The Christmas Tag 2014

I've seen this challenge popping up on a few blogs lately, so since I'm feeling rather festive, I've decided to give it a shot today. I probably did this tag last Christmas, but it doesn't hurt to do an updated version, does it?

The Christmas Tag involves ten festive questions and ten festive answers, and you're all welcome to join in and have a go yourselves! Let's get started...

1. What is your favourite Christmas movie?

I'm not sure I could pick just one; I'm a Christmas movie enthusiast! I have a lot of favourites, including Santa Claus The Movie, The Family Stone, Home Alone 1 and 2, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Christmas With The Kranks.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

We open our presents first thing on Christmas morning while we're still in our pyjamas. Growing up, we were occasionally allowed to open one present each (from relatives) on Christmas Eve night-probably to pacify our agonising Christmas excitement for five minutes. Now there are no excitable kids in the family, we can save everything for Christmas morning.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

There's one random memory that comes to mind; it's nothing special or even interesting but it always makes me smile when I think about it. Early one Christmas morning, when I was about seven or eight, my older sister and I were so excited for Christmas that we couldn't sleep. I tiptoed in to her room and climbed in to bed with her, where we plotted to convince our parents that it was morning (and not 3am) by turning the clock forward a few hours. I was sent in to wake the parents with the clock as evidence, but obviously my parents didn't buy it; their alarm clocks betrayed us. It's such a random memory, but I can't help but laugh when I think of how how we laid in bed giggling and and chatting until dawn, longing for the agonising wait for Christmas to be over. The wait seemed to take forever!

4. Favourite festive food?

You can't beat a turkey sandwich on fresh white bread, my Mum's sage and onion stuffing, or good old roast potatoes. 

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

Beside the Pound Puppies, Polly Pockets, and Puppy in My Pockets, the one that stands out to me is the Sega Mega Drive my sisters and I were given for Christmas when I was nine. Until then we only had an old Commodore, so it was such a novelty to have a current games console, and really special for us. We spent most of Christmas Day playing The Lion King and Columns.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

It's a toss up between fresh Christmas trees and fir branches, and the smell of turkey roasting in the oven on Christmas morning.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Yes, my family has one or two. My Auntie usually hosts a family gathering on Christmas Eve, and has done for almost two decades. We leave home around midday, bundle in to the car, pop a Christmas CD on, and spend an hour and a half travelling to the party. The annual gathering is a chance to catch up with relatives on my Dad's side, plus some of my Auntie and Uncle's friends. It's very informal, and we basically spend all afternoon chatting, grazing the buffet, and drinking. We leave by the early evening, and by then we all feel so festive and excited for Christmas, knowing it's just hours away. We drive home singing along to festive tunes, and look out for Christmas lights along the way. Over the last few years, my Auntie has thrown the parties a few days earlier, and it really isn't the same without that Christmas Eve excitement on the trip home.

8. What tops your tree?

When I was little it was always an angel. Today, we have a giant white glittery snow flake.

9. As a kid, what was the one (crazy wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I don't remember ever asking my parents (or Santa), for anything obscene. Nothing extravagant comes to mind. I've always been a big animal lover and we never had pets growing up, so I probably asked for a dog, a pony, or a rabbit at some point. When I was eleven I desperately begged for concert tickets to see Boyzone, but my Mum refused to get them for me. The tickets were only about £15 back then, so I'm not sure that really counts!

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

I love almost everything about Christmas, but if I had to choose it would be getting to spend quality time with friends and family, and seeing their faces when I get their gifts so right. I also love the build up to Christmas; the festive cheer, the pretty decorations, and watching Christmas movies!

Feel free to give this challenge a go on your own blogs! I tag you all. I'd love to see your links if you decide to blog about it.

What do you love most about Christmas?