The Christmas debate

I admit it; I am a Christmas junkie. It has been my drug of choice since as long as I can remember. Now, at the age of 24 with Santy no longer calling to me, I am still as hooked as I was as a toddler waiting earnestly for the jolly, old man's arrival.

I believe it's down to my parents, my mother in particular. They both worked extremely hard when I was growing up and especially in my younger years. It meant that their few days off at the end of the year meant twice as much to me as to most other children.

We always begin the same way; on the weekend nearest to the 8th of December, we make a trip to the local forest (Donadea) where we buy our pine trees. As our house is pretty big, we have room enough for two trees. Last years was over 8ft high and was higher than the landing in the hall. The second one was of similar height and placed at the end window in the sun-room. It's a two day operation to decorate the house; day one, we take out all the little bits, you know what I'm talking about, picture frames, ornaments, a million and one candles, tablecloths, swags over the fireplaces and all down the stairs with lights intertwined. The day one process takes hours, in fact it's most of the day and my mam is in her element when it comes around again.

What really excites us is day two and knowing we have all this decorating to do the following day. Up go the trees. Daddy (poor man) takes out the ladders, saws and scaffolding to fix the trees. Being real trees, they don't fit in stands like unnatural ones. As mammy, my sister and I administer instructions and talk amongst ourselves about whether the tree is straight or not, my poor aul da is going purple in the face from holding up the tree. Finally the tree is in place and out comes phase two; the lights. Now, my dad was an electrician back in the day and works miracles with a screwdriver and plug-top- a talent utilised to the max at Christmas time. Because we have roughly 3-400 lights on the trees at any one time, (and because mammy doesn't like the mess of trailing wires) daddy is forced to do his best to ensure there are no trailing leads left lying round.

Usually, this takes a significant amount of time and we generally just look on. Phase three involves the physical decorating i.e. the baubles and ornaments. because we've two trees and they're at different areas of the house, there are two distinct colour schemes. In the sunroom it's the modernistic cool blue and silver and in the hall and sittingroom, it's red and gold all the way. After the two day operation, the house is ready for the season. 

My mam is definitely one of the best cooks in the World. Honestly. Give me a punnet of mushrooms and a pan and I end up with a soggy, mushroom sandwich. Give mammy the same ingredients, and she turns out a dinner that Mr Ramsey himself would be proud of! Therefore, Christmas dinner is undoubtedly an experience you just don't forget. The turkey goes on about 8 AM. The homemade stuffing is an experience in itself. If ever the time comes when we can't afford meat, myself and Ruth (my sister) would die happy having eating the stuffing alone. We're a fussy group when it comes to veg. She does peas for daddy and nanny, Ruth and mammy eat the carrots, myself, nanny and daddy eat the sprouts (in recent years she's been finishing them off in the pan with bacon bits). The potatoes are another treat; firstly there are creamy dauphinoise, then roasties roasted in goose fat and finally mash with spring onion. To be fair, she probably does cook a little too much but it's never left over and by day three, there's barely so much as a slice for a sandwich.

We've always unwrapped our presents in the same manner. We sit around in a circle and pile our pressies beside us. We take turns and the nice thing about it is we get to see one anothers reactions to the gifts we receive and the ones we've given.

I may be 24, but I've yet to have a year when I don't get a 'Christmas outfit'. To be honest, it is usually paid for by bank of mammy and daddy but it's extra special to be all dolled up and pretty at the dining table and open fire. 

The two week celebration, (which we would extend if society would permit) is the most relaxed we are all year. The family priority shines through for those twelve days and despite the fact that my poor sister (who works as a retail manager) is forced to work usually five of the twelve, the spirit is never dampened.

Recently, as the years go on and the dreaded recession takes over our lives like a cloud of smog, I've noticed people have become more 'bah humbug' than 'we wish you a merry Christmas'. It makes little difference of the creed, relationship status, children (or not), money problems or successes, people seem to be losing the spirit. Personally, I'm that bullying little madam who kicks off October by singing the chorus of 'All I Want for Christmas is You' and 'Fairytale of New York'. I take borderline offense when I hear people grumble that 'it's too early to hear Christmas songs', 'horrible time of year', 'totally overrated'. How can people say such things? I know it's easy for me to say; my family is part of that current oddity that have no arguments or separations and undoubtedly the complications of having three and four houses to visit makes the season a little less joyful but is that really worth grumbling over or losing the faith?

Am I the only person who sees the positive elements? I mean the world's best kept secret (Santa) has never failed to excite me. The bright lights and decorations still make my tummy flip. The smell of turkey overcomes me and when mammy takes out the trifle and flambes the pudding, I simply beam. Buying the presents as the Christmas songs overtake your very being enthralls me. I do admit that the whole money-spinning commercial element of the holiday is shameful, especially in the good times- we really were spoiled. But is that really a reason to 'hate' the season? Surely when the news shows the shots of Santy leaving the North Pole, you feel the same was as you did the first Christmas your learned of the magic man's existence? 

I'm not naive (although I may sound so on this hub). I know Christmas can be a miserable time for some- especially those less fortunate than ourselves. I know there are some people who will never enjoy the smell of mulled wine, turkey and brandy. I accept that the day the secret of Santa was broken to each of us, the devastation was almost unbearable. But, of all the people I know in my life, I know not one that aren't loved by somebody. Is that not enough to embrace the season? For despite the ads, the tacky hats, the bright lights that put the national grid under ferocious strain, is the point not supposed to be that 'All you need is Love'? I certainly think so.............so........ho..............ho............