As December's chill sets in, the quest for festive feeling begins. For many, the Christmas spirit doesn't arrive with the first mince pie, but through personal, often eccentric, rituals. Writers from The Guardian have shared their unique shortcuts to seasonal joy, offering a tapestry of modern British Christmas traditions that range from the historical to the hilariously bizarre.
From Ice Rinks to Intermittent Wrapping
For travel writer Rachel Dixon, Christmas is measured in circuits around London's ice rinks. From the budget-friendly Broadgate Circus in the early 2000s to the romanticised trips to Skate at Somerset House, her tradition continues this year with a blend of old and new: skating at the historic Hampton Court Palace and the inaugural Skate Leicester Square. The essential finale? A steaming mug of mulled wine.
Meanwhile, writer Sammy Gecsoyler advocates for 'intermittent wrapping' to avoid a last-minute panic. By wrapping a gift every few days throughout December, he not only ensures neater presents but also builds a satisfying pile that evokes the spirit of Santa himself.
Quirky Ornaments and Culinary Rituals
Some traditions begin by accident. Lifestyle editor Joe Stone received a bizarre merman Christmas tree ornament from an ex, which unlocked a peculiar passion. He now owns over a hundred mermaid and merman baubles, scouring the internet for new additions, making the unboxing each December a surreal start to the season.
In the kitchen, rituals are sacred. Writer Lizzie Cernik marks the season with her father's Christmas Eve fish pie, a tradition so steadfast she once sourced smoked haddock from six supermarkets in Dubai. For writer Chitra Ramaswamy, the festive signal is baking Nigella Lawson's clementine cake (originally Claudia Roden's recipe), filling the home with the scent of citrus and spice.
Community, Crafting and Unlikely Carols
Many rituals focus on community and craft. Writer Polly Hudson started a lockdown tradition of leaving home-baked Christmas tree biscuits on neighbours' doorsteps, an act now eagerly anticipated. Emma Russell and her siblings engage in a collaborative, often comical, decoration of the family Christmas cake, while Anita Chaudhuri crafts her own Christmas cards from photographs of London's festive lights.
The quest for festive feeling also takes more unconventional paths. Stuart Heritage finds his peak Christmas spirit in the masculine act of carrying a 7ft tree home through the streets. Guardian fashion editor Morwenna Ferrier swaps wine for wellness with friends in an outdoor sauna and cold plunge, finding spirituality under twinkling winter lights. And for writer Nell Frizzell, high art means watching Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood and listening to Paul McCartney's 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae'.
From the primal hunt for the perfect holly berry for wreath-making (Amy Fleming) to the ceremonial installation of a Father Christmas toilet seat cover (Emma Loffhagen), these rituals prove that the British Christmas spirit is alive, well, and wonderfully idiosyncratic. Whether it's a daily festive film marathon or a quiet listen to the Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, the message is clear: festive joy is a personal creation, often found in the most unexpected places.
