Christmas traditions, old or new, are a fun way of reminding yourself that Christmas is one of the few times during the year where you have the perfect excuse to overindulge, kick back with friends and family, and let yourself get a little silly and believe in magic.
Christmas Music Not all Christmas music sucks, so make up your own CD with some fun songs that don’t grate your nerves like the music they play at the supermarket. Play this CD whenever you start to feel a little humbug, while putting up your tree, and of course on the big day itself!
Decorating the Tree Decorating the tree is one of the biggest signs that Christmas is on its way, so have fun with it. Play your Christmas CD, eat some festive food, and have a good giggle at how tangled the fairy lights always manage to become over the year.
Family Ties What is Christmas without being poked, prodded, pulled at and stroked by some relative? An Aunty grabbing your cheek, telling you how much you’ve changed or a small cousin pulling at your clothes trying to get you to play. At the end of the day, Christmas is a time to reflect on family, whether you can be with them or not. As annoying as they may be, everyone does their best to get along and enjoy the festive season.
Go in for the Kiss Put up some mistletoe, especially if you’re hosting a festive season shindig with plenty of eye candy. Kissing under the mistletoe is mandatory, and putting some up will give you plenty of opportunities to snare a snog from that guy you’ve been eyeing up all year.
Christmas Giving Christmas is all about giving, so why not buy a new toy and brighten an underpriviledged child’s Christmas by leaving it for them under one of the charity trees set up by a business in your area. Kmart usually have one outside every store.
Christmas Carolling Go carolling. I know, it sounds a bit naff – but carolling is one of those traditions that can actually be pretty fun if you really want to get into the Christmas spirit. There should be a community carolling event going on in your area, otherwise invite some friends over for a few drinks and take a Singstar approach to your carols! Find a cheap Christmas karaoke DVD or CD and battle it out for the title of carolling queen!
Christmas Movies Hire a couple of Christmas movies and invite a few girlfriends or family members round to watch them. Grab a classic like It’s a Wonderful Life, a comedy like The Santa Claus or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, or a romantic like Love Actually. Eat those Christmas cookies you baked while you watch them.
Christmas Tucker One of the best Christmas traditions would have to be our complete lack of restraint when it comes to chowing down on Christmas day. Lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day, with everyone using the afternoon to digest and recover. Whether it’s ham or chicken with bread rolls or everyone outside around the barbeque, we sure know how to eat on Christmas day. The wise Christmas feaster leaves room for dessert. Someone in the family usually has a special Christmas dessert, which they have refined to perfection and is eagerly awaited each year. What more could a girl ask for?
Enjoying the Sun Around Christmas time, most suitable bodies of water will be surrounded by scantily clad youths. What better way to get your daily dosage of Vitamin D (staying sun smart of course) than to get into your favourite summer outfit and lie around at the beach? Whether you’re more of a boardies and bikini girl or a cute floral dress girl, there’s nothing like leaving the house without an echo of your mother’s voice screeching, “Take a jacket!” as you walk out the door.
Festive lights Lots of places all over New Zealand have an annual Christmas lights competition, or some neighbourhoods just do it for fun. There is nothing like getting a group of family or friends together and taking a stroll through the all the beautifully decorated houses on a warm summer evening to get you in the festive spirit. Perhaps you can get some great ideas for doing it yourself next year.
The Small Things How could we forget all the small things that remind us it’s Christmas. Silly paper hats out of Christmas crackers, watching cheesy movies on television (no ads on Christmas day!), your personalised stocking or perhaps an old pillowcase, big tacky Christmas earrings that flash and jingle, guitar sing-alongs and most importantly relaxing and having a good time.
Anna Duckworth and Nikki Webber
Last updated: 29/04/2008
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reminding yourself that Christmas is one of the few times during the year where you have the perfect excuse to overindulge, kick back with friends and family, and let yourself get a little silly and believe in magic.
Put up some mistletoe, especially if you’re hosting a festive season shindig with plenty of eye candy. Kissing under the mistletoe is mandatory, and putting some up will give you plenty of opportunities to snare a snog from that guy you’ve been eyeing up all year.
One of the best Christmas traditions would have to be our complete lack of restraint when it comes to chowing down on Christmas day. Lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day, with everyone using the afternoon to digest and recover. Whether it’s ham or chicken with bread rolls or everyone outside around the barbeque, we sure know how to eat on Christmas day. The wise Christmas feaster leaves room for dessert. Someone in the family usually has a special Christmas dessert, which they have refined to perfection and is eagerly awaited each year. What more could a girl ask for?
The Small Things