apearlydream: The Christmas Tag

1. What is your favourite Christmas Film?

My favourite Christmas film is definitely Love Actually; I watched it when it first came out with my family over Christmas and I've loved it ever since... I've actually lost track of how many times I've seen the film. I love everything about it, the plot is so sophisticated.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I've never opened presents on Christmas Eve... Well actually I've never opened presents earlier than Christmas afternoon as in my family we have a tradition of either being lazy and having a good sleep in on Christmas morning after midnight mass or going to church on Christmas Day and celebrating as a family later.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

As I've got older I've definitely started to dislike Christmas time a lot... It either meant exam season approaching or I just felt the need to relax and catch up on sleep. My family is very small so my favourite Christmas times were probably when I was younger. There was one Christmas that I remember vividly as a child in primary school as I had the lead part in the school play and I was so excited for the whole of December. I don't think Christmas has the same magic once you're an adult.

4. Favourite festive food?

In terms of Christmas dinner food, I love pigs in blankets and Yorkshire puddings... They're the two things that I look froward to seeing on my plate at the dinner table whilst watching crap tv, but I also love the excessive chocolate and sweet side of Christmas like raspberry pavlova, Ben and Jerrys, celebrations and pringles.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

At 23 I've obviously had years of different gifts... Going back to last year, my favourite gifts were some Pandora charms, some woolly socks and an illustrated book of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I've got a nice collection of sketchbooks too, from various years.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

I don't have any perfumes that really remind me of Christmas, although I think ME by Lanvin is probably the closest to a festive scent for me a the first time that I smelt it I was at a Christmas event in selfridges with my friend and so I often think of that when I wear it. Plus the gold and black bottle is rather 'festive party season' as it's glittery and fancy.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

As I child my family would always attend the parish carol service, christingle service, crib service and midnight mass and as I've grown older it became just midnight mass. Although that said, I'm working for the first time ever on Christmas Eve which feels so strange and I'm not looking forward to it. I feel like delving into my faith always helps me look to Christmas and I've missed it this year.

8. What tops your tree?

As a family we've been using the same fairy/angel wit a massive red velvet puffed out dress for the past few years. I'm not actually that keen as I was obsessed with the Nutcraacker as I child so I've always dreamed of having a massive star on the top of the tree, preferably a real tree to as ours is fake. There's something much more lovely about the real trees.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I always had a fairly long wishlist but never massively asked for anything. I remember lusting after an iPod for about 4 years bout I eventually got it as a birthday present. At Christmas the best presents are the smaller, unexpected surprises.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

I like being able to wind down and relax and watch tv for once, whilst bonding with my family. Since I've started working, I've definitely seen less of family as I work really unsociable hours so it's a nice catch up time. I'm looking forward to this year as we have a family of four, not three so that's going to be different but in a good way.

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Ah, there's SO many, I love National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause etc. but one that I watch every year, without fail is The Snowman on Christmas eve. I absolutely adored the Snowman and The Snow dog. My dad bought me the little plushie last year, so cute.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Always on Christmas morning (usually whilst scoffing Christmas chocolate) We usually get new Christmas Pyjamas on Christmas Eve, but we save the present opening for Christmas day morning.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

My parents always used to go all out at Christmas. We'd come downstairs to presents, balloons, reindeer prints made out of glitter, red and white tape for the north pole, it was so magical as kids!

4. favourite festive food?

Aside from chocolate...Roast potatoes during Christmas dinner, so many roast potatoes.

5. Favourite Christmas gift ?

I can't remember how old I was, but it was the year of the Furby. I'm sure there were small riots amongst the shelves in Toys R us. My parents pretended they couldn't get me one but then it was hidden behind the sofa! (anyone else hide theirs in the wardrobe at night, they were so creepy!)

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Christmas dinner cooking, mmm or the smell of the Christmas tree!

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Just that it's family time, we'll usually all have wine, the fire on, lots of yummy food and sit down in our new pyjamas to watch Christmas films.

8. What tops your tree?

For years and years it was a little gold vintage angel, my dad always lifted me up to put it on the tree, when I was a kid... at the very end of decorating everything. She was always kind of wonky and worn looking, but it was tradition. These days it's a big gold glittery star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Not in an ungrateful way. I mean, I used to circle half of the Argos catalogue!But every year I would ask for a dog, without fail. One year my parents brought it a huge box, with holes in and something was moving. I was certain it was a puppy...it was a rabbit ha ha Still one of the best pets I've ever had though. Then last year, I finally bought myself my own Christmas puppy :) Oscar on the 21sr of December. He was certainly worth the wait.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Spending time with my loves ones, friends and family, after eating Christmas dinner, watching Only fools and Horses episodes that we've seen ten times already. Watching the snow fall and generally having a lovely time.

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