A Holly-Jolly-Handmade Christmas to you!

"For our Merry Christmas this year,

We have thought of another way to bring festive cheer!

We really hope none of you mind,

This year will bring tradition of a new kind.

No stressful shopping trips to be had,

The busyness and queues that make us sad.

We have decided to remember the true reason,

Behind this wonderful winter season.

Family, friends, laughter and fun,

And the birth of God’s son.

To help us both achieve this,

We will wave goodbye to the present list.

We are starting early so don’t dismay,

For homemade gifts will be coming your way.

We won’t ask for anything in return,

The perfect gift for us is not your concern.

We only ask that when December comes,

We are invited round to fill our tums.

Seeing you all is gift enough.

We really don’t need lots of stuff!

Hope you don’t think we are being ungrateful,

Love to you always, Alex and Rachel

Xxx”

And that is what we are doing this Christmas. We made this decision on the back of last year which left us out of pocket and out of smiles. Christmas is hard work. It is expensive, busy and stressful, but it really shouldn’t be. It has been commercialised so much so that it is far beyond what it once was. The magic has performed a vanishing act and what we are left with is Festive dread. Dread of how much all the presents, food and decorations will cost. Dread when Christmas stock overtakes Halloween in most shops, sometimes as early as the end of August when the first bauble appears. Dread of the headcount for Christmas dinner and taking note of all the different dietary requirements (vegetarian gravy, vegan stuffing and plant based, soy bean free, meat free turkey!) All of this soon adds up to make everyone feel the pressure.

We seem to have lost the appreciation for gifts, no matter how small because Christmas now is about how much stuff we can get. Children and sometimes adults will write their present lists well in advance and if they don’t get everything on that scrap of paper…well that is it! Christmas ruined! Where has the joy gone? The importance of just being together at this time of year, of feeling the togetherness and love of our families. We should use this time of year to reflect on the events of 2019 and be grateful. To show our friends and family that gratitude with simple gifts. It is not about who can spend the most money but sometimes an invitation for a coffee and mince pie will go down just as well. To be there for those we know and love who might not have had the easiest of years. To open our doors to our family and friends and share the cost over a Jacob’s Join. To get the cheapest of Christmas crackers with the plastic toys that everyone loves. To laugh, play festive games and listen to carols and enjoy the moment. To make memories.

I don’t think you can ever forget the child-like wonder you felt at Christmas when you were younger. The magic of Santa, the tree, the twinkling lights and your home adorned with sparkly decorations. We need to bring back some more of that wonder as adults or even, if we can, give it to someone else who might not have ever experienced that side of Christmas. There are so many charities you can support, Secret Santa, the shoe box appeal, all working to bring Christmas to those less fortunate than ourselves. Definitely something worth thinking about.

This year is our last Christmas before we get married and we really want to start making valuable traditions that we can pass on to our children. Traditions of a Marks and Spencer meal for two on Christmas Eve and a Christmas film. Church on Christmas morning and a brisk winter walk home to open gifts while we watch The Snowman. Christmas breakfast of jam and toast and fresh coffee, hot chocolate for children. Having family round for late lunch or going to visit family. Grandparents and new aunts and uncles to our children. Working hard to make the festive season magical for them and creating new memories for our new family gathering.

Festive hugs,

Blue Sky

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