IT’S CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS! It’s the mooost wonderful tiiiime of the yeeear. I love Christmas, or, to be more accurate, the whole month of December. I honestly think it’s such a magical time and thoroughly enjoy getting carried away with every aspect of it, for which I make zero apologies. So, here it goes, the 10 things I love most about Christmas.
1. People
People are happy in December. That grumpy colleague who hasn’t acknowledged your existence for the past 11 months will suddenly say “good morning” to you. Someone will give up their tube seat to a stranger for no other reason than to share the wealth. And people will give more of their spare change to homeless people simply because it feels right to do so. So yes, I love December, and the happy pill that everyone unknowingly swallows.

2. The Decorations
Living in Hong Kong and not going home at all this winter has made me realise just how special Christmas decorations are in London. I actually miss Oxford Street. I know that is entirely unfathomable but there is something about those dark early evenings, beautiful twinkling lights, red buses and Starbucks-clutching swarms of people in bobble hats & gloves that is so homely and comforting.

3. Christmas Markets
I cannot think of a better social activity than visiting Christmas markets at home or abroad. Last year I visited the Christmas markets in Cologne and had the best time of my life visiting 7 markets in 2 days. Winter Wonderland, Southbank and Duke of York Square markets are a must if in London; the decorations, the cute handmade wares on offer, the rides, the music, the hog roasts and mulled wine are all compulsory Christmas must-do’s for me. Although not strictly in December, Taste of London Festive Edition is one of my favourite events of the year and a great place to pick up all sorts of gourmet foodie treats for your loved ones, as well as seriously getting you in the Christmas spirit!






4. The Films
Nothing makes me happier or feel more festive than snuggling up under a blanket in my PJs with a cup of hot chocolate and watching Elf, Love Actually, Home Alone, the Holiday, Christmas with the Cranks, Four Christmases, Fred Claus and You’ve Got Mail on repeat. I have also always wanted to reenact the scene where Buddy eats pasta drenched in maple syrup, M&Ms and marshmallows so please let me know if I have any takers on that (I actually think it would be incredibly delicious)!

5. Annual Selfridges Christmas Shopping Day
I appreciate that this one’s quite personal but for the last 4 years now I have dedicated one of my December weekends to a Christmas shopping bonanza, wherein either my Saturday or Sunday is dedicated to a full day in Selfridges (and a few other visits along Oxford Street) buying gifts for everyone and their dog. I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me thinking of and buying gifts for people I care about. And don’t even get me started on Selfridges Christmas shop, which aside from being the most epic, white, snowflaked, glittery space on earth also sells packets of Five Dollar Shake cards for a tenner – if you know, you know (and if you don’t, get involved). This day inevitably also revolves around having a delicious, indulgent lunch somewhere (last year was at Crockers Folly) and bubbles to end the day and rest weary feet at Selfridges rooftop bar, Forest on the Roof. Though if I was at home this year I would be making a beeline for fondue under the snow-dusted and fairy lit branches of Dalloway Terrace, or (who am I kidding, and) having Christmas afternoon tea in the Glade at Sketch, which has even pimped out its infamous loos for the festive season.



6. Seeing Family & Friends
Yes, it’s safe to say that you will gain a couple of pounds and put a on a little winter layer during December, but if you can’t have a mince pies at Christmas, when can you? December is the party month of the year and although it can leave you feeling a little sluggish come the New Year, I think it’s absolutely worth making the most of every opportunity to catch up with friends & family (particularly whilst everyone’s still in a good mood) and actually ENJOY your one-too-many Christmas piggie in a blanket (leave the guilt train for January).

7. Decorating the Tree
This is one of my favourite Christmas activities and is something that I’ve enjoyed doing ever since I was a child, mostly because everyone can get involved and I love seeing how excited kids are to take part. In Denmark, we do things a little differently and have live candles on the tree (#firehazard #liberal), which makes for the most beautiful tree imaginable, in my opinion, with no tinsel in sight. I also love the handmade decorations that amass over the years from the various younger family members; it transforms a tree into your personalised mumble- jumble-of-memories Christmas tree, perfect ones are for the shops!


8. Christmas Songs and Carol Singers
Is there anything better than Spotify’s Christmas Top 50 playing on repeat whilst you shower, walk to work, cook, clean, sleep, breathe? I think not. And as for carol singers, it literally sends shivers up my spine and summons the widest smile on my face when I hear that jolly group of people standing out in the cold with their sheets of paper spreading Christmas cheer for aaaaaaaaaaall to hear.

9. Food, Food, Food
As if I was going to forget this one. I would say at home I usually have 5 or 6 Christmas dinners with various groups of friends and in the last 4 years also alone with Michael and with his family. I do love English Christmas dinner but for me it is just a glorified roast (not knocking it!), but Danish Christmas dinner is where the real magic is AT. Roast goose and pork crackling, caramelised potatoes, sweet red cabbage, thick, rich, creamy brown sauce followed by the wonder that is essentially a cold, stodgier version of rice pudding filled with chopped blanched almonds and drowned in hot cherry sauce, with the finder of the one token whole almond a winner of the “mandel gave” gift. Obviously this means that all the pud has to be polished off and elicits a lot of groans around the table, but there is no feeling more victorious than discovering you are the lucky winner and tucking that little treat under your gum whilst you watch your competition (sorry, family) struggle to finish their food. Yes, I am evil, but it is fun. Luckily for me I always get to have both, having Danish family and English friends, and let’s not be forgetting about all the wondrous party finger food. Pigs in blankets, salmon blinis, mince pies, more M&S tubs than anyone cares to remember and aaaaaaaaall the chocolate selection boxes. My favourite diet. *Edit*: Almost forgot to mention Starbucks toffee nut lattes! #lyf.


10. Celebrating on the Beach
This one might seem a little contradictory to all the traditional stuff I’ve mentioned above, but with a dad that’s lived in Dubai since I was young and a step-dad who likes to see the sun in the depths of winter, I usually find myself on a beach come Christmas Day. This may be why I have more of a love for December than “Christmas” itself, since I’ve usually had my family Christmas dinner and opened all of my presents before the 24th (the day on which Danes celebrate). I know it sounds odd to some people but for me I get to have the best of both worlds; a proper cold, wintery (we all know it’d be a stretch to say “snowy”) Christmas and a January tan, though this year I won’t be getting the former and I will readily admit that it is saddening me! That said, I can’t wait to be in Langkawi with the parentals for my favourite day of the year in 2016, 8 sleeps to go!



So there we have it, the 10 things I love most about Christmas. Not sure whether I’ve come across a little OTT in any of the above but, as I’ve said, I am Santa’s little helper on crack and I am so not sorry for it. What do you love most about Christmas? Or are you a scrooge (and if so, why God why? What terrible thing happened to you at birth to make you feel this way)?!
Happy holidays! xo
All of THIS!! I love Christmas too! I can’t believe it was my first time visit Christmas markets. Definitely going to be an annual tradition!
OMG they’re the absolute bomb aren’t they?! I’m gonna go mad next year when I’m back in the UK haha! xxx
I’m just envious of the santa hats and bikinis combo!
Haha, just do it in your living room ;)! xxx
lovely photos! #travellinkup
Thanks Tanja 🙂 xxx
This is LITERALLY the name of my post tomorrow – haha! Just visited Bloglovin and saw yours! I love that photo of you celebrating Christmas on the beach. It seems so incongruous to have Christmas decorations up in tropical countries (like they did in India when we visited last week) but it’s a wonderful twist on the holiday season!
Hahaha, I’ll be sure to read it then! I know right, but I’d rather them there than not 🙂 xxx
I’d have to include The Grinch in the festive films bit – that and Elf are just TOO good not to watch! I love Christmas too, and I think one of my favourite parts is justhow happy everyone is at this time of year!
Steph – http://www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
I do like the Grinch (/every movie centred around Christmas haha), but Elf is just DA BOMB! Completely agree, moods are always improved! 🙂 xxx
Yayyyy!!!!! It really is the best time of year. This post made me all nostalgic for Christmas back home as we’re not coming back to England this year 🙁 but then I got to your last point about Christmas on the beach and thought YEAH – we can do this!!! Lovely post, it put a huge smile on my face 🙂
Polly xx
I knoooow, not going back either and missing legit Christmassy vibes so much so I feel your pain! However we’ll be the ones laughing with our January tans (though yours is permanent haha). Hope you’re well and I’m really glad you enjoyed it! xxx
Fantastic round-up of all those quintessential festive favourites, from the movies and shopping to all-round happiness and fam-time!
Thanks Anushi 🙂 xxx
Wow, such a lovely post! I love Christmas too, for all the reasons you wrote here. Happy I stumbled across your gorgeous blog 🙂
Thanks very much! And I’m glad you love it too 🙂 xxx
I’ve never had a beach Christmas before, it’s always miserable grey skies and usually drizzle 🙂 but I love it! I can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since your Cologne Christmas market posts, I remember reading them (think I’d only just found your blog then!) and it really does not feel like that long ago at all! xxx
Lucy @ La Lingua | Life, Travel, Italy
Tell me about it!!! Cannot believe it either, literally insane how time is flying! Hope you’re well and merry Christmas! 🙂 xxx
Yess! I love all of these too – especially the food 😀
http://www.georginadoes.co.uk
Xmas is allllll about the food 😉 xxx
Oh my god you’ve made me cry :'( hahaha! I miss London at Christmas so much this year, it’s my first ‘hot’ Christmas in six years, and I’m struggling big time to feel festive. Yesterday I was in the main shopping area in the Sydney CBD and I smelt that familiar Christmas-tree scent…I realized they had put a few real Christmas trees right where I was standing, and so I literally just hung around next to the trees for ages on my phone taking deep breaths of the scent – sad or what!? Haha!
C x | Lux Life – Luxury Travel & Lifestyle Blog
Awww darling! <3 I know what you mean, despite usually being away for Xmas day I at least have the run up of Christmassy feels at home and am definitely seriously missing it this year! And totally know what you mean about the smell of fresh pine needles, you need to get yourself a Christmas tree at home! xxx