Christmas decoration

I have the Christmas tree etc up as my DD and 11year old GS live with me.
I always keep up lots of lights in glass bowls around the house and the mantlepiece for a couple of months after Christmas ,to see me through the dark winter months.

Kim19 Tried that! If it's friends they want to know the plans. Then I tell my fibs. I think they're 'fibs' rather than 'lies'!

Kathy, you could eliminate the worry of the possibility of your potential hosts meeting up by simply saying 'I have plans, thanks'. That has worked well for me in the past and they certainly won't be told that my plan is to be alone by choice. All sorts of wrong assumptions would undoubtedly ensue were that the case

I'm only having a couple of guests for dinner, the week after Christmas, so I would have good reason not to go out of my way with the decorations.
Nonetheless, my tree and my nativity are on display, the mantle is festooned with holly and there's a beautiful wreath on my door.

Talk to your local priest or pastor about buying Christmas dinner 'fixings' for one needy family. Also, don't know if you're religious, but getting out to attend Christmas Service on the day, may help too. Too often we seem to forget what Christmas is all about.

I’ve never been on my own at Christmas though I’ve had one or two “different” ones. I think I’d put the decorations up as usual otherwise I might start feeling sorry for myself! Do what you would enjoy most, spoil yourself, and if that means decorations as usual then do that. Don’t fall into the “can’t be bothered” frame of mind, you might regret it on the day. Happy Christmas whatever you decided to do!

I prefer Christmas day on my own especially if I know that I'm being invited 'so that I won't be alone'. If I'm not with my closest friend and godchildren as usual I resist all invites,
telling A I will be with Z, B I will be Y, C with X etc. I just have to make sure that they aren't people who will meet.
I spend many days alone so this is no different. I put cards up but nothing else. I'm perfectly happy.

I've had many a contented Christmas on my own, jenpax, and without a single visible decoration. That's because I'm lazy but the joy is still in my heart. A couple of phone calls from those who matter the most and my cake is iced. I hope you enjoy it no matter what.

Do it your way, whatever you feel happy with. The year I left my first husband (FH), I told friends that I was going to family and then family that I would be with friends and spent the day on my own. FH criticised what I wore, ate - he was a vegetarian of the smug variety- read, watched, well everything really. So, I had my own Christmas with a tree, turkey dinner and chocs. I watched what I wanted to and on Boxing Day packed up the car and went off to see family. It had been a day to get through and I actually enjoyed a tension free day. As an after note, after I'd left him I became the best thing since sliced bread and he begged me repeatedly to take him back. That Christmas I took my life back instead and moved on to happier times and have now had 26 very happy C days with my DH. Enjoy a peaceful day and make it your own. I'll be raising a glass to you

My MiL was often alone at Christmas because family were all round the country or abroad or it was her DCs turn to go to other parents. .

She decorated the flat, got in some nice food and went for a walk. Back to eat and a bit of Tv or radio. Later on she also helped at one of the refuge centres. She was a seriously brave lady.

Get a real Christmas tree and don't stint on seasonal food either. Just because you are alone this year it does not mean you can't celebrate Christmas. You will feel miserable if you are alone and have no celebration.

For most of my life I did the hosting. A few years ago DIL1 started to host which was lovely. Especially as I do a family roast every Sunday when we have 7 of them arrive for dinner.

This year DIL1 who has been hosting for past few years is going to her family and she will cook dinner there. On the day here will be loads of time for our dgc to come see us on Christmas morning or for us to pop to see them as they live only 10 minutes distant.

There is no ill feeling about this as they are the most caring offspring that one could hope for.

We are going to other son and DIL2 for Christmas Dinner taking with us, a pot of peeled potatoes, roasties with just another 15 minutes needed, stuffing and trifle. Not to forget 2 dining chairs.

Often we would do a come all on Boxing Day, cook the turkey crown which is a gift of fabulous free range farm bronze from DIL1s parents who rear turkeys. Also did baby boil potato salad, crusty bread, etc etc With a couple of cheese cakes and a pavlova. All the family would come including Sis-in-law and BIL, sometimes their adult family also.

This year noone wants to be bothered with the Boxing Day dinner, they want to just cosy up in their own house.

It is going to be so different. One the one hand I'm glad not to be doing the usual buffet for about 12 for Boxing Day.

However, I will have a lovely turkey crown and there is no point in cooking it over Christmas. DH and I might have duck or something on Boxing Day.

The crown could be frozen and used at New Year.

Is it a shame to freeze a lovely free range fresh farm turkey. Will this change it dramatically from being a fresh turkey??

I'm going to try to stop being a sour puss and put a few lights up!

I will be at DD's for Lunch, back home mid-afternoon. My tree went up on 2nd December & a few bits & bobs around.

It would make me feel more miserable if I didn't put my decorations up as lots of people around me put lots of lights etc.

My DM has spent quite a few years on her own (she lives 300 miles from myself & DD), she puts her tree up & has lots of lovely food in to enjoy.

It looks as if quite a few of us with be alone on Christmas Day, including me, but I have put up the artificial tree I already have and on two little bits like that - might as well as I've got them, otherwise I feel a bit Bah Humbuggy! Happy Christmas to all the other "on their owns".

I find it very melancholy decoring the tree now the children have grown up and one has moved away. She is not coming home for Christmas for the first time ever. I think I will scale down the decorations but still have some.

If I were alone I'd certainly put up decorations - just not so many and a smaller tree and perhaps for a shorter duration. That said we've not got ours up yet at all much to the chagrin of the GC as DH and I have been busy with other things

Lots of twiggy twigs sprayed gold or silver. Put in large container then lights and decorations you have used on the tree in the past.
Looks fabulous and as my grandsons said ‘very modern grams!’

I put my tree and a few other bits up a week ago because my daughter and her two beautiful boys were arriving for a few days' stay. We're going there for the actual day. It's not the faff of putting the decorations away that I don't look forward to. It's that the room looks so plain and dull for a while afterwards. Maybe I'll keep some lights up...

Just because you are on your own doesn't mean you can't enjoy the festive season - including decorations. In the words of the advert "you are worth it!"

I've put my tree up and have a few decorations scattered about. I visit my sister on Christmas Day.
Raise a glass on Christmas Day. A small consolation is that you can do whatever you wish without having to compromise. Plus it is only one day.

I agree Jaycee many people give silently to charity and people on their own either through their own choice or not should be able to enjoy themselves any way the want to.
We have downsized since last Christmas so have done the same with decorations to the home,however we have bought a living tree for outside on our pathway with LED lights and placed the special ornaments collected throuhout the years in the lounge and hallway .

Oh and do your homework beforehand, if you don't fancy anything on TV, go to the library and find some wonderful old nostalgic DVDs for Christmas Day.

We haven’t put out so many this year, got rid of a lot of them, when you live in a flat it just makes the room more untidy.
Enjoy your Christmas and yes put up a few.

Hang some cards up on a ribbon. Put up a little tree with a few baubles. (This means that it takes only a couple of minutes to pack away later) Shop for whatever you really like to eat but rarely do. Enjoy a day totally pleasing yourself with your feet up.
Decadent but wonderful.

I'm spending Christmas day alone, but was going to put the tree up just to feel a bit festive. Went into garage to get it, and was confronted by a Rat running towards me! I just screamed and slammed the door. Tree will have to wait til pest control have been. I actually felt sorry for the rat as it was such a cold night I'm sure it was just seeking shelter. But not in my house thanks!