast, lunch and dinner that you look forward to all year round?

Christmas Eve for us is films all day, then in the evening, we take a drive around the local neighbourhood to look at houses lit up with OTT decorations!
Then it’s home for dinner and getting ready for Santa. We leave out mince pies and a drink! Once the kids are in bed, I wrap any presents that haven’t been done and get everything in the lounge!

Wrap, wrap, have a wee dram then wrap some more. Oh and do some Christmas dinner prep with another wee dram then finally finish the wrapping!

My husband and daughter spend the day at the coast while my son and I feed the ducks at a local pond and watch films on T.V. I then make a roast meat meal for us all, ready for their return. Before bed we pour a glass of milk for Santa to have with his mince pie and put out carrots for the reindeer then once my son is in bed I do the last minute wrapping.

We visit extended family - it's the only time of the year we all manage to get together in the same house!

Then it's home to sori ole reindeer food on the lawn before the boys go to bed.... we usually hear Santa's Bella just after Daddy goes to do 'the jobs' downstairs

I usually go out to do the final fresh food shop - so cream, salad stuff - DH will probably take DS for final gift shopping (because he's never very organised - DH, not DS!)

Then we'll go to the Christingle/Crib service at our local church- it's usually packed with kids and is lovely. That lasts just 45 minutes or so and ends about 4.30pm. Then it's home for dinner, a Christmas film and a video from Santa (via PNP). Then when DS is in bed it's a nice glass of wine, more telly/film and off to bed waiting for Santa...

During the day we normally do some last minute shopping and get some lunch. Then and night we give the DC their christmas eve boxes and spend the night watching a family film nice in cosy in our new PJS

Husband's brother and family visits for lunch and games and then when they've gone we go to our local pub. When the kids were small we went to the local theatre Christmas show and then out out food for santa,but they prefer the pub with friends now.

pjs and films

We used to go ice skating but the place we went to no longer opens on Christmas Eve so we just have mulled wine and watch a few Christmas movies

I always have last minute shopping to do because I’m super unorganised! Ha! But once I’m done, I come home and sort out the house and do some meal prep and then we open our Christmas Eve boxes, get our new PJs on, make hot chocolates and open the popcorn and watch a Christmas movie. Once it’s over, we leave out the reindeer food and treats for the big man, get tucked in and have a Christmas bed time story. Once our son is asleep, me, my hubby and my mum have a wee gin while wrapping the gifts! xo

I love christmas eve more than christmas day!! I tend to do a bit of food prep for the big day then relax with a drink later. My OH on the other hand rushes around like a blue arsed fly as he hasn’t even started his christmas shopping yet!

Will be working this year. Humbug.

I used to always end up at the shops, I always loved the last minute shopping when I was young.

Now it’s mostly visits to family I’m not going to see on the day. Later on it’s PJs on and Christmas DVD on. My parents and my little boy’s dad visit late on just before he goes to bed (and they all come back for present opening in the morning).

Then it’s a plate of food for Santa and the Reindeer and trying to calm a very giddy boy down enough for a Christmas story.

We normally spend the day with Christmas music drifting through the house and I normally bake some treats with my children! Keeps them occupied and helps them stay focused with their excitement! haha!
Early baths for my 6 kids and they open their Christmas Eve present which is always a lovely new pair of Christmas pyjamas! :)
Then bedtime so Santa can pay his visit!
WE love Christmas! :D

We (well, I) spend the day doing the final clean up of the house in the morning whilst the DC and DH flit round squealing and getting too excited.

Then generally a walk to burn off energy, and a late lunch. Usually invite some of the neighbour round for early evening christmas eve drinks, then shove them out the door , pjs, movie, hot chocs, dc off to bed under dire warnings NOT to get out of bed before 7am and then DH and I usually exchange our proper "big" gift to each other christmas eve in front of the fire with wine

Drink coffee, watch TV, feed the cat.

Feel smug that I'm not running around like a blue arsed fly, think I'm a twat for being smug, poura glass of wine.

My husband is second generation Polish and they celebrate on Christmas Eve, which works perfectly for us, as it means we can spend Christmas Eve at my mother-in-law's home, and Christmas Day with my family. Spares us any difficult decisions about where to go! Lucky me!

We have a sharing platter for dinner and sit and watch a Christmas movie then finish the last of the wrapping with a glass of wine and some Christmas tunes and nibbles

We will either be out doing some last minute shopping or be at home watching a family movie, relaxing before the busy Christmas day