Things We Absolutely Love About Christmas

[hazell42]

OK, doom-mongers, I think it is time we stopped pretending to hate Christmas, and talk about all the things we love (we do love it really, don't we?)
I'll start:
I love the mad rush at Christmas, because it puts me in the Christmas spirit. Lots of people jostling round the shops with bags, and faces red from the cold, and the exertion.
I love meeting up with friends I haven't seen for a while
I love buying gifts for the people I love, and trying to pick something that they will love
I love having everyone round for dinner, and remembering to make the bread sauce just the way DS2 likes it, and the stuffing the way DS1 likes it.
I love inviting people I don't much care for into my home, so I can feel smug about my innate goodness.
I used to love buying presents for the kids when they were little and pretending that they came from Father Christmas. (Not taking credit for a gift you give is pretty much the embodiment of the Christmas spirit). I still try to pretend they are from FC but my kids are no longer buying it. Shame.
I don't have a TV so I have not been inundated with adverts since July, and I love that too.
Surely, we're not all a bunch of Scrooges on here.
What do you love about Christmas?

All those of faith are busy doing Christmas stuff. So I can get a great walk in without seeing anyone.

I may have missed the point

Yep, I think so.
Have another go

I like seeing the (mostly restrained, non migraine-inducing) lights outside houses in my village, my choir Christmas concert (nothing highbrow but a good singalong for the audience) and the church carol service.

Drinking alcohol at otherwise taboo times of day

And it's my birthday. If I can just forget the actual number of years clocked up I quite enjoy having it when everyone is (mostly) in a good mood.

I like:
Christmas lights/trimming up for Christmas. I live in a very old house and it's a tad dark the rest of the year but it was absolutely made for Christmas decoration and it looks so Cosy and lovely.

Seeing people looking jolly

Buying presents for people. If I had a super power it would be buying people presents they like and I love doing it.

Eating like a glutton with impunity. I deliberately try to lose 8 pounds in November so I can eat without worrying about it in December and come out even

Going to football on Boxing Day.

(I do not like-family arguing-every year-work Christmas rota-work in general as I work in social care for mental health and it's our busiest time).

Hooray!
Was beginning to think I was on my own
Start spreading the news.
Christmas can be fun!

I love the christmas music in the shops, the hustle and bustle of people buying their festive shopping. It feels like one big group of people all doing the same thing, like team spirit! Its like being in the final of the world cup every year and i bloody love it. Lights and decorations everywhere and a good old christmas movie on. I work in retail and still love it

If you put aside religion, this holiday is an occasion to gather in the circle of close friends or relatives and spend some time. That's what I like about this holiday.

Putting the tree up with a glass of wine and Christmas music. The annual trip on the train to the Christmas market, packed with other like minded souls, appropriately clad in Christmas jumpers, antlers, turkey hats etc. The whole extended family enthusiastically agreeing that of COURSE Santa is real, and speculating on what he might be doing at that exact moment, despite the youngest member being 19 years old. Finishing work early on Christmas Eve, driving home for Christmas blaring in the car, then heading to the pub to start the festivities.

I love fairy lights and decorations and that DH gets two weeks off from work and that my kids will all be home and there's no school run to do.

And Christmas carols and songs

12th night

Crib service at our local church - all kids encouraged to get dressed up in nativity costumes and take part.

Houses all lit up - on our way home every night we go different routes to see as many as possible.

Seeing my children get excited about seeing Father Christmas and stockings in the morning.

It just makes me happy

Love my house being full of sparkly lights, and I majorly love that we close for a fortnight so I get a lovely break from work

@rhubarbcrumbles

Cheater!

I like the world cup final analogy. That is exactly how I feel when Christmas shopping a couple of days before Christmas. Wonderful camaraderie. All those people who have their presents bought and wrapped by August are completely missing out on this experience

I love the sparkly lights. I love Xmas songs. I love the build up. I love treating my kids.

Breaking up from work
All the parties and socialising
Tree
Lights
Buying presents for my lovely dp and my kids
Mulled wine
Watching any version of A Christmas carol
Festive food

Can totally get why some people don't love it though. And why some people like to get organised early.

Carols.
Time off work/school.
Stollen/Liebkuchen (spelling )
School concert
Visit to FC
Tree, lights, decs
Mince pies and brandy butter
DS llaying with the knitivity
Caga tio (we're in Catalunya)
CHEESE!

Singing in two '9 lessons' services last Sunday at two different churches (4.00 and 6.30 with practices before each one).
Attending one DS2 was singing in last night and then doing another one next Sunday.
Family at ours for Christmas day as usual.
I love Christmas .

Oh - and mulled wine

Just googled Caga tio, and I am a bit confused
And a tiny bit disturbed
But, I am taking it on trust that it is an endearing Christmas tradition.
And very possibly one of those cultural things that just doesn't 'travel'
Anyway, you enjoy it, and that is the main thing

The tree.
Presents.
Nice food.
Alcohol at unusual times of the day.
Time off work.

My house full of warm fairy lights and bunches of greenery.
The carol singers in our village.
Our Christmas Eve party for all the family and neighbours.
A very relaxed Christmas Day.
Two weeks off work.
Long dog walks when it’s frosty.

Tesco puff pastry mince pies and mulled cider while watching Christmas films