Seven of My Christmas Traditions

This post is about Christmas traditions I’ve grown up with. I've noticed most people think their traditions are the norm, and it's only when you discuss them with other people you realise how peculiar your tradiions are.

1. My family never had turkey, because Dad didn’t like it, and we normally only had the four of us for Christmas in Hampshire, so a chicken was enough. Before Christmas, we used to visit friends and family back in Essex, where Mum & Dad grew up, and then have just us for the day itself.
2. Not playing games. Because there were only four of us, we rarely played games. What we did was sink into the sofa and watch our favourite Christmas TV, having carefully circled the TV magazine for things to watch. Most years my brother and I recieved blank video tapes to record our favourite Christmas TV moments over the holiday. Sometimes there were battles over clashing programmes! 
3. Cold cuts with chips on Boxing Day. Left over chicken, ham, beef, cold sausages, all served with crisp, beer battered chips on Boxing Day, covered in lashings of mayonnaise and pickles. Sometimes I think this is a better meal than the main event the day before.
4. Yorkshire puddings no matter which meat. Officially you’re only supposed to have Yorkshire puddings with beef, but with every roast dinner, and with every Christmas meal, we serve at least twelve little muffin sized Yorkshire puddings to soak up the gravy.They're also pretty delicious the next day, heated up with golden syrup drizzled on them. For those who are making a face, it's the same as pancke mixture, and don't knock it until you've tried it ;-)
   
5. Brandy snaps and custard. I hate Christmas pudding, I hate Christmas cake, I also not too keen on mince pies. It’s something about raisins and currants in them all. My Christmas pudding is always a bowl of custard with brandy snaps.
6. A seaside walk on Boxing Day. Mum lives near the south coast of England, and every year we would have a walk along the seafront at Bournemouth on Boxing Day. It was perfect to blow out the cobwebs from spending the whole of the previous day sitting and eating.
7. The BF and I have started a rota of Christmas films we work through during December: The Family Stone; The Holiday; all Harry Potter films too. It gets me in the mood every year to revisit these films each year.
   

If you want to find out about Cathy, Tony, David and Christian’s Christmas traditions, you can snuggle up with a cup of tea/coffee/eggnog/whatever and enjoy this novella. I hope it’ll get you in the festive mood. Christmas Serendipity is published on Sunday 8 December by JMS books.

What Christmas traditions to you have?

What do you think of mine? Do they shock and horrify you, or would you like to adopt some for your own?

I'd love to hear from you all.

Until next time,

Liam Livings xx