This Is The Most Popular Time To Eat Christmas Dinner

Does your family time the Christmas roast around the King’s speech? Or do you prefer a more leisurely start to the day before enjoying a big evening meal? Festive food traditions differ from household to household – but a survey has revealed the most popular time to sit down for Christmas dinner.

When Is The Most Common Time To Eat Christmas Dinner?

According to the research, conducted by Woods Furniture, the most common time to sit down for Christmas dinner is 2pm – the ideal hour for 28 percent of those surveyed. This was closely followed by 3pm at 20 percent, with 18 percent of Brits preferring a slightly earlier kick off at 1pm. Just seven percent of us, meanwhile, are waiting until 6pm to eat.

The results differ according to locations, though: Londoners are more likely to eat later, while North East residents prefer an earlier start – with some apparently sitting down as early as 11am.

In terms of how Christmas dinner is served, almost half of those surveyed (47 percent) opt for individually plated meals, while 37 percent go family-style. Just two percent of Brits are opting for potluck dinners when it comes to Christmas.

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The tradition of eating Christmas dinner dates back thousands of years. It is believed to have developed from the Neolithic tradition of the mid-winter feast, held to celebrate the winter solstice and featuring ‘crab apples, hazelnuts, sloes and blackberries’, according to English Heritage.

During the Middle Ages, Christmas feasts began to look slightly more familiar, but most modern traditions came about during the 19th century. Although turkey was eaten by the British upper classes as far back as the Tudor times, it wasn’t until the 1950s that it became a staple in homes across the country – inspired by the Thanksgiving feasts of America.

What Is The Optimal Time For Christmas Dinner?

So what’s the correct time to sit down for lunch? According to food historians, it’s meant to be a middle-of-the-day meal, so 2pm sounds about right. However, traditions differ around the world: many parts of Europe, for instance, have a big meal on Christmas Eve and enjoy the leftovers on 25 December. 

Ultimately, the beauty of Christmas Day is that you can structure it however you like. If you’re up at the crack of dawn fluffing the potatoes ahead of a strict 1pm deadline, hats off to you. Prefer lounging around in your pyjamas until midday? Go ahead.