Getting the Most Out of the Christmas Season

(printed in Concrete 398)

Twinkling lights begin to invade the high street. Cheesy Hallmark movies are playing on a loop. Christmas has rushed towards us once again, and the pressure to throw ourselves into festivity so as not to waste the season away is imminent. For a lot of people, getting older means that the magic of Christmas fades. With deadlines looming and lectures to catch up on, it’s hard to feel the joy of the approaching holiday in its entirety. There are still many ways you can implement festive cheer into your life, even if that old, childlike excitement has been buried beneath your responsibilities.

One of the easiest ways to feel the familiar warmth of Christmas is (ironically) to go outside. Bundling up under an astronomical number of layers and venturing out into the cold not only lets you take in sights of house decorations and Christmas trees glowing through windows, but also allows you to experience the relief of returning home to pyjamas and a hot drink. Online Christmas shopping may be more efficient, but it doesn’t measure up to trailing around the crowded stalls of a Christmas market or having Michael Bublé sing to you through a shop radio as you spend an hour deciding whether to buy your dad socks or aftershave this year.

If you (understandably) decide that braving that harsh winter chill is not for you, there are numerous festive alternatives that you can implement at home, whether alone or with friends and family. Christmas movies are a classic choice – the more nostalgic the better. Gather under blankets on the sofa with a tower of snacks and indulge in the festive movie night your childhood self would have begged for. Reigniting your inner child is the key to enjoying Christmas, and another way you can do this is through being creative. There are so many festive recipes, bakes and crafts circulating on Pinterest or TikTok, so why not spend a day trying one out with some friends? Christmas is all about keepsakes, and this can be in the form of something physical, (like a handmade bauble), or through the memories you form (like a very rowdy gingerbread decorating session with your housemates). You don’t have to execute these to the highest, most professional quality; the best Christmas stories are the ones built on mess and imperfection.

The most important thing to remember is that Christmas comes this time each year (to quote The Beach Boys). There is no need to push yourself to commit to every festive tradition, movie and activity this December. So, what if you skip Love Actually? Hugh Grant will still be there next year with his perfect hair and charming grin to bring you comfort. (If you’re feeling extra rebellious, you could be so daring as to watch it in January!) The point is, putting pressure on yourself to “feel festive” is only going to create disappointment. You should try not to set too many expectations of how your December will pan out; life often defies us when we try to control it too closely. There is no law that says your Christmas must be overflowing with festive cheer, despite what they tell you in the adverts on TV.

There are many reasons why the holidays may be a difficult time for you, all of which are valid and can’t always be solved with tinsel. Instead, focus on slowing down and being kind to yourself as the days are swallowed up by frost and long nighttimes. You’ve made it through another year, and you must reward yourself! Use this final month to rest, enjoy time spent with loved ones, and treat yourself to the indulgences that remind you personally of the festive season. You deserve it.