Despite how much I mutter about the season of mince pies and mistletoe sometimes, Christmas is absolutely one of my happiest times of the year. It’s become even more special since having kids; there’s nothing like seeing the gobsmacked delight on their faces as they open gifts on Christmas morning. Make mine a chocolate hamper please, Santa!
For me, Christmas is all about exploring London in all its festive glory, from ice skating rinks to winter wonderland pop-ups. It’s also about cosying up indoors, breaking out the Baileys and gorging myself on Christmas movies!
A few Christmas traditions that really Bring the Magic Home for our family:
Christmas Show
There’s nothing better to get you in the Christmas mood than watching a magical theatre production for children. Shows like The Snowman at Sadler’s Wells, Slava’s Snow Show at Southbank Centre and The Wind in the Willows live have been utterly enchanting for both adults and kids alike. This year, we loved Hackney Empire’s hilarious panto take on the Sleeping Beauty legend. Read our London Kid Christmas Theatre guide for more ideas!
Babes and Baubles
We buy a fairly small Christmas tree from Chapel market and, since it’s ‘child-height’, for the past three years the babes have decorated it single-handedly. They love picking out our tree and making it sparkle, and it’s my first excuse to play some cheesy Crimbo music while the babes are doing their thing.
Advent Calendars
The babes get a chocolate advent calendar every year and this year I treated myself to one too (hey, why not?). If you’re a fellow chocoholic, scroll down to see how you can win a fab Christmas chocolate hamper from Swiss chocolate masters Lindt. For the past couple of years, the boys have also been receiving mysterious letters from a Christmas elf, all the way from the North Pole. Elfie seems to have taken a break this year, although rumour has it some of her pals might be getting in touch instead!
Christmas Dinner Mash-Up
I love a traditional roast, although it’s usually chicken or lamb at ours since nobody’s crazy about turkey. Being Nigerian Brits, we like to inject a little more spice into the mix, and along with roast potatoes and gravy, you’re likely to find pepper soup or jollof rice on the menu!
What are your favourite Christmas traditions with your family?
Personalise a Lindt Teddy!
Did you know this Christmas you can personalise a Lindt chocolate teddy, complete with its own Christmas jumper — how cute is that? For every Lindt Teddy (100g and 200g), Chocolate Santa (125g) or Gold Reindeer (100g) bought online or through Lindt stores, Lindt will donate £1 to support the NSPCC and its annual Letter From Santa campaign.
Lindt pledge to donate £100,000 to the NSPCC, so why not browse their website for some Christmas inspiration? Chocolates make a fab gift for Christmas, although Lindt chocolates make almost any holiday taste better. I wish someone would personalise one of those Lindt Teddies for me (hint hint), although they’re almost too sweet to eat!
Win a Lindt Chocolate Hamper (12 Days of Xmas 2016)
Lindt chocolatiers are inviting readers to Bring the Magic Home for Christmas in a special competition, featured here as part of our 12 Days of Xmas series. You can win an amazing chocolate hamper (pictured) stacked with Lindt goodies!
Entry is simple via the Rafflecopter form below. NB: Please reload the page if the form doesn’t show and if you still can’t see it, do give us a shout at info@babesabouttown.com. Good luck!
12 Days of Xmas 2016
Every day from Dec 9 until Dec 21, I’ll be giving away a fantastic new prize so don’t forget to subscribe, follow Babes about Town on Bloglovin or just keep coming back. Visit our Competitions page to see the full list of Christmas prizes and more!
This post is in conjunction with Lindt but all thoughts are my own. Visit their website to find out more about their delicious chocolates and great recipes.
Milk & Biscuits £50 Voucher (12 Days of Xmas 2016)
We all have to sneak downstairs holding our homemade candles (made from toilet roll tubes) as we don’t want to startle Santa if he is still here…..then we check the tray we left out for him before opening pressies with the tree lights on. It is always magical seeing my children’s faces light up when they see that Santa has been and left them pressies!
I know it’s nearly Christmas when all the family gather round to watch “Elf” together (and laugh at the same jokes) – a Magic Moments for us every year :)
sitting in bed with the children on xmas morning opening their stockings :)
christmas with my MUM AND DAD
my son when he runs across the landing with his santa sack he’s 13 and still does it
celebrating Christmas with whole family, together, opening presents and watching old Xmas films
Having all the family together on Christmas Day and watching the kids open their presies excitedly
A magic moment about Christmas is when kids see that Santa and the reindeer have visited because most of the cookies are gone and the carrot tops only remain.
We love to light candles on the night and make our wishes for the other members of the family, in the coming year :)
When we turn the Christmas tree lights on for the first time.
Sneaking downstairs in the morning to see if Santa has come!
Watching a festive film all together on the sofa and playing board games
my favourite magic moment is when we all watch The Snowman on Christmas Eve
Having the decorations finally up, the giving out and receiving presents from loved ones and the look on their faces.
My favourite tradition is starting drinking at 5:30am with a glass of buck’s fizz, then onto snowballs with a bacon sandwich for breakfast!
Watching the children get excited opening their presents x
Hardly a magic moment but all I can offer is sitting on the settee with the cat on my lap watching tv …….
Going for a post dinner walk with all the family along our local canal path feeding the wildlife, thanks.x
The Christmas Lunch when we sit around the table giving each other our undivided attention
When we all sit down to dinner.
24th dec is my favourite day we watch amovie, make our christmas crackers and our traditional trifl a busy day but i love it
seeing my little ones face when she has seen that santa has been. This year she is 2 so will understand a little more and be a lot more excited!
Being woken up during the middle of the night because “santas been”
Just generally spending it with the family is magical
celebrating Christmas with whole family, together
I love the kiddies waking up in the morning and when we go downstairs i run in the lounge first so i can see their faces :-)
Seeing my sons face on Christmas morning :)
Going to the panto on christmas eve with the family
Opening presents and seeing happy faces
My favourite moment has to be that calm before the storm, otherwise known as the kids, when its just me and our cat Steve and the lit up Christmas tree its just so lovely to sit with a cup of cocoa and then call the kids down to commence the chaos!
Seeing my nieces and nephews open their presents.
sitting down to the feast, then opening presents
I love seeing our little Grandson all excited!
Christmas dinner all the way
We love baking Christmas goodies
sitting in front of a log fire roasting chestnuts
Sitting at the table together for Christmas dinner
The best is the best
Top shop
opening presents with the family
Has to be when the children wake up and run downstairs and open up their presents, those faces are memories that stay sketched in my mind
This years magical moment will be when my daughter gives her grandma a frame with a scan photo in of her great-granddaughter due next year
Hearing them opening their stockings together at ridiculous oclock in the morning !!
Seeing the excitement on the kids faces when they find their stocking at the end of the bed, they are still young enough to believe and I’m cherishing these years
Opening Stockings on our bed with the kids and going down to see their faces when they see that Santa has been x
opening santas presents together
after dinner having christmas drink with the family
Everyone sitting round the table for Christmas Lunch
Sitting down with all the family for christmas dinner then playing games after.
watching the kids open there presents
Watching the Father Christmas by Raymond briggs dvd on Christmas eve :)
When the kids get up early in the morning (usually about 2am) all excited to open their stocking :)
I love the moment when the whole family is together (mum, me, sister, brother, toddler niece who is a bit insane, dog who is very insane, mad cat) in one room and someone says something ridiculous and we’re all laughing until our tummies hurt and I look round and realise I’m exactly where I want to be. :)
Love sitting down together after dinner talking and listening to Christmas music
Watching my children’s faces light up on Christmas morning when opening their presents that Santa has left them!
When we are all sat around the dinner table and the turkey makes it’s grand entrance!
I absolutely love watching my dogs rip open their presents, they love Christmas!
Waking my family up in the morning excitedly wanting to open gifts!
Putting the tree together and placing the snowman at the top which my daughter made when she was three…
Seeing the children open Santas presents
Opening all the presents together
When my daughters come into my bedroom to share opening their stockings with me – usually silly o’clock in the morning, and then let me go back to sleep for an hour or so :D
Christmas morning is always magical in our house :)
when the kids jump on my bed on Christmas Day morning and excitedly open the presents in their stockings
my fave bit is Boxing Day lunch at the local pub :)
I love spending time with all my family and I love to watch my ‘kids’ open their presents and now I have a grandson too to watch this year! I can’t wait!
When the whole family gathers around the Christmas tree to decorate it
The kids running up the stairs after they’ve checked to see if Santa has been
After eating dinner on Christmas day, we would find envelopes that Santa had left us. One for each person, containing scraps of paper saying where in the house our presents had been hidden. We’d take turns finding a present and bringing it back to the living room to open. My brother and I always knew that ‘Santa’ was really our grandfather, and now carry on the tradition ourselves.
watching my kids faces as they open up the pressies x
we don’t celebrate Christmas. but my mothers B’day is on the 24th. so that all the family get together on that day.
love it all – the family time, the laughs and the yummy food
I love the magical feeling when my little ones discover Santa has been and gone :)
That moment in the afternoon after lunch when it is all quiet for a few moments because everyone is tired out
just getting to spend time with my family in general
Having family all together in under the same roof enjoying themselves
all the family spending some quality time together over a glass of bubbly
Having Christmas dinner with the family
Watching my kids opening their presents
I love spending every moment I can at Christmas with my kids as they don’t stay small for long. They grow up in the blink of an eye so every Christmas is precious.
love watching the family open their presents, truly magical moments watching the expressions on their faces
Most magical is kids face and screams when they wake up and realise its the big day finally.
I love relaxing with family after Christmas dinner
My magic christmas moment is when i have the whole family in my lounge with wrapping paper everywhere and really happy excited children!
seeing my grandaughters face on xmas morning is magic for me x
I love playing games with all of the family
I love spending time with my husband and daughter and playing board games after Christmas dinner.
Our Christmas morning breakfast, then a walk across the Derbyshire moors followed by lots of food and drink :-)
Watching my boys open their presents & definitely Christmas breakfast
The best time is after Christmas dinner when we all can sit down, play games, nap and just enjoy being together.
Watching the kids opening their presents
Sitting down for a big family Christmas dinner
I like our trip to Winter Wonderland every year, it really gets us in the Christmas spirit and it’s nice for us all to do something together as a family instead of working all the time
It has to be the magic and excitement in the kids eyes when they come downstairs on Christmas morning and discover father christmas has been! x
I enjoy Christmas eve when all is done and the anticipation is building, spending time with the children making and wrapping, quality magic moments shared beneath the tree
snuggling up with the kids on xmas afternoon x
Opening our presents together is always fun
Reading Christmas cracker jokes.
Our favourite Christmas moment was the year 2006 when our first born was born on 30th November made our Christmas extra special
Watching the excitement building up in the little ones. Plus I cover the living room doorway with wrapping paper so that they have to burst through it on Christmas morning to see if SANTA has been.
Every year on Xmas Eve we visit all friends and family to drop off presents; e then go to my best friends in my home town; she prepares home made ham sandwiches; i provide the cakes; We then wait for SANTA to be brought round on the back of a truck by the town council. This has been going on for year I can remember as a child waiting for Santa to come before it was bedtime; now I can share this with my own daughter 30 years later!
getting the tree out and putting up the decorations
Waking the kiddies up on xmas morning to tell them santa had been.
Our magic moment is opening our stockings all snuggled up in our bed
Sitting around the table eating our Christmas dinner and pulling crackers
When the whole family get together for the Christmas Feast everyone dressed in there best clothes and in a lovely jolly mood.
Our magical moment is decorating the tree and singing chriatmas songs. It gets us into the spirit
The most magical part is seeing my children’s faces when they come downstairs on Christmas morning and see that Santa has been. It melts my heart every time!
When we put on our Christmas cracker hats and start dinner
I love seeing the kids faces on Christmas morning when they see all the presents!
That moment when all the presents are open and everything is just together, happy and chatting. It is so relaxing and pleasurable.
Making christmas treats with my boys xx
Seeing my sons face when he comes downstairs on xmas morning
Wow, that’s fantastic news!!
My name and address are as follows
Greig Spencer
50 Falmouth Drive
Wigston
Leicester
LE182HJ
In the morning, when my little boy opens his presents. Love seeing his little face
Putting up the Christmas decorations while watching one of our favourite Christmas films – my girls are 20 and 17 but they still love doing this together!
Christmas dinner with all my family
Not sure what this comment is about Greig? The competition is still live!
I love the moment the kids first see the tree.
putting the christmas tree up
Telling silly jokes around the table
when they open presents and there is something they didn’t found before christmas , thereis huge search going on before christmas in my house but i still have secrets hiding places xxx
Watching Santa Claus the movie with my daughter.
Snuggling on the sofa under a blanket watching cheesy Christmas films
seeing my girls faces on xmas morning <3
,Christmas cake – baking with my son and decorating with my mum
Its seeing the grandchildrens faces when they get their sack/s of presents
Seeing the look in my childrens eyes when they get what they asked Santa for
Reading ‘Night Before Christmas’ at bedtime then checking the night sky for Santa – we always spot him! :)
All sitting down together for Christmas dinner, such a laugh!
when everyone is sitting around the table happily tucking in
Putting up the Christmas tree
Getting everyone together in the living room, and having the one log fire of the year! Toasty!
Taking my little girl to see Santa and there was a little train ride and Santa got in and sat next to her. Her face was a picture :)
All sitting down to eat together
On Christmas Eve when the kids are snuggled in there christmas pj’s and we all watch Elf enjoying hot chocolate with marshmallows nothing more magical than that for me x
Mt dad dresses up as a famous female celebrity and we have to guess who it is.
Sitting down as a family for Christmas dinner…sitting down together for anything nowadays is becoming increasingly rare as we lead such hectic lives – so it’s always special when it happens. x
First thing on Christmas morning when my kids find that Santa has been. Thanks for the yummy giveaway.
We open our presents on Christmas Eve at dusk, with everyone opening their presents at the same time – I like this so much more than the mad scramble on Christmas morning!
just eat all day
Seeing my children’s happy faces
Probably when my Mom complains about what my Uncle bought them for Christmas, every single year, in truth it’s just a nice distraction from the pounding hangover!
When my dad makes us all turkey on toast on Boxing Day. With cranberry sauce!
the present opening frenzy
Putting up the Christmas with my dad – a bit of father-daughter bonding!
Opening everyones presents
Just having all of my family together and watching the look of amazement on our childrens faces when they see their presents
Seeing my daughter’s face on Christmas morning when she realises Santa has been!
I love it when my boys see their presents for the first time on Christmas morning!
decorating the xmas tree together as a family
I love when the whole family sits down together for Christmas dinner.
Mine is seeing my family’s faces when they open the gifts I got them!
I love the end of the day when it’s just us in our new pjs. Snuggled on the settee watching christmas movies and eating our christmas goodies xx
Decorating the Xmas tree
I love preparing for the big day by spending Christmas Eve watching films and eating party food with my husband.
Putting the Christmas decorations up with my children.
All the excitement on christmas eve – getting in our pjs and watching santa claus the movie. Opening one small present each before bed.
when we first switch the lights on the tree
My family opening the door to us after a 6 hour drive!
watching the kids opening their presents
once they know santas been
My magical moment is watching the children open their stockings sitting on the end of my bed
When my daughter comes down the stairs and sees that santa has been
Watching family open gifts
when my daughter is the little helper and we are baking together huge batches of cakes and biscuits – we are listening to Christmas carols and music, and the house smells very Christmassy :)
Christmas breakfast with the family – hot buttered croissants and fancy coffee with cream and brown sugar :)
I love getting the snacks ready for Santa with the kids xx
It has to be checking the pillow case we used to have at the end of the bed.
Coming downstairs on Christmas Morning and seeing my children’s excited faces is magical :)
Seeing my kids faces when thay see all the presents that Santa’s left for them
Will be our daughters face this year as she has just turned tow and understands a bit about christmas now.
I love it when my partner and I snuggle up on the couch drinking white russians.
I love watching the children’s faces as they come downstairs and see that Santa has been and filled up their stockings and sacks!
I love relaxing with the family at Christmas
Watching Christmas Movies in our PJ’s with a nice hot chocolate
This year, it was seeing my 2.5 year old starting to get excited about meeting Santa on a steam train.
Watching a festive film all together
The day we put up the decs – xmas music while doing it, then a mini christmas dinner followed by christmas movies, cocoa and chocs.
Watching the grandchildren open their presents on Christmas morning
after christmas dinner sitting down with the kids and playing with their new toys and games
Christmas eve we get all 6 kids (my 2 and their cousins) and we try looking for Santa in the sky (the satellite which flies over)
having the family all around the table
Just having time to be with family and catch up on what we have all been doing
christmas with the grandchildren
I love watching Xmas Films with my family!
Creeping down the stair in the morning to see if santa has been
Watching Christmas movies .
Attending Watch Night service on Christmas Eve. An uplifting, happy and magical occasion, truly an experience that stays long in the memory :)
Xmas with the kids.
That first second that they go downstairs and see what Santa has left. Nothing beats the look on their faces at that moment.
Going to see santa and seeing the excitement on my children’s faces
On Christmas Eve when we put Santa’s mince pie and milk and a carrot out for Rudolf, the kids get so excited :-)
snuggling with my children watching xmas movies
Watching the muppets Christmas Carol with the family every Christmas Eve :) means it’s definitely Christmas!
Seeing my children’s faces when they see that Santa has been x
It is magical when everyone gets together: when I was growing up in Africa it was common that everyone got together on Christmas day, there were often over 50 people for lunch! It wasn’t about gifts, but about seeing your cousins and friends and enjoying the day with them. It was fun to pull crackers, and one year they put life size plastic flies in as the cracker gift, where as children we loved sneaking and putting the fly on some poor adults meal. Those days were magical.
My magical moment is making handmade Christmas decorations with my daughter
Watching my children un wrap there presents seeing their faces light up
I love the festive snuggles and laughter we have whilst opening pressies and watching Christmassy movies.
my fav moment is a cuppa before the mayhem starts
When the family arrive for Christmas as the fun can begin!
My 3 Waking us up in the morning and then the huge family get together on the evening xx
The look on my son’s face on Christmas morning
I think for me it’s enjoying the lights on an evenng stroll.
Christmas Eve, sitting down as a family to watch a Christmas movie whilst eating After Eights
when the smaller kids come in our room with their stockings and open them on our bed
christmas with the family xx
we love the build up to Christmas watching movies and sorting the tree with the decorations and all the excitement of the big day coming
Spending Christmas with family is magical for me x
Lindt chocolate is delicious!