Christmas traditions

* Cutting the Christmas tree - this would be my favourite thing to do if I hadn't buckled in to the convenience of a fake tree covered in fake snow which has kept me going for many years! Now the laziness has set in and I just pull it out every year. But one day I will return to the fragrant smell of pine needles and the joy of choosing the perfect tree.

* Betting on whether it will snow or not for Christmas. Usually in this part of the world, that bet is easy. Get real, face the reality and don't get your hopes up. It will not snow!

* The family photo happens once a year if we are all together for a meal at some point over the Christmas period. This is the only time of the year we all gather in one place so its worth trying to take a shot of the extended family. Because we are such a large family someone is usually missing or having a bad day so these family photos are becoming increasingly difficult to capture. This year we are all over the place, so no Christmas family photo in 2017. Samuel is missing in the shot below because he ran off!

* Singing carols by torch light to the sheep and lugging a donkey up the aisle to take part in the nativity scene at the front of the church. This one is unique to Littleton and only a recent addition to my Christmas traditions. I am particularly attached to my jam jars turned into pretty candle holders with their paper cut out decorations. It is a short walk in the dark across the fields to the farmyard where the sheep are housed and yes, we really do sing them a carol ! ( To stay extra warm on the journey there and back a hot water bottle is carried under the coat.)

* Christmas cards and newsletters from friends - I always look forward to receiving these. The family photos and newsletters are such a nice reminder and connection with friends scattered all over the world.

* Watching Santa cross the sky with his reindeer and sleigh on Christmas Eve ! This is a new tradition that comes to us because of our ability to track the progress of the orbiting space station. If it is a clear night, you really could believe that the light slowly making its way across the sky is Santa.

* Singing Carols in Shere square on Christmas eve. This little gathering has now become rather popular and finding the space to squeeze yourself in with a few hundred others into Shere's little square is very competitive. But being squeezed into a crowd gives us a sense of belonging. We all love a sing along especially if we have been warming ourselves with a glass of wine beside the fire earlier on in the pub. The vicar's voice is strong and confident and he doesn't let anything get out of hand even when we have a sound delay resulting in a double sing - along as the chorus echoes backwards and forwards bouncing off the cottage walls. If the weather is good it is the place to be on Christmas eve.

* The big Christmas meal which requires getting a large group of varying sized people around different tables and an assortment of chairs & stools in a small room. A nearly impossible task although one year I took great delight in eating Christmas lunch downstairs in the tack room. It was freezing but totally memorable and unique !!

* Choosing who will play the role of Santa to give out the presents. It used to be the role of a responsible parent who could read scribbled handwriting but these days it has been handed over to anyone who can read and wants the role. Since the adults are increasingly exhausted, jaded and slightly cynical, this role now falls to the kids!

So those are just a few of my traditions. Have a happy christmas and remember, if all else fails, there is always laughter and chocolate.

#Winter #Christmas