The unusual moment you look forward to most?

[penguinwithasuitcase]

Chatting to a friend this morning and she said that of everything about Christmas, the one moment that she loves most is:

Opening the front door to her extended family when they arrive on Christmas morning –the noise and madness of way too many people crammed into the hallway trying to get their coats off while juggling presents-stuffed-under-arms and kissing the kids at the same time and handing over a bottle of wine to put in the fridge and someone calling "Can you move the car over a bit so I can pull right in?" all at once.

I thought it was just the loveliest thing – that THAT's what she looks forward to most! Not presents, not lunch, not turning on the lights of the tree, but a cramped, chaotic moment of cold air and shoe-wrestling in the hallway

What are your unexpected favourite moments of Christmas?

@penguinwithasuitcase

Ha! *@Oftenithinkaboutit* not nosy at all - it's good internet manners to be the first to go and I didn't, did I?!

It's very specific to us and a bit self-centred –but when DP, DSS and I had our first Christmas together 4 years ago, I was having a bit of a tough time knowing how and where I fit in. I have none of my own family in this country (I'm outside the UK) and they were such a close unit, I struggled not to feel as though I was intruding on their day.

At some point that first Christmas I asked DSS if he could have one wish for the next year, what it would be. He told me something funny like no school on Fridays (he was 10).

As part of a project I was crafting, I had a few tiny glass bottles with corks in the top, so I got 3 of them out and we all wrote a wish for the year to come on a little piece of paper, put them inside a bottle each, corked them, and hung them on the tree.

The next year we got our decorations out to do the tree, and when DSS saw the bottles he jumped to grab them and read what he had written the year before.

Now it's something he reminds us all about every year, and it just feels so special that he cares and enjoys this little tradition he and I created together. It makes me feel like I really am 'part of the family'.

So my favourite moment now is when we hang our wish-bottles on the tree. DSS always gives me a squeeze and I swallow a big lump in my throat and feel very lucky.

That is so lovely!

@SpeckyWithTheGoodHair

Carols from Kings at three o'clock on Christmas Eve, with a few sherries.

Yes me too. I spend Chr eve prepping veg and other food (which I also love doing) but when the choirboy steps forward to sing the first verse of Once in Royal I always start to cry. Imagine if that was your son!

I love Boxing Day as well - all the boys at football, just me and DD and my favourite meal of cold chicken sandwich with stuffing and some crappy nonsense on the TV.

@CoodleMoodle

Mine are all Christmas Eve!

When DM arrives on Xmas Eve and we lock the door - that means it's Christmas.

Seeing the DC in their new PJs. Not Christmas specific (they'll wear them all winter) but brand new that night. They've got matching tartan button up ones this year and it's going to be so cute! They're 7&3 so might not get away with it much longer...

Getting the kids to bed, and beginning the mission of bringing the still hidden presents down. This usually involves a Big Bag. Then setting everything up under the tree, and building anything that needs building in advance (this year it's a scooter and a Hot Wheels garage - they're DH's jobs).

Debating with DM/DH who's gets the biscuit and who has to nibble the carrot. One year it was a tomato and DH refused point blank!

And then finally snuggling up in bed and scrolling through the #Duvetknowitschristmas tag on Twitter for far, far too long. That feels like the calm before the storm and I look forward to it every year.

@CoodleMoodle - my teen DS was still letting me get matching PJ's for him and his sister until he was 12! So hopefully you've got a good few years more!

Thought of another one, I am a runner and on Chr eve I always go out at the end of the day when everything is done, trotting gently down deserted streets and looking at people's lights and trees in windows and thinking about how they will enjoy the next day.

Lovely thread btw Op. Sorry to all those who have lost people close to them or whose Christmases are not what they would hope

This thread has kept me from my work for ages! It's so lovely n really getting me in the Christmassy mood.

@clary

Thought of another one, I am a runner and on Chr eve I always go out at the end of the day when everything is done, trotting gently down deserted streets and looking at people's lights and trees in windows and thinking about how they will enjoy the next day.

I took the children out last night when it was dark to look at the Christmas lights. They were all snuggled up and we had hot chocolate afterwards. Was very cute.

My favourite bit is going to sound bloody awful compared with everyone else's haha..

So, I have a full on, full time work from home job - ridiculous hours, it's so hard to switch off. However, I am VERY lucky that the whole company have a two week shut down over Christmas and New Year.

My favourite bit of Christmas is when I get home from my parents' on Christmas Day (don't get me wrong I enjoy the day, but we all know how much there is to do with the meal, washing up, tidying after gifts etc), closing the door, pouring a glass of wine, opening the chocs, getting into my new fluffy PJs that my mum always gets me, and watching a film on the TV. Might even have a bath! Because I know that it's just me and DP for a few wonderful, quiet, chilled days from there. We don't get that any other time of year, but between Christmas and New Year is ours - then family stuff NYE.

Bliss.

@Joystir59
(Sorry I was rude to you on another post the other day)

Sneaking all the presents into the sacks in the living room once the kids are in bed.

As a kid-when my grandad cycled over to spend it with us
He’d open the front door and that meant Christmas was underway

As an adult-we either go to my in-laws or they come to us-we live 190 miles from them (it’s the first without fil as we lost him in feb,but he’ll be here in our hearts)
We either walk into their kitchen or they knock on our door (normally after 1000 phone calls as they’ve got lost 1/4 mile from our house)

That’s Christmas started for us

When I was a child it was wrapping presents - DM hates doing it so used to bribe me to wrap anything apart from my own, obviously - in front of Carols from King’s on Christmas Eve, knowing there would be pork pie and pickled onions for tea.

Nowadays I love the Christmas morning dog walk. I’ll put a jolly collar or hat on the dog and everyone is in a good mood. We have a nice park where people chat anyway so it’s lovely to see all the regulars on Christmas Day!

What a lovely thread! I love reading through every bodies Christmas adventures and traditions.

Mine has to be, me and DH (and this year with our one year old) turning up to my mum and dads. I can hear the Christmas music blaring and the cheering before I get in the front door. Everyone's wearing their shite Christmas jumpers and the smell of the turkey and goose in the oven never ever gets old. Everyone fighting over turkey skin before it gets calved.

Just before lunch all the 'men' in the street walk to the local pub, and all the ladies and children crowd in my parents house and have a drink together. I normally walk up the pub too but this year will be staying there with DD. I can't wait!

Presents are always after dinner in everyone's usual seats in the living room.

Card games and drinks for the evening. Then everybody has a nap.

The same every year and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I'm so lucky to be able to do this. My parents won't be around forever and I cherish Christmas Day so much. It's lovely.

But the thing I always look forward to the most is everybody fighting over the turkey skin and who can grab the crispiest roasties. It's heartwarming.

When my mum used to say "I'm putting the oven on" to warn us with little ones to keep them away... and EVERYONE would shout out "It won't suit you!".

She died a few years ago... so my husband took up the saying, at some point in the day he'll say "I put the oven/kettle/dishwasher on"... and will get the full on response... with a smile, everyone remembering.

I used to love getting post on the Sunday before Christmas and on Christmas Day itself - it seemed so special!

My favourite bit is when I decorate our fireplace with the garland, baubles, birds and other animals, and lights. Then I sprinkle fake snow over it all and it gently falls onto the hearth where there is a roaring fire in the woodburner. There are no other lights in the room and it just looks so cosy and magical as the baubles move in the warmth of the fire!

Most Christmas Eve's as a child were spent going on an adventure into a local city with my dad. He'd take me shopping for my mums christmas presents and we'd always get a yummy lunch. I used to love the hustle and bustle of the city, seeing everyone buying the last few things they needed, bundled up in hats and coats. It's just something i loved to do and was excited for each year.

@Vicliz24

The moment you realise all the shops have closed and you can't buy anything else . That's my favourite moment of the whole thing . You can exhale and say if I haven't got it now we can live without it .( please make sure you have your dinner bought before the exhale)

This is one of mine too! Huge relief to know that it doesn't matter now and if you don't have it you don't need it.

Absolutely loving this thread, thanks OP.

Christmas Eve, when I stick Chris Rea "Driving home for Christmas" on in the car and start driving home to my parents place, I just love it and it fills my heart with Christmas cheer.

But this year, for the first time in my 43 years, they are coming to me so I will have to find another Christmas moment! I'm so looking forward to hosting them at our place - really excited!

The excruciating wait before you are allowed go downstairs and someone (my dad and now my husband) goes to check if he’s been...

Carols on, candles and fire lit, pot of tea champagne on ice and one more look over the sacks full of presents from Santa all the whole squealing excited children, regardless of age Champaign at the bit to come downstairs.

It’s when I can feel the most magic in the air.

Can we nomiate this for classics @MNHQ

I second the nomination for classics @MNHQ

I can't answer in full, as it's school run time but many a tear has been shed this afternoon! Beautiful thread OP. I'm so moved.

I love so many things about Christmas.

I love the build up. I love going to the shops with friends for a Christmas shopping trip, drinking mulled wine and looking for last minute bits and pieces for people.

I love the house looking all cosy with the tree up and decorations up and loads of lights everywhere. We also watch Christmas Films every Sunday night in December - getting teenagers in with us to watch tv is lovely and makes it all feel special.

Christmas Eve - we always eat out in the local pub and then head to Christingle Service and walk home in the cold ready to get settled in for the night.

Christmas Morning -when presents are opened and the house is filled with the smell of Turkey cooking.

@Champagneforeveryone

Lots of these resonate with me but there's a single memory that always brings a lump to my throat.

Around 20 years ago now I was out early on Christmas morning with the dogs, and walking back home passed a young girl aged about 9 or 10 on an immaculately turned out pony with Christmas ribbons attached to it. She was being led in a brisk trot by an adult and there were several others taking photos of her. She looked utterly delighted and thunderstruck and to this day I can close my eyes and see her face and it melts my normally cold heart.

Shockingly now I think about it, she's probably 30 now with kids of her own

Oh that’s lovely. I bet it’s a special memory for her too!

I have a special memory too. Three years ago we heard someone playing the bagpipes on our street. We looked out and there he was - a single bagpiper, playing beautifully. We went out to listen and loads of neighbours came out too. He had been asked by a family to come and play for their terminally ill dad, who had been too poorly to go home to Scotland for Christmas. Dad and the family came out to watch. Dad was so frail but lit up with the joy of it - he loved it. It was perfect.

I love wrapping presents and imagining the recipients face (usually my DC’s) when they open it. I love buying gifts and try and put a lot of thought into each one and I’m a little obsessed with wrapping 😬. I would happily be paid to wrap other peoples presents for them.