Simple things/traditions that put a smile on your face at Xmas

[seb1]

What makes Xmas magical but doesn't cost a fortune? For us the kids love tracking Santa on the web and the web site that Santa sends then a letter (email) back.

i love making my own mincemeat with my dd, it just fills the house with the smell of christmas for me and we make a christmas wish whilst stirring the mixture, something my mother did with me and my sisters. we did it for the first time last year and i need to get into gear to get the ingredients for this year. cant wait!

oh ffs

Having all the lights off except the twinkly fairy lights on the tree.

why ffs icod?

Bringing the pressies down on xmas eve night and weirdly the smell of satsumas

lol

Yeah i get the satsuma thing too also the smell of mulled wine we always have the family over on xmas eve for mulled wine and minced pies which affords us a guilt-free xmas day just the 3 of us

Going to buy the Xmas tree. Its the only time during the year that the choice is completely mine! We go to a farm and I have dh and at least 2 farm workers bring me xmas trees and twirl them around, until I get the one I want!

we listen to DH's ancestral Captain Beaky LP while we make breakfast - no idea how the tradition started but no chance of stopping it now

there is AGES to go though, you know

We are on half term at the moment, then back for Halloween. then bonfire night. then Xmas before you know it.

[hands over ears]

la la la, not listening

I have Halloween, Guy Fawkes, two birthdays, a wedding, a new niece/nephew and a minibreak to deal with before I think of Christmas...

You're not supposed to smile at Christmas, are you? Unless it's a skull-like rictus as you bare your gums mirthlessly over yet another piece of sodding tat, or attempt to disguise your pathetic child-control ploys as winsome laughter.

I wish I hadn't read "or attempt to disguise your pathetic child-control ploys as winsome laughter"

That's Christmas tainted for years to come, I suspect.

Ah, a new tradition chez Hunker

we smile, smugly and in a relieved fashion,
at the thought that both our inlaws are a hundred miles away in opposite directions on Christmas morning

oh how we smile

You know, those "hahahahaha don't DO THAT darling hahahahahaha" calls one trills across the sea of ripped wrapping paper.

Aha, with you now, MI - I thought you meant the things you do to make Christmas seem like magic for small children!

Hunker-like chocolate for breakfast d'you mean?!

i just love going to our crib service on Xmas eve.... the children are all just soooo excited

i just love Christmas full stop.... the whole lot

Putting on my new 'xmas pj's' on xmas eve, we have hot turkey sandwiches and watch a xmas film with just the tree lights on.
Will have a 2 week old ds2 this year so not sure if it will work out like that this year.

You have turkey sandwiches on Christmas EVE?!?!?

Are you the only ones in Britain?

Probably
Always have done coz when i still lived at home my parents cooked the turkey on xmas eve night, and we had turkey sandwiches from it.
Since ive moved out ive never actually cooked a turkey but will be asking for a delivery of sandwiches to be sent round this year

Pottering in the kitchen, Christmas morning, post-presents. Getting veg ready with 'carols from King's College' or some such on the radio and a nice bottle of sherry on the go.

smug-mum are you in our house???

We potter like that on Chrismas Eve-why does Harveys Bristol Cream only taste so good at Christmas??