Best thing about Christmas?

[notenoughtogoround]

I love reading the positive, happy threads about people’s Christmas traditions, activities, plans and experiences. What are you most looking forward to? What film can’t you wait to watch? Which treat in your Christmas food stash can’t you wait to crack open?

I love Christmas Eve. We get our turkey early and when we go home and shut the door, I know that’s it for the ‘chores’ and we can relax, enjoy our Christmas Eve food (fondue for dinner!) and watch the Muplets Christmas Carol. I also love Boxing Day, no work, just play with toys/presents, eat leftovers and nap!

I know there can be a lot of faff, but I quite like that there is a sparkly, twinkly warm distraction in what is otherwise a very dreary time of year (shit weather, long nights).

Exactly. I like the fact that we dont need to be anywhere. The fridge and freezer are stocked and if the weathers shite we can hibernate around the fire. Theres no pressure

Love reading these, I love it all but especially cherish the memory of my (now non believing 13 and 14 year olds) little ones for 2 years running sneaking around after we'd gone to bed rustling and home making stockings for me and my partner and putting them at the end of our bed. At this point I was still desperately trying to keep the secret alive but they had cottoned on and were being Santa for us. We had to stay awake very late in order to be the 2nd Santa of the night. Will forever cherish the little poems and bits and bobs they cobbled together. They must've been 9 and 11

Everyone has such lovely plans, enjoy them all!

This 😊. I do like the run up, mainly for the food and drink but Christmas Day itself isn’t as fun as it used to be. I was more excited about solstice and the evenings getting lighter…..roll on spring time.

I am looking forward to Christmas dinner, I love cooking but by Boxing Day I’m ready to pack everything away and look ahead to the new year.

Boxing Day.

Time off work

Why not frothy coffees all year around?

My favourite parts are seeing my young dc's faces on Christmas morning, as I sit enjoying a coffee and a sweet treat. It is lovely to think "ahhh it is all done." All of the effort was worth it. I love eating nice food, and laying out watching Christmas movies. This year we are having a quiet Christmas just the 4 of us, and it feels relaxed and lovely. I'm seeing dm tomorrow, we hosted her last year. I do miss my lovely df who died last year, and feel he should be coming over this year; I'd give anything. This is spoiling things a little for me, everything I think about the fact he isn't here, it hurts to my core.

I am trying so very hard to enjoy it all as much as I can though, because dcs aren't little for long, and I know how much df loved Christmases when we were small. In his words "enjoy your life, and your family." When I see the retro Christmas lights I bought, I think of him and smile as I remember christmases that have been and gone where I had the honour of spending them with him. I'm also carrying on some things in his memory, and we will always include him in our own way.

Nine Lessons and Carols.
Other than that, the best thing us that it will soon be January and the whole thing finally over!

I work in retail and this year I have four whole days off over Christmas! I'm looking forward to two of my daughters (all my kids are adults) being here Christmas Eve and helping with the food prep (they laugh SO MUCH when they are together), then watching Muppets Christmas Carol with them over baked camembert and charcuterie. Then we will have Christmas day together opening presents and I'm looking forward to them seeing what I've got them, then us cooking and eating a fabulous feast together. Boxing Day my younger son and his fiancee are coming, so we can do the whole thing over again (only with fabulous left overs rather than another roast). I'm looking forward to the whole thing!

As a child I used to love waking up Christmas morning and looking out the window in my bedroom. Feeling so exited to see if Santa had been and just looking at peoples houses wondering who was up. Before all the chaos started.

As an adult I love getting up on Christmas Eve and thinking we're here!! I love the build up and anticipation more than anything I think.

We are travelling to see family this Christmas. I love listening to Christmas music on the radio and seeing all the other cars piled up with stuff and knowing they're doing the same thing.
Then arriving and the front door being flung open and being met with huge smiles and laughter. Then spending ten minutes unloading the car of all the presents and things and finally being presented with a big gin and tonic. Everyone being delighted to be together.

I love how even though my dc are now teenagers they still love it all, so it's the family time I cherish the most.
Weekend before Christmas - baking day (today!)
Christmas Eve - church then pub.
Boxing day - cold turkey, chips, pickled onions, Hellman's mayo, salad. I like this meal better than Christmas dinner. A walk on the beach if we're at in-laws or in the woods if we're at home.
The betwixtmas days of walks, films, chocolate, games and a jigsaw.

I adore Christmas and it’s rubbed off on my DC - well one won’t admit to it haha, but she loves it all. Ours are teens now but stuff still gets left out for Father Christmas and everything is as if they were little. But my absolute favourite part of Christmas is when me and DH have put all the presents out, the stockings are out and we have 5mins snuggled up on the sofa with just the Christmas tree lights on. It’s our we’ve done it moment.

I love it all, 2 wks off work, spending time with family, watching tv on the sofa for ages. Can’t wait to eat my Christmas dinner & the cheeseboard & I love how excited the dc get.

My favourite moment of the year is when everyone arrives to stay for Christmas the flurry of handing over coats, presents and bottles of wine and shutting the door where we will all remain safe and cosy and happy for a few days.

My now teenager sprinkling her reindeer dust around the drive and putting out a mince pie and a glass of wine because she knows that she is now ‘Santa’ and we pass on the magic to our younger family members.

Reading The night before Christmas to my teen and trying not to cry ❤️

I can't wait for the evening when the work is done and we can relax, eat chocs and know it's done for another year.

Also looking forward to everyone opening their presents, especially their stockings as they still love it and the dog always gets very involved which is really cute.

Oh, and I can't wait for the Gavin & Stacey special!

When it's all over and the house is back to normal! Bring on January. My favourite month of the year. I love a fresh new year.

@ChristmasfoodisOverrated thinking of you and your family, hope your DM has a nice day.

@TheGodOfSmallPotatoes @Tinaforshort this is encouraging! My eldest is about to become a teenager and I really hope some of the Christmas magic stays alive!

And yes to everyone who can’t wait for cheese, chocolates, films, games and lying on the sofa. Thoughts with everyone who are missing people, working or finding the holidays hard x