Page 2 | Favourite part of christmas?

SevenZebrasDancing · 2021-10-23T02:15:59+00:00

Mine are; - biting half the mince pie, carrot and drinking the sherry left out for Santa after the Dcs have gone to bed -The Snowman! -watching the Norad Santa Tracker -Pouring the first glass of buck's fizz -Boxing day lunch -christmas afternoon films

Quickchangeartiste · 23/10/2021 10:58

@elQuintoConyo what is a shitting log?

My favourite bit - when MiL goes home … bah humbug !

lollipoprainbow · 23/10/2021 11:00

The run up is definitely the best part I find Christmas Day a bit flat and depressing !!

Notaroadrunner · 23/10/2021 11:12

I love the lead up to it. I've started shopping already. We put the decorations/tree up at the end of November. Love watching the cheesy hallmark Christmas movies that are on Channel 5 in the afternoons a couple of weeks before Christmas and all the Christmas movies on Netflix. I love the excitement of Christmas morning. Have a 10 yr old who I think still believes, or is doing a great job of making us think he does. Have 2 older kids who are still excited to see what 'Santa' brings them. And the best part is no cooking as we get our dinner from a local restaurant. We get enough to last 2 days with plenty left for the obligatory turkey, ham and pickle sandwiches at night.

We visit family in the couple of weeks before Christmas so it frees us up not to have to leave the house from Christmas Eve if we don't want to.

MakingTheBestOfIt · 23/10/2021 11:13

Choosing the Christmas tree with DD (and DS and DH too if they can be persuaded)

That first evening after the house is fully decorated, enjoying all the twinkly lights

Standing back and looking at all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve ready for the next morning

That timeless week between Christmas and New Year that DH and I are lucky to both have off work

languagelover96 · 23/10/2021 11:23

Loving this thread so far. My favorite part of Christmas is the candy canes. Also on Christmas Eve, we start drinking. Christmas boxes of sweets and chocolates.

Primrosefields · 23/10/2021 11:37

Having the children countdown by the living room door to see if Santa has been. They get so excited waiting for the door to be opened.

LindaEllen · 23/10/2021 11:50

I used to love Christmas as a child, but as an adult it's too much hard work and based on what I HAVE to do rather than what I WANT to do. Same with DP's family. My favourite part is between Dec 27th-New Year where DP and I have time off together, eating/drinking leftovers, watching films, going for walks.. that is bliss.

Sugarcube84 · 23/10/2021 11:52

I love putting the tree up, our annual trip to the garden centre to each buy a new bauble for the tree. A new one started when I met my new dp is going to the big garden centre just the 2 of us to buy a new set of lights or outdoor decoration. Wrapping at night with all the tree lights on and a baileys. Doing the ham and veg on Xmas Eve and the house smellling like Xmas. Settling down Xmas Eve when everything’s done, everything’s quiet just the 2 of us before the chaos that is Xmas day and leftovers and Xmas snacks!

I love Christmas 🎄

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 23/10/2021 13:35

I love it all. Wrapping presents for immediate family whilst DD in bed whilst having a Xmas film on. Wrapping up family gifts with DD. Putting up tree with DD whilst having Muppets Xmas carol on in background which is tradition. Movie night watching Elf with dh. Santa train or Santa visit if we can afford it. Love DD waking up Xmas morning and find he's been. Family dinners and parties about 5 of them over Xmas at various houses. Wearing the arse it of my Xmas jumper all through December, it's about 10 years old now and still in fantastic condition.

One tradition I do is one of those name trees that are for children who won't see Xmas, charities like domestic abuse shelters. I take DD and we'll buy a present usually a build a bear to put in the charity toy box for a child who may not otherwise get a gift. Struggled to find one of these last few years. DD6 now started to really understand and want to do it.

elQuintoConyo · 23/10/2021 14:19

QuickchangeArtiste caga tio

He arrives sometime at the beginning of December (5th or 6th for us), you put a blanket on him to keep him warm and feed him all month. Then you song a song about pooing, hit him with a stick and he shits small gifts and sweets!

We usually put in a tube of smarties, chocolate FC, perhaps a funky pen and notepad, Xmas dvd maybe, cool socks, a torch, Lego blind bag - that type of thing, but not an awful lot of stuff.

This year I'm putting in write bracelet toy he's seen and loves: multiple metal rings that slinkys itself up and down your arm.

He still takes Tio to bed the first night he's here. He's a type of tile log: he comes down from the mountains and visits your house. We take the dog for a walk in the woods and I have Tio in a rucksack and hide him for DS to find

He still believes in Tio but not FC

ThisIsTheEndMyFriend · 23/10/2021 14:25

I like it when the visitors arrive because I can stop getting things ready for them and relax, and then when they leave on the 27th (guests and fish and all that).
Recently we started cutting the cake on Christmas Eve, which feels very naughty, so I enjoy that.

ApplePippa · 23/10/2021 14:49

Dusk on Christmas Eve.

I try and be outside at dusk on Christmas Eve, but don't always manage it. For me, that's the moment Christmas really starts, just as it gets dark. It gives me a lovely feeling of anticipation - everything is ready and prepared, and when the sun rises again it will be Christmas day.

Its linked to a very specific memory I have of Christmas Eve when I was around 12. My mum sent me outside to put the rubbish in the bin just as it was getting dark. I remember lingering outside in the garden, looking at the house all warm and lit up. I could see the Christmas tree through the patio doors, and my mum and grandmother chattering away together in the kitchen. A black bird was singing, but it was otherwise completely still and silent. I felt a real shiver of delight run through me.

Its a moment I try and catch every year, and have a minute of quiet delight just for me!

Keepthechangefilthyanimal · 23/10/2021 15:02

@ApplePippa

Dusk on Christmas Eve.

I try and be outside at dusk on Christmas Eve, but don't always manage it. For me, that's the moment Christmas really starts, just as it gets dark. It gives me a lovely feeling of anticipation - everything is ready and prepared, and when the sun rises again it will be Christmas day.

Its linked to a very specific memory I have of Christmas Eve when I was around 12. My mum sent me outside to put the rubbish in the bin just as it was getting dark. I remember lingering outside in the garden, looking at the house all warm and lit up. I could see the Christmas tree through the patio doors, and my mum and grandmother chattering away together in the kitchen. A black bird was singing, but it was otherwise completely still and silent. I felt a real shiver of delight run through me.

Its a moment I try and catch every year, and have a minute of quiet delight just for me!

Thanks for sharing. What a lovely memory.

lollipoprainbow · 23/10/2021 15:03

@ApplePippa this is what Christmas is all about, just lovely

RestingStitchFace · 23/10/2021 15:08

Decorating the tree for me. Just insane levels of nostalgia every year.

Watching Polar Express with DS. (He's mad about trains.)

Filling the stocking in Xmas Eve.

Christmas morning dog walk - stopping at our local for a glass of wine and to wish the locals Merry Christmas.

Settling down with chocolate and a movie post Xmas dinner.

Mrsfussypants1 · 23/10/2021 15:08

All of the build up, even more so now our granddaughter has a good understanding and is full of questions and awe. I'm on the christmas forum all year, have been for a few years now, and as the pace picks up in September I love reading the comments. I love the magic bit in between Christmas and New year, leftovers, meeting up with friends and family, panto, tidying gifts away. But my favourite part is getting up stupidly early on christmas morning, putting the Christmas lights on and lighting a candle, I say a merry Christmas to family members no longer with us, my dad is first, he loved christmas more than I. Then I look out of the window to see if anyone in the street is up and opening gifts. A quick cup hotchoc and wait for dh to get up. I'm never sad in January when the tree comes down, by that point I'm usually anticipating the arrival of sales bargains for the next year. I always take plenty of photos and videos over the period, they're lovely to look back on and show adult dd and gd.

mumonthehill · 23/10/2021 15:13

I love Christmas Eve but my favourite moment that is just for me, is being up very early on Christmas morning, lighting the fire and having a cup of tea looking at the Christmas lights. It’s as if I can just savour the quiet before the excitement begins and I so enjoy it. There is a childish delight in waiting for the house to wake up and knowing that everyone will be delighted that Santa has been.

cricketmum84 · 23/10/2021 15:21

Christmas Eve as the kids are getting ready to go to bed. That excitement and warm feeling you get. Knowing they are asleep while you organise laying presents out with a nice chocolate baileys! That's my favourite bit of Christmas!

ponkydonkey · 23/10/2021 15:24

I'm have a dinner party tonight with a Christmas theme so we can talk about Christmas 😂😂

maxineputyourredshoeson · 23/10/2021 15:57

I absolutely adore Christmas and shop all year etc. I love the DC’s faces and the pure excitement but one of my favourite parts every year is when they finally go to sleep on Christmas Day, sat relaxing with DH lights on etc and thinking ‘we did it!’.

I buy all of the presents and food, he wraps and cooks.

plominoagain · 23/10/2021 17:52

A weekend in the beginning of December when I do a lot of the cooking in advance to stash away . I make a load of mince pies , cranberry sauce , feed the cake , make sausage rolls and cheese straws , Christmas rocky road and gingerbread muffins , all to the accompaniment of Nigella and Jamie's Christmas programmes . The kitchen cafe is shut for that day , and I might even have a sherry or two.

The other is putting together my Boxing Day sandwich. Good bread , brown turkey meat , stuffing , cranberry sauce, with a slathering of bread sauce as well . Best eaten with my feet up on the sofa watching a Christmas Midsomer and another sherry or two ..

UndertheCedartree · 23/10/2021 23:55

I love the 1st December as it is the beginning of Christmas for us. I make a special 'Christmas breakfast' for my DC and give them their advent calendars. They are really excited for the countdown to begin!

Taking the DC to see FC - always at the same place. I am separated from their dad but we still always do this together.

I love Christmas Eve when everything is prepared, sitting in new pyjamas with our Christmas Eve supper watching the Muppets Christmas Carol.

I love filling the stockings and taking a bite out of the mince pie. Looking at the stockings and knowing how excited the DC will be in the morning.

Coming down with the DC on Christmas morning - it has always been our special time just me and them.

Bettybantz · 24/10/2021 00:08

Christmas Eve buffet, clean house, happy boys, fire lit, all at home ❤️

My friend always has a party around the 28th too, when everyone escapes their family duties and our friends all get together and have lovely festive fun.

Original poster

SevenZebrasDancing · 24/10/2021 05:10

Oh these all sounds amazing. Love the idea of the Boxing day sandwich!

I might make bread sauce today just because.

Years ago, when DH were richer and child-free we used to go to Vienna and do the christmas markets a couple of weeks before Christmas. That was amazing and we have some lovely christmas decorations from there. Maybe next year with the DCs covid permitting.

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 24/10/2021 05:37

I love every joy filled moment.

But like a pp, Christmas Eve I always have a moment. Children in bed, carrot nibbled, stockings bulging, snowy footprints placed and veg/sides prepped and ready. I go outside and watch the sky for a while. I gaze across the village at the lights and the stillness and I just watch. I don't know if I'm looking for Father Christmas like I did as a child or what. It's a perfect moment. Like the world has taken a huge breath and released it, waiting for something. It's quiet and special and my favourite moment of every year.