Festive Family Traditions
As we approach the end of a different kind of year, many of us are preparing for a different sort of Christmas celebration too. We’re sure you can all think of the small traditions and family events that you would usually be taking part in at this time of year – perhaps a trip to London’s Winter Wonderland, shopping for something to wear to a Christmas party, or a stop at the Christmas Market for Mulled Wine as you attempt to finish your gift shopping.
This year has given us all cause for reflection, and this festive season may bring a greater appreciation of the quiet moments that some of us are lucky enough to experience with our friends and family. With this in mind, we’ve put together some of our own reflections on Christmas traditions - some that we will still be enjoying, and some that we will wholeheartedly miss this year.
Helen Moore, Owner
My husband and I really love getting Christmas cards from friends. We always open them together – never separately! I always look forward to hearing what everyone has been doing in the past year.
Hester Moore, Director
Putting up and decorating the tree. Because when I was little it was something everyone else hated doing except me and dad. I would happily trudge through Devon fields with dad trying to find the perfect tree. Buying it in the high street is not quite the same but brings back great memories. I love having too many odd, handmade, bad, good, expensive, cheap decorations. I was worried my 3yr old might make for a stressful tree decorating partner this year, but she was actually perfect and enjoyed it almost as much as me.
Jessica Moore, Director
We have a family advent calendar with little boxes that my mum bought when we had our first child. I put little notes in (along with a bit of chocolate each) so we do something a little bit Christmassy every day. These are things like reading a story by torchlight, dancing to Christmas songs, watching The Snowman and kisses under the mistletoe. The kids were so excited this year that they made themselves countdowns to the countdown!
Tom Moore, Operations Manager
My favourite bit of Christmas is decorating the tree with my son Reuben as it really feels like Christmas has begun. We even put some Helen Moore Pom Poms on the tree that I made for Reuben years ago. I also really enjoy that everything stops for one day and having an afternoon sleep on the sofa is such a luxury!
Gill Savage, Customer Services & Marketing
Our story is a tale of three daughters with a big age gap between them! The family Christmas tradition came about after the older children had already left home, but their youngest sister was still only about 8 so very excited!
We somehow couldn't really start Christmas until we were all together so one year we decided to meet up at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bristol to see the Christmas performance.
This isn't a typical panto - not at all! The Tobacco Factory specialises in the re- telling of traditional fairy tales with a twist. We've seen Cinderella in Doctor Marten Boots, Snow White meeting Eco Warriors in the woods and our favourite Beauty and the Beast, in which the Beast receives lessons in etiquette from the children in the audience - how to talk to girls, not to jump on the table and not to eat like a dog! They're all told in a completely new way often with a dark side and always with loads of audience participation and brilliant music too!
Once we've been to the play, we can all head back to Devon to decorate the tree and for the fun to begin.
As you can imagine it won't happen this year but we're already looking forward to next year!
Beckey Boyles, Office & IT Manager
Every year my family goto visit Father Christmas. It's for the children of course, but I really look forward to seeing Santa! This year we are going to Santa's Grotto in Bow Water Gardens and afterwards, we will have lunch by the lake and watch the gigantic fish swimming around. My son likes to wear his Rudolph reindeer jumper with a flashing nose - he might grow out of it soon!
What festive traditions will you miss this year? Are you starting any new ones? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!