Well, what a chaotic few days! I succumbed to one of the worst winter colds I've had in a long time and spent a week or so just trying to make it through the hours until I could go back to bed, but I'm fighting fit again now, just in time (thank goodness) for Christmas! We had the work end-of-year meal last night and I'm meeting friends for a festive breakfast this morning so it's finally starting to feel a bit like Christmas. This time of year is so important in our family; we join together a number of times over the holiday season and are joyful in one another's company with just the food and few tunes to see us through. I like the fact we keep things quite simple, that my sister and I have held on to annual traditions even after moving out into our own homes. So today I thought I'd share these Christmas traditions with you...
Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas just before bed on Christmas Eve. My dad read this to my sister and I every year, always putting on a dramatic voice as we approached the end of the tale. We've both moved out and live with our partners, but now they read the tale to us (with similar suitable dramatic voices of course!).
Stockings in bed. Christmas without opening stocking presents in bed just isn't Christmas! Throw in a clementine, some socks, a bag of chocolate raisins and a couple of other surprises and you've got yourself the start to our Christmas morning.
Elvis at Christmas. Creeping into the living room to see if Father Christmas had paid us a visit was a thrill when we were younger, and it was always accompanied by the Elvis at Christmas album and a roaring fire to warm through chilly fingers. We've now got the record and I make sure Mr CC has this playing before I venture down the stairs.
English muffins for breakfast. I know lots of people enjoy smoked salmon, some start the day simply with toast, and others break open the bucks fizz early, but we have always toasted muffins and devoured them with lashings of butter and a glass of orange juice - the perfect start to the day.
Seconds. And thirds. And fourths... We're not the sort of family to hold back on festive food, and from my Grandma's sausage rolls to turkey and roast potato sandwiches in the evening, Christmas is a constant flow of indulgence and gorging on homemade cooking. What could be better?
Do you have any Christmas day traditions? Are you hoping to start any new traditions this year?
