So how was your Christmas?

Although Christmas is a special time of the year, it is also the biggest anti climax of the year. I now sound like the biggest Scrooge that ever lived but at least I am honest. Christmas is a nightmare wrapped in tinsel and too much sherry. Then the day is topped off by another helping of David Tennant in Doctor Who...kill me now.

Don't get me wrong I love my family, but after 24 hours trapped in a house with them I start to fear for my sanity. In recent years I have imagined strangling my twin sister with fairy lights off the tree and taking back all of my Father's presents because he no longer deserves them. Oh yes, I am talking about the nightmare that is Christmas Day. First there is the horrible television, the arrival of the grandparents and then all the washing up at the end. What more can we possibly endure?

Christmas Morning is only 'magical' for five year olds. The year that my Mum stopped putting mince pies and carrots out for Santa... and my Dad stopped eating them at midnight was the year Christmas lost its charm. Now I get worried that no one will appreciate or even like the gifts I give them. Unless you have young family members the best thing to do on Christmas Day is to have an epic lie-in. Don't get up too early as you will soon get bored of re-runs of Shrek and Toy Story. Instead sleep in as long as possible. Enjoy a well earned rest and mentally prepare for the arrival of Granny and Granddad.

Why do we all feel the need to eat so much on Christmas Day? Often by the early evening the majority of my family are so bloated that the concept of shifting to another sofa cushion is unbearable physical activity. If I am going to enjoy Christmas day I don't want to be asleep on the sofa at 6pm while my body shuts down just to digest all the turkey. Is getting drunk on Christmas Day a ‘do’ or a ‘don't’? Unless you seriously want to drown out your family I do not think a Christmas Day alcohol bender is the best option. Not only will you embarrass yourself but you will ruin the next day with a hangover.

I know that Christmas is not just about the presents but we all see this as the most exciting part. In my house we open one present in the morning, one over lunch and one in the evening. This way you have something to look forward to throughout the day. Get practising the poker face because there is bound to be a present you dislike and don't want. Don't get me wrong I am grateful for everything I receive but some gifts can be so random that it is hard to know what to do with them. We are all exceptionally lucky at Christmas so remember this when Aunty Pat buys you a paperweight.

My recommendations for Christmas Day are all about making the most of it. Despite everything it is the one day a year when we can genuinely just sit down eat, drink and be merry. If your siblings or parents drive you mad take the high road, there is no point arguing on Christmas day. No matter how negative I appear in this article I was still looking forward to Christmas Day 2009, even if I had to watch the Philosophers Stone for the third year in a row.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.