Why do I find Christmas dinner weird?

So another Christmas has come and gone, and I find myself thinking that there  was something odd about this year.  Not odd in a bad way, or an unsettling way, just odd.  I couldn't place it until now, but of all things, it was the fact that we had a Christmas dinner at my house.  I wasn't surprised we had one; after all, I knew we would be, as my Mum's boyfriend likes to cook.  He made roast beef, mashed potatoes, cooked veggies, corn... the whole shebang, really. That wasn't the part I found odd; he cooks fairly regularly, and quite well too.  Actually, I'm looking forward to seeing bacon becoming a more predominant fixture in future recipes (I bought him a cookbook entitled "I Love Bacon" for Christmas).  I will excuse bacon's absence from the Christmas dinner due to short notice on bacon recipes.

No, the part I found odd (actually, I'm not even certain it's this) was that we had a sit-down, everything-on-the-table, pass-me-this, could-you-hand-me-such-and-such dinner, and for Christmas no less.  I know that a lot of people do this, and I know a great many people who look forward to the holidays exclusively for Christmas dinner, but that's never been something we've done at my place.  The rest of the day was so low-key and relaxed - I didn't even change out of the sweatpants I had worn to bed the previous night - so all of a sudden the event feel that dinnertime brought through my mind for a loop.

Now I know that my anti-social mind is throwing this way out of proportion, but since when did dinner become such an event?  It shouldn't be that formal.  I don't even remember the last time I had eaten at that table before then, and certainly not in such a formal setting.  Normally our family meals are eaten in the living room, on the couch, and I like it like that.  Not that I dislike a more formal dinner, I mean, when my sister and I go out to see our grandparents on Sunday to do Christmas with them, I fully expect to have a similar dinner there.  But in that context, it is familiar; the majority of the time that we go out there is for a food-related occurrence.

Hmmm, you know what, that could actually have something to do with the oddness I felt; I didn't go anywhere or have to prepare for any sort of dinner event, it just sort of happened when I didn't anticipate it.  I suppose that could be it.  Or it could have been simply a bout of anti-social feelings at that particular moment.

Anyway, I want to know what your Christmas dinner tradition is.  Whether you prepare a home cooked meal for 20, or take the family out for a festive trip to Burger King, hop on over to the comment section to share.  In all likelihood, my aversion to sit-down Christmas dinner is entirely in the minority.  In fact I'm sure it is.  While you're commenting, throw in what your favourite gift you got was this year.  That way, when I'm doing my shopping for you next year, I'll have a starting point from which to build!

Merry (slightly belated) Christmas and a Happy Ho-ho to all.