Christmas is just around the corner. Even though I know when it is EVERY year, it still seems to creep up on me and I'm left totally unprepared! Haha! Still have masses to do before the big day.
It seems all so different to how it was back in the day when as kids, Christmas took forever to come by. But we loved all the customs and traditions that we had back then - carol singers, nativity plays, shops decked out with glittery decorations, and people wishing you a merry Christmas and actually meaning it! Not a grumble to be heard!
But of course it's the family traditions that stick out in my mind. We had a set of Christmas decorations that were put on the tree every year - some of them made by my mum. And she also used to bake these delicious cookies each year including these yummy mini pineapple tartlette type cookies. We always used to celebrate in one of the uncle or aunts house - real proper family party we used to have! And my grandfather used to make this 'punch' for us kids (non-alcoholic of course!) Whenever it was our turn to host Christmas my mum would always do lamb as she couldn't stand turkey - and to be honest nobody minded that. Oh and let's not forget mass on Christmas morning!
Then of course there were all those Christmas traditions that anyone who grew up in 80s/90s Britain would be familiar with: Top of the Pops, Chocolate selection boxes not forgetting the obligatory Roses/Quality Street, the Christmas version of quiz shows such as The Generation Game and Blankety Blank. And Christmas EastEnders! Unfortunately I seem to be the only one in my family who still keeps up the tradition of watching the EastEnders at Christmastime... as I seem to be the only one who watches it throughout the year! But I remember when we all used to cram ourselves in the living room and around the TV to see the latest cliffhanger.
And all of the above is still what Christmas means to me. There's been many changes over the years and many of these traditions are no longer kept. But it brings back a lot of happy memories when I think of our family Christmases back then.
What were your family's festive traditions and do you still keep them?
We're a very devout Catholic family so Christmas was always a very religious affair for us. We did what everyone else did - the tree, the presents, the dinner, having the family over etc. But we also put a crib up, went to midnight mass or mass Christmas morning. For us the spiritual part of Christmas was as important as everything else.