Who came to your house on Christmas day ?

No one. Parents didn’t mix with relatives and they had no friends

About 5 years ago we had a Russian family turn up on Christmas day when we were just sitting down to eat. They weren't close friends, just acquaintances. I dont think they realised it was a bit off as they have different traditions and may have celebrated on Christmas eve. We were literally sitting eating while my poor husband was running round making them tea.

When my husband was alive we invited his workers and wives for a Christmas drink. Later, as a widow and living further away, I invited the local freelance farmers who used to assist me, and their mothers - and some fathers - (none were married ) to Christmas lunch. Sadly I have outlived most of them, so there are no more visitors on Christmas Day!!

My best friend from school used to come in the afternoon when I was a teenager. I can’t remember if there were buses on Christmas Day then (1950s), or if my father fetched her in the car and took her home,

In the evening we visited the only relations who lived within walking distance, an uncle and aunt, and ate yet more food.

Santa!

Our family all lived close by. Mum did Christmas lunch for her parents and younger brother when we were small then When her brother married his wife was sdded. Then on boxing day she did the whole thing again for my dad's family, both sisters, and their fanilies. She was a good, confident cook, a cookery teacher, but it was a bit of a marathon. When her bother had a child she said it was their turn to host. They did for the one year then their marriage ended and it was back to the status quo!
I live 200 miles from my DS and his family and my DD. We are all at DS's house as his wife is a vicar so they have to be at home and she is very busy. It is a relief for me as I struggle to cope with cooking major meals now as I've got used to cooking for one! Last time they came to me was before my son was married and DD and DS did the cooking!
I'm enjoying having time with my GC as I don't see them very often with them being so far away.

No-one popped in on Christmas Day - that was for ordinary days of the year.

We were the family and those invited either to come on the 22nd or 23rd and stay at least until Boxing day, and probably to Ne'erday. In our circle of friends it would have been considered the height of bad manners to pop in on Christmas Day - you could do so on or after Boxing Day and on all the other days as well except Hogmanay, when everone was too busy rhouse-cleaning for the New Year to welcome interuptions.

No one. Mum was resolutely anti-social. No friends. No relationship with any neighbours. Poor Dad wasnt allowed to socialise even though he was normal.

My dog and cat.

No-one came to our house on Christmas Day during the day. Although our large extended family all lived in the same borough of Inner London (six aunts and uncles and 14 cousins) we all stayed in our own homes for the daytime meal and celebrations, but walked to my Nan's or oldest Aunty's in the evening and had a party. It usually went on from about 7 till around midnight and I can still remember walking back home as a young child nearly asleep with my Mum and Dad holding me upright!

We always went to my grandparents who lived in a lovely big house on the coast. Magical memories

We went to my gran's who stayed 60/70 miles away. Loved it, loved my gran,still miss her 41 years on....

Christmas day was always spent with the maternal grandparents and aunt's family. They took turns to host it.
My dad was the only person who drove, though, so whoever's house it was at, he would always have to collect and return people. He genuinely didn't seem to mind though.

Christmas get-togethers with the paternal relatives took place a week or so later. I presume my paternal grandparents spent Christmas day with either my dad's sister or his step sister, but can't be sure - I never gave it a thought back then.

On Christmas Day it was always my mum and dad, brother and two unmarried aunts.

nanna8 I don't know either as I am an Eastender from London. Londoners are the salt of the earth.

I think she was having a pop at her mother in law who was from the East End! I’m SE inner London born and bred and had lots of fun with friends etc

When we were kids the entire family lived within a few streets of one another. This was quite common in working class communities. On christmas morning our cousins would pop in to show us their presents. On christmas night my parents hosted my aunt and uncle and cousins. The odd neighbour might pop in and be offered a drink (sherry) but it was not a big thing where we lived. In the 1950s there was little money and people did not make a hi=uge splash as they do now. No lights in windows or ostentatious decorations. Families mostly socialised among themselves.

hi=uge = huge.

No one on Christmas Day. We would walk to midnight Mass and meet friends there, get home about 2 a m, then just the four of us for Christmas Day.
Boxing Day was for visiting and being visited - we usually went to my G’parents house and met up with cousins there.
Mum and Dad were both very sociable; Christmas was family centred though.

Christmases of yore...my dad's family were great card players, and after Christmas tea out would come the card tables and the cribbage boards with matchsticks for markers.
Nobody in my DH's family is remotely interested in Snap, let alone Canasta or cribbage. I so cherish those memories
Happy Christmas 🎄

No one as a rule.

We were a military family and most of the time hundreds or thousands of miles away from any family or close friends. In fact, we had no close friends because we changed base every three years or so, leaving behind everyone we had made friends with.

AmberGran

No one as a rule.

We were a military family and most of the time hundreds or thousands of miles away from any family or close friends. In fact, we had no close friends because we changed base every three years or so, leaving behind everyone we had made friends with.

I too am from a military family and my parents made many friends, whose friendship lasted long into retirement because although we kept moving - and for us it was usually a lot less than three years. You would move from one place and your friends , but three years later you would be on the same base with them again.

I grew up in South Africa. We had a holiday house at the seaside. My dad was one of 8 siblings. Often, our house was chock a block full of adults and children sleeping on every available space, some of the older children camped in the garden. Some 13 to 20 people. Christmas lunch was a variety of cold meats and salads, ice cream, trifle, jelly and custard. Then a sleep on the lawn in the sunshine or the more energetic walked to the beach.

When I was in my early fifties I joined a scheme to give adult uni students from overseas who had no where to go for Christmas …a holiday of just a few days over the Christmas period
First year I had a man from Iran and man from Malaysia a lady from China and a man from Ethiopia All strangers to each other. We really had a blast everyone got on so well There was a Muslim a Christian and a Buddhist a vegetarian a non beef eater and a non pork eater
We only did simple things sit round talking walking on the beach and in the parks and woods We had music I had some drums in the house the African and the Iranian both played the drums They loved it and I kept in touch for years after they d finished their courses and long gone back
I often had adult overseas students from the local collage from all over the world France Egypt Morocco Pakistan Russia America Alaska I still have a book with their photos and remarks about their stay in
They were definitely my best ever Christmas s The rest of my Christmass s have been fairly uneventful

All nice things at christmas for many
I hated it as my mother became a jehovas witness so no christmas and birthdays for us after i became 8 years old and my brother 4 My father was devistated and started working away as much as possible Home wasnt a very happy place
I left when i could at 18 years of age but always very sad about my childhood so when i eventually had my own family it was wonderful to have a family christmas of my own in my house
I am now 74 and have many regrets about how my mother treated us Religon is supposed to bring people togther but not in my life and only the opposite all across the world as far as i can still see Killing and fighting continues and has done for ever and nothing will change !!!!!