Wishing you a Merry Christmas
from
Linda Huber
I was four years old and my present from Santa was a yellow scooter. I remember uncovering it on Christmas morning (my parents had draped it with one of the nineteen tablecloths they received as wedding presents) and just standing there gobsmacked – a scooter! Oddly, my mother was actually in hospital over Christmas that year, but I have no recollection of that at all.
I live in Switzerland so Christmas is a mixture of British and Swiss traditions. The Christmas trees here don’t go up till the 24th, and that’s when the Christ-child brings the presents, too, in the evening while the family are eating in another room. After the meal everyone congregates in the living room and presents are opened and played with. This has the advantage that the children aren’t up at 4 a.m. on the 25th…
‘White Christmas’ does it for me every time!
It’s not exactly festive but it’s on most years and I usually watch it – The Sound of Music.
And of course The Snowman with its beautiful theme song.
I don’t really have one. Mary Higgins Clark’s Silent Night is a good Christmas read, but I don’t have anything I read traditionally over the holiday. Usually I’m only too glad to have a little extra time to catch up on my to-be-read list!
I used to be extremely organised out of sheer necessity – Christmas presents to the UK from Switzerland have to be in the post at the beginning of December for guaranteed arrival by the 24th. Nowadays we give to charity so that’s easier. Food shopping tends to be a bit last-minute in our house. I’ve stood in many a long queue at the supermarket on Christmas Eve!
Christmas Tree – real or artificial?
When the kids were small we always had a real one. Now we have an artificial one, but it’s the ornaments that are important. We have so many the boys made themselves over the years. The tiny flowerpot bell, the glue-gun stars, and of course the toilet paper angel. She always has pride of place!
In a word – both!
I’ve never tried either but Gingerbread Latte sounds a wee bit OTT so I’ll go for Orange spiced hot choc. You can’t go wrong with chocolate and orange…
I love mince pies but unless one of my expat friends brings mincemeat we don’t get them in Switzerland. I remember my mother making them, oh, the aroma when they came out of the oven!
In Switzerland the tradition is flexible – some families go for baked ham and potatoes, some have cheese or (more usually, at Christmas) meat fondue, or Raclette. This is a dish where you have a table-grill and everyone has a little pan of cheese to melt, and the result is eaten with potatoes, gherkins and pickles onions, olives etc.
Nothing can beat The Christmas Sherry in our house. Longstanding family tradition, a bottle of sherry over Christmas…
We have a traditional Swiss Christmas dinner on the evening of the 24th, after which the family open their presents, which generally takes care of the whole evening. The 25th is a day to visit more family and friends, and generally relax, eat the leftovers and do your own thing. Which could include charades and chocolates and the television!
Linda is offering one copy of her latest book Cold Cold Sea to one lucky winner of this giveaway
(Europe only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Linda Huber
What’s your earliest
Christmas Memory?
I was four years old and my present from Santa was a yellow scooter. I remember uncovering it on Christmas morning (my parents had draped it with one of the nineteen tablecloths they received as wedding presents) and just standing there gobsmacked – a scooter! Oddly, my mother was actually in hospital over Christmas that year, but I have no recollection of that at all.
Do you have any special
Christmas Traditions?
I live in Switzerland so Christmas is a mixture of British and Swiss traditions. The Christmas trees here don’t go up till the 24th, and that’s when the Christ-child brings the presents, too, in the evening while the family are eating in another room. After the meal everyone congregates in the living room and presents are opened and played with. This has the advantage that the children aren’t up at 4 a.m. on the 25th…
What’s your favourite
festive carol or song?
‘White Christmas’ does it for me every time!
Do you have a
favourite festive film?
It’s not exactly festive but it’s on most years and I usually watch it – The Sound of Music.
And of course The Snowman with its beautiful theme song.
What’s your favourite
festive read?
I don’t really have one. Mary Higgins Clark’s Silent Night is a good Christmas read, but I don’t have anything I read traditionally over the holiday. Usually I’m only too glad to have a little extra time to catch up on my to-be-read list!
Are you organised or
do you leave everything until the last minute?
I used to be extremely organised out of sheer necessity – Christmas presents to the UK from Switzerland have to be in the post at the beginning of December for guaranteed arrival by the 24th. Nowadays we give to charity so that’s easier. Food shopping tends to be a bit last-minute in our house. I’ve stood in many a long queue at the supermarket on Christmas Eve!
Christmas Tree – real or artificial?
When the kids were small we always had a real one. Now we have an artificial one, but it’s the ornaments that are important. We have so many the boys made themselves over the years. The tiny flowerpot bell, the glue-gun stars, and of course the toilet paper angel. She always has pride of place!
Tinsel or Glitter?
In a word – both!
Gingerbread Latte or
Orange spiced Hot Chocolate?
I’ve never tried either but Gingerbread Latte sounds a wee bit OTT so I’ll go for Orange spiced hot choc. You can’t go wrong with chocolate and orange…
Mince Pie or Yule
Log?
I love mince pies but unless one of my expat friends brings mincemeat we don’t get them in Switzerland. I remember my mother making them, oh, the aroma when they came out of the oven!
Christmas Dinner –
Traditional Turkey or something Different?
In Switzerland the tradition is flexible – some families go for baked ham and potatoes, some have cheese or (more usually, at Christmas) meat fondue, or Raclette. This is a dish where you have a table-grill and everyone has a little pan of cheese to melt, and the result is eaten with potatoes, gherkins and pickles onions, olives etc.
Christmas Tipple – Bucks
Fizz/Mulled Wine or something stronger?
Nothing can beat The Christmas Sherry in our house. Longstanding family tradition, a bottle of sherry over Christmas…
A fun game of after
dinner charades or more chocolates and the television?
We have a traditional Swiss Christmas dinner on the evening of the 24th, after which the family open their presents, which generally takes care of the whole evening. The 25th is a day to visit more family and friends, and generally relax, eat the leftovers and do your own thing. Which could include charades and chocolates and the television!
Linda is offering one copy of her latest book Cold Cold Sea to one lucky winner of this giveaway
(Europe only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My thanks to Linda for sharing her Christmas with us.
Jaffa and I wish you a very Happy Christmas
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I have really enjoyed your 'Itty Bitty' feature - Merry Christmas to you and Jaffa and all your readers and writers!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy - Glad you've enjoyed all these festive posts - a very Merry Christmas to you too :)
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