What is it that makes it feel like xmas / yule in your house?

[Mrs Dobby]

Only 11 days to go till the big day now, so I hope everyone's preparations are going well! But after all the running around and spending, what exactly is it that makes you feel like it's christmas?

If you had to, what would be the one thing that you would say made you feel as though the season has arrived?

It could be the decorations in your house, seeing Santa in the stores, the semll of mince pies and pine, the movies on telly, receiving your first xmas card or something else! Come on, share just what it is that pushes your seasonal button!

For me the season officially starts when the last xmas bike has been collected and I can lock the store up at 5pm on xmas eve, its only at that point that I know everything is over now at work and I can relax and have a nice relaxing day without any real worries (and a couple of days off)!

Getting home after that, kicking off my shoes, curling up with a nice meal and a glass (or three) of wine and knowing that I have a lovely meal to cook and eat the following day is just one of those feelings that I cant describe, but one that makes me feel relaxed and as tho the season has finally arrived!

[Lesley Jay]

It must be putting up the Christmas trees and decorating them with my Christmas CD playing.

[beefy]

Christmas for me is all about the decorations and the kids .Love all the old songs like Sinatra etc .Absolutely hate the shopping centres ,piped musac etc .Most of all its about the meal Im a self confessed foodie and Christmas dinner is the one meal I just wont miss every year.Also love getting out on Boxing Day to do a little clay pidgeon shooting and meeting up with my mates .
All credit to Mrs Beefy - she puts up the decorations .

[Shortie]

I can't explain why but it really doens't feel lile Christmas is ready to drop in on us.. Argh!!

I've got the pressies bought, but no cards written yet and it just doesn't feel right

[Lesley Jay]

Shortie I feel exactly the same this year but I am hoping when I decorate the trees at weekend that finally the feeling of Christmas will emerge.

[Mrs Dobby]

Nice tree and decorations Beefy!

Lol! If that wouldnt make you feel christmassy Lj, then I dont know what would!

Shortie, I know exactly what you mean! Even at work it doesnt feel like December yet, let alone 11 shopping days til xmas! It just doesnt feel like its happening yet at all, and that seems to be right through retailers everywhere!

[madderbat]

I know it's Christmas when I get the veg prepped the night before, Carols from Kings on the radio and all quiet on the street. For a busy residential street near the station, its noticable when the traffic stops.
We haven't decorated for the past few years - no smalls to entertain, so it doesn't seem worth it.
I used to love it when our son was tiny. That's when the magic really comes into play, but it can be magical for us elders. This year we might go for a walk to the lottie with a blessing of blackberry wine for the earth and a hope for spring.

[beefy]

Another three for you all.

[Alice]

Nice pics Beefy. Thanks for letting us see them. I never get that feeling til Christmas Eve. It's when I switch on the tree, light the fire and have everything ready for my guests (we always entertain on Christmas eve) that I get that Christmas feeling. I have to say I hate the commercialism of most of it.

[andrewo]

We spent a fortune on a fake tree, I always find cutting down real trees a terrible shame. Put it up tonight and we haven't dressed it yet, it's 7 foot and fills most of the cottage and makes it feel like christmas, bigger than me, so reminds me of being a child again.

[Alison]

Made some cranberry chutney on Sunday so the house smelt Christmassy and then OH worked out how to copy an old Christmas LP onto CD so we had traditional songs playing - felt like Christmas morning. Mind you, all that feeling had gone by the time I woke up on Monday morning to the sound of yet more rain! Haven't decorated the house yet so maybe when we do the tree on Saturday I'll get into the spirit.

[yoanbob]

The week before i go my mums and do the decorations and to clean the house from top to bottom while xmas songs are playing (its a big house so takes three of us all day!)
but it still isnt xmas till xmas eve, all the veg is prepped and we sit down in frount of the roaring fire have our first mulled wine and watch the muppets xmas carol.
bliss!

[Earthbabe]

Definitely the lights after dark with the uplighter on and christmas "songs" on the cd player. I know christmas is here when the meat arrives home with my neighbour (from his shop), the table decoration is done, mulled wine is in the pan and I've finally managed to tidy the house enough to go to bed without fretting. Once the presents are under the tree I'm nearly there. However as we are away this year it's all looking a bit bare at the mo. We will take Miss E into the city centre to look at the lights/german market/farmers' market/mooch on saturday. There will be an ice rink this year but we will probably have to try that out when we get back from Jersey.

Beefy, love the photos, not sure about the santa in the train but the swags and things are great.

[mandyballantyne]

Normally it feels like Christmas when the tree goes up and the house smells of pine and cinimin and cloves.

Well the tree is up, lights on the tree outside too ( 3 times now as they keep blowing off!) The house smells great.

But it doesn't feel like Christmas, what can I do to get into the spirit of things?

[Mrs Dobby]

Join in the grapevine virtual xmas pantmime perhaps Mandy?