h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This phrase changes its meaning as you grow up. For the first few years you say "going home for Christmas" to mean returning to your parents' house. At some stage, you say "staying home for Christmas" to mean that you're not visiting the parents. Listen out for the phrase in the next few weeks - it's surprising to note who has and who hasn't established an independent existence.

Ah, yeah, but you always need family around you @ Chrimbo!!
Mind you, I suppose they could come to visit you?!

I see your point...

But I've got my family around me - wife, kids, etc.

We went through a patch of visiting one set of parents at Christmas and the other at New Year but realised that we were spending a significant chunk of the Christmas holidays trucking back and forth across the country in a car. We now do a set of pre-Christmas trips to distribute (and collect) presents then settle down for a quiet family Christmas - "at home".

I know what you mean about going "home" for Christmas. I've lived out of the UK for many years now and it was only quite recently that my parents stopped asking me if I was "going home" for Christmas. So now we compromise, we have one Christmas at my home and the next at theirs, that way everyone's happy!