A Christmas obsession

I unapologetically love Christmas! And i mean LOVE! Over the years I have thought about suppressing it as I hear people going on about how much they hate it and how consumerist it is and while I agree with the latter I can’t tell a lie, I bloody love the gifts.

Choosing the paper, deciding on the colour scheme, choosing a pen to write on the labels, choosing the labels, and obviously the gifts themselves. How can anyone not enjoy recieving a well thought out gift? Or seeing the face of somone opening something you have chosen especially for them? It’s delightful! BUT, for me the gifts are a happy extra. Its everything else that i love. The build up, the many weird and wonderful traditions, the warm glow of twinkling lights from peoples front rooms, seeing Christmas trees in peoples windows, the excuse to drink warm, mulled drinks and settle in, christmas films with boxes of chocolates on the sofa, people chatting animatedly over hot toddies in pubs where the windows have steamed up, the smell of a real christmas tree, lebkuchen, the feel of the cold air on your cheeks when you’re all wrapped up like a pig in its blanket and the sheer joy and happiness that (most) people seem to exude at this time of year. As you can probably tell, i love it all.

Traditions

So where did this love of Christmas come from? I’m going to go straight in and blame my Mum. Our childhood Christmas’s were insanely good and i think its the memories of those that continue to make Christmas my favourite time of the year. Especially the traditions. Even as adults there are certain traditions that my family keep up with that Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without.

• Christmas Eve Pyjamas – Every year since I can remember we got given a present to open on Christmas Eve. One year we opened these beautiful watches, one had Cinderella, the other Snow white. They were so pretty and my step Dad went mad! Apparently these were a really special gift that he’d wanted us to open on Christmas morning and we’d opened them the night before. From then on my Mum chose the gifts we were given on Christmas Eve and every single year it’s pyjamas. This started with just myself and my younger sister Simone, then Georgia came along so obviouslly she got them too. As we’ve all got older and had children, got partners, etc, more and more people have become embroilled in this. Once us girls were old enough to buy our own gifts we started buying Mum christmas pyjams too, lest she be left out. Three years ago we hit an all time low. It was my first christmas with Joe and my Mum insisted on Elf pjs. Thats right. Every single one of us, including poor Joe wore red and green elf pyjamas on Christmas eve. We’ve since gone back to regular pjs and its a tradition that I love and cherish and look forward to every year.
• Stockings – Every year we have a stocking. Again, as we girls got older we embraced the tradition and now we all get one and we all open them together in my Mum’s front room. Mum’s stockings have always been weird and wonderful. Over the years I’ve receievd toiletries from hotels my Mum has stayed in througout the year, tins of breath mints, tape measures. I think the most outrageus was when she got Ethan (my son, her Grandson) a pair of boxers with Santa on and the words “Ride my sleigh” emblazoned on the band. #badgrandama. Most of the time they are filled with things that always come in handy throughout the year, socks knickers, mini toiletries, pens, pencils. There is only one rule, they must contain some form of sweet treat, a drink and a tangerine.
• Breakfast – I’m not quite sure how we got to this but for years now we’ve had scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and bucks fizz. The bread is the only thing that ever changes and this year we’re having freshly baked bagels from the bakery. Yes!
• Advent Calendars – I will sulk if I am not presented with an advent calendar come the 1st December. I don’t care what kind (although i do have a penchant for the cheap chocolate ones) as long as it is there and ready for me to open.
• The Christmas tree – One rule. It absolutely has to be real. No exceptions. I love choosing my tree each year. I made a huge mistake last year in that I got one already netted without checking it first. Big mistake. It was ridiculously wide and the wonkiest tree I have ever seen. Always check it before you net it. Words to live by.
• Christmas Dinner – I have never had dinner anywhere apart from my Mum’s. I cannot even imagine having one elsewhere, it just wouldn’t be as fun. I love being sat around with my family drinking wine, pulling crackers and reading out loud the rubbish jokes that fall out. It’s not perfect because we’re not perfect. People get tired and grouchy, grandparents fall asleep, someone snaps at another person but still, i love it. All those little quirks are what make each Christmas so special.
• Breaking tradition – Since leaving home at the tender age of 18 I have returned to Mum’s every Christmas Eve so I can wake up there. I have always loved it. Even in my 30’s my Mum would come sneaking into my room to leave a stocking and in the morning the little ones would be up and excited, hair stuck up on end, eyes wide as they took in the grotto that stood before them. Fire and candles lit, tree shining brightly, presents covering every surface of the house, Nat King Cole quietly singing in the background. It is glorious and everything I love about Christmas but things change. We grow, we build our own homes and lives, we have our own little families and with that comes a whole new set of ideals and expectations. We realise that we dont just have ourselves to think about anymore, there are other people to think about and they bring with them their own families, they’re own needs and therefore new traditions are formed. The best we can do is to welcome the new, incorporate it into what is already there and learn to appreciate the change. Last year was the first time I had ever spent Christmas Eve in my own home and it was different but lovely. Christmas morning was peaceful, calm and still. I run my own bakery which is busy and customer focused, the calm was very much needed. We still went to Mum’s later in the morning but having that time before set me up for the day and I enjoyed and appreciated it more than ever.

Festive Food

As a Baker there is nothing I love more than festive baking. Winter food is the most delicious. Mince pies, stollen, trifle, mulled spices, gingerbread and stews. Warm, bold, comforting and soothing. Extravangance and simplicity. A tradition that I didnt add earlier is the making of the christmas Rocky Road from Nigella Christmas. Mum and I make it every year and it’s so good. It has all of the usual suspects as well as Ameretti biscuits and Glacier cherries. Its decorated with tacky, plastic christmas decorations and sprinkled with icing sugar or glitter (I go both). I also love the German Lebkuchen or Pfefferkuchen that my Nana used to buy every year. Fiery, soft, christmas spiced dough covered in icing or dark chocolate that cracks as you bite into it. I’ve never made them but I’m going to give it a go this year. Unsuprisingly I love Christmas cookbooks. Spending an hour or so with a cup of tea whilst going through the recipes is a favourite pass time of mine around this time of the year.

A few that I recommend

• NIGELLA CHRISTMAS – Nigella Lawson
• THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES – Nigel Slater
• FEAST – Nigella Lawson
• SEASONS EATINGS – Gizzi Ersine

All of these books contain some fantastic recipes for sweet and savoury, breakfasts, dinners, parties and drinks. Nigel Slater’s is particularly beautiful to read as he talk about Christmas traditions and memories as well as food.

Christmas Films

Much to the annoyance of pretty much everyone, I love a christmas movie. Even the ones everyone else hates. Even the cheesy ones. It’s christmas for Santa’s sake! If we can’t indulge in a bit of cheese now, when can we?

A few of my favourites.

• HOME ALONE
• HOME ALONE 2- LOST IN NEW YORK
• ELF
• HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE
• WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (not technically a Christmas film but it has Christmas time in it and has all of the autumnal feels)
• THE FAMILY STONE
• WHITE CHRISTMAS
• SCOOGED
• THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
• THE SANTA CLAUSE
• GREMLINS
• SANTA CLAUS THE MOVIE
• LOVE ACTUALLY

Christmas Songs

I bloody love a Christmas song (shocking, i know) but i dont like to hear them too early. Beginninng of Decemeber when im decorating the tree is when i start listening. Again, i know they’re cheesy but I don’t care, they make me happy. These are my go to christmas songs and I’ve even made a playlist on spotify. Just dont ask me my favouite because it would be impossible for me to choose just one.

My Christmas playlist

• SANTA BABY – Eartha Kitt
• FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORk – The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
• BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE – Ella Fitzgerald
• WHITE CHRISTMAS – The Drifters
• MERRY CHRITSMAS EVERYONE – Shaking Stevns
• ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU- Mariah Carey
• SLEIGH RIDE – The Ronettes
• STOP THE CAVALRY – Jona Lewie
• SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN – Bing Crosby
• ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE – Brenda Lee
• JINGLE BELL ROCK – Hall and Oates
• IN DULCE JUBILO – Mike Oldfield
• LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! – Dean Martin
• WINTER WONDERLAND – The Andrews Sisters
• HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS – Judy Garland
• CHRISTMAS TIME – The Darkness
• WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS EVE – Ella Fitzgerald
• O HOLY NIGHT – Adolphe Adam
• CAROL OF THE BELLS – Mykola Dymtrovych Leontovych

Listen to my playlist here

Things to remember at Christmas time

Although I love this time of year I’m aware that it’s not as easy or as much fun for everyone and that I’m extremely fortunate to be able to celebrate this time. It can be an incredibly lonely and hard time for a lot of people so I’m going to leave you with a few self care tips to help you or someone else get through a difficult time.

• The comedian, Sarah Millican, launched an amazing campaign a few years ago for people feeling lonely or who are alone at Christmas. On the day you can go onto Twitter and find #joinin which links everybody up. It’s such a wonderful thing to come from social media and gives people the opportunity to connect with like minded people and have a chat.
• Not everyone has a social media account. Look out for people who you know are alone and won’t get to speak to anyone. Call an elderly relative, invite a friend for dinner who you know needs cheering up or just post your neighbour a card through the letterbox. Everyone feels better knowing someone cares
• Don’t feel forced into things that you are uncomfortable with. You don’t have to spend time with family or friends if you don’t want to. No one has the right to push you into situations that make you feel bad, Christmas or not.
• Remember to take time out for yourself. Christmas can be really overwhelming with all of the people and the noise. Especially if you’re an introvert. If you really have to be around people set boundaries and time limits. If the other people aren’t happy to compromise I’m afraid the problem lies with them, not you.
• Don’t spend money you haven’t got. Real friends and family will understand. Bake some Christmas cookies (no one is offended by cookies), if you can, give your time to someone, get crafty and make gifts (Pinterest has tons of lovely home made gift ideas). If you can’t do any of the above that’s still ok. Buying/giving gifts isn’t what makes you a good person so try not to worry about it.
• Celebrate Jomo instead of dwelling in Fomo. Just because people are posting the right pictures on social media it doesn’t mean they’re actually having a better time than you or happy. If you want to sit in your pyjamas all evening eating Quality streets and watching Bridget Jones, that is your prerogative.
• Take care of yourself. Rest when you can, try and get out in nature (even just a walk around the block), take social media and electronic breaks and stay hydrated. Christmas doesn’t have to be a big deal, make it your own or ignore it completely. It’s just one day after all.

I hope you enjoyed reading about how much I love celebrating this time of year. If you want me I’ll be down the pub drinking mulled wines or curled up on the sofa with my cat. How do you feel about this time of year? Are you a fan or not?