What do you do to enjoy the run up to Christmas? New ideas wanted.

[OMGitsnotgood]

A dull and rainy August day, I’m full of cold and didn’t sleep very well so no energy to do much and have been awake and up for ages.
I was browsing cookery books to help me meal plan, a couple of recipes jumped out as possible Christmas Eve / NYE dishes. Then of course my mind has wandered to thinking about Christmas itself.
Yes it’s only just August, but it’s the Christmas board, and I’ve gone from feeling very sorry for myself to having a smile on my face. Thank you Christmas!

I love Christmas as a season, not just the day. All the preparations and the run up bring joy, rather than dread {planning and starting early is key to this I think).
But I’ve been doing it for so long, tends to be the same old same old so am wondering what other people do to enjoy the run up to Christmas. (Our DCs are adults so not looking for children’s activities. )
For me, it includes things like:

Making ahead anything that can be to make Christmas dinner easier (bread sauce, cranberry sauce, stuffing, red cabbage, pigs in blanket for freezer; cake, mincemeat, pudding, chutney for the cupboard).
I love wrapping presents so take my time doing that but that’s not til December. I’m quite crafty, so often make gift tags and Christmas cards. I make cards and tags early as if I leave tbem til December I tend to run out of time.
Whilst we might wander round a local Christmas market, we’re not ones for light trails or similar Christmas events. That said, one of our local National Trust stately homes decorates every room for Christmas and I’m going to put that on my list as we’ve not made it yet.
Maybe a theatre show or concert, although its been a few years since anything grabbed us.
I’m going to start looking at decorations I can make. We don’t like masses of decorations so want some really lovely ideas for things I can make/assemble for tbe coffeee table/sideboard/window sills- will be browsing Pinterest after this but suggestions welcome.
Whilst I don’t buy presents generally til nearer the time, I do keep a list on my phone all year to jot down ideas as people mention them eg DD mentioned she was thinking growing her own herbs. I have popped ‘herbs and pots’ on my list to check back in December whether she has actually done that. DCs’ main presents will either something they’ve asked for or cash, but we love our stockings and small thoughtful gifts (I’ve another thread Adult Stocking fillers all year round that other stocking filler lovers might enjoy)
I do like to play Christmassy music while wrapping presents/cooking/doing housework/decorating tbe tree etc, I’ve just made a note to look at compiling a couple of play lists.

Looking forward to hearing about what makes your Christmas season special.

The last few years I’ve joined a wreath making workshop at a local florist - really enjoyed it and resulted in a lovely wreath up on my front door - will do it again.

Not sure where you’re based but we’ve done Christmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (and dinner at a nearby restaurant) a few times and it’s really Christmassy.

Beth Kempton's Calm Christmas podcast. Game changer. Her free winter writing workshop is also amazing if she does that again this year.

I’m very much a new bean to Christmas hosting (unfortunately my disabled father died this year but now means we can have Christmas in a different house.) I’m looking at cross stitching some Christmas designs on fabric napkins as one of the decor items. Just something Christmassy on the table as we won’t have specific Christmas plates etc. My mum is good at watercolour painting so I’ve asked her to do namecards for the table. I’m toying with the idea of making Christmas stockings too.

i love homemade wreaths but have been put off since a neighbour paid a lot to go to a workshop then someone stole the wreath from the door. But we have a lot of greenery in our garden so maybe I should try a low-cost version and hope that it doesn’t wander!
We’re not near London but do have a good concert hall in town. Carol concerts are lovely in the run up to Christmas but it’s a while since we went to one.
Both suggestions added to my list - thank you

The first weekend of Dec we refuse to make plans and do all things Christmassy home. DH makes homemade mince pies which scent the whole house beautifully and we eat some warm with brandy butter after decorating our tree. Xmas music on of course 😂

DH and I really make an event of the food throughout Dec. We have different food & drink in the evenings, eg Mince Pie Velvetiser, Hotel Chocolat Black Forest cream liqueur (like Bailey’s), M & S dark chocolate and ginger florentines, orange matchmakers, ALDI chocolate honeycomb, etc. I check out all the local supermarkets and shops and we build up a collection (for after our children are in bed! 😂)

We love the local Nativity Xmas Eve afternoon followed by a drive of walk round our local neighbourhood checking out their light displays- some really put a lot of effort in and our DCs love it!

I have to watch ‘The Snowman’ every Xmas Eve with my DCs like I did as a child, they know this makes me very happy!!! 😂

Sorry OP, just re-read and realised you have older children.

The luxury food & drink throughout Dec just for the adults is my must recommendation for you! 😊

Sorry for your loss, I’m sure Christmas will be strange for you this year. There’ll be lots of support on MN if you need help with hosting Christmas.

We put food out ‘family style’ so can’t have the beautifully decorated table I’d love, and I prefer to eat off white plates so no Christmas crockery either. I’m always on the look out for ideas for the table so love the idea of decorating napkins and making name cards: Thank you

Last year I made apple and pear chutney and gifted that to people in jars. I bought lovely Christmassy fabric toppers for the jars and my DCs decorated brown bags- you could decorate your own!

Well i designed our Christmas posters, multiple cards for different groups etc for work this week (a church, but it’s quiet because everyone is on holiday it seems apart from me) I’m really happy with them. For my personal stuff I’m a don’t do anything til December person, and Christmas activities apart from a multitude of church services (occupational hazard) are restricted to carol singing at the pub with a brass band, and the town Christmas market these days, got way too commercial in general since instagram took off

This is exactly the ‘something I wouldn’t have ever thought of or known about’ suggestion that explains why I ask these questions on MN, thank you so much.

Honestly, I find Christmas completely overwhelming and this really helped me last year. I'd never written anything before the workshop and now I do a lot!

Hoping to book “ The Christmas Orchestra” at our local cathedral towards the end of November. Gallery seats so we can look down at all the lights & decorations.
It’s my 60th in early December so I want to do some extra special Christmassy things as part of the celebrations. Last year a lovely hotel near us offered a festive spa/afternoon tea package so I’ll look into that for this year.
I don’t drink so on the look for AF Christmas liqueurs etc. Definitely going to buy the Christmas pudding botanical I found last year. Gorgeous!

We do make apple chutney every year, but haven’t tried it with pear - will do that. For Christmas gifting I often cut out rounds from Christmas serviettes as toppers. Hadn’t thought about decorating bags for the chutney but I do like that idea.
On bags: one year I needed a very large bag for an adult’s gift. I found one in tbe loft (I always keep and reuse bags) but it was a children’s bag and quite shabby so I decoupaged it with Christmassy pictures cut out from weekend magazines/Tesco and Boots Christmas catalogues. It worked way better than I expected. I do hqve some paper bags from a couple of shops which I might decoupage this year.

No problem - I actually love seeing Christmas decorations out and about. While I tend to plan special meals for Christmas Eve and between Christmas and Nee Year, I’ve never really extended it and I think that is such a good idea, bring a bit of luxury into each day. Love that idea thank you.

@OMGitsnotgood thank you for this thread. I try to add something new in every year, we like the tradition of our Christmas but always add something simple or change something small. I used to start Christmas in late September after the children had started their new school year and then I felt like the next thing I was looking at was Christmas. Christmas music starts but only in my headphones because everyone complains it is too early. They are now adults so that doesn't really apply.

This year I am making tiaras. The last time I wore one was at my wedding and I did make that. We wear things on our head on Christmas day which is beautifully hosted by my lovely sister. Basically headbands with mini hats, or Merry Christmas, an angel halo that sort of thing. I am making a simpler version of this one below, I will also make extras for the other willing women of my family. I mean who doesn't want to wear a tiara?

I will also be embroidering some napkins. I have an embroidery machine so that is easy.

I made a wreath and it has never been stolen but I have put a massive obvious label on the back that says STOLEN from and my address as it is made by me it is unique so I could easily spot it. I also have one inside the house too that I made from a kit.

Pinterest is full of ideas that I steal every year for my own personal use. I have no original thoughts but like to copy.

@AluckyEllie sorry to hear about your Dad. The napkins sound lovely. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to make stockings. I have made and remade mine over the years. The best instruction I found is this one, it is an old video but brilliant explanation and simple and fast to make.

it must be weird for a ‘Christmas starts in December’ person to have to be doing Christmassy things for work already! Where do you find your inspiration for card designs? I tend to look at Pinterest but always looking for new sources of ideas.

big birthday and Christmas in the same month - what an excuse for some lovely indulgent treats! I’m not a big fan of spa days but am loving tbe idea of a Christmas afternoon tea, I have friends I always meet up with in December and that would make a festive change to our usual pub lunch. I’ll suggest it!
i have a friend who has given up alcohol for health reasons. I’d love your recommendations for non-alcoholic liqueurs and more specifics on the Christmas Pudding botanical please.

I never expected this thread to take off so quickly! I’m feeling a lot better than I did first thing and it’s stopped raining so am going to go out for a short walk with DH. Thank you all for your part in my recovery! I I’ll come back to this thread later.

I really enjoyed going to choral concerts at lunchtime near my office in the weeks running up to Christmas. There are a couple of churches and a concert hall that all have a few shows and I always try to get to at least one. There’s something about choral music specifically that seems soothing to the soul.

I also have a personal tradition, that started when I was a mid teen babysitting DSiblings. Who were all watching to in the other room. I lay on my back on the floor under the Christmas tree with the lights on for a while - strangely, the different perspective was very interesting and to have all other lights off, just tree lights on, and seeing everything from a different angle, felt calming and lovely all at once. I’ve made time every year since to do that at least once in the season, just quietly myself.

@OMGitsnotgood with regard to the wreath making. Every year my neighbours church puts on a lovely evening of wreath making, serving up mince pies, a buffet, warm mulled wine and all of the resources needed to make a wreath. They don't charge anything for it, and a lot of the greenery is sourced from one of the ladies garden. It's a lovely festive gathering, and though I'm not religious, I'm always made welcome.
And I come away with a beautiful wreath. Maybe there's somewhere local to you that does the same?

We do the following, crack open the Baileys and have a small one most nights. Go to the nearest National Trust Christmas displays and have a coffee/mince pie in the cafe, we live near four NT properties. Go to a carol concert in the two nearest cathedrals, these are really beautiful as others have said. Go to one or two pubs for a Christmas meal with family/friends. Go to a Christmas Concert/Show at the theatre. We have a nearby brass band who hold some Christmas shows so got to one or two. Go to a Christmas Market. Start using our Christmas mugs, have some lovely old Cath Kidston ones. Discuss Christmas menu with family as we share cooking and hosting at Christmas.

Aww thanks for this, its giving me a warm cosy feeling and put smile on my face.
I have a new wee person in my life now as well as adult dc and you have all got me so excited for this Christmas. 😊 🎄

Ps, I'm now gonna look like a right weirdo humming xmas songs whilst shopping😂

I'd love to go to the nearest cathedral to watch Carols, but its ticketed. If you want unrestricted view seats it would cost our family of 6 £240.

For years we've had an advent calendar. I have a paper one, 19 year old has a gift one I still enjoy sourcing gifts for it. We decorate the tree with Chrisstmassy music playing. I usually go to a Christmas Market and we always go to the local cinema for whatever Christmas film they are showing. For years we went to a great Christmas tree festival at a local church but last couple of years it hasn't been on so not sure if it's sadly closed. I usually watch a Christmas RomCon alone and and ds and I usually watch Home Alone together. This year I am planning to attend free wreath making at my local Adult Ed Centre. I keep a list all year round too and enjoy adding to it.