All the years our children were small, Christmas was always at MIL’s home. DH came from a large family, it was expected that everyone went back home, up to 30 or so adults and children.
Dinner had to be eaten in two sittings, heaps of washing up, the women did everything while the men played cards, darts, dominoes.
DH loved it, but I didn’t, and our children, daughter in particular, does not look back on childhood Christmas days with much pleasure. They were not very close with any of the cousins, and were always pleased when it was time to go home, and play with their new toys.
MIL would have been very huffy if we hadn’t gone, but there was so many of us I don’t think we would have been missed.