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The Wedding on Mistletoe Island
A Real Tree.
Christmas isn’t a day for me, it’s a season – and it starts the first weekend of December, with Christmas Tree Saturday. As a family, we head out to find the perfect tree and decorate it together while listening to Christmas music. And from then, it’s all Christmas all the time!
Mum's Mince Pies.
Mince pies are a fundamental part of Christmas, but not one I particularly enjoy – unless they’re my mum’s homemade ones. The ratio of pastry to mincemeat is far, far superior in hers than in shop bought ones. I also follow her recipe to make mince pies with the kids early in December, just like I remember rolling out pastry to make them with her when I was little.
Travelling Home.
Towards the end of December, I’m always drawn home to Wales. And however annoyed I get at the packing, or the impossibility of trying to fit everyone’s bags and all the presents in the car, it never stops the excitement building. That moment, when we cross the border and see the ‘Croeso I Gymru’ sign – that’s when I know it’s time to relax and start celebrating.
Boat Sunday.
I come from a very large family who are very fond of a party, but we’re never all able to be together on Christmas Day itself, so instead we gather a few days before for a proper Christmas dinner. Traditionally, it was held at a restaurant called The Boat, on the Sunday before Christmas – hence the name. These days, it has nothing to do with seafaring vessels and often takes place on a Saturday, or even a Friday or a Monday. But it’s still called Boat Sunday, and it always features crackers, party hats, and lots and lots of singing.
Christmas Eve Magic.
As much as I love Christmas Day, I think Christmas Eve is even more magical. I love wrestling the kids into their Christmas pyjamas, sprinkling reindeer food for Rudolph and his friends, hanging the stockings, and setting out the mince pie, carrot and brandy on the hearth, ready for Santa’s arrival. By bedtime, I’m fizzing with excitement for the big day ahead!
Boxing Day Walk.
Christmas Day itself varies, depending on which family we’re with for dinner etc. But one post-Christmas tradition we’ve been keeping going for over twenty years now is the Boxing Day Walk. Every year since we graduated university and started to go our separate ways, my sixth form college friends – and partners, kids, and hangers on – have got together to walk around the parkland at Erddig, in North Wales. We’ve done in it sun, snow, rain and frost. We’ve done the trail the wrong way round and ended up in mudslides. We’ve played Pooh Sticks at the bridge, every time. And we always retire to the pub for lunch afterwards! Some years there are only six or so of us, other years we number as many as twenty. But even if we go a whole year without seeing each other, the Boxing Day Walk is fixed in our mental calendars as a chance to blow away the Christmas cobwebs, catch up, and renew our friendships.
Time To Reflect.
My absolute favourite time of the year is the six days between Christmas and New Year, when I have time to sit back and reflect on the year that’s past, and the new one ahead. I like to use this time to plan my goals for the year, think about my schedule, and pin my husband down to plans for holidays! This means that by the time I wake up on January 1st, I know where I’m headed over the next twelve months – and I’m always excited to get to it!