I love nothing better than cosying up under blankets with a hot chocolate, a tin of Celebrations and something winteresque on the TV. But for my PERFECT Christmas it would just have to contain a little bit of Greek!
One Christmas Kiss In Notting Hill
I am very lucky to have a house on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu and I spent my very first big, fat, Greek Easter there this year… but I would love to share winter celebrations too.
There are many Greek traditions that are similar to our own here in the UK. Children go carol singing, often accompanied by a triangle, to their neighbours’ houses where they will receive a small amount of money. There are sparkling lights, often on boats instead of trees – as Saint Nicholas is also the protector of sailors – and there is a celebratory atmosphere from December 6th until the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th).
In many parts of Greece a pomegranate is hung above the door and once the fruit has dried, at the beginning of the New Year, it is dropped and broken. Greeks then step into their house on the right foot to bring good luck into the house for the next year.
Corfu has weather seasons just like the UK and last year it had quite a considerable snowfall with many of my friends posting videos of crisp white roads and flurries all over rooftops! I find it hard to imagine how my scorching summer escape can be so different in December!
My perfect Greek Christmas would be wrapping up warm and heading to the beach for long, winter walks by the sea or taking to the olive groves to meander through the tracks under a cool blue sky. Of course Christmas would always involve lots of friends and family and that all important celebration feast! There’s nothing better than stuffing yourself with turkey and all the trimmings before indulging in mulled wine and figgy pudding. But a touch of Greek cuisine wouldn’t go amiss… a bit of feta cheese on the Jacob’s crackers or some sweet baklava for pudding.
This year I will be in the UK for Christmas visiting family for time together and those all-important board games – our favourites are Trivial Pursuit, Dobble and Taboo! Just like Isla and Hannah in One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill!
School productions, music concerts and parties will fill the run up to the big day and then it’s time to relax, re-charge and look forward to 2018! Here’s to a fantastic Christmas season for everyone, full of good times and happy memory-making!
One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot is published by Ebury Press, available to buy now, £6.99