A contradiction in terms? At least, I’ve tried a number of non-alcoholic beverages described as beer, but none tasted remotely like the product made from malted and fermented cereal with added hops… Why go to the pub on Christmas Day for such a concoction? (I ask never having even thought of going to a pub myself on Christmas Day).
And forgive me if it is an insensitive question, but no family oriented things?
I don’t have any Christmas Day rituals as such, but the time is family oriented, either just my wife and our two sons, or wider family either entertained by us, or the other way round. Being a foodie family much revolves around a main meal, but turkey never features. If wider family often two meats feature, giving a choice, or both. It might be a particularly good joint of beef, better still, venison. Or any one of a number of birds, from guinea fowl to goose, and chicken may feature if there’s a second meat. Dinner though not until maybe late afternoon - earlier than our normal dinner, but not as early as lunchtime. Alcohol would normally be wine, but nothing other than possibly an aperitif shortly before dinner. I love Christmas Pudding, but no-one else is bothered, and it normally waits a day or two to avoid over-eating.
The day otherwise could be a mix of anything from giving/receiving gifts, particularly when young children are around, a film or two, playing family games, etc.
One thing some nieces-in-law started doing a few years ago, which we have experienced when at their house and I am tempted to copy, is the children (the nieces, now in their 30s), but it started a out 10 years ago, give their parents ‘stockings’ - and then the parents started to do the same, having abandoned the traditional stocking some 10 years earlier. Gifts are of negligible value, but much thought is put into suitability - with an eye for a good laugh more than seriousness, but presents actually having a use. E.g. Father is always saying he he doesn’t have enough time - so one year they gave him a catering size pack of thyme, and when he opened it they said: “now you can’t say you’re short of time”.
Re family time, when we were working, and now our sons are working, and far off family are not met with often enough, the excuse of Christmas to make time to enjoy each others’ company to the exclusiin of other distractions is something I think we all welcome.
Meanwhile back to Christmas rituals: one I do have, but not on Xmas Day, is to have a Polish style Chrystmas Eve supper. We never manage to rustle up 12 courses, and do have wine with it, but it is so ething I grew up with and love to continue. And when it is just the four of us as immediate family, we exchange gifts that evening after the meal.
I have to confess to never having watched the Queen’s Christmas message live, just seen it on the news later, and an absolute no-no is any TV soap trash . Many years ago we used to watch the Bond film, but it is a long time since that was a regular broadcast, and occasionally a special of some series or other that we liked, but these days with catch-up capability that sort of thing waits until some days later. I was brought up going to Midnight Mass (which in those days was at midnight). I don’t these days, and certainly wouldn’t if it was before midnight as apparently has become the norm in many places.
Day , and I feed him .