The Christmas that is mine.

We have never had huge family Christmases. Just us and children and for many years my in-laws who I was very fond of, so they added to the pleasure. We visited my parents on Boxing Day, my 2 sisters, neither of whom was married always spent Christmas with them. After they died, we usually included any waif or stray who was around, an aunt and uncle of DH's, 2 single friends on various occasions.

Since DS married he and family spend one Christmas with us and one at home, visiting us for the New Year. This year they will be at home, which is very convenient because, depending on the rules, they will do a weeks quarantine(or very close to) before coming down to us and that cannot start until the schoolls break up.

My family with their kids are always reminding me to ‘do it like when we were kids’ ... Santa has to have Sherry with his mince pie and Rudolph’s carrot etc etc etc
However, we have incorporated my DIL Lithuanian traditions on Christmas Eve and it has definitely added to the celebrations...

Sounds horrendous.

Just the 2 of us with a simple roast chicken dinner, just putting up a small tree too

Always went to MIL Xmas day and my parents Boxing Day. Xmas day was MIL thing, listening to our children later in life wished we hadn’t it was the one thing they resented. Not spending Xmas day in our home.

We’re only a small family and my youngest son lives in another city. Whatever the rules we have decided to remain separate this year. Eldest son is on his own and my bubble buddy so we’ll be together. He’s asked for a full roast beef Sunday dinner which he’ll help prepare and shop for. A different Christmas but lot less work for me We’ve already planned for an Australian style Christmas in the summer, virus permitting

When my 3 were very young, we were always pressurised by my mum into a massive family gathering at her house, about 20 of us and the house just not big enough to accommodate us all. No one enjoyed it, it was just chaos. So after a couple of years of suffering just to keep her quiet, I made a stand and told her well in advance that we will not “comply” in the future. She was not at all happy, but must’ve accepted what I said as we then started to be invited separately. People should respect what others wish to do, any plans should be mutual.

We always had both sets of IL for Christmas and were forced to accommodate two very different sets of family traditions. When they had all gone we established new traditions of our own. Now the children are grown up with families of their own, I am determined not to impose 'my' traditions on them as I found it so irritating when our parents (their grandparents) wanted to do things their way. Times move on.

We normally treat all of our families to the Christmas pantomime in our local town theatre on Christmas Eve then a informal buffet back at ours. That’s it, everyone does their own thing after that, but at least we all get to spend Christmas Eve together.
Obviously this year that has been postponed, but we have bought tickets for a timed outdoor Winter Wonderland at a big local park estate. Not sure about having a buffet afterwards though, that may not happen.

Yes, we’ve all had to please other people. The first Christmas of our married life we had breakfast at in-laws, lunch at my parents, tea at in-laws, and the other way round on Boxing Day. We couldn’t have even one glass of bubbly because of all the driving, and racked up a couple of hundred miles. It was the worse Christmas ever, and we never did it like that again.

It sounds awfully antisocial but I’m quite relieved that I don’t have to go to parties & stand about holding a drink in one had & a nibble in the other talking to people I either hardly know or know so well that I know exactly what they are going to say as I’ve heard it a 1000 times before.
I’m not counting family in this - I always love to see them & can relax &be myself. If it’s allowed this year!

DH and I are quite looking forward to Christmas on our own this year. Normally one or two branches of our AC and GC would come and stay a few days, but we have told them not to come this year. We will cook a traditional dinner with all the trimmings, open our pressies and relax with the TV or a jigsaw in the evening, and of course call the kids. We won't miss all the extra work of having 10-15 people staying with us!

First do I get dressed on the day?!
SIL is government worker , worked last 6 years, GS b/day on 26th. This year he is home 24th to 28th so these plans made in Jan .This year they have day in there house, round the corner to us on 26th GS cake already in my freezer we have decided they will only stay about a hour. We always eat a meal from a different area on the 24th just the 2 of us this year its Greek . So this year's difference for us no making 3 different breakfasts / brunch my fault I started this 1st year SIL changed job15 years ago and had to work , manic time at nans for 3/4 hours

I used to love our big family Christmases. The in-laws could be a bit tricky but no worse than anyone else's and we lived in a large farmhouse in those days so no worries!

DD2 then took on hosting duties after we downsized and they had a bigger house.

This year it will just be the two of us and special in a bitter sweet way because it will very likely be DH's last.

I intend to spoil him rotten.

@merlotgran ??

We stopped doing anything with or for wider family over 20 years ago! Best thing we ever did. Hope you really enjoy this one?

My Mum was always very casual about what we did for Christmas. "Come if you want, but don't worry about us, we will enjoy it anyway". It made life so much easier with my boyfriends, their parents, partners and now my husband. No fuss, "you are welcome but what ever you do just have a fun day". My Mum couldn't be doing with 'family squabbles'. I do the same for my sons now and it eases the pressure so much for them especially if their current partner wants to be with her parents. Honestly I would rather they came in January or February for a more relaxed weekend stay, (if and when it is safe to do so). The knack is being laissez-faire about the whole thing while showing you care and would like their company but supporting what ever they choose to do

Me and my dh are lookimg forward to Christmas alone for the first time ever.
No visiting/driving just going for a walk where we see deers grazing then back home for the duration.
CAN`T WAIT.
And answerable to no-one.

shysal

I am looking forward to a day on my own. I shall cook a small piece of ham and buy some nice stinky cheese to eat with homemade bread, also a few other treats. I may not cook a roast dinner at all.
P.S. I have already eaten the contents of my peanut cup advent calendar!

A woman after my own heart! I always have to replace Easter eggs, prudently bought early on but too readily available when only chocolate will do. Enjoy your Christmas.

We avoided extended family as much as possible. Too difficult. We spent all Christmases at home with our four children. Occasionally, my parents or in laws came, but only a handful of times when children were very small. We thought children should be in their own homes on Christmas Day. So with the exception of going to church, which was a shorter service than normal, and lots of fun, we stayed in. The other days we would sometimes visit family, but weren’t really bothered.

Beauregard. I'm pleased you cleared that up I was just going to get in touch with social services about a missing baby. I had to laugh at Nanny 27s comment

Ah well, my memories of childhood Christmases are of a fairly pared back celebration; sort of slightly souped up Sunday roast plus pressies. So naturally when I became the hostess, I went the whole hog: vast trees, multi course meals, everyone dressed up. Actually, I think the visitors enjoyed it, there was never any shortage of in laws and steps round the table as well as my own flesh & blood.

Nowadays I still make a huge effort food-wise (loads of variety and practically everything made from scratch) but I'm in a smaller house so the decorating is somewhat curtailed. However my new partner's sons and daughter-in-law came for the first time last year, and say they're looking forward to it this year, so hopefully it wasn't too excruciating for them.

I should say that the food bit is mostly about my own greed; having had to go gluten free when I was 50, I find the ready made gf stuff pretty rubbishy, so making my own means I can really enjoy Christmas with all the trimmings.

I completely respect all the views expressed here. One poster mentioned how lucky she is to have someone at home to spend it with. I echo that wholeheartedly. What I don’t understand is why some people are looking forward to a quiet day at home with good food, tv and internet. You can do this whenever you wish. I’d much rather be with family members and will do that if permitted.

I have always worked on the principal that Christmas (and New Year) is a season rather than one day. That way you can celebrate with ALL the family just not all at the same time. This year the plans are flexible - we will see what the restrictions and weather are like at the time. Youngest DGD is wishing for snow so that we can all meet in the biggest garden, have a barbecue, have a snowball fight and make snowmen. With this in mind I have bought patio heaters as Christmas presents for each household. If not used on Christmas day, they will still be useful during the rest of the winter and into spring.

merlotgran