Christmas traditions on Christmas day

Our family has always celebrated Christmas by having dinner together on Christmas day....when I was little it was at my Nan's place - then my mum took over when Nan got older and couldn't see to do it.....then when ms*louisa was born - I realised my mum had been doing it for years and took the reins.....
so our children & their growing families come to our home for dinner * along with my sister & her family as well as my mum & Col * her partner. I also ask Eric who lives down the road as he is alone and there is one thing that I cannot bear and that is for someone to be alone at Christmas.
So far that is 16..then mum is bringing a friend who is also alone * Eric has a friend staying, so he is coming too * my sister has a friend whose marriage has just broken up and Sophie has a friend who is coming..... we are up to 20 this year ! yikes am I mad ? ?
I usually do the traditional Christmas dinner * for us this is : roast lamb; chicken & baked ham. Roast vegetables: potato, pumpkin & sweet potato done in brown sugar. Cauliflower au gratin and peas * all served with gravy *home made mint sauce is served in a victorian glass jug

*Then for dessert we have the plum pudding of course * served with custard and I also make a trifle * I have lashings of King Is. cream to serve with dessert * I have my fruit cake with tea & coffee later after dinner. trifle recipe to share


I usually set the table outside on our patio * weather permitting of course * a vintage white sheet is put on the table and to decorate the table I will put a gorgeous sparkly cranberry vine down the middle . * I was lucky enough to find some venetian ruby glasses that I will burn votives in and these will be placed amongst the vine branches * I use mismatched vintage white plates and huge goblets for wine & I use my vintage damask napkins. At each place I put a Christmas bon bon so we can all pull a cracker each, read the dumbest jokes ever and wear silly hats.
All among the pots and plants I burn tea lights as well as having fairy lights strung in the japanese maple.
oh and in the afternoon about 4 hours before we eat * I burn lots of citronella mosquito coils to keep those mozzies at bay


Before dinner we give out our gifts which starts off all very civilised but by about the 4 th gift - it turns into a frenzy with paper being torn * lots of oohs & ahhs and many thankyous.
I of course vow and declare that this is the last time I am doing this - but of course we all know come December 1 next year - I will be getting organised once again and don't blink as it will be here before you know it !!!!