Ten Christmas memories and traditions

Hello! It is time for day two of my Twelve Days of Christmas Blogmas posts. I have decided to get into the Christmas spirit and answer some Christmasy questions.

1. What’s your favourite Christmas movie?

I have to say Love Actually. It is always the first movie I associate with Christmas and it is so lovely. I’ve watched it most years at Christmas (if not every year!). Also, my family have often watched The Life of Brian and The Castle at Christmas together. Odd, I know!! They are definitely not your typical Christmas movies, but it’s all in the name of family traditions, right?! My brother’s girlfriend is new to the movies, so she is being indoctrinated (aka forced) into the tradition in a couple of weeks.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

My family have always opened presents from each other on Christmas Eve, and when we were children we then opened Santa presents on Christmas morning. My parents are English and I always thought we did it because that’s how they do it in the UK, but recently realised it’s not for that reason at all! It just seems to be how we like to do it.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

Generally being silly and having fun all together is a great memory. I love that we always play boardgames (which no one ever wants to do with me any other day of the year!), and everyone is just in a happy, loving mood. Spending Christmas with family in England a few years ago, which I’d never done before, is also a special memory.

4. Favourite festive food?

We’ve always had a family tradition on Christmas morning to have a brunch of scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, brown bread, capers and freshly squeezed orange juice (with a cheeky splash of champagne!), follow by a platter of fresh mangos and croissants. Now that I don’t eat eggs, pastries or drink alcohol, it’s not quite the same, but still something I enjoy.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

When I was eleven, my parents gave my brothers and I an Australian Terrier named Missy. It was amazing and we had wanted a dog for ages. They wrapped up a box full of dog toys and food bowls etc, and put it under the Christmas tree. Dad always remembers that when we opened the box I looked up at my parents with excitement and said “doggy!!” We then went up the coast a few days later and collected her.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Strangely, I have to say red cabbage as it cooks!!! It’s not that it is a better smell than other Christmasy things, but it is just something my brother and I strongly associate with Christmas. I like the smell of real Christmas trees too, but we haven’t had one since I was a child. I’d really like to have a real one again some day.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

We eat a nice meal together. We then give each other presents, which is a nice session when we open one present at a time and really enjoy seeing everyone’s reactions and what people have given each other, and we take turns putting on a Santa hat and being the one to choose a present from under the tree to give to someone. We then play board games and eat yummy desserts.

8. What tops your tree?

We have a very old and well-loved angel. It is tradition that Dad, who doesn’t contribute to any other part of the decorations, comes along and places it at the top!

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I am really not sure! The only thing I can think of, which isn’t very wild or extravagant, is that I always wanted what my brothers were given from Santa. They would get things like model boats and electric cars, and I would get dolls, which still made me happy but I always felt like I was missing out because they got things that weren’t a (stereotypical) girl’s gift. My parents were always very generous and thoughtful so I in no way begrudge this though!

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

I love how everyone is so happy and keen to make it an enjoyable time for each other. It just feels so special in a different way than any other time of the year. It’s like you’re in a bubble away from the rest of the world and reality. And although not technically Christmas, my favourite day of the year is Boxing Day because we relax, watch the Boxing Day cricket match, eat delicious leftovers and cool down in the pool.

I would love to see what your answers to some or all of these questions are. Do you have similar memories or traditions, or completely different ones? Are you feeling the festive spirit yet?

**I found this tag on Jess Cantoni’s blog (http://www.jesscantoni.com) who found it on Fee’s blog at (http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk).**