There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas, we are too diverse a nation for that, but for every person there is an ideal and in that the essence of what Christmas should be. For some it may be non stop parties, other a little peace and quiet. Many aspire to the Christmasses of their childhood, while others want the festive season to be a grown up affair a world apart from what they have endured in the past. To each I wish a little festive magic.
Our traditions have grown, as we have, over the last ten years or so. We made a pact early on so as not to fall into the common trap of being forced to go to the in-laws one year and the outlaws (as we affectionately call my parents) the next. We justified our choice then by saying we both worked and Christmas was the one day we had together but now we have kids we support our decision. The pleasure of Christmas is rushing downstairs, opening presents, eating chocolate for breakfast, slouching in pyjamas while playing with all the new toys Santa brought.
Where is the fun in having to put all those new toys aside and be dragged out in the snow to Grandma's?
We stay home for Christmas, welcoming visitors if they choose to call but they accept us as we are, pyjamas til lunchtime and often anti-socially engrossed in our gifts. Our traditions (a list of which follows) are simple, accomodating and flexible enough to make Christmas a relaxed and stress free affair and long may that continue.
1) Send out Christmas cards after we receive the first one from our friends (we have one friend who always sets the ball rolling)
2) Gifts bought well in advance, ordered online and stored away to prevent last minute panic attacks (a no present pact helps, so no unexpected gifts from people you haven't bought for)
3) Tree put up while kids at school or in bed (less stressful than having the kids watch you struggle to get it straight or argue over trimming it - they wake up to find the Christmas fairy has been)
4) Deliver gifts early so people can pop them under their tree, no rushing around Christmas eve doling our presents in a sweaty flurry, and they know who you have and have not bought for in case they have forgotten the pact.
5) Stock up. We do this gradually over the weeks leading up to Christmas, buying an extra loaf of bread and emergency onion rings in advance so the shopping bill for December isn't ridiculous and if people do call you can rustle up a chilli con carne by merely opening the freezer and a tin. It also means that you don't have to rush out food shopping on December the 23rd at midnight in sixteen inches of hard packed snow.
6) Turkey cooked Christmas eve (Yes, turkey. Good enough for the Cratchits, good enough for us.) Less stress on Christmas day, we have slices in buns on Christmas eve and it is perfectly happy to sit in the fridge overnight.
7) Open one present on Christmas eve. This comes from our old tradition, before we had kids, of opening our pressies at midnight. We now open one before putting the kids to bed and that gift is usually a sentimental one from grandma that includes Christmas pyjamas.
8) The mincepie, carrot and thankyou note.
9) The Christmas Movie. The afternoon of Christmas eve, while the turkey is cooking we often have Muppet's Christmas Carol or Elf. Later on, when they kids are in bed, we often watch Scrooged (with Bill Murray)
10) Presents first, then breakfast followed by a morning of slouching in pyjamas playing with the new toys before slinging on some clothes for lunch at 1:30 or 2 o'clock. Tea is often a turkey sandwich if you feel up to it or Christmas pudding if you couldn't face any at lunch time.
God Bless us, every one.
