So this is Christmas...

I love Christmas... sort of...
Some say it's supposed to be a religious holiday... but it's meaning has changed for most people now.  In actual fact the early Christians chose that date to celebrate Christ's birthday as it was an ancient pagan feast day and would make it easier for non Christians to adapt to... so the meaning of Christmas day is not originally "Christian". Anyway not going to get myself into further religious discussion today.

Christmas has become, for many - including most of my family, a time of getting together with loved ones, sharing a meal and good conversation, which is great. My husband and I are lucky that our families tend to do that a lot anyway, I know other people don't have the chance and Christmas is one of the only time they are able to all be together.

Anyway, like I said, I like the idea. BUT what tends to happen in the lead up to Christmas, and on the day itself, is we climb aboard the Crazy Christmas Express:
- Christmas baking (if feeling so inclined it really needs to start early - I haven't felt so inclined this year... might still do some macaroons or something easy)
- Christmas shopping

- Catch up with friends you don't often see - EAT
- More Christmas shopping
- Buy/cook special food that you wouldn't otherwise - EAT
- Catch up with family you won't see on the day - EAT
- Madly try to find presents for those difficult to shop for people
 We usually start celebrations on Christmas Eve with the German Christmas - I'm actually sad that we aren't doing that this year as so few of the German side of the family will be around - Uncle is not in the country, Aunt is not in the state, Opa is about 800km away and not coming over. Will be odd not doing this part of Christmas- it's actually one of the bits that has always felt easy!


and then there's the day itself... EAT EAT EAT

Christmas morning... prepare food items for taking to Christmas lunch.

Christmas lunch 1 - with my Papa, starts around 11am. Traditionally it was with Nanna and Papa and most of the family on my dad's side, but with lots of that family interstate and another part of that family doing their own thing for the last couple of years - that's what happens when cousins grow up and get married - Christmas lunch is now my immediate family and partners/kids plus Papa. This part of Christmas is somehow always strained or tense and not as happy as I have always thought it should be.
For the first time this year my immediate family and our partners are doing KK instead of all exchanging gifts. A bit of a relief! The only people getting gifts all round will be my nephew and niece! This takes a bit of strain off as far as the Christmas shopping goes!

Christmas lunch 2 - Husband's side of the family... we migrate from my family Christmas lunch to his family Christmas lunch. This is usually a relief in many ways because to me it seems much more relaxed than my family... maybe it's because we arrive late usually... maybe everyone else is stressing and it's mostly over by the time we get there?

So Christmas lunch finishes sometime in the afternoon and we sometimes do Christmas dinner... not that anyone actually feels like eating much, especially not us after 2 Christmas lunches!

I don't really know why I let myself get so worked up in the lead up to Christmas... after all, it's just another day and we see these people all the time. But Christmas is always different, maybe because it's supposed to be special?
I think next Christmas I'd like to be overseas on the actual day and just catch up with everyone at some point before hand. Pre-Christmas if you will. I think it would take the pressure off... return Christmas time to a nice time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends without the stresses of the day itself!