whats your fave part of christmas?

[zazzabeans]

for me it has to be the run up to xmas... people putting up xmas trees, festive xmas shoppers, xmas music in the shops, smells of xmas such as gingerbread yankee candles and the xmas lattes in starbucks

it starts for me when we get our Christmas tree home, put the lights on it and all the decorations - the house just seems to take on a magical feel for some reason. love Christmas eve when everyone seems really happy. Christmas morning is always special to see everyones faces lit up because of all the gifts they have been given and see their surprises under the tree. DD will unfortunately still be too small to undertand it all but im sure her face will be an absolute delight when she sees the tree and all the lights

the next bit is a little strange for me though, I always end up crying on Christmas morning and have done since I was little, I remember sobbing on the chair with all our presents around us. Our folks were always really good to us, we were absolutely spoilt, they didn't have a lot but they always made sure we didn't go without, they always put us first. Anyway the reason I always cried, im crying writing this because it makes me so sad, is because I always thought of all the other kids who didn't have anything, whos parents didn't put them first who maybe weren't loved like we were, who got a hard time at home and all the other horrible things that they might be going through. I always wished for things to be good just for that one day for all the real life horrible things to stop like it was frozen in time so they could have at least one day where they were happy and had what they wanted and to be happy like we were - I still wish for that but unfortunately life isn't as easy as that... every year for the last few years though we have bought presents and handed them in to different charities for local children to try and make a little difference to someone.

The decorations are my favourite part. Putting up our own, and seeing other people's.

I love the luxury of it all -
The big beautiful tree we choose & smell of pine filling the house
The presents
The new clothes
The drinking
& the time off work

For me, it's the parties :-)

We always make an effort to catch up with friends and family over Christmas, and so between Christmas Eve and New Year, will not spend a single day at home on our own. We invite people over to ours, or we go to friends. Often there is a small, simple tree gift for the children under the tree, but it's not about the presents. It's about spending time with friends, with family, with all the people who mean something to you (and you want to spend time with, of course!). A truly magical time of year.

After that, I like the presents

I love the little moments - perhaps listening to a carol on ClassicFM whilst we get lunch ready, or hearing the Christmas morning church bells on my way to our Quaker Meeting, or, especially when DC were little, putting something out for Santa, or seeing him (DH) put his head round the door on Christmas Eve - or watching a good movie snuggled up together on the sofa, or reading them "The night before Christmas" Maybe hearing "Little Donkey" at the crib service.
Like others I generally like the anticipation best - though Christmas lunch can be quite tasty too!
Then the bonus of something good on telly on Christmas night with a LIDL Bailey's
I find the whole thing can be a bit exhausting, but I still love the little moments that catch me throughout the season

peggyundercrackers- I have that 'moment' where I feel sad for others on Christmas Day. Mine isnt born of childhood experience though- When I was 18 I worked for BT as 192 Directory Enq operator, as I preferred to get pissed at New Year I opted to work Christmas Day- the sadness of the day itself will remain with me forever (and I am not trying to be a drama queen here!)

The majority of the calls were from very lonely people - asking for Samaritans etc- I imagine that for most of the people calling I was probably the only 'human' they spoke to that day. The one that utterly broke me though (and I always think of her on Xmas day) was a call from an elderly lady- asking me if I knew of anywhere where she could go to get a Christmas Day meal. I only really knew of Homeless 'Soup Kitchens'- Age Concern had obviously all packed up for the festive period- she had no-one and nothing on christmas day.

Im so sad again recalling it now.

The Christmas dinner at Bourbon Street in Bangkok..... I haven't been "with family" at Christmas in 8 years and Christmas in Asia is.....interesting..

2 years ago I was invited to a stranger's viewing (funeral) in a downpour that left us both soaked... This was in Singapore on 23rd Dec.....

Well, this will be unpopular because its all consumerist and such but I love carefully selecting the kids presents and adore watching them unwrap them with the whole face lighting up bit. I just do.

Otherwise, I love the atmosphere - the tree, decorations, all the yummy food...the cold outside but warm and fuzzy inside vibe.

The whole shebang :o
In particular though I enjoy Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. Start to pine late on Christmas night and as a child hated Boxing Day. Nowadays though we go to the Boxing Day shoot which is a great opportunity to get out and blow away the cobwebs.
After that it's planning New Years Eve. I positively HATE New Years Day

Love Christmas Eve, kids getting exciting in the evening, all the shopping and annoying bits done. Quite like the cooking bit too, everyone helping out, makes it feel less of a burden, more like good teamwork, kids love setting the table.

Christmas Eve. All the prep done and settling down with a glass of chilled champagne in front of Carols from Kings. Perfect

I can't have a fav part, I love all of it! Right about now when all the adverts start turning Christmassy & you start seeing the odd tree going up. Buying presents all the way up to Christmas Eve & wrapping them with Christmas tunes playing. Just all of Christmas Eve, it's the most festive night! I used to be so excited when I was a kid and now I get to see my boys being just the same as I was. :) Then opening presents on Christmas Day & seeing the reactions, spending most of the day at my parents and seeing my boys play with their cousins and of curse have Christmas dinner! Watching all the Christmas tv, the boys playing with their new things & then eventually going to bed 3 stone heavier than when you woke up. I love Boxing Day too!

I'm already so festive!