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.

I can knit but had never thought of knitting a Christmas jumper, nor Christmas crackers.
They are a possibility . What do you include in your Christmas place setting please?

An Apres Ski party is such a good idea! I think that woukd. Be fun between Christmas and New Year.

Yoive given me the idea to include some bakery items from other countries - thank you.

We make a winter solstice wreath on 21st.
Cheesy Christmas films, Christmas music, baking...I love it :)

I make gingerbread biscuits, spend an afternoon making loads so there’s lots for us and a tin to take into work.

Theres usually a cinema showing of the Nutcracker.

A couple of years ago I bought a Lego gingerbread house, so now the first Friday night in December I open something nice to drink and build it.

This year I’m going to make some little Christmas stocking tree decorations for my nephews. Maybe this will be the year I learn to crochet some little toys as well.

I stopped doing xmas when xmas became 6 months instead of 2.
Now i just bugger off on holiday.
No decs no gifts nothing.
Its blissful no rushing no over spending no junk buying no slaving in the kitchen no ungrateful twats the list goes on.

I love Christmas and the run up to it .
DC are 25 and 23 , DS is proper Bah Humbug , DD is proper Bring It ON

I have never fancied the idea of Christmas away from home , let alone somewhere hot .
Last year DH DD and I went on a short Christmas Market cruise in December
This year we're doing a weekend city break .

Then over Christmas itself I can have a couple of days off ( I work the Twixmas week) and spend lazy time in the kitchen cooking . No trying anything new for me , it;s a roast dinner with roast potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings .

Much to the disgust of many MN , I do Dec1st Boxes for my DC - a gradual evolution of their Christmas Eve Hampers .

They get underwear , pyjamas, loungewear , socks , toiletries .skincare
Make-up and nail polish for DD as she likes to use them all through December .

I have started buying her presents , I;ll buy DS socks/underwear in Next/TKMaxx/Sports Direct .

Trip to Costco in September when they start bringing out their Christmassey stock

And the Christmas Clean-A-Long so I'm (hopefully) not tearing my hair out in December . That is the relaxing time and pottering round the shops .

A friend of mine and my DD both went to different wreath making classes last year. Their wreaths were lovely! It's something I am keen to do this year.

St Nicholas on the 6th is the day that children receive sweets in their shoes so I have always done that. Used to love doing a North Pole breakfast.

All lovely things to do

I haven’t made a gingerbread house since the kids were little. They make lovely decorations, might be time to make one again.

I’ve never done a North Pole breakfast, they weren’t a thing when my DC were small. I read about them on MN and thought what a shame we hadn’t done them - but thinking it is still something we could do with adult DC, or for friends

I like to have Christmas at home too, although a break mid December sounds appealing

December boxes make sense really - it’s too late for Christmas socks etc on Christmas Day.

I make my own mincemeat, Christmas cakes and Baileys and give to friends. I listen to Christmas music while I’m cooking. I also make my own tonic water (good for those who don’t drink alcohol too), and do a Christmas version with more orange, cinnamon and allspice in the infusion.

Only commenting so I can always find this! Such lovely ideas

I have to be very careful with the budget this year so I have enjoyed allowing myself to get a few presents already (!) in the sales...which feels good. I am going to suggest DS has the job of making Christmas biscuits, and he will love putting together a special playlist...it's the first year of not believing (he's a tween and asked me to be honest with him last year) so we need some new traditions if anyone has any ideas? Calm but lovely...that's the Chrismas I'm aiming for this year!

I actually really enjoy the feeling of being organised and ‘ahead of the game’ when it comes to Christmas.

I really enjoy sitting down and planning food and stockings/ presents really early on - early September. Then get on with the actual cooking prep and buying of presents in the autumn. The planning and prep is such a pleasure to me if I’m doing it in really good time. I put on Christmassy music while I’m cooking and really enjoy it all.

Christmas can be very special without spending too much money. MN is the most amazing source of ideas for that!
it always a little sad when they stop believing isnt it?
How about decorating tbe tree while listening to the playlist he puts together. Then watch a Christmas film eating the biscuits he makes.
I’ve seen people on MN talk about setting up a hot chocolate station, not something I’d heard of by which time my children were past that
I’d also never heard of a North Pole breakfast, that could be updated for an older child.
Does he have younger siblings? My eldest enjoyed joining in the Santa stuff for the younger ones (playing the adult role in putting the mince pie and carrot out for Santa and Rudolph; stuffing tbe stockings etc)
I think with ‘new believers’ it’s finding the balance between involving them in a more adult way - asking what would make Christmas special for them; are there any meals they’d particularly like; what do they like think younger DC might like in their stockings etc but also knowing that they may still enjoy a walk looking at lights or even making paper chains to decorate their room.
We always had a Christmas jigsaw on tbe go, primarily to entertain grandparents but the DC used to enjoy it too though so would never have admitted to it!

I’ve never heard of making tonic water. Which recipe do you use please?

I am exactly the same. Ultra early this year to cheer me up when I wasn’t feeling too well yesterday. Good planning is key to reducing a lot of the stress and also the expense. I do understand the ‘Christmas starts in December’ approach but it is a busy month anyway, so it goes end up being a bit of a rush if you leave everything til then

Like you I’m thinking about Christmas already! I love the cosy time of year and spending it with family!

I’ve already booked a panto performance for the week before Christmas! It a tradition that I started to treat my mum to that each year, just the two of us.

i also this time of year start looking at local Christmas markets to plan in which I will visit. Usually they begin late November which is my kick off to Christmas!

plotting Christmas presents as starting to get a few pieces too.

making a Christmas decoration if your crafty can be fun.

i also love making mulled wine and a non-alcohol version of cranberry and orange juice warmed up with the same spices as mulled wine.

so excited for Christmas now, thank you!

They weren't around when my ds was small either but I did them for a free years from when ds was a young teen. Just adapted a bit. I might adapt it again this year now he's almost out of his teen years. I absolutely think it's something that could be done for adults.

Lots of lovely ideas! I'm watching with interest - I think we're hosting family this year so I'll be trying to sort out practicalities in advance and enjoy doing things together once they arrive.

Oooh, I am a HUGE Christmas fan and love to get in the spirit nice and early!

I live alone (although the majority of my kids are only half to an hour away) so I find making the house 'feel' Christmassy comes first for me, to get me into the mood (we usually have Christmas at mine because it's a cosy country cottage and just perfect for the season). Smell is very important so I get out all my winter scented candles, light a log fire to make the house smell right. I make mince pies and then freeze them uncooked, because that way I can cook just the odd one or two to have with coffee when friends or family pop in (yes, I am unMumsnetty and open the door to casual visitors) and the scent of these helps too. I change all my cushions for seasonal ones, I have a special Winter tablecloth and hang winter themed pictures (I am a big fan of buying really 'arty' Christmas cards and put these into cheap frames; hung up together as a gallery they make a wonderful display). So I change the whole 'look' of my rooms!

Mine are too old for North Pole Breakfast but we do a Big Vegetarian Brunch in the nearest day to the 1st that we're all available .

I make a breadmaker loaf for toast ,. DS has toasted cheese ( he's noy a breakfast lover)

Then in mid Dec we have pancakes on a Saturday morning -syrup , sauce , bananas .
Nice to space things out because I know we won;t eat a huge breakfast on Christmas Eve/Day./Boxing Day .

Whenever we go away we buy a Christmas decoration. Sometimes this does mean a key ring which is then modified. When the tree goes up it means we remember all the places we have been to. And also it’s a small souvenir to buy on holiday.