What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

[FilthyforFirth]

Hi everyone, really I just want an excusr to chat Christmas with like minded people! W

Whenever I am feeling a bit down, Iove to drown myself in Christmas chat, thoughts and ideas.

I find I prefer the build up to the actual day. My absolute favourite thing about Christmas, and it is hard to narrow down, is the socialising aspect. You get to see people you might not throughout the year, as everyone always makes more of an effort. You get to host multiple Christmas dinners, mulled wine evenings. You all get together for panto or festive pub crawls.

I am a people person who loves to host, so it is my favourite part of it. Christmas music is a close second!

So, what is yours?

I probably have posted about it in the past, my mum and dad did the same thing for me! I love that it's just mine and DSs time, as Christmas is even more magical with him!

I did something last year for DS's first Christmas that I'm hoping to make a tradition. I bought a pack of baubles that you can put a 2 photos in (one on each side). 1 photo had my DS meeting Santa for the first time whilst dressed in a Christmas present sleepsuit (and crying his eyes out), and the other photo is DS dressed as Santa. I'm hoping to hang a new bauble each year, with photos of him in (and maybe us or any future children). I thought it would be a nice way of remembering each Christmas.
I also got a bauble last year with DS name and birthdate on that I love. It matches the bauble we have that has our wedding date on.

We always used to go to the garden centre at Christmas. I still go as an adult.

So much! Iced mince pies, making the cake and pudding, wrapping gifts, decorating the tree and house, Baileys Hot Chocolate, the traditional Chinese takeaway on Christmas Eve. Love every minute!

Oh god I just love bloody everything about it! I always get on the countdown when August begins.
Dark cosy nights
Christmas lights
Being in the car/shop/restaurant when a Christmas song randomly comes on the radio
Sneaking extra presents for the kids past the oh 😂
Christmas Eve just the 4 of us then when the kids are in bed watching a film with oh whilst enjoying a few drinks 🍷
Christmas pjs!!
I cannot wait 🎄

My DS is obsessed with lights so I think a few visits to garden centres are a must this year. I got the GH look ahead mag today, so going to have an early night and snuggle in (now it is finally cool enough to get under the duvet!) and have a good read.

My 'official' Christmas time starts in October for me, can't bloody wait!

Oh there are too many to list.
I have 3 'days' each December:
1 - Day off work to get the house ready (for that read sit and watch tv Christmas movies while checking lists - cards / presents etc & write the Christmas food shopping list).
2 - Wrapping day. Normally when DH is going straight out after work for his Christmas party. I put on all the lights, watch Christmas films (always starts with muppets Christmas carol) and wrap every present while sat on the sofa. I set up the ironing board as a wrapping work bench and ensure I have drink and biscuits to hand
3 - Around a week before Christmas me and DH catch the train to nearest city (Cardiff) to wander around the market and just enjoy the lights, music and bustle without actually needing to buy anything. Normally includes bratwurst, beer (DH) and hot chocolate (me).

Also love seeing my nephew getting excited about santa, my mums house when decorated (it is perfectly colour coordinated and has lots of decorations in every room, including the spare room), love driving passed a particular house on the way home from work as they have a decorated tree in the garden which has been lit up the same way since I was a child.

Other things include having real butter on hot toast Christmas morning, Christmas cd in my car on the way to work, dark mornings and evenings, receiving Christmas cards in the post, lighting festive smelling candles and the general Christmas party someone always throws mid December in my group of friends (it is my turn this year)!

I honestly think Christmas is the best time and I love that the festive-ness is everywhere, even when you spend Christmas abroad (although we've only done that in cold places as can't imagine a sunny Christmas)!