THE TRADITIONS LIBRARY
Christmas Day Open House
After Christmas morning gifts and breakfast with the children, the cooking begins: two turkeys, two hams, and side dishes to share. Then the doors open to friends, family, and loved ones.
There are no RSVPs and no expectation that everyone arrive together or stay for the whole day. Guests come and go into the late evening, finding food, conversation, and a place to spend part of their Christmas.
For Andrew, this feels different from formal hosting. The gathering has room to unfold without knowing exactly who will walk through the door. Whatever else is happening in someone’s busy life, the house remains an option.
At its heart, this tradition offers something simple and reassuring: you are welcome here, and there is room for you.
Shared by:
Andrew - Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada
0079
CATEGORY
Christmas
FREQUENCY
Annually
AGES
All Ages
COST
Moderate Cost
The Story Behind It
Andrew began the Christmas Day Open House in 2019 by inviting friends who had nowhere to go that day. From that beginning, the gathering grew, welcoming more people and becoming a dependable part of Christmas.
Its meaning comes partly from that dependability. Guests can make their own plans while knowing there is another place available if circumstances change. The hosts do not need a final head count to extend the invitation.
Andrew describes an energy that comes with “not planning.” The food takes preparation, but the gathering itself leaves room for unexpected company, new connections, and an evening that develops naturally.
One memorable Christmas, a family they had met only once arrived with their three children. The children loved music and brought along a guitar they had received that morning. They could not play it yet, but that did not stop them from jamming.
As they talked, Andrew learned which bands the children liked. He then gave each of them a CD by a favourite band from his personal collection.
It was an unplanned exchange within an unplanned gathering: a conversation, a shared interest, and something personal to take home. Over the years, the tradition has continued to grow.
What You'll Need
Food for the gathering, enough cooking capacity for your chosen menu, serving dishes, plates, cutlery, and somewhere for people to sit.
Andrew’s version includes two turkeys, two hams, and side dishes, requiring the ability to cook several large items. The quantity and menu can be adjusted to suit another household’s space, budget, and likely number of visitors.
Helpful extras include spare chairs, a place for coats and boots, activities for children, and containers for leftovers.
Allow half a day or longer for preparation, hosting, and cleanup. With guests arriving at different times, plan how food will be served, kept hot or cold, and put away between servings.
Make It Your Own
Keep the dependable welcome and choose a scale you can comfortably sustain. An open house could offer a full Christmas meal, a pot of soup with bread, or an afternoon of tea, coffee, and holiday baking.
You can set visiting hours while still allowing guests to come and go within them. Being welcoming does not require being available without limits.
Invite people who may appreciate another place to spend part of the day: friends away from family, neighbours spending Christmas alone, or loved ones fitting visits around work and other commitments. Make the invitation warm and straightforward, without requiring anyone to explain why they are coming.
If preparing the whole meal would be too much, invite contributions from those who would like to bring something, while making clear that arriving empty-handed is welcome too.
Leave room for the unexpected. A new guest, a child’s Christmas present, or a conversation about music may become the memory everyone carries away.
The meal brings people through the door. Knowing they can count on the invitation is what makes this tradition their own.
How It’s Done
Begin with your household’s Christmas morning celebrations, then prepare the food and gathering space for visitors.
Let invited friends, family, and loved ones know that your home will be open on Christmas Day. Explain that there is no RSVP requirement and that they may come and go rather than commit to a full-day visit.
Although arrivals are flexible, Andrew recommends naming a specific time when the main meal will be ready. This gives guests a useful point of reference without turning the gathering into a tightly scheduled event.
Keep extra chairs available and make room for conversation, children’s activities, and people settling in for different lengths of time. Where appropriate, invite willing older children to help younger ones participate, with adults remaining responsible for their care.
Visit, eat, and allow the day to develop. Towards the end of the evening, those still around help with the cleanup, making the final part of the gathering a shared effort.