What is your favourite Christmas luxury or special festive spend?

[Christmas2026]

I know... I know ... It's June.

I'm just feeling nosy and wondering what your most luxurious/ treat/traditional (whatever) spend is at Christmas?

Truthfully, I don't really have one! But my life is different now. Previously, we were child free and basically working most of it so our most luxe spend was probably some nice chocolates also I only have a small list of people to buy for so I like to not necessarily spend a lot of money but put a lot of consideration and thought into gifts I have a little text conversation with myself where I note when people mention flavours they like etc.

Just interested in other people's Christmases?

Florentines.

• Iberico ham leg
• Chocolate covered kruidnoten
• Sherry

Candles - Cire Trudon Spiritus sancti or Diptyque Feu de Bois.

Cheeseboard, rarebit mix and florentines.

I had Christmas dinner on Sunday! It's a tradition that one Sunday in June or July we have one.

Red cabbage was sooo Christmassy smelling.

Hartingtons Creamery cheeseboard. I pick my own and have about 9 wedges over the Christmas and New Year period. I love English cheese and it’s all made in Derbyshire from local milk.

I love Christmas music! I start playing it around November. 😄

Delia Smith Christmas chutney. Costs a small fortune to buy all the ingredients to make it but it's amazing.

Homemade marzipan is a universe away from shop bought rubbish

I always treat the family to an M&S Christmas food shop too. We just get what we want, which is something we only do for Christmas. 🥰

We always have a charcuterie board on Christmas Eve too, never do one at any other time.

Yes!

I was thinking that the other day and a feeling of dread and despair swept over me. Fucking hate it more with every passing year. Wish we could have a year off occasionaly like they do at Glastonbury.

Yes to homemade Christmas cake, I know you could buy one cheaper but it’s so enjoyable making it, feeding it, eating it…..

Yes, although I indulge 12 months of the year - they are my chocolatey vice.

Omg no!

Edit - sorry if you feel this way for sad life reasons, thats perfectly fine xx

As a child many, many years back I lived in a tiny country town - before the days of even most big towns having delicatessens. One local grocer used to like to get unusual foods in, especially at Christmas - though back then they were relatively a lot more expensive than nowadays.
So that's where I first tried Roka cheese crispies - my parents would buy just one box as a Christmas treat. I still adore them, though I reckon they are not nearly as cheesy as they used to be.
The other treat was a Droste chocolate apple - much nicer than Terry's chocolate orange IMHO.

I got a big Fortnum's hamper a few years ago to open on Christmas even then pick at over the 25th and boxing day. Some things were great, others I felt I could have got elsewhere for cheaper. But, there is something special and exciting about an expensive hamper of goodies.

So, now I use the hamper and order some select things from Fortnum's for the "special" factor and top it up with other favourites from elsewhere, like M&S, Tesco, or local shops.

The things I get from Fortnum's specifically are their truffled cheeses, crackers, some sauces and spreads, and some of their biscuits and chocolates. Then ham and smoked salmon, fruit, tea and coffee, mince pies, and other bits and pieces from elsewhere (the meat/fish stays in the fridge obviously until Christmas eve then is put in the hamper briefly for ceremonial purposes ahead of everything being officially unpacked).

I also get either the Fortnum's or Liberty beauty advent calendar each year to open across December.

Homemade Christmas Cake is the bees knees . I make my almond paste with Amaretto and use that to soak the fruits with. Nice layer of royal icing to finish .
Years back I would leave half plain and give some to my parents ( my dad didn't like marzipan or icing) .
Every year I think " is it worth baking one" but I've never found a bought cake that compares. I use sultanas ( nice Turkish ones) soak at least four days in Amaretto till they're sozzled. Then feed before wrapping up .
The marzipan has Amaretto,lemon juice and almond extract to flavour.

We walk around the Xmas markets, down, browse hamleys, there Santa is the bees knees, into John Lewis, lunch in the underground crypt usually, walk round all the streets in the evening to see the lights and also pop into fortnam and mason

That sounds lovely.
Hope you have a lovely time when it rolls round this year :-)

This whole thread has made me hungry.

Mine are largely food and drink related also.

1. we get an M&S bronze turkey crown we order each year and collect Xmas eve. Yum.
2. My husband does the cooking and he does fancy versions of everything, so not normal roast potatoes but ones done with beef dripping etc. Home made gravy where he’s made the stock with himself from chicken wings etc. Cauliflower cheeses where he uses about 5 cheeses and a touch of sour cream, mmmmm.
3. we do arrival cocktails and last year I did a breakfast martini
4. home made crackers (ok these aren’t ‘luxury’ but I always put a scratch card and a mini bottle of booze in and everyone enjoys doing them - so they are pricier than bought ones

Right ready for my Xmas lunch now.

Me too!!! I love going through the catalogue. In addition to a couple of Christmas items I always buy one of the beef pies and freeze it and we have it at Easter. Looking through the catalogue gives me the same feeling as the Argos catalogue did when I was a child. (Sad I know :-))

A printed copy of the double edition of Radio Times. I know all the schedules are on line, but it’s not Christmas until I have my copy of the Radio Times.
l also love a box of Aldi cherry liqueur chocolates, I have a couple every evening over the festive season, no one else likes them so I get a whole box just for me.

@HalzTangz Where is the underground crypt where you go for lunch? I used to know Oxford Street and Piccadilly quite well, I feel there is a gap in my knowledge now 😄

I get myself a beauty advent calendar. I never buy for myself throughout the year and the stuff will last me most of the following year. I always look forward to it.

Definitely the adult equivalent of the Argos catalogue! 😅