Christmas Day Plans

[Lumpy]

I know not everybody has family to visit or feed on Christmas Day so I wondered what plans people have?
Me and the OH normally have the day on our own as kids have jobs which mean they work or are at their extended families free for all so we try and do something a bit different.
We only moved to Lincolnshire last November so we decided to go into Lincoln on Christmas Day - reasoning that there would be no shops and no people so no distractions. We could have a good bimble around the medieval streets etc.
We were very wrong about how quiet it would be as there were people everywhere and not just those who had been to the Cathedral.
A nice family of 8 from Newcastle - several people doing the Christmas Day treasure hunt - a group of students doing an inpromptu sing along and many others as well.
It was lovely so if weather permits we are going to go again this year.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Mr Frosty and I would normally have a nice dinner plus a sci-fi DVD day (watch all of the movies we had missed during the year). Years ago we did the massive dinners and everybody and their granny came for it, so been there and done it.

As Mr Frosty is no longer with me, I am still going to be doing the same as last year. I've got the list of DVDs and plan to have a simple but special meal. I have a rather fetching Nordic onesie which I will wear. May have some seed sowing going on as well.

[Guest]

Food, pressie opening, calls to family, food, cheesy christmas telly and playing with pressies, a lot more food (yes enough to feed anyone that could turn up but actually just two of us, the girls don't do meals as such), moan about how full we are, more christmas telly, bed.

Ah how festive

[JanieB]

Trip round the family who live within 10 miles of me. Then home. If no one asks me to join their dinner in the next 2 weeks, I'll book myself into a restaurant. There're bound to be people I know doing the same. I don't tend to go to my family for the day unless I'm offered a bed for the night as well.

[WendyC]

Christmas Day at the Outlaws. It used to be fine but MinL seems to be unable to cook for more than the two of them now. Offering help only confuses her. Dinner will take hours, youngest son will be moaning about being bored ( no internet!!) Cottage and barn will be freezing so might have to get a onesie! Can't wait...

[Lumpy]

Onesies, sci fi movies and food sound like perdection to me. We absolutely refuse to have a traditional roast so this year it's a decision between egg and chips or beans on toast.
I see Christmas now as a time to just 'get' through as the new year and all the ups and downs it will bring is far more exciting.
I do however have one VERY guilty secret - on Christmas Eve I always check out the NASA Santa Tracker a few times. I suppose it reminds me of being a kid and believing in the magic.

[noviceveggrower]

Christmas Day is at home with the kids. It can start as early as 5am or maybe as late as 6.30am. We open presents then its my job armed with a pair of scissors and a screw driver to put things together. I am quite good at this Then its dinner, watching a bit of tv then a snack tea then kids off to bed.
Boxing Day is at my mom and dads. They just fuss over the kids and we just sit there.
Then before you know it Christmas is over and done with.
I hope if its nice to sit down the garden on Christmas Day at night with the garden lights on just sat under the starts recovering. Well that's what I'm hoping to do.

[Snow]

My older brother and family are back from the US and my younger brother just got married (yesterday!) so them plus my parents have hired a house close to where I live that they and us (me, wife, daughter) will all meet at for Christmas. I only have a tiny house see but can't travel due to illness. I am looking forward to it but apprehensive as it will still be very demanding of my health.

[Scarlet]

Neighbours come to mine for fizz and nibbles at 12. As their kids have now got married if they're home they bring their OH's too! Then its usually a walk if weather permits. Late afternoon my brothers en famille turn up for Christmas dinner - we usually don't eat till 7 and lasts for a few hours before going to bed...no telly

[veggiechicken]

Its just another day to me.

[Jay22]

Won't be this year VC!!

[veggiechicken]

Just a few more mouths to feed. Hope they like beans on toast

[Alison]

Enjoying not having to go to work and actually spend time with people I care about without cramming it all into 5 mins. At MiL's this year but will all be mucking in which is most of the fun. Wouldn't be right not putting on a bit of sparkle and having a leisurely meal together and it has to be the traditional one. Made the pudding in October, cranberry sauce last month and the rest of it just a bigger than usual roast so not labour intensive. Think it's he time thing I like the most, not having to rush about like the rest of the year. If I didn't have family is either meet up with friends or go and help out somewhere.

[muddled]

I have a few rituals

My 'real' celebration is on the 21st (Yule) and for that we all traipse up to my brother's in the country. 18 of us for dinner in his tiny little house.

Christmas christmas (if you see what I mean) lasts three days.
On xmas eve we eat loads, entertain visitors (mainly the in laws nowadays) and the kids open their presents from them.

Xmas day proper begins with a large bloody mary or bucks fizz or sloe gin in bed
I have a lot of elderly relatives and the only car.
I will not ever drink and drive. An alcoholic breakfast means I cannot be persuaded to run anyone anywhere (I have issues saying no to the wrinklies).
I open and put on my krissmassy pj's.....prescribed gift from husband every year, get landed on by the kids, one of whom is 26 ;
Massive prezzie opening session
Nigella's xmas orange muffins for breakfast
cook
open more prezzies
eat
board games
film.

Boxing day...over to mums and do it all again.

My eldest daughter has Down's syndrome and autism.
Our xmas lasts three days and every aspect of it is set in stone to remain the same every year.
It's kinda nice

[Lumpy]

I hope that all the grapes have a time of peace in whatever fashion they decide to try and find it.
Oh and thanks VC - the beans reference looks like it's that this year although I will make it festive by putting grated cheese on top.
I must admit being born on the Solstice has always been more special to me and the OH just thinks that having a Christmas day birthday makes him some kind of saint - not!