I know it is August but...

I really wouldn't want long, sunny days at Christmas. I'm always like a big kid hoping for snow!

llrina that's the way I would like it!
2 yrs ago we tried something similar
It worked well
Last year DD wanted traditional
DD & 2 DGC stayed with us as partner works away and he was only here for xmas day.
We had lovely day. But exhausting.
But eight day stay was too long!

This year Presents for 3 DGC
Money for 2 DC
Few cards and will take DS & BIL for veggie meal
Job done as they say

Visit. MiL on day take her usual tipple
Then will see what Santa brought GC

Back home for lobster seafood platter from M&S.

We lucked out!
Southern hemisphere has long sunny days
We get Dark cold & wet

I always loved Christmas but now I am on my own I it isn't the same. I still decorate, put up the tree, send cards and buy presents but getting up Christmas morning and opening presents alone just doesn't feel right. I am always invited to spend Christmas with my late DH's family but can't face the drive back home to an empty house so spend the day alone and if the weather isn't too bad I go for a walk after lunch.

DH loves Christmas, and were it not for him, and GS, I wouldn't do it. He goes totally over the top and it makes me really grumpy when I see things hurtling out of (my) control! But I thank God he is still here to go seasonally bonkers while so many of our friends are not. We usually alternate hosting Christmas Day with DD; this year it is her turn, but if they should decide to do something else, it wouldn't bother me. Ditto DS and d-i-l, who always come to us on Boxing Day, but have never suggested we go to them. Bring it on, I suppose! Bah humbug!

Have you tried Delia's Creole Christmas cake recipe, hildajenniJ? Foolproof and wonderful if you like a boozy one (guess who does ).

I absolutely love it all too. It's like Santa's grotto round here from mid-December right through to 6 January.

Wash your mouths out, lets have no more talk of Christmas till late November at least, even if you aren't celebrating it. I'm still in summer mode, but it seems as soon as September is here, Christmas cards are on sale in shops and a month later will have bloody Jingle Bells being piped out

I love Christmas. ??. The tree, the lights, the cards, the presents and the family. I love making the dinner, cooking the turkey and all the trimmings. The only thing I don't do is make a Christmas cake. I have tried several times over the years, but have never been successful. I wonder if it's something to do with having a December birthday.

I would quite like a quiet day or even "shock horror" to eat out . But that ain't gonna happen . Never mind same as ever.

Our theory is that we do full-on Christmas one year at ours with all the DC and DGC, then quiet Christmas the next year when they all go to their in-laws. In practice the best laid plans, etc, and we've only had one quiet one. We had a very civilised day just the two of us, with a lovely meal out and no bombsite to clear up afterwards, but we both missed the proper family celebration. It's supposed to be quiet Christmas this year Fortunately we always see the whole gang on Boxing Day when another family member hosts a big get-together.

for anyone having a quiet Christmas not from choice.

xmas is never the same after losing a loved one especially when its the norm for the whole family to get together this time of year.

I have always done the whole Christmas thing. Up early drive over to see DGC . Spend a few hours then dash back to prepare dinner for the rest of the family. DH drives round picking everyone up (grrr) then we eventually sit down to dinner . Finish dinner then clear up, wash up ( while everyone else is relaxing, drinking, watching tv etc) not one single second of relaxation.
I lost my beloved grandma late last year and my dear mum in April so things won't be the same but I know my dad, sister etc. Will expect things to go on as normal and to be honest I'm just fed up . I don't doubt
It will be the same as usual though as I haven't got the strength to say no.

Christmas Cards in Dobbies already
I think how we celebrate ( or not ) depends on our relationships with our families. Personally I would seal myself in a box, but no chance with my DGC '!!

Not done xmas celebrations for 5 years now, the only time I seemed to see the adult grandkids was on their birthdays and around xmas so I told them I wasnt doing xmas anymore much to the annoyance of older daughter and we had a row about it with her tearing into me with a few choice words!!

Its just another day for me like any other day.

Ch*******s for us is always a low key affair anyway. We only buy for each other our Cx2 and GCx2 adult pressies are just a token amount.
Most Ch******s days the meal is the same as a large Sunday roast with turkey and shared between H, S, and I. So apart from the tree and a few cards on display it's pretty much like any other day already.

I agree the whole thing has got MUCH too commercial and the pressure on many people to spend money they haven't got on things others don't need is not good.And wearing yourself out in the kitchen is not essential.

But I do think it is good to mark the season of goodwill with Christmas/greetings cards - or even just a special email message for friends and family far away in order to exchange news/maintain relationships. Keeping up friendships is so important as you get older. And when we have been on our own over Christmas (not our 'turn' to host!) the two of us have on occasion invited neighbours round for a meal who might otherwise have been sitting alone in front of the TV.

I have myself in the past also asked close family to send a small sum to one of my pet charities instead of buying me a present - but not everyone is happy to do this!

I think you will regret that decision on Christmas morning. Just give one small gift to each family member or draw names.
However, our family drew names last Christmas for the first time ever and DH and I got two brothers in our DS's family. So we felt bad that we didn't have any gifts to send to DD's family. This year I think we will send a small gift for each family member.