Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. I love everything about it from the pretty Christmas lights to the music, and trawling the Christmas markets to the festive cheer, and so much more. Even though I'm in my thirties now, I still find the festive season so fun and magical (at least when my crazy to do list isn't stressing me out), and I like to enjoy as much of it as possible.
Sadly, it's been a long time since I last got to do any of the fun Christmas activities like going to Christmas markets, having fun at Christmas parties, heading to the theatre to see something festive, or even going to the Christmas lights switch on. In fact, I've only left the house once this month, and that was just to go to the supermarket for last minute supplies. (Can you hear those tiny violins??) I'll admit I'm feeling a little bit sorry for myself for missing out on so much festive fun this year as I've been dying to do it all, but I've been trying to enjoy the little festive things at home like watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents. It's got me thinking about what some of my favourite things about Christmas really are, so I thought I'd talk about some of them today.
Here are some of my favourite things about Christmas.
Sadly, it's been a long time since I last got to do any of the fun Christmas activities like going to Christmas markets, having fun at Christmas parties, heading to the theatre to see something festive, or even going to the Christmas lights switch on. In fact, I've only left the house once this month, and that was just to go to the supermarket for last minute supplies. (Can you hear those tiny violins??) I'll admit I'm feeling a little bit sorry for myself for missing out on so much festive fun this year as I've been dying to do it all, but I've been trying to enjoy the little festive things at home like watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents. It's got me thinking about what some of my favourite things about Christmas really are, so I thought I'd talk about some of them today.
Here are some of my favourite things about Christmas.
Decorating The Tree With My Family
Decorating the tree and the living room with my family has always been one of my absolute favourite parts of the festive season. It always signifies the beginning of Christmas in our house, and even though we're getting later and later putting up the decorations downstairs these days and I have my own up in my bedroom, it doesn't truly feel like Christmas until we begin. (We haven't managed it yet this year because I've not been up to it, so that probably explains why I don't feel that festive yet). We put on some Christmas music (including a Christmas compilation CD called 100% Christmas, we've been playing every year since 1994!), share a few chocolates, and spend an evening getting to work. I love going through our old boxes of decorations, rediscovering all my old favourites, and getting all nostalgic about all the childhood Christmases most of them are attached to. I'm sentimental all the way when it comes to Christmas decorations.
Decorating My Bedroom For Christmas
I also love to decorate my bedroom for Christmas, and turn it in to my own winter wonderland so that I don't have to miss out on the pretty decorations when I'm in too much pain to get out of bed. I put up so many that my bedroom looks like Christmas threw up on it, but I love it! I have a little tree, fairy lights, and so many decorations, which are mostly colourful and mid-century style at the moment. I haven't managed to take photos yet this year, but here's how I decorated my room for Christmas last year.
Wrapping Presents
Even though wrapping presents inflicts a lot of back pain on me now, I'm still one of those weird people who actually enjoys wrapping gifts. I've always put a lot of effort in to making the gifts I give look as pretty as I can, and will spend hours wrapping everything in pretty paper, ribbons, and decorations. I just like to put the extra effort in, and make things look beautiful- even though I doubt anybody actually notices!
Driving Around to Spot Christmas Lights
I love going for a drive around my hometown or further afield around the pretty little Cotswold villages and the next town over to spot Christmas lights. My older sister and I like to drive around to spot them every year (or we did before she moved to Germany), and growing up, our parents always took us on a drive to spot the lights each Christmas, too. Seeing everywhere lit up like the Blackpool Illuminations while listening to Christmas tunes on the radio always feels really festive, and I look forward to seeing my favourites every year. There's a couple of houses just around the corner from mine that always look spectacular.
Watching Christmas Movies
One of the Christmas activities I most look forward to is watching my favourite Christmas movies at every opportunity. You just can't beat a good Christmas movie, and they never fail to get me in to the festive spirit. I love watching them when I'm wrapping presents, writing cards, crafting, or just relaxing in the evenings, and I especially love those lazy days when only a Christmas movie marathon and some festive snacks will do. I have so many Christmas films in my DVD collection that I love, but Santa Claus The Movie, and The Muppets Christmas Carol are my ultimate favourites.
Christmas Crafting
I enjoy crafting all year round, but there's something extra fun and enjoyable about making things that are Christmas themed, isn't there? I love spending the cold, dark December evenings crafting away while watching some festive TV, and usually have several projects on the go. I always like to cross stitch and make my own Christmas crackers, and you'll often also find me attempting other projects like wreath-making, and creating hand-painted Advent houses.
I enjoy crafting all year round, but there's something extra fun and enjoyable about making things that are Christmas themed, isn't there? I love spending the cold, dark December evenings crafting away while watching some festive TV, and usually have several projects on the go. I always like to cross stitch and make my own Christmas crackers, and you'll often also find me attempting other projects like wreath-making, and creating hand-painted Advent houses.
Christmas Music
I love a good Christmas song, and listen to them throughout December to soundtrack most of my festive activities. I must have about 200 different Christmas songs in my iTunes library! I especially love the classics I grew up on in the 80s and 90s from Wham and Elton John, to Paul McCartney and The Pogues, as well as the real oldies from people like Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. The old ones are the best! (Though I am partial to Ronan Keating's Winter Songs album, too).
I love a good Christmas song, and listen to them throughout December to soundtrack most of my festive activities. I must have about 200 different Christmas songs in my iTunes library! I especially love the classics I grew up on in the 80s and 90s from Wham and Elton John, to Paul McCartney and The Pogues, as well as the real oldies from people like Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. The old ones are the best! (Though I am partial to Ronan Keating's Winter Songs album, too).
Beauty Advent Calendars
I'm sure you've noticed by now that I love a good beauty Advent calendar. I just love waking up to a different beauty treat every morning in the run up to Christmas- it feels like Christmas every day! I never splurge much on beauty products throughout the year, so I always allow myself a calendar as a Christmas treat. It's always great to try out lots of new products and pamper myself a little during a stressful month. This year, I went with both the Essie and Ciaté nail polish Advent calendars.
I'm sure you've noticed by now that I love a good beauty Advent calendar. I just love waking up to a different beauty treat every morning in the run up to Christmas- it feels like Christmas every day! I never splurge much on beauty products throughout the year, so I always allow myself a calendar as a Christmas treat. It's always great to try out lots of new products and pamper myself a little during a stressful month. This year, I went with both the Essie and Ciaté nail polish Advent calendars.
Baking on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve morning is usually spent baking and making desserts for Christmas in my family, whether at home or at my sister's (before she moved, anyway), and it's something I've always enjoyed. I always make my blackberry and apple trifle ready for Christmas Day and sometimes another dessert like a cheesecake, and then I'll go help my sister do some baking while my Mum gets to work making flans (quiches), home made cheese scones, and other delicious treats for my Auntie's Christmas Eve party or our own Christmas Eve buffet. It's really festive with the Christmas tunes blaring out, and the house always smells delicious.
Christmas Eve morning is usually spent baking and making desserts for Christmas in my family, whether at home or at my sister's (before she moved, anyway), and it's something I've always enjoyed. I always make my blackberry and apple trifle ready for Christmas Day and sometimes another dessert like a cheesecake, and then I'll go help my sister do some baking while my Mum gets to work making flans (quiches), home made cheese scones, and other delicious treats for my Auntie's Christmas Eve party or our own Christmas Eve buffet. It's really festive with the Christmas tunes blaring out, and the house always smells delicious.
Driving Home on Christmas Eve
Ever since I was about ten, my family have spent most Christmas Eves going to my Auntie's Christmas Eve party in Worcester (although I haven't been in several years because of my chronic pain). If I'm honest, as a shy awkward introvert, I spent most of my younger years trying to bargain my way out of going (it never worked), and would be counting down the hours until we could leave again. My favourite part was always the drive home for Christmas. We'd leave early evening and by then we'd be feeling the Christmas Eve excitement as Christmas Day was just hours away. We'd spend the hour and a half hour drive home singing along to Christmas songs and looking out for Christmas lights on all the houses and towns we passed by. Pershore and Evesham always had such beautiful lights in their town centres. The drive home was always super festive, and then we'd get home to put presents our family had given us under the tree, and leave our stockings out for Santa / Mum (always draped on the sofas, never hung over the fireplace) before heading off to bed. It was a Christmas ritual for so long and now I can't go, I actually miss it.
Ever since I was about ten, my family have spent most Christmas Eves going to my Auntie's Christmas Eve party in Worcester (although I haven't been in several years because of my chronic pain). If I'm honest, as a shy awkward introvert, I spent most of my younger years trying to bargain my way out of going (it never worked), and would be counting down the hours until we could leave again. My favourite part was always the drive home for Christmas. We'd leave early evening and by then we'd be feeling the Christmas Eve excitement as Christmas Day was just hours away. We'd spend the hour and a half hour drive home singing along to Christmas songs and looking out for Christmas lights on all the houses and towns we passed by. Pershore and Evesham always had such beautiful lights in their town centres. The drive home was always super festive, and then we'd get home to put presents our family had given us under the tree, and leave our stockings out for Santa / Mum (always draped on the sofas, never hung over the fireplace) before heading off to bed. It was a Christmas ritual for so long and now I can't go, I actually miss it.
Opening Presents With My Family On Christmas Morning
Christmas isn't about the presents for me, but I've always loved opening presents with my family on Christmas morning. I love giving my family their presents and seeing their faces when they open the gifts I've bought for them. The living room is always a shambles, but I love it and the happy, upbeat atmosphere that fills the house from that Christmas morning excitement and a festive playlist. It's not quite as exciting as when we were kids, but you just can't beat Christmas morning, can you?
Christmas isn't about the presents for me, but I've always loved opening presents with my family on Christmas morning. I love giving my family their presents and seeing their faces when they open the gifts I've bought for them. The living room is always a shambles, but I love it and the happy, upbeat atmosphere that fills the house from that Christmas morning excitement and a festive playlist. It's not quite as exciting as when we were kids, but you just can't beat Christmas morning, can you?
Seeing My Dog Open Her Presents
One of my favourite parts of the past few Christmases has been giving my Tibetan terrier, Rosie, her presents, and watching her open them. She loves ripping open the paper, and gets so excited when she discovers a new toy inside, It's so cute to watch, and I'm already looking forward to seeing how she reacts this year. Last year she tunnelled head first in to the giant gift bag I put her presents in to get to them! It was so cute.
Setting the Christmas Dinner Table
This is a weird one, but I love setting the table for Christmas dinner! It's been my job since I was about six or seven, and I oddly enjoy setting it and making the table look pretty for our Christmas meal. I know it's a strange thing to enjoy, but I guess I just like making things look pretty. I put some Christmas music or a Christmas movie on in the background, and can easily lose an hour or two of Christmas morning putting it all together. I actually find it really hard now with my chronic pain, but I'm stubborn and try to do it anyway.
Setting the Christmas Dinner Table
This is a weird one, but I love setting the table for Christmas dinner! It's been my job since I was about six or seven, and I oddly enjoy setting it and making the table look pretty for our Christmas meal. I know it's a strange thing to enjoy, but I guess I just like making things look pretty. I put some Christmas music or a Christmas movie on in the background, and can easily lose an hour or two of Christmas morning putting it all together. I actually find it really hard now with my chronic pain, but I'm stubborn and try to do it anyway.
Christmas Dinner With the Family
Christmas dinner is without a doubt my favourite meal of the entire year- and not just because the food is delicious. My family and I only sit down around a table for a meal together two or three times a year, so it makes Christmas dinner extra special. It's lovely to enjoy a meal with my family and have a good catch up. We always end up laughing until our sides hurt, and someone starts choking on a Brussels sprout. I'm really looking forward to it this year (the meal, not the choking). I'm so going to eat my body weight in roast potatoes!
Christmas Food
I don't often focus on food when I'm thinking about favourites, but let's face it, the food is one of the best things about Christmas. I mean, when else is it socially acceptable to drink before midday, eat cake for breakfast, and consume a month's calories in one day?? You just can't beat a few days of over indulging on Christmas dinner and turkey sandwiches, cake, and a metric ton of chocolates. I've never been a fan of mince pies and Christmas cake, but give me some Cadbury Roses, mint Matchmakers, and a slice of my sister's 'squidgy chocolate log' and I'm happy.
So, those are some of my favourite things about Christmas.
What are some of yours?
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The Cracking Christmas Tag
I don't often focus on food when I'm thinking about favourites, but let's face it, the food is one of the best things about Christmas. I mean, when else is it socially acceptable to drink before midday, eat cake for breakfast, and consume a month's calories in one day?? You just can't beat a few days of over indulging on Christmas dinner and turkey sandwiches, cake, and a metric ton of chocolates. I've never been a fan of mince pies and Christmas cake, but give me some Cadbury Roses, mint Matchmakers, and a slice of my sister's 'squidgy chocolate log' and I'm happy.
So, those are some of my favourite things about Christmas.
What are some of yours?
You Might Also Like
The Cracking Christmas Tag
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