Take the time to avoid Christmas daze
OPINION: My best friend spends most of every December 25th driving from one house to the next, ticking off various sections of the family, having enough time at each to eat just a mince pie. By the time she collapses into bed at the end of the day, she can’t remember anything she talked to anyone about and would quite like to stay in bed for a week.
Christmas Day can be incredibly stressful for many people, especially when it involves lots of households to visit and lots of travel. Add to the mix families that don’t like each other, and you’ve got even more mileage to contend with (or awkward atmospheres so thick you could cut them with the ham carving knife).
For many people, the reason for the season is family. The idea is to gather together, bond over presents and good food, and enjoy each other’s company. And that’s why I think we need to have more than one Christmas Day – more days to see more people without everyone getting stressed out about it all and not having enough time to spend quality time with each other.
Worried about how you’re going to do it all this Christmas Day? Start by promising yourself that you won’t. Christmas is a season, not one day, and while Christmas Day is the best day of them all, it doesn’t mean you can’t prolong the celebrations (or start them early) if it means you don’t have to travel all day.
This year, my whā nau is spreading Christmas out. The weekend before, we’re heading a few hours’ north to my brotherin-law’s for a late lunch. On Christmas Eve, my wee family will have our own Christmas (‘‘pretend Christmas’’ according to my eldest) then later that day we’ll enjoy a casual dinner with my brother and his family. On Christmas Day we’re flying to Auckland to see my family (which admittedly sounds excessive except we’re going on holiday, not just for the day). Finally, after New Year’s we’ll have a fourth Christmas with my in-laws.
I feel like summer and all things Christmassy last for so long, it’s OK to celebrate the festive season on another day if it means being able to do all the things.
Take the Yuletide simplification even further by making the food situation easier, too. Instead of one person or family managing the whole feast, ask everyone to pitch in by bringing a plate. Opt for a classic Kiwi barbie instead of the classic British cooked lunch. Do a big breakfast instead of dinner, finger food instead of a sit-down meal.
Spreading it out makes it more exciting too, especially for the kids. When I have lots of fun things with the people I love the most scheduled in my calendar, my heart fills with joy.
And what could be better than celebrating the most wonderful time of the year for a full month?