Every year I say the same thing, and every year so far I’ve changed my mind at the last minute. This year will be different!
Has your Christmas been cancelled this year? I was sad to hear from a good friend that this year her usual hosting of Thanksgiving had been cancelled for family reasons. It started me thinking about why I have been continuing to hang on to the annual tradition of celebrating Christmas with family gifts, a tree, mince pies and Christmas pudding. Long ago we became a small family of only three, shrunken into a tiny remnant of once enormous turkey-filled meals, fourteen round the table, and literally hundreds of sausage rolls and mince pies prepared by a team of family women in the kitchen for days in advance. Gone.
So why continue to keep this now-outdated tradition alive? Each year it becomes sadder, as the Christmas at Kings Carols seem flat (literally) and are prerecorded, the sherry tastes like sugar-water and we can’t afford the cost of a real tree. Worse, we struggle to find suitable gifts for each other and often end up buying things no-one needs or wants, and often are sent back to Amazon in disgrace!
So, we’ve talked about it and decided enough’s enough. Yes, I’ll make a nice meal, and we’ll eat the Christmas pudding I made three years ago – it’ll be nice and mature now and it’s time it met its maker! And yes, we’ll watch the King’s Speech and try to catch a Christmas church service. If we were in England I’d be proposing a midnight mass on Christmas Eve but here in France that’s not on the menu.
And instead of gifts, I’m going to suggest that each of us makes a donation to a charity they think the other person wants to support and gives them a card on the day, with the details inside.
I know this will make me happier than receiving any physical gift (except perhaps an iPhone 18, which is definitely not on the cards this year!!)
Let me know in the comments below how you are planning to change your Christmas this year. I’d love to hear your ideas!
Hello Diane, Tamzin & Family
As I live with my pets of course. I totally spoil us through the year
I buy all art products books meeden products beautiful Beachwood as was needed.
I listen to you and felt it is good to have a choice of pens paints etc now restocked. No, I want a Home of meeden drawers, where I can access them easily
Products have got better esp zig. Pens. I’m going to try on singing bird !!
I’ve been donating to the homeless ladies through Bunnings hardware for years.
They give a list for the women including to be put in a bag and gift products, finished Nov 30.
I got a girlfriend to join me.
Surprise NSW total bag donations were over 50,000.
I know there’s over 100,000 homeless that’s inc men children. They have their own donation field. I was so proud this year as I put in 4 bags instead of 1 and they were full!!! of all they needed plus my girlfriend donated gift card. I added art products, books, pencils, erasers, sharpener, pencil case. I have worked in this field through my life.
I know there are also many needy animals. I do a $$ donation to the RSPCA here as well this year Next pay.
sharing is caring
I’m so proud of you for doing this and all others younger have joined in.
Why not give it to Charity who actually need it and follow me and YES they did.
That was my Xmas gift to me
To know that I have encouraged others to do this. I know they’ve got families it’s a good time to introduce them into donating their old products to those in need.
I also donate to Wikipedia as they are struggling to stay afloat.
Small $ amounts help Different charities
This gives me hope joy.
I’m very grateful to you Diane for showing us online weekly your talent of art and Tamzin for helping you stay on YouTube
you all bring me hope as I improve. And so do others who walk into my house and see your videos they want to sit down and watch you and do nothing which is really great.
That’s my gift to you others enjoy you SO YOU be proud
Fondest wishes for a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year to all