Thread: Christmas Countdown

http://www.xmasclock.com/

Not long now!

What are you doing for Christmas this year....do you celebrate? If yes, how. Do you go to Church on Christmas day? What traditions do you observe? Since you emigrated how has Christmas Day changed for you?

Oh no, it's not long off now is it. Every year since arriving we have had a Christmas Roast. Although trying to cook it last year in the humidity up here was terrible, so may have to have a rethink this year. We will have family with us, in fact I think last Christmas was the first Christmas we haven't had guests in the last 8 years.

I always cook the turkey and all the trimmings on xmas day ,its criminal not to,lol. In the Uk we always had to do 'the family run' so it was get up, open pressies and rush around rellies, since coming here we do NOTHING on xmas day itself ,we stay home and spend time as a family playing with or assembling the kids pressies.
I still think its odd being soo hot on xmas day though,lol, even after a few years here it still doesnt seem 'right'.lol.

Cal x

Christmas = Cold.

NEVER the other way around.

But, to me, Christmas is always something that gets in the way of my birthday. 26th December.

Routine: Get up, get the juice for the family and put it out where the presents are, get the family, give/receive presents, go back to bed, wake up for first course of christmas dinner and first arguement, go back to bed, wake up for second course and apologies, sit in front of TV and watch total bollox, last course of lunch then escape to the pub.

Oh God, I have just ruined my Christmas by itemising it like that.

We've done a buffet for the past 2 years but Im hankering after a proper turkey dinner this year...if I can be bothered to make it! I think we just might go for it. Cold cuts just dont cut it on Christmas Day!

Its not the same here...a nice day but not really 'Christmas' If you know what I mean...we're starting some new traditions here for example we go to the beach Christmas Eve for a sunset picnic...

The rest is pretty similar.....up to Christmas carols/bucks fizz and present opening in Pjs....special brekkie, get dressed into 'special' Christmas outfit (no slobs allowed in my house on Xmas day!)......start assembling toys/play equipment.....prep dinner....start drinking...eat chocolate, sit outside, play in pool.....drink some more...eat dinner...collapse in overindulged state/bad xmas TV....bed.

Only variation on that theme in the UK was we would often go to parents/in laws house for Dinner and have family visitors with presents for the kids in the morning.

We start the day with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and bucks fizz, - then laze around, go in the pool before a turkey dinner in the evening. We've had visitors for a few years at this time, so last year it was nice being the 4 of us. In the UK we always went to Christingle Service at our church on xmas eve ... part of the charm was that our parish church was old (listed building) with some of it dating to the 16th Century ... that's the only tradition that i've missed.

First Xmas out here I went to my then local bar that was buffet lunch which felt odd sitting outside in the sun viewing the beach and listening to cheesy Xmas records in the background. Last year I just felt was a complete washout - only my son and I, turkey didn't seem to cook that well for some reason and after halfway through meal I decided I'd had enough and wanted day to end. Like Ktee, I'm used to having 8 or 10 people around to cook for on Xmas day and Boxing day. Felt so apologetic to my son for providing him with such a crappy xmas. This year am sure will be different if I'm in Oz.