The Holidays are upon us. When it comes to family feasts, do you prefer a big extended family event or a smaller more intimate setting?

[mandyfire98]

What is your favorite holiday get together?

[Lliam]

I look back fondly on large family gathering with my mom, dad, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. There may have been close to 18 or 20 people at times.

Christmases were similar but here were usually two or three gatherings on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all gone now. My other relatives are disbursed and I never see them. Even my sister and niece are over 400 miles away. We talk a lot but don't get together for holidays. She has her own group of friends.

My wife has a gigantic family back in Ohio. We've done holidays with them. It's fun but pretty insane. LOL

But I do like gatherings of over a dozen. For a good 15 years, up to 2020 (before covid), we spent Thanksgiving with friends. They were well organized pot lucks with wonderful food and drink. Unfortunately, that group of friends freaked out about covid and quit socializing.

In 2020 and 2021, we spent Thanksgiving with a different group of unmasked, unvaxed, unafraid friends. Nobody died. LOL

This coming Thursday, we're going to a friend's house to feast with a good group of people.

Over the past 20 years or so, my wife and I often attended large feasts with friends before Christmas. There are also a few couples with whom we meet individually at a restaurant to exchange gifts. But we developed a tradition of going to a particular restaurant on the evening of Christmas eve, just the two of us. And then we spend a quiet Christmas at home.

[NathanDavis]

I am bound by tradition, with a percentage of my family being Mexican... big gatherings are the norm for the holidays, it is all I know... lmao

the food is absolutely and truly amazing, every single time and it lasts for days, and it tastes even better on the second and third day, lol

our festivities are not short either, so we tend to have both as well, a smaller setting with close family first (or after) the big gathering at grandma's and with Christmas holidays being the best, the one almost nobody will miss and the one with the most food because almost every adult in the extended family, will be cooking something special and big for that Christmas, plus all the traditional holidays' food... and also, all the BBQ, grilling and pit fire because well, this is Texas... lol

[mandyfire98]

That sounds like an event almost lol. That would be fun to experience I think.

[NathanDavis]

it can be really fun, yes... if you like the food, there's plenty of it and variety as well, if you like the partying, the atmosphere is good as well, and also very welcoming to neighbors and friends and friends of friends... MANY couples have met at these yearly events lmao (NOT blood related though, acquaintances of course haha)

place is big too, and plenty of space and room to chill a bit more, while still near the party... if you want to party that is

[mandyfire98]

Sounds really fun. My family events are lame by comparison lol

[NathanDavis]

well, just by comparison and maybe... but they're still family right? as long as we still have them and healthy

[mandyfire98]

Very true

[NathanDavis]

cheers to that 🥂 lol

(knocking on wood a million times)

[A_Bell]

I have 5 older sisters and my mom and dad come from a family of 8 and 10 kids. I have a daughter, i have 16 nieces and nephews and like 40 cousins or so. Throw in husbands, wives, grandparentd and so our big family thsnsgiving is like 40-60 people every year and I love it.

[avaisfree]

Smaller if it's in our home, just immediate family.

If it's in someone else's home then a large gathering is fine because it's easier to leave a family event than it is to kick other people out of one.

[Wish4UrB00ty]

I prefer the smaller family setting for Christmas Day and a bigger feast like the week before or sometimes after. When I was younger we had a family part oh my moms side that got together some 35 to 50 people and we would do a giant white elephant gift swap at the end of the night. It always took us deep in to the night which was usually really awkward because it was usually on a Saturday night and then we would have church the next day and the people pouting it on were often involved with the service somehow.

then my brothers got married and stoped coming. So we started a family tradition with just my parents and brothers that we would always plan a time the fallowing month to get together. That one gets pretty crazy too.

[Wish4UrB00ty]

Do you do something real big at some point?
A feast? All my big family stuff is around Christmas. And then the rest of the year we just goof off together.

[mandyfire98]

We have a get together around Christmas with at the most likely 15 family members.

[SnowedIn]

Honestly no preference -- both are WONDERFUL. If you forced me to choose, I'd say the large family gathered in one room. But, after that big meal, I really like smaller, intimate groups... drinks and coffee and dessert by the fire, small groups playing games, etc.

[JPresidente]

I prefer Christmas. My family usually does a brunch with everyone bringing something followed by White Elephant gifts and some fun with board games. Apple Cider or Hot Chocolate help set the mood as well.

[DenizLikesTennis]

I like to have a big family gathering at the dinner table and exchange some stories, talk, laugh, have fun and do all activities together

[Big_Dong]

Both are fun and great and it is nice to have both, so what sometimes we have a small family like lunch and then have a big family dinner. Depends on the family members for me so I would say I prefer smaller family gatherings.

[exitseven]

We have one big family event on Christmas eve. It is usually pretty awesome. It seems to be enough for me.

[dustybiker]

Both can be great. I think the energy of the moment makes it or breaks a good party.

[Revvl]

My brother is an amazing cook, and our feast will be three humans and two dogs.

[whereismyjohnny]

Smaller intimate setting. Preferably just my parents, sisters and brother-in-law.

[Saltystardust]

It's usually just my wife, kids and I. My mom and step dad are back in BC. My step mom and dad are close but we don't get along, and this year now that my step mom is pregnant again I don't wanna upset her anyway (the nut job just turned 33).

[Sparkie460]

I don't have any extended family left so it's just my wife and kids and my daughters boyfriend. I've gotten used to smaller gatherings

[jamesgoldman]

Liked the large feasts until I was the cook, prefer smaller affairs

[Guardian45]

When I was small, I attended many large feasts. Nowadays, our gatherings are small affairs. I prefer the smaller ones, less cleanup!

[LavLavLuv]

I don’t really like family feasts unless it’s my dad’s side of fam

[Motheman]

I prefer smaller. I hate too many people. It stresses me out. Especially when we do presents and everyone goes 1 by 1. Its made me hate Christmas

[FunkyMonkee]

Big`uns. But, alas, those will never be a part of my life, anymore.

[motownplayer2000]

Nope. Don’t really talk to family and don’t really care about the holidays… sooo yeah, it’s usually very very small.

[Coden7]

Smaller. Our extended family is so large, it’s hard scheduling something that works for everyone

[Agape93]

Smaller with just friends

[dolemite89]

smaller intimate setting, big family gatherings are usually a headache

[krin_m]

Big extended family gathering!

[bubblegunnn]

I love big family event

[QuietRunner]

smaller more intimate setting for me

[Anonymous]

Can I marry you?

[mandyfire98]

Can you marry me? You don't know me though.

[Opinion Owner]

It doesn't matter to me. Life is short; I am not wasting time. I follow my heart.

[mandyfire98]

Wow lol so you just randomly picked me to propose?

[Opinion Owner]

Well, you seem like you have a bubbly and kind personality from your post. I like it, and that's it. I think you would be someone I would get along with.

Life is simple; we just tend to make things more complicated.

[mandyfire98]

Well thank you. I have been accused of having a bubble personality a time or two.

I'm not really looking to get married I'm afraid.

[Opinion Owner]

Well, I was not expecting marriage right away, but I want it with you. But you can decline. I won't take any offense.

[Opinion Owner]

Why does it scare you? I wouldn't want you to be scared of it.

[mandyfire98]

It doesn't scare me but it's peculiar because I have no idea who I am even speaking with. You're anonymous.

[Jennz6]

Small

[Christoff92]

Both as a matter of fact 😏

[pizzalovershouse]

Small family gathering

[TallAnon]

More than 5 or 6 becomes a drag.

[BLP11520]

Smaller works for me