Plus our hacks for surviving the festive season
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It's nearly the holidays, baby. Cue the mass wind down as we all retreat to our sofas for some well earned rest.
For reasons I can't quite figure out, I'm struggling to feel festive this year. Last week, I thought that buying a box of mince pies might cure my Scrooge-like spirit, but alas, it didn't work. Not even a mulled wine could make my head nod along to Wham's "Last Christmas". There was only one thing left for it: I binge-watched Gilmore Girls – the staple series for the autumn to winter transition – and my all-time favourite Christmas films, Home Alone 1 and 2 in a single sitting. I might not be Buddy the Elf yet, but I'm getting there.
I imagine many of you will be taking part in the annual "winding down for the holidays" week. But before you turn on your OOO and open the Baileys, our writers have been working hard to crack the code on how to have a successful festive season.
It's no secret that sometimes Christmas brings out the worst in our inter-personal relationships. Olivia Petter looked into how to avoid arguing with your partner over money this December. Research by Monzo has found that 30 per cent of couples argue about money more over the festive season, and other research shows that couples are more likely to get into tussles over festive decisions: Who's in-laws will you visit first? Who are you buying presents for? Who is sticking to a set budget? Who are we spending Christmas day with? Who are we going on a Boxing Day walk with? There are a lot of decisions to make.
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Meanwhile, on a cheerier note, Isobel Lewis put on her woolly Xmas jumper and earmuffs to find out whether Winter Wonderland is a festive treat or a living hell.
We know that people love to mock the very festive attraction. But is that an appropriate response, or is it plain old snobbery? Lewis returned to Hyde Park's festive labyrinth for the first time in five years to find out what it's really like this year at Britain's most divisive festive culture attraction.
She writes: "Year after year, the event has got bigger, with throngs flocking to its ice rink and its London Eye-style wheel. It's now one of those things you just have to do in London at Christmas, as synonymous with the festive season as mince pies and office party hangovers.
"Skating at Somerset House is seen as chic. Skating at Winter Wonderland is seen as basic. The difference is the stereotypical groups who attend, despite everyone being at these places for the same reasons: the act of something Christmassy with loved ones, and maybe grabbing some cute pics along the way."
And, if you're feeling pretty Bah Humbug about the festive season: here are six festive traditions we think we should lose.
Until next time,
EM
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