When do you start preparing for your Christmas meal?

Some of the shopping gets done a week ahead and I start cooking about 2 days ahead of Christmas. Although I do make Christmas cookies and home made chocolates about 12 days before Christmas.

by Ivana Katz

A lot can be done the night before, setting the table, drinks in the fridge, even placing plates and glasses in the right stop.Cleaning should be done the night before.
One of the best things is to buy a small (old fashioned bin plastic kind) and have it in the kitchen with bin liner...because when making food, there is always a huge amount of rubbish.
Have someone in the family ready to help and to take it out...so you can keep working on the meal.
Salad should never be made unless it is 20 mins BEFORE it is to be eaten.Same for whipped cream ect. That stuff tastes awful made up too soon.

by jonaja

I start preparing at least a week ahead with a time plan of what to cook and when.

by chipp

I bake stuff ahead of time, and plan the mocktails and salad I want to make but I'm not usually the one who cooks the main meal.

by Jennifer Muirhead

Oops, that didn't really answer the question. I start planning what kind of salad etc. a week or so ahead of time and baking a few weeks ahead (I freeze some dough to bake later).

I plan and shop about a week ahead, and do the actual making the night before and on the day. I make a trifle every year so get that started the day before.

by Sarah Bell

Plan ahead, get the shopping done a few days in advance. The turkey stuffing is done a day in advance. Final prep begins on Christmas morning.

by Justine Crowley