So demanding are the preparations for the Christmas dinner feast that whoever cooks the main dishes may even begin work on Christmas Eve. The differences in preparation time are due not only to the quantity of food, but also to the fact that different families will observe different customary meal times for Christmas dinner—some families may sit down to feast not long after noon, some not until early evening. Few Christmas dinners occur late in the evening, however, for the hosting family must make allowance for the fact that, of those gathered, some have come from near, some from far, and before anyone departs, everyone will want time, after dinner, to digest, to relax, and to enjoy as much play or catching up as possible.

So important, indeed, is the Christmas dinner that many charities and other institutions believe that, whatever other work they may do to feed the homeless, they should see that as many homeless people as possible have a Christmas dinner. Here the Christmas spirit shows itself, not in the giving of presents, but rather in recognition of the fact that, of all customs, eating together in celebration of community and humanity on Christmas Day is a heart-warming rite no one who celebrates should be without.