What do you do on Christmas day?

[Gr8t Fan]

We go to Disney.

 

[Bilberry]

We don't have a Christmas tradition any longer in the family. It seems every Christmas is different and colorful. Sometimes and most often we have a large gathering at my folks Florida home. When that happens it is part Christmas celebration & part birthday party for my father. Other times the family has gone on a cruise, we've gone to Disney World also. I haven't done this myself yet but skiing in Colorado sometimes is planned in the family. I think this past Christmas was one of the slower ones. We had a nice Christmas gathering lunch with neighbors.

 

[osopecoso]

We stay up until midnight to open presents, party until about 2am and sleep in Christmas Day having dinner at family members house.

 

[dish rag]

It changes each year.

 

[Hikergirl]

We get up, kids open gifts, then dh and I do. We eat breakfast, some of us go back to sleep and then I cook a Christmas dinner early afternoon.
We visit our families during the week off.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Oh geez, Christmas is a big deal at our house. I've posted this before, but we go all Griswold. Our house is lit up outside with a dancing light show that broadcasts on FM radio. The inside of our house is just as over-the-top...last year we had 8 Christmas trees up, maybe 9, I forget. Every room has all kinds of stuff up...nutcrackers, signs, etc.... But actually Christmas Day itself doesn't have a ton of "traditions". Kids open their presents, DW and I spend the rest of the day assembling, putting in batteries, etc... Though I will say that's getting better now that they're getting older. Otherwise, we relax at home and enjoy each other.

I started working on Christmas several months ago (computer programming) and the physical work starts on Nov 1st sharp. However, this year we'll be in WDW for Christmas. We're bringing a 6' artificial tree to the rental condo and will put a few decorations up.

Oh my!!!! You get all the points for Festivus!

My neighbours in TN had to build an additional garage to store all their statuary ... each year there was more, and it was insane. They really had life-size statues of all the reindeer plus Rudolph, the sleigh and a giant Santa falling off the roof while the elves tried to catch him. As my art teacher used to remark at their house, "If it glowed... it was at the birth of the Baby Jesus".

 

[mrsv98]

Christmas Eve I make a huge dinner for both sides of our family. It is wonderful and fun and then they all LEAVE! Christmas Day we have a leisurely morning, especially now that DD is 17. We have do presents, have a nice breakfast and then later go to the iPic theater and see whatever big Christmas movie is out.

 

[amberpi]

Oh geez, Christmas is a big deal at our house. I've posted this before, but we go all Griswold. Our house is lit up outside with a dancing light show that broadcasts on FM radio. The inside of our house is just as over-the-top...last year we had 8 Christmas trees up, maybe 9, I forget. Every room has all kinds of stuff up...nutcrackers, signs, etc.... But actually Christmas Day itself doesn't have a ton of "traditions". Kids open their presents, DW and I spend the rest of the day assembling, putting in batteries, etc... Though I will say that's getting better now that they're getting older. Otherwise, we relax at home and enjoy each other.

I started working on Christmas several months ago (computer programming) and the physical work starts on Nov 1st sharp. However, this year we'll be in WDW for Christmas. We're bringing a 6' artificial tree to the rental condo and will put a few decorations up.

I *have* to ask how the neighbors feel about it. Do people come to your neighborhood to look at your house? Is it like that? I lived in 2 places were those things were forbidden (they were both gated communities and super annoying - like couldn't have your boat or truck in the driveway and had to have a trash service which got the cans from the house not by the road; I got out).

 

[tvguy]

Christmas Eve, go to a local Mexican Restaurant for dinner.
Christmas Day, our tradition is to work around whomever has to work Christmas Day and what hours they are working. That really is our only tradition, juggling everything around work schedules.

 

[Wendy31]

Surprisingly, as I've gotten older, Christmas has become my least favorite holiday - it all has just started to feel like one big obligation w/ a thousand to-do & to-buy lists & nothing actually to do w/ the real spirit of the season.

Honestly, I'd rather be on the beach at Christmas w/ a fruity drink!

We still do ALL the decorating though! I decorate 4 full trees & 5 table-top/miniature trees, & there are Christmas decorations in every room of our house!

My husband is the type of employee that sometimes has to work Christmas Eve &/or Christmas Day - it just depends on how the rotation falls.

Typically, both of our parents have Christmas Eve celebrations at their respective houses - regardless of what DH's schedule is, so, on Christmas Eve, we cart kids & presents & casseroles back & forth to the grandparents' houses. If DH is at work, I do it by myself - although, now that our older 2 are older, it's easier. (And, yes, I'm a little bitter that DH's mom NEVER once considers DH's schedule. To her credit, my mom sometimes does - it just depends on the year.) Christmas Eve becomes an all day affair between the two houses, & we get back home too late to do anything special.

If DH is off on Christmas Day, we wake up, open presents & stockings after reading The Christmas Story in Luke 2, have our traditional breakfast which is baked orange rolls & bacon, & then DH & I get to work cooking a huge themed Christmas dinner to which we've invited our parents.

If DH is NOT off on Christmas Day, we pick another day where he IS off that's close to the actual Christmas Day, & we have our family Christmas then & invite our parents to join us for Christmas Dinner. Sometimes, DH's bachelor brother joins us as well if he's in town.

Last year, since DH had to work on Christmas, we went to Florida 2 weeks before Christmas & had our family Christmas there... it was wonderful! I took a small tree & decorated our condo. We had stockings, & the kids had presents to open. We ordered takeout from a marvelous local Italian restaurant for our Christmas Day dinner. It was all so fun & easy!

We plan to go back to Florida this year for our Christmas since we had such a good time. However, DH is actually off this year for both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. I've tried talking him into us actually being gone the week of Christmas, but he wants to go the week before so we'll be in town for our extended families' Christmas celebrations. DH's dad is not doing well healthwise, so I understand. His dad is also not leaving his house at all except for doctors' appointments, so, if we do have a our traditional Christmas Day dinner at our house, DH's parents wouldn't be able to come.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day are so busy that most of our family traditions occur at other times during the season. At some point during the holidays, I'll host a Gingerbread House Party. We'll also pick a night to put on our PJs, make some hot chocolate, & go driving around looking at Christmas lights. We also bake TONS of different Christmas cookies - we'll have a 2-Day Bake-a-Thon.

 

[AuntieMe3]

Christmas morning is spent with my little family, my sister's little family and our parents at my house. When we wake up, the three of us(husband, myself, and our daughter) open our stockings and gifts from each other. My sister stays the night with my parents, so everyone comes over to our house for breakfast, which is always tamales and eggs, and then gifts. The rest of the day is just lounging, snacking and enjoying each other's company. Some take naps, some watch movies, we'll play games or with gifts. Our main food is usually appetizer/snack type stuff but we also have sandwich stuff or more tamales if someone wants something more filling. Some years my brother and his family join us bit usually not so we'll FaceTime at some point during the day.

Edited to add....everyone is always welcome to stop by throughout the day and usually have quite a few guests popping in and out.

I LOVE Christmas!

 

[Kitty 34]

With our family changing with marriages and children, etc......not sure what is on our Christmas-to-do-list yet. I'll get back with you in a couple of months!!

 

[Realfoodfans]

I've always loved Christmas but we too are now a sandwich generation- my MIL is on her own now but never wanted to be part of my family Christmas (second marriage for us) so DH is obliged to go visit (I don't go) so we go to church then he goes to visit while I cook - alternate years we rotate now with my brother and SIL so I either have 12 or more to us or we go there. I'm lucky my DD always shares Christmas with us so we have 2 little ones around which lightens the day with very elderly parents needing to be cared for. DH and I always have a present each to open at the end of the day when it's all quiet and we can relax!

 

[Realfoodfans]

With our family changing with marriages and children, etc......not sure what is on our Christmas-to-do-list yet. I'll get back with you in a couple of months!!

It's certainly a challenge keeping everyone happy!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

We celebrate with a very Jewish Xmas - Chinese food followed by going to the movies.

 

[xlsm]

Christmas Day begins with coffee for me and DH while the kids open gifts. Then I cook and wait for my ex-inlaws to arrive. My family and DH's family don't come for the holidays, but my ex-inlaws do. Yes, it's a little different, lol!

(actually last year MIL did come, but she normally goes to California to see my SIL)

We have Mexican food, watch A Christmas Story on repeat and just hang around for awhile, then the kids go home with their grandparents, and DH and I get few days to ourselves!

Christmas Eve is always just DH, the kids and I. We often have DH's work Christmas party if it falls on a week day. We open stockings, watch Meet Me in St. Louis, followed by the A Christmas Story marathon. The food varies, but I don't cook outside of some food prep for Christmas day. I cook on Christmas so I don't want to worry about it the day before (outside of baking, I do usually make a few batches of cookies, but that can be done around other things).

 

[Kitty 34]

It's certainly a challenge keeping everyone happy!

Amen to that!!!! Or a million likes to you!!

 

[disykat]

In our family, Christmas Eve is the big church evening - several services because we are musicians. We usually have a big, easy, but special dinner involving lasagna and/or shrimp. Christmas Day is opening presents, a brunch meal of some sort, and then laying out appetizers and having friends over later in the afternoon and evening. The next day we get in the car and drive to see both of our extended families 400 miles away. So far, both our kids, 24 and 22, are still spending those days with us - sometimes with the addition of a girlfriend. I know that "traditions" will be changing!

Now that my kids are grown and working we're being a little more flexible. It kind of depends on my boy's work schedules because they still really enjoy spending some time with extended family over the holidays. Time is growing short with my parents.

This year we're actually considering all traveling as a whole family at Thanksgiving instead since it will be a four day weekend vs. a three day for Christmas since it falls on a Monday. DH and I will probably travel to family by ourselves after Christmas. Older son has used all his vacation time this year. Not sure about younger son yet.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Christmas morning DH and I get up and do presents at home and have a lazy morning. We then go to DH's parent's house about noon and do presents wit them. His aunts/uncles come over for a 2 PM dinner. We usually leave pretty much right after dinner and head to my aunt's house for another dinner about 5.

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh geez, Christmas is a big deal at our house. I've posted this before, but we go all Griswold. Our house is lit up outside with a dancing light show that broadcasts on FM radio. The inside of our house is just as over-the-top...last year we had 8 Christmas trees up, maybe 9, I forget. Every room has all kinds of stuff up...nutcrackers, signs, etc.... But actually Christmas Day itself doesn't have a ton of "traditions". Kids open their presents, DW and I spend the rest of the day assembling, putting in batteries, etc... Though I will say that's getting better now that they're getting older. Otherwise, we relax at home and enjoy each other.

I started working on Christmas several months ago (computer programming) and the physical work starts on Nov 1st sharp. However, this year we'll be in WDW for Christmas. We're bringing a 6' artificial tree to the rental condo and will put a few decorations up.

You are my hero!!!!! I decorate every room in the house for Christmas, and we have at least three trees. Form the floors with my christmas rugs, to the walls, with lights and candles and sparkles! I change out all the linens, knock knacks, dishes. Out doors I light up what I can, but I am not able to do a light show, but if I could...... I would!



Christmas is a nice time for us. WHen my former MIL was alive it was wicked hectic. WE woudl spend CHristmas Eve day with my sister and her family, either for Brunch or lunch. Home for a whiel to prepare to go to my MIL for CHristmas Eve. DH and I would then go to Midnoght Mass, and home to bed. CHristmas morning we opened gifts and then i got our Christmas dinenr ready, sometimes for twenty people, as my IL's came and anyoen in my family who was free joined us as well.

Now we have a much quieter time. Dh and I spend Christmas Eve together with a light meal, and then we go to Midnight Mass. CHristmas morning is coffee and pastry, and then my family all get here. We have snacks, coffee wine while we have our exchange, which now takes the place of all of us buying gifts, it is a blast! Then a lovely dinner, dessert later on and open house that evening.

This year I have to work the day after.