Today I’m sharing a little Christmas feeling. Here is an ornament from my tree.
The Ordinary Moments, Where is the Christmas Feeling?
I’m pretty sure it’s much the same here every year. I find it so hard to find that special feeling that comes along with getting ready for Christmas. My Mum loved Christmas and always started early. We had a huge tree, loads of decorations, food items collected and stacked away for the biggest feast ever, presents hidden everywhere. The excitement would build as Mum sat writing Christmas card after Christmas card.
We would have loads of family over to visit, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve, and every day in between. Nan would come and stay (in the years she wasn’t living with us.) My Mum’s sisters and brothers and all of their children would come. The house was always a hive of activity, nan’s mince pies stole the show and she made hundreds of them I’m sure.
I couldn’t wait to break up from school and let Christmas begin.
It’s Only One Day!
I hear this comment so much and I so disagree. Yes, it may just be one day but that’s not where the magic lies. It’s not the presents or the food, or even the decorations. My Mum taught me that Christmas was all about the build up, the present choosing and buying, the card writing, spending time with family. Sitting around the table in paper hats that came out of crackers was just the icing on the cake of the Christmas preparations.
I want to feel the same, I want to feel the joy. Each year I try so hard to make it special, but as the kids grow older and my family smaller, I really miss the Christmas’ of the past.
It always works out okay though. I know I am luckier than a lot of people. And somewhere inside, I have that Christmas feeling…it’s got just under three weeks to make it’s way out.
Do you have that Christmas feeling yet?
Aww! What a pretty decoration on your tree.
I agree with your mum. The magic really is in the build up to Christmas but it is hard to feel Christmassy when the kids are getting older and there is awful things going on in the world. I am feeling pretty meh about Christmas at the moment but I am sure I will find the Christmas feeling soon x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Another Christmas tradition. #MySundayPhoto
I love all the days before Christmas too. I wanted to get a Christmas tree this weekend but I was outvoted! I have put lights up outside the house already though and looked through the decorations so I am starting to feel a little bit festive :o)
#MMBC
Catherine recently posted…Santa’s Christmas Handbook by Christopher Edge & a team of illustrator elves
This is so relatable, Anne! We didn’t have huge family Christmases when I was a kid, but still more than we have now, for better and for worse. And my mum was very good at preparing food, baked goods, snacks etc. I grew up in Sweden, and I feel the whole advent period is more marked there, as a period of ‘waiting for Christmas’. It helps that we celebrate Lucia on 13 December, it’s like a little pre-Christmas, with candles, songs, mulled wine, ginger snaps and saffron buns. I too often struggle with getting into the Christmas spirit, but taking time to highlight Lucia can really help getting my Christmas juices flowing.
This year has been so weird and I’m not really able to relax and feel christmassy, yet. I hope we’ll both soon get more into it xx #MMBC
Malin SenLearningwPenguin recently posted…Autism Looks Like This…?
love your snowman ornament
I remember the pest part of Christmas wasn’t the day, it was the anticipation. I always had an a\Advent calendar to help build excitement as I opened the door each day until Christmas Eve. Good to read your posts again, Anne! I need to get back to linking up again and visit some of my blogging friends! 🙂
Laurie recently posted…Keeping My Hands Dirty
I struggle so much with the Christmas feeling every year though if I’m totally honest I have loads of it in the beginning of the month. I love baking, watching movies with my family, decorating, buying and wrapping gifts but the flurry of activity at the end tends to do me right in and I struggle to hold onto those good feelings.
Joanne recently posted…Holiday Home Tour 2020
I really don’t enjoy it now the kids are older. I try to make it special for everyone but it’s not the same.
Jo recently posted…Christmas Blogmas 2020
Oh, I loved reading your post. It gave me more of the vibes for Christmas. It has always been my favourite time of the year. I give thanks during this ‘special’ year that we still have life and still get to enjoy it. What is ‘the sunday snap’? Is it a linky?
Hi ladies, Thank you for your kind comments. The Sunday Snap is indeed a linky on Rachel’s blog. We share a photo every Sunday. You should find it if you click the image x
It sounds like your mum did an amazing job with Christmas! I’m the other way round – I like the bit after Christmas rather than the bit before. I really enjoy those days between Christmas and new year. They are literally the only days of the year when my husband doesn’t work and it’s so nice to get a break. The build-up to Christmas stresses me out! We will get our tree today (12th) and I’ve still got lots of presents to wrap and a couple more to buy.
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…Coronavirus: Looking back on a year of lockdowns and restrictions
Oh this snowman is super sweet! I love it!!! Thanks for linking up and for sharing with #MySundaySnapshot.
I totally agree that the run up to Christmas is by far the best part. I love the music and the twinkly lights. Also the baking before hand. My job was to make peppermint creams and fudge, when I was a teen. The house was always full of people on the day, when I was a child, due to being ex-pats and hosting other ex-pats. I love the image of all your family visiting. Must have been a lovely and jolly. #mmbc