Meanderings Through the Holiday Season
An appreciation of ALL the festivities.
Hi. Welcome to MY FAVOURITE TIME OF THE YEAR.
Now before you roll your eyes at the thought of yet another person banging on about the wonders of Christmas while you perhaps only wonder what all the fuss is about, let me give you a heads up and explain that it’s not the exactly the Bible-inspired-turned-capitalism-paradise day I am somewhat obsessed with, but rather the whole season leading up to it, as well as the time that comes after.
Depending on the weather, My Favourite Time of The YearTM can sometimes begin in September, though with this year's freakishly warm back to school season, and my own summer holidays extending into this, the start of this specific time of year was indeed delayed.
Instead it began mid-late October, in that moment when it was clear the weather had turned for good, meaning boots could come back out for a new season, scarves could legitimately be worn without causing dangerous levels of over-heating, and the countdown to the holiday season had begun.
By holiday season I am broadly referring to Halloween, Día de Muertos, Guy Fawkes (Bonfire) Night, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year - though of course a number of other holidays are available. I don't necessarily actively celebrate all of these; Halloween came and went and I didn't even carve a pumpkin this year, settling instead for wearing a nod to Wednesday Aadams with the white collar/black jumper combo of my office outfit. But as I started to draft this piece (originally during
’s Essay Camp last month) I was enjoying the smell and taste of a spicy chai latte, looking out of the window at colourful leaves and feeling the warming comfort of my scarf wrapped around my shoulders. It is a season for the senses.For the past few months my brain has joyfully mulled on gift giving; my tummy smiling at the pleasure of a hearty Sunday roast in a cosy pub after a long walk in the brisk wind; cheeks rosied by the warmth of people gathered together. Hunkering down for an early night with a good book is never more acceptable, or inviting. There's the promise of a break from work for many at some point over the holiday season, and enough to look forward to to keep us going until then. There isn't yet the new year new me malarkey of January, but the subtle hint to make the most of the rest of the year, to be your best, most sparkly self - literally. In true Strictly Come Dancing fashion, ‘tis the season of sequins and glitter and swish fabrics galore. It’s giving velvet and satin and cashmere, dahling.
I have loved the autumn/winter season for as long as I can remember. The countdown to Christmas bringing unparalleled excitement as a child, but even then not just for the gifts that might be under the tree, but for the time spent together as a family enjoying all that we had - materially and otherwise. Growing up I enjoyed picking out seasonal outfits - the just-right witches hat for Halloween, sparkly tights for the school Christmas disco, festive PJs for the Twixmas period (arguably even better than the big day itself) - and in that sense nine year old me is really not so different to me 20 years later. I relished getting a new winter coat and boots, picking up gift catalogues to help choose something that loved ones would receive with joy, and eating my Nan’s carrot and swede mash and homemade mince pies. And of course, opening the advent calendars.
To me, October to December holds this sense of promise, warmth and joy. Yes it can be busy, it can be stressful, it can be cold and wet - but underneath all that is something good. We are busy because we want to spend time with friends and family, and fit this in alongside the stresses and strains of Q4 work deadlines and household chores. We are stressed often on account of over-thinking, of aiming for perfection, when sometimes our presence may be the best present for that person we are so tirelessly striving to please. The wind and rain can sometimes be a welcome nudge to indeed cancel plans, and swap a night out at a Halloween party for a night on the sofa with a scary film, or to know that when we are exasperated at being stuck on a train platform staring at a cancelled sign, the cosiness of the fairy lights we are desperate to get home to will still be there waiting a few hours later.
And you know what? I don’t think January is all that bad either. Yes, the back to work/school blues are often present for at least a week, but we still have some freedom to do what we need to get through that time. In January 2021, I gave myself what I dubbed a “second December”, continuing to watch Christmas movies, enjoying a Baileys nightcap, and making the most of discounted Christmas puddings for one. But more broadly, there is the sense of entering into a period where we might start something new; the gift of a clean slate to consider what we might do differently this year, what do we want to learn, what behaviours do we want to change. I’m not talking about getting in the gym at 5am every morning (unless, for some bizarre reason I will never understand, that excites you) but I mean rather the things that will give us energy and spark joy through the year. Or even, just for those first few months of the year, until the world is ready to wake up properly as the dark nights subside, and the freshness of spring provides a second new year for those who see January as something to endure rather than embrace. The Project You journal is a helpful way to think about the year as a whole as well as quarterly seasons, and my time spent using this for reflecting on 2022 into 2023 is partly to thank for the birth of
.
I also don’t want to ignore though that this isn’t necessarily a joyful time for all. I have been lucky enough to hold fond memories of Christmases gone by, even when they looked slightly different as we adapted to feeling the space left by some no longer being able to join us around the table. We were never rich, but I grew up with, and still have, an abundance of love, gifts I treasure, and for a few weeks of the year, access to mince pies on tap. For this I will be forever grateful.
But if you’ve been reading this with gritted teeth (I mean, if so, thank you for getting this far), feeling all a bit bah humbug about the entire holiday season, then first of all know that I am sending you a warm festive embrace, and second of all let me ask you, where might you find joy this season? Perhaps it’s declining all social invites and spending the rest of month at home each evening, enjoying a hot chocolate in peace and quiet. Perhaps it’s making celebratory plans with friends, instead of family. Or opting for homemade gifts for those on your list instead of worrying about getting into debt just to keep up with the Jones’. Maybe it’s reading a book set in an exotic location, rather than a Christmas classic, while rebelliously eating all the chocolates in your advent calendar instead of savouring one each day.
Whatever it is that might make you smile, make you feel a bit warm inside, whether a festive activity complete with (jingle)bells and tinsel, or avoiding any reference to crackers and turkey at all costs, embrace something that feels good for you.
And regardless of if you want my merry wishes or not, know that I am wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and sending a ton of gratitude for your continued readership.
As always, happy navigating 🧭🎄🎁
P.S. - if you are on the giving and receiving vibe, don’t forget to check out
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