Christmas traditions… all families have them!

Since I was a little girl, we’ve always had strong family traditions. My nan was a lover of Christmas and always made the Christmas pudding, the trifle and of course the brandy cream sauce. We even had pudding charms, which are inserted into the pudding. The original tradition was threepence, however we replaced it with silver charms. However, each year one or two disappeared… the conclusion being that they went down with the pudding in a mouthful - we always had a laugh after when washing up!

All this eating, of course, is all followed by an afternoon nap. Mainly the men, to be honest! It’s always a part of the day, and then leftovers for dinner.

My mum and Jess (my daughter) are now the pudding-makers, starting a month or so out from the big day along with lots of other Christmas favourites like shortbread, fruit mince pies, almond bread and other biscuits. Jess has started adding some raw “healthy” options too, such as Christmas Balls and Almond Cacao Slice.

At age 79, my amazing mum still pulls off a full Christmas party prior to Christmas Day – she’s incredible!

This year, we have our friends the Bergers from Minnesota, USA, joining us for an Australian Christmas. Since they’re covered in snow for eight months of the year, we’re really hoping Mother Nature will be kind and they experience their first summer beach Christmas. (Although it’s looking like rain at the moment!) We will also do turkey and all the trappings, along with an Australian tradition of fresh prawns, which I’m sure most of you enjoy too.

We love to open our home to friends to drop in and celebrate the day, and are so lucky to have some friends who have no family close by so make us part of their own traditions.

Christmas actually spreads across weeks, which I love! It’s all about catching up with girlfriends, friends and family. This year, all the girls in the family and Kristen Berger - our visitor from the US - will spend some girl-time shopping and doing high tea while the men and boys do an adrenaline activity. Not sure what they have planned yet, but watch this space!

I hope that whatever you’re doing, whether it’s an old tradition or new one, that yourChristmas is happy and full of love and joy.

Merry Christmas!

Jen x