What Will Christmas Day Be Like In Your House?

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 15-11-2018 8:01pm #1

Well 'll be up around 6am Christmas morning as will the rest of the family. I'll start Christmas morning off by cooking a full Irish followed by the opening of the presents. As I have a large family most of the morning will be taking up tidying up after them. Then some family members will help decorate the table for Christmas dinner and also help prepare Christmas dinner while the rest of the family head out for a long walk before dinner.

Around 3pm we will all sit down for Christmas dinner and chat about love ones that are no longer with us. After lunch we usually watch a Christmas movie which more than likely will be Home Alone. For the rest of Christmas day some friends and neighbours will call over for a few drinks and some snacks.

So that's my Christmas day sorted will your's be the same or do you have something special planned for the day?

Ghekko · 15-11-2018 8:52pm

Ours is very quiet. We'd get up about 8 and see Santa stuff, have breakfast and just sit around till it's time to get dinner ready. Neighbours may pop in on way to their family. Otherwise we wouldn't see anyone else. Have dinner about 4 and veg out in front of tv for the evening.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 15-11-2018 9:11pm

Ghekko wrote: »

Ours is very quiet. We'd get up about 8 and see Santa stuff, have breakfast and just sit around till it's time to get dinner ready. Neighbours may pop in on way to their family. Otherwise we wouldn't see anyone else. Have dinner about 4 and veg out in front of tv for the evening.

I suppose that's what Christmas day is all about families spending time together watching tv or falling asleep on the couh after stuffing themselves with Turkey. No harm in that.

Day Lewin · 16-11-2018 12:12am

Whoever gets up first lights all the candles and little lights so that it is lovely to come down to. Makes a pot of coffee.

We always have Buck's Fizz and croissants for breakfast. Rashers and eggs too.

Rest of the day - Mass with carols, present opening with family, gin and tonic, the best dinner of the year, and always parlour games of an evening: charades, board games, songs.

I perfectly love Christmas Day. :-) Can't wait!

baby and crumble · 16-11-2018 10:39am

Up around 9 or so, usually my wife does breakfast of pancakes or something. This year we’re going to in-laws for dinner so will open our presents to each other then pack up the turkey and ham (plan to cook the turkey in the slow cooker this year overnight!) to bring over there. Dinner and presents there, then around 4 will probably grtnin the car and drive to see my family. It’s first Christmas with a new baby in the family so I want to be there before he goes down for the night. Cocktails and chat and sambos with my family will close out the night. Maybe a movie.

northgirl · 16-11-2018 10:50am

Probably at home or maybe at my dad's. Either way I'm happy out.

lawred2 · 16-11-2018 10:58am

Well we have two young lads under 5 who aren't always the easiest to manage so the last few Christmas Days have just been relatively stressful... Certainly not relaxing. It's not like their behavior is going to be different just because it's Christmas Day and everyone is expecting happy families like an M&S ad.

I'm hoping the weather is good as I'll be getting them out of the house down to Portmarnock Strand for an hour or so in the morning..

Usually I go to great lengths doing dinner with all the trimmings but the last few times dinner have ended up being eaten amidst a general atmosphere of exhaustion and disappointment.

We'll keep trying though but to be honest I'm not overly optimistic.

GoneHome · 16-11-2018 11:20am

lawred2 wrote: »

Well we have two young lads under 5 who aren't always the easiest to manage so the last few Christmas Days have just been relatively stressful... Certainly not relaxing. It's not like their behavior is going to be different just because it's Christmas Day and everyone is expecting happy families like an M&S ad.

I'm hoping the weather is good as I'll be getting them out of the house down to Portmarnock Strand for an hour or so in the morning..

Usually I go to great lengths doing dinner with all the trimmings but the last few times dinner have ended up being eaten amidst a general atmosphere of exhaustion and disappointment.

We'll keep trying though but to be honest I'm not overly optimistic.

That all sounds dreadfully sad

lawred2 · 16-11-2018 11:24am

GoneHome wrote: »

That all sounds dreadfully sad

ah it's grand - it's just not all merriment and relaxation.. kids will be kids 365 days a year.

her folks are with us this year so that will help

Day Lewin · 16-11-2018 1:22pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Well we have two young lads under 5 who aren't always the easiest to manage so the last few Christmas Days have just been relatively stressful... Certainly not relaxing. It's not like their behavior is going to be different just because it's Christmas Day and everyone is expecting happy families like an M&S ad.

I'm hoping the weather is good as I'll be getting them out of the house down to Portmarnock Strand for an hour or so in the morning..

Usually I go to great lengths doing dinner with all the trimmings but the last few times dinner have ended up being eaten amidst a general atmosphere of exhaustion and disappointment.

We'll keep trying though but to be honest I'm not overly optimistic.

Kindly-meant advice from a veteran: don't over-do it with preparations, it just leads to disappointment and exhaustion, and who benefits?
Instead, bung a frozen turkey or large chicken into the freezer right now: pudding from Tesco, your family favourite ice-creams, box of chocs...etc - the minimum of work for the most fun.
And do the stuff you enjoy most. Christmas celebrates the birth of a child, not some attempt to live up to any image. Leave out anything that is too much trouble; cheerful and simple is perfectly fine.
Best of luck this year!

lawred2 · 16-11-2018 1:29pm

Day Lewin wrote: »

Kindly-meant advice from a veteran: don't over-do it with preparations, it just leads to disappointment and exhaustion, and who benefits?
Instead, bung a frozen turkey or large chicken into the freezer right now: pudding from Tesco, your family favourite ice-creams, box of chocs...etc - the minimum of work for the most fun.
And do the stuff you enjoy most. Christmas celebrates the birth of a child, not some attempt to live up to any image. Leave out anything that is too much trouble; cheerful and simple is perfectly fine.
Best of luck this year!

Way ahead of you

Turkey crown and a small ham with some veg

Avoca bought deserts

bingo bango

seamus · 16-11-2018 1:49pm

I've a young family so no such thing as a "typical" Xmas yet, hasn't been for 6 or 7 years at this stage. We're getting there though, creating our own family traditions is fun.

We'll get up whenever the kids wake up, probably between 7am and 8am, do the Santa thing for an hour or so. Then I'll cook up a big dirty veggie fry for everyone while the kids are running around like loonies.

Then get showered and dressed before the in-laws come over for an hour or two, to see the kids. After that I'll likely be making the dinner. where we'll be joined by my parents. Probably stick on a movie for the kids while they're waiting. Parents will probably stick around till 8 or 9, get the kids to bed and then collapse on the couch ourselves with some mince pies and wine, where we'll tell ourselves we're going to watch a movie but we'll probably end up watching a Xmas episode of Friends or something because it's 11 o'clock at night.

Xmas with small kids is relatively hard, my youngest is still a toddler, and there's no chance to relax. She's not going to suddenly become an angel for one day. So being able to sit on my hole in front of the TV and relax is a couple of years away yet, but it's still fun.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 16-11-2018 2:38pm

seamus wrote: »

I've a young family so no such thing as a "typical" Xmas yet, hasn't been for 6 or 7 years at this stage. We're getting there though, creating our own family traditions is fun.

We'll get up whenever the kids wake up, probably between 7am and 8am, do the Santa thing for an hour or so. Then I'll cook up a big dirty veggie fry for everyone while the kids are running around like loonies.

Then get showered and dressed before the in-laws come over for an hour or two, to see the kids. After that I'll likely be making the dinner. where we'll be joined by my parents. Probably stick on a movie for the kids while they're waiting. Parents will probably stick around till 8 or 9, get the kids to bed and then collapse on the couch ourselves with some mince pies and wine, where we'll tell ourselves we're going to watch a movie but we'll probably end up watching a Xmas episode of Friends or something because it's 11 o'clock at night.

Xmas with small kids is relatively hard, my youngest is still a toddler, and there's no chance to relax. She's not going to suddenly become an angel for one day. So being able to sit on my hole in front of the TV and relax is a couple of years away yet, but it's still fun.

My three children have all grown up so Christmas for me and will be quieter than when they were young. I kind of miss seening the excitement on their faces when they would come down Christmas morning to see if Santa had brought them their special presents. What i don't miss is cleaning up after they had opened their presents.Half the day would be taken up and you would be wrecked before you even got started on Christmas dinner.

lawred2 · 16-11-2018 2:52pm

seamus wrote: »

I've a young family so no such thing as a "typical" Xmas yet, hasn't been for 6 or 7 years at this stage. We're getting there though, creating our own family traditions is fun.

We'll get up whenever the kids wake up, probably between 7am and 8am, do the Santa thing for an hour or so. Then I'll cook up a big dirty veggie fry for everyone while the kids are running around like loonies.

Then get showered and dressed before the in-laws come over for an hour or two, to see the kids. After that I'll likely be making the dinner. where we'll be joined by my parents. Probably stick on a movie for the kids while they're waiting. Parents will probably stick around till 8 or 9, get the kids to bed and then collapse on the couch ourselves with some mince pies and wine, where we'll tell ourselves we're going to watch a movie but we'll probably end up watching a Xmas episode of Friends or something because it's 11 o'clock at night.

Xmas with small kids is relatively hard, my youngest is still a toddler, and there's no chance to relax. She's not going to suddenly become an angel for one day. So being able to sit on my hole in front of the TV and relax is a couple of years away yet, but it's still fun.

perfect summation

SusanC10 · 16-11-2018 3:35pm

Kids will get up around 7am, run downstairs to see if Santa has come, run back upstairs to wake us up. Open gifts together. Light fires. Get Turkey ready and put in oven. Clean up mess created by opening gifts. Have French Toast for Breakfast. Walk to Mass if dry (drive if wet). Prosecco after Mass with nibbles. Set up Dining Room Table. Finish cooking Dinner (starter, sides etc). Friends arrive with Kids. Have long dinner with lots of laughs and breaks between courses. Kids come and go from the Table. Relax in front of fire. Friends leave. Put kids to bed. Ignore mess. Relax in front of fire with nightcap.

seamus · 16-11-2018 3:49pm

GoneHome wrote: »

That all sounds dreadfully sad

I do get what lawred is saying here. You have these memories of Xmas gone by where you chilled out, had a laugh, watched a movie. After dinner, you'd all sit around playing games and chatting.

When the kids come along you go into Xmas expecting to still be able to do those things, but in reality you get snippets of "old" Christmas in between spending the entire day wiping hands, faces and arses. Sitting down for a chat for more than 3 minutes without being interrupted? Forget about it.

We made the same mistake, twice, of spending the kids' first Xmases staying overnight in the in-laws. Of course, in our heads we'd stick the baby up to bed at 8 o'clock and all the adults would then be able to have a bit of craic. In reality, both times the kids wouldn't settle, we spent the evening tag-teaming who go to go up and rock the baby to sleep, and got a sum total of 4 hours' sleep. Disaster.

It's not sad, you just had unrealistic expectations of what the day was going to be like.

Now that lawred has done it a couple of times and knows what to expect, he'll probably enjoy himself more.

gifted · 16-11-2018 3:55pm

3 chicks will wake up around 4...then 4.15...then 4.30..then.4.45....you get the picture....around 6 they'll succeed in getting us up lol lol.....open the pressies.( me asking herself what we got them behind their backs, lol lol )

Then it's food...food and toys and fire lighting all day....I love it...

jooksavage · 16-11-2018 3:57pm

My wife, little girl and I moved back in with my folks for a few months while our house is being built. Our girl will be 18 months on Christmas day so she'll still be too young for most of it register with her. Still, we've already bought her a few little presents. My wife is a nurse, will be working late Christmas eve, off on the 25th and then back on again for the rest of the week so we won't be heading up the country to see her folks. I expect it will be a quiet day: up at 7am (baby's usual time), feed the cattle, back in for Christmas pancakes, mass at 10.00, then back home for the dinner prep. The big feed will be around 3pm. Check the cattle and lock up yard at 6pm. Then chill out until Tiny's bedtime.

limnam · 16-11-2018 3:58pm

natashaob6 wrote: »

I'll start Christmas morning off by cooking a full Irish

A full irish?

Jaes, I wouldn't be able for my dinner after that :pac:

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 16-11-2018 6:19pm

limnam wrote: »

A full irish?

Jaes, I wouldn't be able for my dinner after that :pac:

You can't beat a full Irish on Christmas morning. I'll manage the Christmas dinner no problem. Sure isn't Christmas day all about stuffing your face and then nodding off on the couch for the rest of the day. Well it is in our house. Ah bring on the turkey and the sherry triffle.

limnam · 16-11-2018 8:33pm

natashaob6 wrote: »

Sure isn't Christmas day all about stuffing your face and then nodding off on the couch for the rest of the day.

Too right!

Toto Wolfcastle · 16-11-2018 10:54pm

Up before 9. Waffles or pancakes and pastries for breakfast, and a mimosa or 3 for me. Presents with my husband and then over to the in-laws. Drinks in one house and dinner in another. They tend to sit around the table for a looooonnnng time but this year we're starting a new tradition and moving to the couch whether they like it or not. :pac: Lots of lounging around, chatting and a few more drinks. Maybe some TV but usually not. It's quite a relaxing day in the in-laws.

Jude13 · 19-11-2018 8:34am

This year will be very different. The Plan is below but no idea what the actual day will be like.

We are early risers so should be up 6.30-7, bring the dog to the beach for a walk and some pics in the sun.
Cook a full Irish, real treat here due to the lack of pork stuff, noted my OH will think it mad as we are going to a Christmas brunch later on but its more for the left over later that night as we won't have Christmas dinner leftovers.
Back from the beach and have a cider or beer, get a taxi to the hotel for brunch 1-4pm with another couple who have two young kids.
Back home for 4.30pm and the day is ours. Movies and skypes back to Ireland now that people are up and around.

CheerLouth · 20-11-2018 2:14pm

We've two smallies so will get up with them whenever they wake. Our eldest is 4 this year & more aware of Santy so might be up a bit earlier. Last year, she was very sick over Christmas & we didn't really have the excitement of Santy coming so I'm hoping for a better Christmas on the health front. Then we'll have a normal breakfast, head out to mass (if we don't go on Christmas Eve). We'll head over to my parents, then back & maybe have a quick cuppa with his (they live next door so we can't escape), then home and have the dinner just the 4 of us. Then chill out.

As others have said, our kids are quite small & kids will be kids so am still anticipating a relatively normally day of them killing each other while I try to pretend it's all going swimmingly

We're making memories lol

:pac::pac:

harr · 20-11-2018 2:30pm

Well we will be up about 7 with our two.... I normally get up a bit before the kids and light the fires and have everything ready.

Coffee on and the likes.. kids come down and it’s great excitement. We have a special needs child who doesn’t really get the whole Christmas thing so we let him off to do his own thing, which can be a bit sad for us. He might eventually have a nose around his gifts but not big into toys and hates the change to his routine.

Then a small breakfast for us all. I normally have smoked salmon and eggs.
We have a large enough extended family and take it in turns where we have Christmas dinner with each family cooking something for the dinner. So Christmas dinner is usually mayhem but so enjoyable with about 12 adults and 12 kids.
Dinner is normally about 2pm and we exchange gifts after dinner but I do like to be home in my pjs before 5.
Then it’s a classic Christmas movie for the evening. Kids do be very tired and in bed about 9 so I will then have a few glasses of port and cheese and maybe a turkey sandwich and be in bed about 11.30 .

picachu · 20-11-2018 2:52pm

This is our first Christmas with our newborn twins : )

We're going to brazil so i expect everything to be served to me... work starts Christmas 2019

Eggs For Dinner · 20-11-2018 2:57pm

Christmas will be bordering on unbearable for personal reasons. Because of this, most of my immediate and extended family will be on "let's get through this if we can" mode. The earlier the build up starts, the harder the impending upset becomes. Can't wait for it to be gone

If you have reason to enjoy all that this time of year offers, fair play to you. I hope it is everything you expect. However, please bear in mind it is not for everyone and cries of "cheer up, it's Christmas" can inadvertently cause difficult emotions to come to the fore

Staph · 20-11-2018 4:39pm

@Eggs for Dinner, be kind to yourself over the season. Things can be hard for some people for many reasons and I hope you and others have a peaceful time.

Dalomanakora · 20-11-2018 4:42pm

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Christmas will be bordering on unbearable for personal reasons. Because of this, most of my immediate and extended family will be on "let's get through this if we can" mode. The earlier the build up starts, the harder the impending upset becomes. Can't wait for it to be gone

If you have reason to enjoy all that this time of year offers, fair play to you. I hope it is everything you expect. However, please bear in mind it is not for everyone and cries of "cheer up, it's Christmas" can inadvertently cause difficult emotions to come to the fore

I hope your day is slightly less unbearable than you anticipate, and I hope you find some time alone to do something just for you, be it something simple like a beer while you hide away from everyone for half an hour. Be kind to yourself.

Eggs For Dinner · 20-11-2018 4:51pm

Thanks everyone. I'll leave this forum to those of you who derive happiness out of the season. Have a good one everybody

Loughc · 20-11-2018 5:07pm

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I'll leave this forum to those of you who derive happiness out of the season. Have a good one everybody

Take care. Hopefully over time Christmas will offer more cheerful memories for you.

ShadyAcres · 20-11-2018 5:13pm

Not great. My dad recently died so it's gonna be hard.

Staph · 20-11-2018 5:20pm

Sorry to hear that Shady Acres. While it will be a difficult time, I hope you can do something nice for yourself during christmas.

Mam of 4 · 20-11-2018 6:57pm

ShadyAcres wrote: »

Not great. My dad recently died so it's gonna be hard.

My thoughts are with you ShadyAcres , lost our dad a few weeks back also . Look after yourself .

jellybear · 20-11-2018 7:04pm

Our Christmas is very quiet. Just the two of us and our two pets in the house

It's our 2nd one as a married couple so we started a new tradition last year after we got married. Up about 11 or 12...a fry up for the two of us. Give the animals their presents

Watch something Christmasy or whatever Pixar movie is on. I'll do dinner...last year was my first year cooking it! After dinner, hubby will drop me and our dog off at my home house, he'll head down to his for an hour or so and then we'll spend the evening in my family home eating trifle and swapping pressies. We'll head home and relax on the couch for the evening

Jude13 · 21-11-2018 8:04am

^^ 11 or 12!! That's a Christmas present in itself. Our mutt whines and howl/moans if we're not up and about by 8 at the latest no matter what day.

jellybear · 21-11-2018 8:37am

Jude13 wrote: »

^^ 11 or 12!! That's a Christmas present in itself. Our mutt whines and howl/moans if we're not up and about by 8 at the latest no matter what day.

The benefits of having a lazy lurcher

December2012 · 21-11-2018 8:52am

@shadyacres and @eggsfordinner I have had those Christmasses. Once was while my father was dying, and the other was the first one after he died. I also had difficult Christmasses when my baby was born a few weeks prior.

Sometimes you can celebrate just getting through the day. Find the happy bits when you can, and take time for your sad times.

A few years ago you would have seen me prepping for Santa, with bags of gifts, laughing with my kids at ice skating. You wouldn't have seen me later on crying in my car by myself or into my pillow or on my husband's shoulder, because I was able to hide my pain in public (apart from.one time buying Christmas decorations when I LOST MY SHTT in Blanchardstown centre).

Hugs to you and anybody else who has a challenge at this time of year. Like everything, it gets easier

Deja Boo · 22-11-2018 8:23pm

Quiet, tis always quiet. I am well used to it by now.
A friend often rings - lovely to chat with him

on Christmas.

Edgware · 29-11-2018 9:59pm

I find that if you have a good lash of pints on Christmas Eve you will get through most of the big day without having to get up at all

Beechwoodspark · 29-11-2018 10:09pm

For some reason (tradition) our Christmas is always soundtracked by that great Christmas legend Leonard Cohen

we have him on low volume during the day.

Breakfast is usually a fairly quick affair. Sausies and home made brown bread and damn good coffee.

Then high Mass and carols. All the trimmings. As a believer this is the most important element of the day. It’s all about a baby born in a manger.

Then home and usually neighbours in for G and Ts. Then dinner. The usual. Turkey and ham. Brussels sprouts pan fried with pancetta. Christmas pudding and cake. Fresh cream

. Great tea and coffee. Lots of chocolates.

Following that we retire to the sitting room. Tv on. Movies welcome. Board games. Books. Bliss really. Few jars had before bed time around 11 unless pulp fiction or a coen bros classic is on then all bets are off

Beechwoodspark · 29-11-2018 10:11pm

Edgware wrote: »

I find that if you have a good lash of pints on Christmas Eve you will get through most of the big day without having to get up at all

In my own damn painful experience a level 9 hangover (so very bad) ruins Christmas Day.

Was stupid enough to do it once. Never again.

30-11-2018 12:28am

Then;

Up very early to help my mam with the turkey. I'm a terrible cook so was more of a hindrance than a help

We'd head off to mass then in our new "Christmas clothes". Mammy wearing something I bought her, earrings or perfume or a nice dress. Daddy resplendent in his patterned jumper which also came from me

We'd get home and have a fry. I remember even as an adult feeling excited to leave mass so we could have the fry. It was nearly better than the dinner

My uncle would arrive complaining of his hangover. We'd put on paper hats and play silly games. Then the cries of "don't be spending your money" "sure I didn't want any presents"

After dinner we'd play more games. Old fashioned ones like snakes and ladders. Eat a load more food. At this stage I'd be in the pjs and half comatose. Or I might pay a visit to a good friend for a few hours in the evening.
Night time would see us watching television. Mammy would have the chair brought in to the fire. Chatting about Christmases past.

Now;

Daddy wakes at his usual time. I'll drag myself up around 9 Or 10. We might have a visitor or we might not. I don't go to mass anymore. Dad would have gone the previous night. Throw something on and visit mammy in the nursing home. The staff do a really great job on the day, and every day. Go back home. Pjs and bed.

Pinch Flat · 30-11-2018 12:36am

Pretty quiet. I’m traveling to New Zealand for Christmas.

EPAndlee · 30-11-2018 12:42am

Most of the family doesn't talk to eachother so it's just get through the day so they can go back to not having to look at each other. I just stay well out of it

splinter65 · 30-11-2018 12:58am

Christmas is mostly religious for me now. I love the seasons, Advent and Christmas.

lab man · 30-11-2018 1:57am

Ine word twill be, war, same as every year

eviltwin · 30-11-2018 2:01am

Quiet enough. I work Christmas so I don't drink or go mad. I'll be home in the morning so will get to do the Santa thing and help with dinner. Will have a few hours after dinner before work. Work will be great fun, we'll have a big meal and have a bit of a laugh.

madmaggie · 30-11-2018 3:00am

Deja Boo wrote: »

Quiet, tis always quiet. I am well used to it by now.
A friend often rings - lovely to chat with him on Christmas.

The same. I don't have kids, or siblings, and my parents are dead. I don't do traditional dinner, just eat whatever, could be chocolate for breakfast! Good fire, telly, wine. The Queen's speech makes me sad, all my family in the UK.

Hoboo · 30-11-2018 3:22am

madmaggie wrote: »

The same. I don't have kids, or siblings, and my parents are dead. I don't do traditional dinner, just eat whatever, could be chocolate for breakfast! Good fire, telly, wine. The Queen's speech makes me sad, all my family in the UK.

Its never the most jovial thing

Traditional dinners only good if theres a crew because its handy, cant beat a few bottles of red and homemade pizzas.

NSAman · 30-11-2018 3:57am

Will fly home a day or two beforehand, no one knows. Get last minute shopping and stay in Dublin. Then drive home Christmas Eve. Early morning. Arrive around 12, before the whole family start arriving and I have time for a Mam hug..;)

Family all start arriving around 2pm to early evening.

Put up the lights I bough outside.. its pretty mad lighting wise.

Spend evening chatting catching up and meeting friends calling to the house, then crash.

It is a late start on Christmas morning as we are all tired. Make breakfast, chat and catch up some more. Have a laugh and just enjoy each other’s company. Raise a glass to all we have lost and wish they were with us.

Open presents, which takes a LONG time.

Dinner is late, and huge. Running for an hour or two.

Just love being with my family and enjoying them all

What Will Christmas Day Be Like In Your House?

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