Panto! Are people still going?

One of the things we did a lot at Christmas when I was a child, but less so when we hit our teenage years, was to go a Christmas panto. I am sure there were ‘famous’ people in the one’s I saw as a kid, but I don’t remember that aspect of it. I do remember being excited about another string to my Christmas bow. We rarely went to the theatre as children, save the terrible school plays we were forced to watch each other in, so it felt like an extra special treat.

It was all the things I loved about Christmas. A bit of an occasion, we all dressed up in nice clothes, even for matinee shows (my husband frequently laughs/is exasperated by my formality – he really should be angry at my father who rarely missed an opportunity to have us in nice/formal clothes) and that provided days of excitement beforehand thinking about the perfect Christmas outfit. It was a family affair, so most of the time just the five of us, but occasionally other family members as well. As a kid there were few things I liked better than when we all hung out and panto provided another opportunity to do that. Finally, it was usually preceded or followed by eating out – another stone cold favourite of mine.

All in all, what’s not to love right? It’s funny, like a lot of things Christmas related, it wasn’t so much about the ‘thing’ itself, but rather all the extra’s that came along with it. I can barely remember any plotlines/actors etc from the panto’s we went to as children but I do remember the excitement of going to a panto. It was a sure sign that Christmas was here, and it was acceptable to start celebrating it. For a Christmas nut like me that was Christmas carols to my ears.

As I mentioned, it tapered off as we got older. As you can tell from this blog, it wasn’t that I fell out of love with Christmas, so I wonder why I didn’t fight so hard to keep it alive. When my little sister came along (who is a lot younger than me) I did get to experience it again a few times with her, which was awesome. But since I have been an adult, e.g. had my own money and time to go to one, I haven’t. I wonder if there are any fellow Christmas lovers out there who have similarly fallen out of step with Christmas panto’s?

I don’t have time this year, I am already booked up until the end of the year, but I think I will definitely give it a go next year. Since we moved out of central London, it is always good to find interesting things to do locally and Christmas always provides opportunities for that!

Christmas on the downlow

If, like me, you have the Christmas bug all year around, life can be pretty difficult. Not everyone has the ability to keep the Christmas spirit alive 365 days a year, which is a real shame. I don’t want to call these people grinches but if the Santa hat fits... 

If I had a quid for each time people told me 'it's not even Halloween yet' or 'I'm so annoyed mince pies are in the Coop' or 'Christmas adverts should start in December and not a day before' I would be incredibly rich. I find, most people don’t want to engage with Christmas shenanigans until December and don’t take too kindly to those joyful souls who are always ready to drink some mulled wine. 

For me personally, my 'official' Christmas time starts in October, where I openly listen to music, watch Christmas films and start eating festive foods. But, this is just a façade for those non-believers amongst us; surreptitiously I engage with Christmas-ness all year around. Below, are my top tips for satisfying your Christmas addiction on the down low, away from those judgmental, Scrooge characters in your life. 

Music 
Bit of an obvious one to begin with, but headphones were basically invented so people like us can listen, hassle free, to Christmas music all year around. I have a Christmas playlist on Spotify, that I continually add to. When I am feeling down, bored, joyous and most emotions in between, it’s my go to playlist. Of course, there is nothing to stop you banging out 'Last Christmas' at the top of your voice from the comfort of your own, empty home, but there is something quite special about silently humming along to Joy to the World on your June commute. 

Clothing 
If you're lucky enough to have understanding people in your house, this one is a bit easier to pull off, but not impossible if you don’t. My Christmas onesie (still one of my best ever presents) gets a good showing all year around. Just putting it on, even in the heat of summer, can lift my mood and instantly brings to mind a million fond, happy memories. Invest in some festive t-shirts which can be worn all year around, particularly to sleep in! If your house is full of non-believers and you don’t want the agro associated with Christmas joy in April, get some festive socks on. No one can see it, but you can enjoy the feeling of completing your financial year end report while rocking some sweet candy canes on your feet. 

Bargaining 
This is a new addition to my Christmas repertoire and one I will be using for years to come. At some point in the year, whoever you live with/spend all your time with, will want something from you. This year, my husband wanted a PlayStation 4. He has been hassling me for one for ages and when they went to sale in September, I saw my chance. He is actually, pretty good at indulging my Christmas obsession, but we do disagree over when to put the decorations up. I made him a deal, he could buy one if I could put the decorations up a week earlier than agreed. All year around allow your mind to dream up ideal Christmas scenarios and when the time is right, pounce! 

Planning 
On a lazy, sunny August afternoon I can often be found casually lounging on my sofa on my iPad. To the casual observer I could be playing solitaire or perhaps wasting my life on Facebook. But I'm not. I am planning my November/December activities. There are the staples we always attend of course, Taste of Christmas or Carols at the Royal Albert Hall, but from around August, lots of festivities start to be advertised and I am always on the lookout for something new (this year we are going to a Christmas charity ball). If no one wants to indulge in a Christmas Carol marathon (so many amazing versions to choose from) why not start planning what you want to do this year from the ticketed events to the day you want to decorate the house. All the joy of Christmas indulgence without any of the judgement.

Reading
Over the years I have amassed a quietly impressive collection of Christmas books, both of the fiction and non-fiction variety. When I need a shot of egg nog, I drag one out and it instantly lifts my spirits and gets me super excited for the festive season ahead. Especially if you live in London, but I am guessing probably everywhere, no one pays much attention on the daily commute. Too busy sleeping/plotting your boss’s demise/praying no one gets on at the next stop to pay attention to what others are reading. If like me, you have a solid 20/30 minutes this is prime Christmas reading time. Reading a good murder mystery set on Christmas day gives you all the pleasure of snow on the ground, a fully dressed tree and dinner with all the trimmings on a hot stuffy summers day.

Cooking
Doing a bit of festive baking all year round can aid quietly feed your Christmas addiction and let’s face it, who doesn’t want home baked goods? This is a great one to do on so many levels; it is more acceptable to those grinches as they get to benefit from it, it helps the baking challenged amongst us (definitely me) to practice ahead of the big day and it will make you feel Christmassy while doing it. This year I plan to try and make my own mince pies, but last year I practiced my whole Christmas dinner as it was my first time hosting!  

Stocking fillers 
While no present is obviously a Christmas present, tell people you are Christmas shopping in October and most kick off. I think, secretly they are jealous that they aren’t as organised, but anyway. However, stocking fillers could literally be anything, so shop away. My husband and I exchange stockings every year but that is it. In recent years I have taken to also putting together little stockings for my nephews. If the Christmas urge hits you, head to the shops and buy anything small enough to fit in a stocking. No one but you will know and it will guarantee to put a festive pep in your step. 

Basically, what I'm saying is, while society dictates we only spread Christmas cheer for the month of December, ignoring this won’t put you on Father Christmas's naughty list. I reckon he secretly loves it.

Guaranteed to make you feel Christmassy!

I have heard that some people struggle to get into the Christmas spirit. This isn’t something that has ever affected me, but I know some of you out there may know these strange creatures, maybe even live with them. Below are my top five things that guarantee to make me feel even more Christmassy than I do normally. Feel free to try one or all five of them!

 

1. Boozy hot chocolate

 

I am not one for hot drinks, I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t like tea or coffee. My hot drinks all year round consist of hot squash when I’m ill or a hot chocolate once the season approaches. There’s something very wintry and thus Christmassy about sipping on a hot chocolate, especially with some marshmallows. A couple of years ago I was perusing Buzzfeed and came across one of the greatest ever articles; a list of 15 boozy Christmas hot chocolates. I have only tried a few, but plan to try a lot more this year. Hot chocolate, booze and Christmas is the holy grail trifecta for me and elevates the bog standard hot chocolate to something more snazzy and fancy, which is basically what Christmas does for December.

 

2. Christmas smells in the house

 

This one I found on pinterest a few years ago, but for some reason I haven’t actually tried it yet. I think it’s an awesome idea though and will definitely be trying it this year, especially since one of our wedding gifts was a slow cooker. So, the idea is you bring together a bunch of festive ingredients and leave them cooking all day. How glorious to come home, particularly after a rubbish day at work, to a wonderful Christmas smell. There are tons of recipes out there but general convention seems to be:

• Oranges
• Cloves
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon sticks 
• Star anise
• Cranberries

3. Writing cards

 

For as long as I can remember I have loved writing out Christmas cards. Back in primary school, one of my favourite things to do in December was to write and send cards. When my parents told me it was too early to buy them (which was often) I would instead make lists of who I wanted to send cards to. I even used to write cards for my siblings as well, such was my love for it. Luckily, as an adult, there are no such restrictions on how early I can get going and even more luckily, cards shops are so obliging these days that they are usually available come September. There is something so nice about sitting down, glass of wine in hand, mulled optional, with some carols playing softly in the background as you wish your nearest and dearest, colleagues, neighbours, your hairdresser and that lovely person who served you in the Coop a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

4. Christmas jumpers

 

For years mocked, the Christmas jumper has made a very trendy come back over the past five years or so. Save the Children’s annual Christmas Jumper campaign has probably helped somewhat here. Pah, is what I say to these Christmas jumper converter Johnny Come Latelys. I have been proudly rocking Christmas themed jumpers for years and years and there is nothing quite like a reindeer, santa hat or bauballs emblazoned across your chest to announce your commitment to the festive season. My new favourite is a green elf inspired jumper with a bell on the hood. Pure magic.

 

5. Christmas crafting

 

I am not in the least bit creative. This is disappointing at the best of times but none more so than at Christmas. There are always so many amazing things I see in Christmas magazines that I would love to create. Last Christmas was the first one I hosted in my own home and gave me the opportunity to dip my toe, as it were, into the Christmas crafting pool. I started small, by making paper chains and name cards basically. But this year, I have much grander plans! The awesome thing about doing this is you get to do it with other, likeminded souls, which is ideal in my case since making paper chains is about my creative limit.

Why a Christmas blog?

For as long as I can remember, I have loved Christmas. Not just a little bit and not just when December rolls in, but deeply and all year around. I have never really thought about why I am so enamoured with the festive season; it has just always been part of me like the fact that I’m female or have black hair. When I thought about starting a Christmas blog, it was because I wanted another way to prolong that Christmas feeling all year around, not because I especially wanted to write (or are particularly good at it as you are about to find out). I don’t expect anyone apart from my long suffering husband to read this, but it doesn’t really matter. The thought of being able to engage with something that I love so much, the whole year long, is too exciting to be worried about internet traffic.

 

But still begs the question, why Christmas? What is it about the season that I love so much? It has been quite fun to think about and feels like the emotional equivalent of pulling on my Christmas onesie, mulled wine in hand, snuggling in front of the fire to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol. And who doesn’t love that feeling? The best answer I can give is, for me Christmas represents the best of humanity. We are all on show during December and while we fail miserably at times during the rest of the year, we really step it up for the end. Everyone is that little bit nicer, makes that bigger effort and engages in more charitable and altruistic acts. We are the best version of ourselves and that I love.

 

For me, growing up was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I found it difficult to accurately read my father’s mood at times and lived pretty much on the edge. I was constantly afraid of being in trouble, of failing or dis-pleasing him. It was exhausting. But my father loved, and still loves, Christmas and in the beginning I think I loved having a defined period of time where he was in such a good mood. It was intoxicating and I wanted a part of it.

 

Slowly, over the years, my love of Christmas grew from the relief associated with my father to an appreciation all my own. For I had started to notice that he wasn’t the only one who was different in December. Teachers are school were kinder, friendlier, more lenient. The news was full of heart-warming stories. My family, which is large and unruly, always came together to just spend time with each other. And thus now my overriding love of Christmas is built on the foundations of spending time with people who I just don’t get to see enough throughout the year.

 

Don’t worry, this isn’t that kind of blog. I will be sharing next to no more insights about my personal life or psychoanalysing my childhood! The aim of this blog is to provide, mainly me though I hope you might stick around for the ride, with an excuse to really give some really serious thought to my top 10 Christmas songs, the best boozy hot chocolates around and where the best Christmas markets are to be found (and how to convince your other half/parent/best friend that a trip to Munich is vital).

 

I’d like to end this introduction by finishing up with a list, which in my head isn’t that long, but I am sure as I type will grow and grow like the Grinch’s heart, of what else I love about Christmas. Largely because I think it will be helpful in providing ideas for future blog posts… Oh yeah, I’m Holly (no seriously, that is actually my name), 31 North Londoner who for the past five years has found herself South of the river. Welcome.

 

• Christmas music
• Carols in the Royal Albert Hall
• Mince pies
• Mulled wine
• Cold weather
• Lights
• Christmas trees
• Decorating my house from top to bottom
• Visiting Christmas sections in departments stores
• Socialising
• Writing Christmas cards
• Eating my body weight in cheese
• Hot cider
• M&S Christmas food
• Putting together a stocking for my husband
• Watching Christmas films
• Watching the John Lewis advert for the first time. Then all subsequent Christmas adverts
• Planning out Christmas day food
• Reading Christmas magazines
• Snuggling in front of a fire
• Christmas jumpers, socks, jewellery
• Buying presents
• Playing games with family and friends
• Boozing
• Hot chocolates with marshmallows
• Advent calendars
• Baking Christmas themed treats
• Christmas smells in the house
• Tree presents
• Table presents
• Ice skating at Somerset house
• Visiting the Ideal Christmas Exhibition
• Doing nice things for others
• Those who still believe in father Christmas
• Christmas specials on TV
• Panto
• Poinsettias
• Office Christmas parties