Sarah from Whimsical Mumblings tagged me in her Christmas Tag post, and I thought it was a lovely way to talk about Christmas, what it means to us and how we celebrate it.  So, here goes!

Ooh, this is hard! Probably The Muppet Christmas Carol followed very closely by Elf. I remember when I was about 8 or 9, our dad picked us from school one night before Christmas whilst mum was at work. We went home, closed the curtains, put the Christmas lights on and watched The Muppet Christmas Carol. I can even remember the jumper I was wearing that evening! I’ve always loved that film, but Elf is also a film I could watch over and over again.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?

Not that I can remember. I think there has been one where there’s been snow left on the ground from before, but I can’t actually remember it snowing on Christmas Day.

Where do you usually spend your holiday?

When we lived in Birmingham, we’d open our presents at home and then go over to my parent’s mid-morning for the rest of the day. Last year – our first year in Wales – we spent it at home, and then my family came to stay in between Christmas and New Year. This year we are travelling back to Birmingham on Christmas Eve to spend it at my nan’s house, and coming back after Boxing Day.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. Or possibly Last Christmas by Wham. Or Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid. I don’t know  – I love a Christmas song! I also really love Leona Lewis ‘One More Sleep’ because it reminds me of last year and our first Christmas in Wales. We were playing on the beach in Llandudno a couple of days before Christmas and it was playing from the pier. At that moment I felt so Christmassy and happy – so I’ll always love that song.

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

Nope. We don’t have Christmas Eve boxes either, although this year I am buying the kids a Christmas colouring book to keep them calm at my nan’s and we do have a special book to read before bed. But nope, no opening of presents until Christmas Day. We will ignore the fact Graham and I have already exchanged presents at the beginning of December and that I opened my blogger Secret Santa present because I was too damn excited…

Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Rudolph, Dancer, Dasher, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, Vixen, Donner, Prancer. That’s them all, yes?

What holiday traditions are you looking forward to this year?

Food. Family. Presents. All the normal good stuff!

Is Your Christmas Tree Real or Fake?

This year is the first year we have a real tree – and I don’t think we will ever go back to having a fake one now. We had ummed and ahhed over buying a real on for a couple of weeks and decided not to bother. We got up on the first weekend of December to put the decorations up, got the artificial one out of the box, and realised neither of us wanted to put it together, so headed out to choose a real one. It looks and smells so much nicer!

What is your favourite holiday treat/food/sweet?

Mince pies. Christmas pudding. Kim’s brandy truffles. My chocolate bark. Matchsticks. Champagne at breakfast.

What is the best present you have ever received?

As a child, it was probably my desk. It was amazing. As a grown-up, my Chanel No. 5 Perfume. I’d always wanted some but could never justify spending that amount of money on a bottle of perfume. When Graham bought me some last year, I was over the moon.

Where is your dream place to visit for the holiday season?

To be honest, wherever my family are. Last year it was lovely to go for a walk on the beach in Wales on Christmas Day, and if I could get everyone here for Christmas it would be amazing, but I’m happy wherever everyone else is!

Are you a pro present wrapper or do you fail miserably?

I used to be an amazing wrapper. I faffed about for hours with bows and ribbons, and my whole family would come and dump everyone’s presents on me to wrap. I literally wrapped my own present from my nan one year! Now, it’s more of a fail.  You know that meme about presents looking like they’ve been wrapped by a one-armed T-Rex or something? Yes. That’s me.

Most memorable Christmas memory?

My mum’s chair collapsing underneath her and her falling into the Christmas Tree. Opening my Christmas card from my brother and Kim last year to find out I was going to be an Auntie and also hearing Christmas songs whilst being on the beach.

What made you realise the truth about Santa?

What truth?

What makes the holidays special for you?

Seeing my kids faces when they watch their video from Santa, and watching them get excited about it all. Seeing their faces when they see Santa has eaten the mince pie and the carrot has been nibbled. I  love being able to spend time with my family, without the pressures of work and everything else. We can just sit, chat, eat, drink and fall asleep in front of the TV together. Because that’s what Christmas is all about.

I’m tagging Whisky and Milkshakes, Life of an Auntie and Mum, Mojo Blogs, Birds and Lilies, Suburban Mum and Stacey in the Sticks to write about their Christmas.