We have had all kind a of Christmas’s. Stressful ones with extended family, some without DH (he’s forces) a couple when we have been almost penniless and and more often than not the years where I have gone way overboard to make up for the aforementioned not so spendy ones and I can honestly say it’s never made one bit of difference to the love and fun we feel every year. When it comes down to it Christmas magic really isn’t about money or expensive outings but the memories, traditions and excitement (why Christmas Eve will always be my favourite!!) of the big day. Here’s some things that make our Christmas magical and fun.
Wintery walk with our ponies on Christmas Eve, draped head to toe in tinsel, Santa hats and bells, singing Christmas songs, spotting the best dressed trees and sparkly lights. Sometimes if pennies are tight we will take a flask of hot chocolate and some homemade mince meat pies, other years we stop off are our local garden centre for deluxe hot chocolate and some cake.
My youngest DD likes to make fat balls for the birds on Christmas Eve, such a simple activity for a little animal that most might not give a second thought to on one of the busiest days of the year but I can honestly say it remains one of my favourite traditions and memory’s, in the kitchen with Kings Carols on, DD in her Santa hat getting excited about the robins waking up to their special breakfast on Christmas Morning.
Out in the garden around the chiminea in woolly hats and blankets just as it’s starting fo get dark.
We have done many variations of this throughout the years, hot chocolate, mulled wine, scattering reindeer food, too many bubbles with friends, babies falling asleep in arms to teenagers rolling their eyes but wanting to be there all the same but my Christmas Eve isn’t the same without it and we never forget the real purpose we are there to pop our letters to Santa into the flames and up the magical chimney to Santa.
We have never been into Christmas Eve boxes but the Christmas Fairy has always brought new PJ’s. When we 1st started all 3 girls were very little and would fit in the bath together, there be a a knock at the door and a magic bell would ring, the girls would come down in there little terry towel hooded robes and there would whirl wind of glitter (naughty Magic Christmas Fairy) and excitement from three little matching festive packages. This has been so variable over the years, one year we were so poor I picked up 3 £2 red T-shirts from the Primark men’s sale rail and wrapped them in tinfoil with a few Quality Street taped on the top another Christmas they had the most beautifully gift wrapped fairy pyjamas from the White Company and a luxury hot chocolate bomb...
There was literally no difference in the level of excitement between the years and one of my favourite pictures of them is all squeezed onto their Daddy’s lap, reading the Night before Christmas in their matching red “nighties”.
Of course nowadays with a 9, 12 and 13 year old squishing into a bath just isn’t doable and they can move a lot quicker and DH and I have quite a giggle at managing to keep 3 (still very) excited girls at bay until the Christmas Fairy has knocked at the door, rang her magic bell, deposited her goods and managed to disappear before the thunder of feet down the stairs!!
Somehow we have always managed to budget in a Chinese, we are a very non take away family (possibly twice a year) and so this seems quite special to us and we make quite a big deal of it! Lots of dishes to share in the middle of the table. DH will go and collect and I will make sure the Carols are on, candles are lit, Prosecco is properly chilled and out, table is set nicely and so when he gets back the Christmas celebrations really begin!
My big two are definitely magic makers now but for theirselves as much as their youngest DS. Stockings and sacks get laid, skittles for the Elves, a whisky and mince meat pie for Santa and of course a carrot for the reindeer, we also write a letter with well wishes and kind thoughts, we have a last track of Santa and then it’s up to bed.
All 3 girls sleep in the same room on Christmas Eve, which I think came from the years we had family visiting and they would have to give up their beds but I don’t think they will have it any other way now and I absolutely love tucking them in and seeing their 3 excited little faces in matching pyjamas. I haven’t bought into the Christmas bedding trend but I do make the room all twinkly with Fairy lights and I put out treasured collection of Christmas stories old and new (eBay is brill for vintage children’s Christmas books)
Most of our traditions have evolved from what we have to make do with and making the most of that. (as I think traditions should be) but I also think it’s important as children get older to adapt and keep to start new ones to run along side. I have loved the idea of a north poll spa on Christmas Eve, my big girls would love this and I’m definitely going to look at how I can make this special and magical without being too costly.
I’ve also bought a few traditional scene (unopened) vintage jigsaws that we can do in the few days up to Christmas, I quite like the idea of us all sitting with Snowballs (NA for the girls of course, listening to Bing Crosby’s Christmas of a night doing a jigsaw.
Before the madness starts of playing Santa and setting out presents. I like a minute to sit with a glass of fizz/cup of tea, (depending on how sleep deprived I am that year!!) I turn all the lights off, listen to Coventry Carol and look at my lovely spruce tree with all its years of memories on its branches, 1st Christmas’s trinkets, nursery made angels, First bobble bought together in first flat, the glass star passed down from my granny and I appreciate all and who that we have in our life and I thank the little gingerbread man on the top for keeping us all safe and happy for another year.
Anyway that’s Christmas Eve, I didn’t realise how long this post would be so I’ll end it now but if anyone would like to hear about our traditions and how we spend Christmas Day please ask as I really love writing it down and thinking about years gone past.