After our wedding in November 2000 we came to an agreement that we would alternate Christmas Day between the two families. We kicked off with the in-laws which, although bearable, became a little stressful by the end of the week. I was living in a new county, out of work and a little depressed. Christmas Day rolled into Boxing Day and the next day until eventually we declined the offer to return for any more festive meals.
That first Christmas was an eye opener as it was completely different to the ones that I had experienced for the past 26 years. Christmas at the in-laws means no telly (not even for the Queen's speech), presents not being opened until the evening (when we are all sat in the living room trying to think of things to talk about), drinking alcohol under disapproving looks from the tee-total MIL and, each chocolate eaten being noted (and commented on). Needless to say, it was a long day.
Christmas with my family is completely different. From the atmosphere to the routine, everything just feels so much more relaxed. We get up, we open presents (shock, horror, still in our pyjamas), we eat chocolate biscuits for breakfast, we have our first alcoholic drink at twelve, we eat lunch, we all gather round the telly for the Queen's speech, we drink, we eat, we entertain ourselves, some in the kitchen, others in the lounge and some in the garden smoking.
Two families, two very different Christmas day routines.
This year Christmas Day is to be spent with my family who are all arriving on Christmas Eve and not leaving until the Monday which means that we will not see the in-laws over the Christmas weekend. To soften the blow with the in-laws we arranged a pre-Christmas dinner for the weekend before which, for a Strictly Come Dancing fan, was very bad timing.
Round one of Christmas has been completed, we now only have to contend with the chaos of 4 couples, two teenagers, a cat and a jack russell!
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4 comments:
Every family has different traditions and combining them is a tricky process. This year is our first Christmas just the two of us so we are cherry picking the best traditions from each of our families which means stockings (the husband never had them - poor deprived lad) and booze for breakfast (for him, hopefully I won't be partaking). And we will probably start our own traditionas which, in years to come will be the bane of our kids-in-law's lives!
Isn't that SO true! I like low key holidays, with a wonderful tree, not leaving the house, no travel. This year, however, we are heading out of town to the great country of Canada to go skiing and stay at the "chalet" ... which is really just a townhouse...but, that's what the MIL calls it! Ha! Anyway - not sure how it will turn out, but it's def going to blow my mind. At least they are big drinkers. Praise Jesus, indeed! Have a wonderful holiday & thanks for commenting on my blog - you're awesome!
Glad to read you will be spending the holidays doing what you enjoy and not being all stressy. Merry Christmas and many blessings to you in 2010!
Hah! We're having our first alcoholic drink at TEN! Breakfast - panettone and bucks fizz. We'll toast you while we're at it.
(I must add, if someone had spent Christmas Day commenting on my chocolate intake, I'd've committed violence after the fourth remark (ie at about 11:33 am). You are a much better person than I am).
Best wishes for a wonderful pyjama day.
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