Here are our personal summaries of the ‘big day.’ The day that meant families could be reunited and celebrations could be shared amongst the ones that we love. Each of us had different days but we all equally had a lovely time.
Leana’s POV
Starting from the onset… walking. Having a dog in the house gets you up and out, which is something particularly helpful on Christmas day! We decided to take an extended walk to tire him out for the long day ahead. 1hr30 later, we arrived back home. It was breakfast time and on the menu was hot cross buns with a caramel creme brûlée coffee to go alongside. Delicious!!
We then popped around to the neighbours to drop off some mince pies and a card! Not long after, we payed our mum a socially distanced visit (She was informed of having Covid-19 on Christmas eve). It was lovely to see her from a distance though and spread some festivity!
Obviously due to the circumstances, we adhered to all rules and didn’t stay long… it was nearly time for the big day to get in to full swing!
For the main part of the day, we went over to my sister-in-law’s parents… and what a wonderful day we had! As a family that tends to differ from tradition, this Christmas was spent eating party food. I am talking salmon canapés, prawn rings and a sausage roll wreath… HEAVEN! The best thing about opting for picky food rather than a sit down dinner is that there is less stress and more emphasis on enjoying the company around you. Plus, getting kids to sit down for longer than 5 minutes is very difficult!
Our day was fun-packed and filled with laughter, how it always should be. We played Christmas bingo, what’s in santa’s sack and my all time favourite ‘Play that tune.’
‘Play that tune’ is a game in which teams compete against each other to get the most points, standard. Each team gets a kazoo which they have to hum through for their team-mates to guess. This kept us entertained for quite some time and had us all giggling away.
For me, it is a Christmas that I will always remember. I had so much fun and I just love being surrounded by laughter and smiles. Even though we may not have been able to see everyone this year and there are family/friends that unfortunately are no longer with us, it is important to cherish everyone in your life.
Hug your loved ones that bit harder, allow yourself to laugh that bit louder and appreciate everything that life offers to you.
Lily’s POV
It was a 7 am start for us, despite our whole household being 20+ years old… you can’t deny the magic of Christmas. We started the day by opening our Christmas stocking presents in our matching PJs that we had got into the night before. We always have cinnamon swirls/ buns on Christmas morning, with a good cup of tea. We sat with the classic YouTube video of the burning fire, and a glass of Bucks fizz to wash it all down.
We weren’t allowed to mix households where I live but had no intention to anyway due to the current circumstances. We made sure to FaceTime our family on the day, and although it’s not quite the same, we knew we were doing the right thing.
When we all got dressed up into our Christmas outfits, smart yet comfy, we opened some presents, and in between had breaks, where we ate our Christmas dinner. It never fails to be the best feast of the year. Homemade Yorkshire puddings are the way forward with Christmas dinner!
Our afternoon was the perfect time to play board games, we had all kinds from Scrabble, a classic, to The Game of Things, which never fails to bring out the worst in people, but hilarious still.
It was a very relaxed day, we had a few drinks in the evening and enjoyed the company. I’ve got to say, Christmas TV this year did feel like a let-down, but part of me hates eyes glued to the screen on Christmas Day, so I enjoyed the lack of TV. I say that, but a Gavin and Stacey Christmas special wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Hope’s POV
Surprisingly, with two little ones in the house, we all got a lay-in until around 10 am which was an absolute blessing since I had been working 4 am starts on the run up to Christmas. Of course, the presents had to be opened first once everyone was downstairs, try getting kids to eat all their breakfast when there is a room full of presents. I had spent roughly £1,000 on both my little brother and sister, so when I say there was a room full, I mean it.
For the next hour there was wrapping paper being thrown around the room, many tired yawns and lots of, “Who has got the scissors?” Once everyone’s present pyramids were constructed, it was time for the main present, a Nintendo Switch console (courtesy of moi). They grinned like the Cheshire Cat and unwrapped the rest of the Switch-related presents in a mad frenzy. However, there is a little voice in the back of my head telling me that in a few weeks time, the Switch might not have been a good idea.
Finally, after the gargantuan pile had been opened, we could all get rid of our morning breath and get the Christmas outfits on. By Christmas outfits I mean my mum dresses as if she’s going to the MET Gala and the rest of us stick on a five year-old jumper and some joggers.
Then it was time to set up the table, which for some reason the older I get the more exciting it becomes. Arranging all the food in their festive bowls on the table, placing the fancy seasonal champagne flutes and creating the perfect seating distance between the two kids. Once the table is set, we all enjoyed an incredible meal made by my mum, who like every year, forgot the stuffing.
Next it was time to crack out the board games, which was how the rest of the afternoon was spent. First were the quiz games, such as a geography quiz and every right answer was rewarded with a chocolate. Then we set up the Nintendo Switch, which my brother and I argued for a good five minutes about who would set it up; me. We played Just Dance 2021, I just want to put it out there that I can cut the rug real good. Then it was Minecraft Dungeons and Mario Kart, we won’t talk about those.
Sadly, the day had to come to a close and the little monsters had to go to bed but it put a smile on my face seeing how content they were and excited to play with more toys the next day. That is my favourite part of the day, seeing everyone happy with the gifts they have been given. I would rather spend my money on making my family cheerful and delighted than on myself.
Even though we spent the day being Christmas hermits and staying inside, it has been the highlight of the year and really turned around my look on 2020. It has been one of the worst years I have experienced in my life, but my family and I have stuck by each other and come out of this year much closer than when we entered it.