Christmas is my favourite time of year. I think it is mainly because, just like a magpie, I love anything sparkly. There is something so comforting about walking up and down the Christmas section in a shop and browsing all the baubles and decorations. I get completely mesmerised by twinkly lights and the little Christmas village displays. I also really enjoy putting up lights at home and going out to see which houses in the neighbourhood have decorated for the season. I am lucky because where I live everyone goes all out for Christmas, and everything looks especially lovely once it gets dark.
I also love the nostalgia of Christmas, and I do not mean the trend of traditional Christmas décor that seems popular right now. Growing up, our house looked nothing like the classic magazine version of Christmas. Ours was full of colour with absolutely nothing matching. Baubles went on the tree not because they fit a theme but simply because we liked them. It never needed to be aesthetic. It was just lots of colours, patterns, and personality.
This colourful tradition still carries on in my life today. Our outdoor lights are always multicoloured and cheerful. A little tip I have learned is that battery powered lights are fantastic for outside. They are inexpensive and so many of them come with timers. If you do not have access to an outdoor plug, they really help keep things simple and low cost. I pop the battery pack into a small sandwich bag, seal it very tightly so no rain gets in, and then tuck it somewhere sheltered. I usually hide them under drainpipes or by outdoor Christmas trees. It is such a lovely feeling to come home from work in the dark and see your home lit up. Timer lights make it even easier, because you do not have to go outside every night to switch them on and come back in with cold hands.
Inside the house, we currently have two Christmas trees. One is mine and the other is the main family tree. Like many people, I still live at home, and I am honestly grateful that I get to put up a tree with decorations I have collected over the past fifteen years. My tree is a bit of a mixture of girly and quirky. It does not match a theme, but that is exactly why I like it. It is probably the first time in a long while that a spaceman has been placed next to a dinosaur and a tiny guinea pig. If you know me, the guinea pig is a requirement. Decorating it this year made me smile because I could remember where each bauble came from and the little stories behind them.
Another big part of Christmas in our family is the Christmas village. When I was younger, I remember my dad setting up his village every year with the little houses, lights, and characters. It was wonderful. People even used to ask about it and come around to see it. These days the space we have has changed so the village has had to shrink a little, but it is still just as special. This year I decided it was time to continue the Christmas village tradition myself. My grandparents had one, my parents had one, and now it is my turn. My collection is small at the moment. I have a big toy factory that took three shops to track down, a little gingerbread van, and a few sweet figurines. My hope is to build the village slowly over the years and one day, when I have my own home, give it pride of place so everyone can see it.
Now that December has arrived, the decorations can finally start going up and the festive feeling can properly begin. Advent calendars are being opened daily with a little burst of Christmas excitement. I found a real bargain this year, a cute chocolate advent calendar from B&M for only one pound. I have not seen one that cheap in ages. The chocolate tastes surprisingly nice and the picture is very Christmassy too. I also bought a LEGO City advent calendar. I may be an adult, but I still love LEGO, and the box clearly says five plus so I definitely qualify. It is such a fun way to start each morning with a tiny build or a new mini figure.
I honestly love this time of year and want to treasure every moment, no matter how big or small. December always seems to whizz by so quickly, and with so much planned, I know this year will be no exception. As my family has become a little smaller with the loss of loved ones, it feels even more important not to get swept up in the commercial side of Christmas, but to remember that it is a time to cherish. Christmas is not easy for everyone, and that is why I hold on to the memories in the decorations I have collected, the traditions I want to continue, and the precious moments that shape this season. My parents made Christmas magical for me when I was a child, and I want to continue that feeling too, even if my own children are three small, cute, fluffy guinea pigs who each have their own mini stocking.
How are you preparing for Christmas? Do you have a favourite Christmas decoration? Are you taking over a family tradition? Let us know in the comments.
Sincerely,
Catherine
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