Christmas dinner is traditionally eaten on December 25th in most Western countries. However, some families choose to have their big holiday meal on Christmas Eve, December 24th, instead. There are pros and cons to both options, and families tend to be divided on when the proper time is to eat Christmas dinner.
When is Christmas Dinner Traditionally?
December 25th is the traditional day for Christmas dinner in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. This meal is eaten at lunchtime or in the afternoon. December 25th is Christmas Day – a public holiday when families gather together. Having the big festive meal on this day allows people to spend the whole day together celebrating.
In European countries like France, Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain, the traditional Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve, December 24th. It is known as the ‘Reveillon’, and is a lavish, multi-course meal that lasts for hours. One reason for this is that Christmas Day is focused on the religious celebrations of Christ’s birth, with fasting and church services.
Why Do Some Families Eat Dinner on Christmas Eve?
There are a few key reasons why some families buck the Christmas Day dinner tradition and choose to eat their main meal on Christmas Eve instead:
- It allows people to attend Christmas Day church services and not be distracted by cooking and eating
- It helps space out the celebrations and activities over two days instead of one
- It accommodates those who are traveling to visit relatives on Christmas Day
- It allows kids to open presents on Christmas morning
For families that celebrate Christmas Eve dinner, the meal is sometimes accompanied by the opening of one small Christmas gift, like new pajamas or a book. This helps build excitement on Christmas Eve.
Why Do Most Families Prefer Christmas Day Dinner?
Here are some of the biggest reasons Christmas Day is still the preferred choice for the main festive meal:
- It’s the traditional day to have a celebratory roast dinner
- It allows everyone to relax at home all day without rushing off to church services
- Santa has already come so kids can enjoy playing with gifts while adults cook
- The meal feels like the crescendo after the build up of anticipation
- It’s a public holiday so no one has work the next day
Many families find that spacing out the excitement dilutes the magic a little. Having everything happen on one day makes it feel more special.
Comparing the Pros and Cons
Here is a table summarizing the key advantages and disadvantages of each option:
| Christmas Eve Dinner | Christmas Day Dinner |
|---|---|
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Regional Differences
There are also some regional differences in when the Christmas dinner is eaten:
- Scotland: Traditionally Christmas Day, but some families do a casual buffet on Christmas Eve
- Ireland: Christmas dinner is eaten at lunchtime on Christmas Day
- England: Christmas dinner in the afternoon on Christmas Day
- Wales: Often eat dinner in the evening on Christmas Day
- Germany: Main dinner is Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is more relaxed
- Poland: Big Christmas Eve dinner, then fasting Christmas Day
- Italy: Elaborate seafood feast on Christmas Eve, simple lunch Christmas Day
- Philippines: Christmas Eve dinner is the focus, with extended family
- Australia/New Zealand: Hot roast dinner at lunchtime on Christmas Day
So even within countries there can be variations depending on local culture and family heritage.
Dinner Timings
The exact timings for Christmas dinner also range significantly across regions:
- UK: 2pm to 4pm
- Ireland: 1pm to 3pm
- France: 8pm to midnight
- Germany: 5pm to 9pm
- Spain: 9pm to midnight
- Poland: 7pm to 10pm
- Philippines: 6pm to midnight
- Australia: 12pm to 3pm
- New Zealand: 12pm to 4pm
This demonstrates the variation in dining times across Europe versus the Western world. Late dinners are common in Catholic countries, while the UK and antipodes opt for an earlier roast dinner.
Changing Attitudes
While traditions remain strong, attitudes towards timings are evolving in some regions:
- UK: More families eating later on Christmas Day (4pm to 6pm)
- France: Increased interest in Christmas Day lunch rather than Eve dinner
- Australia: Some shift to cooler Christmas Eve seafood meal
- Philippines: Younger generation prefer Christmas Day dinner
This shows that the choice between Christmas Eve and Day may come down to personal preference going forward, rather than regional norms.
Bringing the Two Together
For families that can’t decide between Christmas Eve and Day, a new trend is emerging to combine both.
Many now opt for a small Christmas Eve meal, such as seafood or tapas, followed by the full traditional roast dinner on Christmas Day. Others choose Christmas breakfast or brunch instead of dinner on December 25th. This allows the big dinner to take place on Christmas Eve, but still makes the next day feel special.
Conclusion
While Christmas Day dinner is still the more popular and traditional choice globally, Christmas Eve meals are common across Europe and some other regions. Personal preference now plays a bigger role, with a trend towards combining dinners across both days. The most important factor is being able to celebrate the festive season with loved ones, no matter which day the main meal occurs on.