Your favourite 'Christmas Period'

jr86

What would you say is your favourite part of the Christmas period?

Is the initial build up period, from early in the month? Or maybe the immediate build up, those last few days before the day itself, where you might finish up your shopping, finish up work, get in a big night out with friends/family, and/or reunite with friends/family that are coming home. Or what about the lull period after Christmas Day?

Or is it the day itself on its own? A day to spend with family and those nearest and dearest - with plenty of food, drink and merriment!

Personally it has changed for me over the years. When I was younger I used to love the days from around the 21st to the 23rd where town is buzzing during the day, carol singers, the nights out were in full flow, friends returning from overseas, last minute visits, delivering presents etc.

However nowadays I'm more leaning towards the days from around the 27th to the 30th where everything just seems to shut down. I do work these days on occasion (the office is dead quiet - i see it as a waste of leave in my circumstances), but notwithstanding that I see it as the one time of the year where I can forget about real adult responsibilities for a few days, things like bills, work deadlines, and all things hectic are really put to the back of the mind, until January when everything will kick into gear again!

That said my love of the big day itself increases every year. I used to see it as a bit of an anti-climax of a day, but as i get older I appreciate it more and more. Its the one day I can spend real valuable time with family, nothing is expected of me, can get out for a nice walk where the roads are deserted - just simple little things

If I had to choose one isolated day though I'd probably pick Christmas Eve. Everything is just bliss. Up early, collect the turkey, quick run, off to visit relatives, home for dinner, glass of wine or two, down to local pub, home and put on some Christmas Carols live from wherever. Heaven

odyssey06

Yep pretty much same as yourself, Christmas Eve (and maybe Christmas Eve Eve if you don't have to work on the 24th).

Loughc

Spot on about it all JR, I love the whole period from the moment you leave work until the night before going back.

It's a mix of what you said, everything grinds to a halt which in this modern day world is rare enough. Getting to spend time with family as no ones rushing around going here and there, the absolute bliss of peace from outside the door, very few cars, the world just feels calm.

And yeah the days from the 27th to the 30th are the great, the quiet and option to do things like catch up on some reading, binge a boxset, binge a selection box, whatever you want.

Christmas is the time of year we get to be the people we always hoped we would be.

TRS30

Agree with most of that. The build up can seem a bit hectic however it just seems to be the way it is so i just accept it now and don’t get stressed about it. The days between 25th and 31st are a nice change of pace when we fully wind down and just try to spend as much family time as possible and relax.

I wouldn’t say I have a favorite period, they are all different and I enjoy them for different reasons.

DvB

I find over the last few years having looked forward to the build up all year it appears to peaks around the end of November/first week in December with the launch of Christmas FM, late late toy show, adverts & decorations everywhere etc. Then a trend is forming that i enter a period of insanity with work that means I dont get to relax & take anything Christmas in until the day I finish work. I geneuinely felt it being more 'christmassy' about 2 weeks ago than i do at the moment, but come Friday when I leave work I'll enjoy the few days up to Christmas immensely, despite the amount of house work to be done in that time!!

I know a few here like the few days after St. Stephens Day but I find alot depends on how the days fall, this year with a weekend in between i suspect there'll be some socialising & less peace & quiet!

jr86

I agreed to work next Monday but beginning to regret it I think.

The flip side is I was able to take the day's leave instead at a hectic time and next Monday will be seriously quiet in the office, with probably very little work for doing. However it will overall take a bit away from the buildup I feel, and I'll be still wrecked from the weekend I'd say

Am also working the 27th and 30th but I actually like working those days.

Anyone else have a similar schedule? By choice?

FWIW - I have no kids which I'm sure impacts many

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

For us it's the week or so from St Stephen's day onward. It's relaxed yet filled with family gettogethers, hill walks and evenings in front of the fire enjoying good company and craic.

Postgrad10

I usually work right up until a day or two before Christmas Eve. Off from Friday 20th this year. Won’t know what to be doing with myself. I have to say I used to love Christmas Eve but for me now I love St Stephen’s Day and New Years Day. My favorite time is actually Easter. Nice dinner and much calmer time of year.

jam_mac_jam

I love Christmas Eve, everyone is in a good mood. Most of the buying is done and everyone is all excited even if you are an adult. I am usually in work but we get out early, I might meet up for a couple of sneaking pints and then home early to family.

jr86

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

I love Christmas Eve, everyone is in a good mood. Most of the buying is done and everyone is all excited even if you are an adult. I am usually in work but we get out early, I might meet up for a couple of sneaking pints and then home early to family.

I'd work Christmas evening no bother, but I work a good 1.5 hours from my home house (where I spend Christmas) and don't want to spend 3 hours of my day travelling unfortunately, as I've loads to do...

Meant to be a brilliant atmosphere in the office on the day, generally plenty of food/cake and so on.

baby and crumble

I love the lead up to Christmas, in general the month of December. I actually am ambivalent about Christmas day itself for a few reasons, but everything else i really enjoy. I love the evening of Christmas Eve. The ham is in the slow cooker, and myself and my wife can just sit down with everything as sorted as it's going to get...

DeniG2

My favourite thing about Christmas day is that it doesn't feel like a day of the week i.e. Monday, Tuesday etc. On Christmas morning if you ask me what day of the week it is, I couldn't tell you, all I know is that it's Christmas day. Hard to explain but I love how special and different it is to every other day of the year.

Casey78

When it's all over.

NSAman

When the "Christmas Period" is over? No more moodiness and screaming..;)

Postgrad10

NSAman wrote: »

When the "Christmas Period" is over? No more moodiness and screaming..;)

After the 6th of January. And not a minute before it!

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

I find over the last few years having looked forward to the build up all year it appears to peaks around the end of November/first week in December with the launch of Christmas FM, late late toy show, adverts & decorations everywhere etc. Then a trend is forming that i enter a period of insanity with work that means I dont get to relax & take anything Christmas in until the day I finish work. I geneuinely felt it being more 'christmassy' about 2 weeks ago than i do at the moment, but come Friday when I leave work I'll enjoy the few days up to Christmas immensely, despite the amount of house work to be done in that time!!

Are you me?? I could have written that word for word.

dubstepper

For me it's the couple of days from 22/23rd to the day it's self, depending on how the year falls. Just really enjoy the feeling of starting to shut down after the general business of the month.

On the flip side, I start to get a feeling of dread as it heads toward New Year's eve.... January is a b*stard.

Lithium93_

Between the 25th and 31st, where there's absolutely no sense of time, and everyone is completely relaxed.

SusieBlue

I most enjoy from the 21st to the big day itself, cause that's usually around the time I finish up in work and can finally relax.

Am I the only person that absolutely dreads NYE? I find it really anticlimatic and depressing. Its just a night I've never enjoyed.

jr86

SusieBlue wrote: »

I most enjoy from the 21st to the big day itself, cause that's usually around the time I finish up in work and can finally relax.

Am I the only person that absolutely dreads NYE? I find it really anticlimatic and depressing. Its just a night I've never enjoyed.

Yeah, no fan of it myself, haven't been out NYE in years now!

Won't do a stroke for it this year anyway. Am usually always back working the 2 days after it, so try to be as fresh as possible cos I need to prepare the day before (as in on New Year's Day).

odyssey06

SusieBlue wrote: »

Am I the only person that absolutely dreads NYE? I find it really anticlimatic and depressing. Its just a night I've never enjoyed.

Maybe it's because I'm an early bird but I'm not a fan of it either.
Also, once New Year's Day hits the return to work looms for me.

SusieBlue

I always get a bit sad and down at the thoughts of another year passing and those we've lost along the way not being there.
I've had a tough few years myself so its always a bit emotional reflecting on that too. Of course there have been good times and I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for, but I always end up in a bit of a funk regardless of what kind of year I've had.

Last year in an attempt to force myself to have fun, I went away for the night with my friends. Big mistake - got way too drunk and ended up teary eyed and sobbing as the clock struck 12 :pac: Never again! This year I'll just stay in and have an early night I think.

DvB

Loughc wrote: »

Are you me?? I could have written that word for word.

I think we've both been hanging around here for too long loughc...

Took today off to go to the kids school christmas show and must admit it got me smack bang in the mood for Christmas, in work tomorrow and then half day friday which is a director's annual end of year meeting essentially and then out for our work lunch and drinks and that's me done for 2019. So one more day of work chaos and I can sit back and take it all in... can not wait!

Graces7

SusieBlue wrote: »

I most enjoy from the 21st to the big day itself, cause that's usually around the time I finish up in work and can finally relax.

Am I the only person that absolutely dreads NYE? I find it really anticlimatic and depressing. Its just a night I've never enjoyed.

Try going to the far north of Scotland ie Hogmanay land! When I lived in Orkney, they saw Christmas as " just another day" but the whole place erupted for Hogmanay... Huge parties.. and the phone lines tied up for hours around midnight

Graces7

Sequestered and solitary and at peace after many years when I was not at peace.

Family time is precious to the old folk here so that is deeply .respected

A gentle feasting; no hype etc. And Jesus at the heart of it all . Love the special foods... really revel in them... tastes of memories without any sadness. There was a bad kind of nostalgia for years but that has healed.

Been too ill this winter to do much and that is totally fine. My wide spread faith-family will have a hands across the ocean prayer time at midnight Canadian time.

All starts for me at 3pm Christmas Eve with the Nine Lessons and Carols form Kings College. Huge deep sigh of sheer …. pleasure.

After all, what matters is what we love. And enjoy. And this for me all has deep quiet pleasure.

The last of my supplies will be here today, so then resting and healing.
Whatever and wherever.. ENJOY! I shall; safe and snug out here in the vastness of the ocean with my cats!

DvB

Graces7 wrote: »

Sequestered and solitary and at peace after many years when I was not at peace.

Family time is precious to the old folk here so that is deeply .respected

A gentle feasting; no hype etc. And Jesus at the heart of it all . Love the special foods... really revel in them... tastes of memories without any sadness. There was a bad kind of nostalgia for years but that has healed.

Been too ill this winter to do much and that is totally fine. My wide spread faith-family will have a hands across the ocean prayer time at midnight Canadian time.

All starts for me at 3pm Christmas Eve with the Nine Lessons and Carols form Kings College. Huge deep sigh of sheer …. pleasure.

After all, what matters is what we love. And enjoy. And this for me all has deep quiet pleasure.

The last of my supplies will be here today, so then resting and healing.
Whatever and wherever.. ENJOY! I shall; safe and snug out here in the vastness of the ocean with my cats!

Ah, Hope you have that lovely peaceful Christmas Grace, take care & enjoy!

Hamsterchops

:cool:

Postgrad10 wrote: »

After the 6th of January. And not a minute before it!

Here here, the full 12 days and nothing less.

Caranica

I made the journey home yesterday (to another part of Ireland) and I love this time. Hanging with my parents, chilling out. Seeing my nephews and just having down time. Some of our family traditions have faded out but quality family time is amazing. I don't have any friends left near home but that leaves more family time and that's good. I don't get home as often as I should so I'm happy to get decent time at Christmas. I have a very full life where I live but it's so nice to just check out for a week.

jr86

Back in work today but the office is lovely and quiet. Just looking out the window and barely a sinner on the street, there's just a beautiful atmosphere and stillness to the place

No emails when I came in today, no letters, no deadlines, no hustle and bustle - I just love these post-Christmas/pre-New Years days where all the madness of adulthood and life's responsibilities just seem to be placed on hold for the time being

Also no harm to be returning to a bit of normality too - ended up drinking and eating so much crap over the last few days, which is great don't get me wrong, but I'm bloated and actually cannot look alcohol in the eye again for another week :pac:

Graces7

Beautiful post; thank you

Here I am grossly over tired and overstretched. But it was worth it! My most peaceful and meaningful Christ-mass for many years As was inevitable given my illness.. .. At peace with all around me and rich in the things that matter.. made contact with overseas friends some of over sixty years together/apart,

Days now to rest and sleep ; wild weather assisting this process as can barely get out of the door! Bliss! Just bed, knitting , youtube and food... Tub of Roses the island council gave! ….no obligations... peace.

And carols on youtube.

These days are as you rightly say, special..


yyer2773]Back in work today but the office is lovely and quiet. Just looking out the window and barely a sinner on the street, there's just a beautiful atmosphere and stillness to the place.

No emails when I came in today, no letters, no deadlines, no hustle and bustle - I just love these post-Christmas/pre-New Years days where all the madness of adulthood and life's responsibilities just seem to be placed on hold for the time being

Also no harm to be returning to a bit of normality too - ended up drinking and eating so much crap over the last few days, which is great don't get me wrong, but I'm bloated and actually cannot look alcohol in the eye again for another week :pac:[/QUOTE]

From work finishing until the end of St. Stephens Day. The excitement of the break and heading home to see family with the car full up of stuff is brilliant. I can never enjoy after Christmas as the depression of going back to work on the 2nd has taken root. I’d nearly be better going back on the 27th of December instead of wallowing for a week.

jr86

Now that the dust has settled for another year:

- I really enjoyed the first week of December. The build up to the Christmas Party and the party itself were definitely personal highlights of 2019! I also love this period where I'm just starting out listening to Christmas music and beginning playing all the classics again for another year. The build up really begins in earnest

- The 23rd, Christmas Eve and Day were better than I could imagine. I really appreciate Christmas Day more and more as the years go by. Food and drinks with work the 23rd, visiting family and the local pub Christmas Eve and a lovely family day (also call to neighbours) Christmas Day

- But the winner once again for me is the period from the 27th to being back 'officially' in work the 2nd. I actually worked a bit over the Christmas, in order to take leave during summer, but it was lovely and quiet. This period was just perfect - everything quiet, no hustle and bustle, all the stresses of adult life like bills and work deadlines all put on the back burner. The world just becomes a lovelier place at this time imo

- It wasn't all rosy though. Personally the weekend of 21st was a bit of a nuisance in that I went out the 21st but everywhere was just absolutely manic, getting served was a pain and impossible to meet people. One of my downsides of Christmas. I also had to travel the sunday evening for work, absolutely wrecked and a sore head. Yuck. But these are such minor complaints compared to others and I never take for granted how lucky I am to have my health and family all healthy for another year

dubstepper

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

I can never enjoy after Christmas as the depression of going back to work on the 2nd has taken root. I’d nearly be better going back on the 27th of December instead of wallowing for a week.

I know what you mean. It's not exactly the same for me in that I do enjoy that period but I do have that feeling of 'January is coming' in the back of my mind. It's also why I hate new year's eve. To me it signals the end of Christmas.