# So what do you do if you're alone Christmas day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993 "2011-12-13T04:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/21 "2011-12-13T14:38:26Z")
I’ve spent MANY Christmas mornings alone and I second all the previous poster’s suggestions. Here’s another one: see if you can volunteer at an animal shelter. When I worked in a Pet Store I always booked myself in alone on Christmas Day when the store was closed. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by voguevixen > Work! (Time-and-a-half: WHOO-HOO!) I LOVED spending those quiet hours looking after the animals. Enjoy the time to yourself and make the best of it. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/22 "2011-12-13T14:44:49Z")
We’re going to the bar. $3 you call it. Woo hoo! So are all of our friends. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/23 "2011-12-13T15:18:58Z")
Revel. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/24 "2011-12-13T15:21:25Z")
Since my family always does Xmas on the 24th, I’ll have most of the day to myself. Skyrim. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/25 "2011-12-13T15:25:34Z")
For divorced parents and kids of divorce there is one thing you can do which will save you tons of stress and insanity. It can be hard but it’s worth the effort. Decide that the calendar is not going to rule your moods. You’re going to celebrate Christmas with your little girl on Dec 26th, so to YOU, Dec 25th is just Christmas eve. Spend it wrapping things or otherwise preparing for Christmas Day (which will be tomorrow). For me it actually got to the point where I preferred the years I didn’t have the kids on Christmas day. The schedule the ex and I worked out was whoever missed Christmas day got the kids from Boxing day until New Years. A couple of years when they were young we actually waited until the 27th to do Christmas day so we could have the 26th as a quiet day to unwind from their dad’s Christmas. The same applies for birthdays and Easter and every other date the calendar can throw at you. The people and the events are important, the calendar is just a dictator trying to run your life. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/26 "2011-12-13T15:50:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > So I’ll have a nice Christmas… but it won’t be ON Christmas Day. It’ll be on the 24th and the 26th. > > What do people do in this situation? You WILL have a nice Christmas, and it WILL be on Christmas Day! That is, if you plan for it. I make my all-alone Christmas a day of relaxation. I sleep in, and cook a good meal. And I put my feet up and enjoy the luxury of having a full day completely to myself. It’s a great opportunity to read a good book cover-to-cover, or indulge in a DVD movie marathon, or go for a nice hike in the woods, or walk through the neighborhood enjoying all the lights. I studiously avoid doing anything chore-related, or anything I normally do on an ordinary weekend. The trick is to view it as a day of opportunity - a full day completely to yourself, where you can do whatever you like - rather than a day of being lonely. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/27 "2011-12-13T16:11:57Z")
Around my neck of the woods, it’s a great day to go skiing. The last day of the year before everyone is off for the holidays and it gets way too crowded, and everybody at the resorts seems to be in a jolly mood! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/28 "2011-12-13T16:14:57Z")
I pretty much treat it as a normal day, except that I do fix myself a nice dinner. I’ll call my parents, and sometimes–depending on my mood–as many of my siblings as I have current phone numbers for. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/29 "2011-12-13T16:47:55Z")
Just use it as YOUR day. Hell, masturbate furiously all day if you like. Who’s to stop you? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/30 "2011-12-13T16:49:53Z")
I’m perfectly content to spend Christmas by myself. Weather permitting, I usually go for a hike. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/31 "2011-12-13T17:17:46Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What do people do in this situation? > > Note that I live just west of Toronto, if that matters. It does because I was about to say go golfing. I had several Christmases alone and around here the gold courses are unmanned and free Christmas Day and New Years Day - so I usually grabbed my clubs and went for it. Never had more than a dusting to contend with and actually made a friend one year. I DO NOT eat out. Got stuck out of town on business once from the 23rd to the 27th. I was not happy about it but I was younger and thought I needed the job. Called the wife and talked with her and some other family and then headed out for about the only place open in three counties ---- filled with these huge families all having the best time in the universe. Made me feel all that much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/32 "2011-12-13T17:24:25Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Just use it as YOUR day. Hell, masturbate furiously all day if you like. Who’s to stop you? I was coming in to suggest just that. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/33 "2011-12-13T19:55:34Z")
The last time I was alone for Christmas, I made myself a nice dinner: big ol’ porterhouse, twice-baked potato, asparagus. I popped open a nice bottle of wine, put on the Big Band station, and had myself a long, leisurely Christmas dinner. Spent much of the day before that reading and playing computer games. Watched a movie afterward. All in all, it was very relaxing and enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/34 "2011-12-13T20:03:23Z")
When I spent Christmases alone I always enjoyed taking long drives on winding country roads. There would be almost nobody on on the roads except me enjoying the twisty curves and the scenery. It was like being in a car commercial 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/35 "2011-12-13T20:12:58Z")
I don’t do any Christmas decorations and treat it like most other days, except not many stores are open. The reason I avoid decorations and trying to make everything all Christmas-y is that it would end up depressing me 10 times more than if I just treat it like a somewhat normal day. Apocalypse Now had a line from Willard during a beach BBQ, after the helicopter attack and surfing, something like “the more he tries to make it seem like home, the more they end up missing home.” But that may just be me. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/36 "2011-12-13T21:16:56Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > How old is your daughter? Is the GO-train or Via an option to help her get to your parent’s place and save you from having to double back? > > There may be some community events, open to the public; concerts or shows or tree-lighting ceremonies or something. Look in the community sections of your local paper - there may be groups getting together to do something fun. > > If any outdoor rinks are available, go skating! > > You don’t have to answer this, but is the relationship with your ex that bad? If she knew you’d be alone on Christmas Day, would she offer to have you come over - especially if she’s hosting several people anyways? The relationship isn’t that bad. It’s just logistics. Good suggestions, all! ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/37 "2011-12-13T21:33:46Z")
Instead of cooking, I go buy stuff I would never normally eat any other time of year. I’m nearly always alone on Christmas Eve. My family does the Big Thing about a week or so before the 25th so all the younguns can have Christmas Day with their youguns. I spend Christmas Day with my sister and her family, but Christmas Eve is MINE: There is always a bottle or two of champagne and caviar on hand, along with brie and whatever else strikes my fancy from the local grocery store. In fact, it’s time to start scoping out this year’s meal. One year it was steak, another it was salmon - it just depends. I also get the SuperKitties (three this year!) something special as well. I’m going to go get all of the ‘Girl with’ books from the library and read them one after the other. I also dig out all the movies I want to watch and have them going, too - I’m thinking a Humphrey Bogart film festival this year - and generally indulge myself all day and night. Wonderful time to myself. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/38 "2011-12-13T21:56:40Z")
I wish I could be alone on Christmas, I’d watch Bad Santa, drink some bourbon, play some Skyrim, take the dog for a long walk, eat some junk food, play some more Skyrim and see if there were any Chinese places that would deliver that are open. Instead, I’ll be making akward small talk with in-laws. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/39 "2011-12-13T22:52:00Z")
‘The same thing we try to do everyday, RickJay: try to take over the world!’ (Apologies to the Brain.) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993/40 "2011-12-13T23:35:45Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > ‘The same thing we try to do everyday, RickJay: try to take over the world!’ > > (Apologies to the Brain.) 😃 _I_ was going to say that! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-do-if-youre-alone-christmas-day/605993.md?page=3)