It’s the second of December! You can say it and spray it! It’s Christmas!

At the age of 30, I have finally come round to liking Christmas. As I type this, I have opened my first Christmas bottle of Prosecco (the first of several) and just come home from purchasing my first box of mince pies for this season. I, am officially on it!

Prior to this, I had largely been indifferent to Christmas and there is no one specific reason why, rather just lots of little reasons. These included, being  part of an international family and so, knowing we would be apart on the day, the absolute nonsense around buying Christmas presents, and the cabin fever that I start to experience on Christmas day, usually around 8 am. All of these and others are gnawing little reasons to dislike this time of year. Add to that, I am not even particularly religious, so I can’t connect to the religious significance either.

But, it finally dawned on me last year to just let it go. So you feel like a caged hen on Christmas Day? Big deal! It is just one day. Buying Christmas presents cheeses you off? Set a limit and stick to it. That you way you don’t, as I used to, feel like your bank account is being fucked in the arse and not at all in a pleasurable way. Apart from your family? Then assuming you like them and talk to each other, make the most of the beautiful internet and skype.

I have come to enjoy Christmas by finding the bits that I like and doing lots of that. Prosecco? Check! Food? Check! Christmas festivals? Check! Mentally and emotionally checking out of work? Check!  Christmas films? Check! December started less than 48 hours ago and I am already on my fourth Christmas film and I am in no danger of running out of others. Yes, yes, I know this is all commercialised bullshit and not what Christmas is about. But I also remember to give back, which is another reason I like this time of year.

There will always be things that annoy me about the season. Christmas day itself, is not really the main event for me. And it does my head in how early all the advertising starts.

Speaking of advertising, what is with all the major clothing brands wanting to sell you clothes to go to Christmas parties? Who is actually going to all these fancy get togethers? I don’t know anyone who goes to more than two! Your office party and maybe a friend’s party or the one at the sports club you went to a few times. Are you going to a million parties? All I know is I am not being invited to any glamorous gatherings, which is a travesty in itself.

All that and despite my best efforts I am still prone to panicking about presents. And some Christmas songs are really awful (that song by The Pogues for a start).  

But still…bring it on.