Grown up in Asia and Oceania and lived there for most of my life, this is my very first Christmas in Europe — and wow, what a new experience it has been!
What Christmas Meant to Me Growing Up 🎁
From as early as I can remember, I always knew Santa didn’t exist. If I wanted something, I had to be good and tell my parents what I wanted directly. Looking back, I wonder if this made me less creative and took some of the “magic” out of Christmas. Maybe it shaped how I see the season now.
As I got older, Christmas became about social gatherings — hopping between friends’ houses, party rooms, and the like. It was fun to see everyone (might have been a bit too much), but the whole gift exchange thing? Honestly, I never really enjoyed it. Most of the presents were things I didn’t need, and Christmas just felt like a cycle of exchanging or gifting things for the sake of it: consumerism.
Christmas in the UK: A Whole New Vibe 🎄+🏠
Fast forward to my first Christmas in the UK, and it feels completely different. Yes, the festive spirit is everywhere — the sparkling lights on Regent Street and Piccadilly, Christmas music playing in every shop, and the iconic Christmas markets with ornaments, mulled wine, and cozy treats. I loved the big ornaments at the markets — some were huge, like 10cm in diameter — but at £15 each, I couldn’t justify it (not until I have a proper big tree to decorate, anyway).
But the real Christmas — Christmas Day itself — everything shuts down. Even the tube and buses stop running. Everyone goes home. Spends time in their homes, with family. The street are eerily quiet. It actually felt great knowing the bus and train drivers etc actually have a day off to spend with their family, and no one (or rarely anyone) would have to be missing out precious time with their closest loves.
Yes even the supermarkets close completely. Thankfully, I knew ahead of time and stocked up the fridge. Me and my partner don’t really do Christmas gifts, so instead, we spent the holiday cooking all our meals at home and sending greetings to friends and family.
What I Cooked 🍴
This year, we went from barely cooking to making three meals a day during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Here’s what I whipped up (and yes, I’m proud of myself!):
- All-Day Breakfast: Scotch eggs, sweet potato, eggs — the works!
- Coconut Chicken Soup 椰子雞湯: Asian-style, with corn and carrot, so warming and wholesome. Tip: BackpaCooking makes a very easy version of this that I followed!
- Mushroom and Chicken Rice 北菇雞飯: Made from a giant pack of chicken thighs with my rice cooker only (1kg goes a long way!).
- Salmon Wellington and Mussels with Baked Potatoes: A bit of a fancy twist, courtesy of Tesco.
- Sparkling Apple Juice: My festive drink of choice this year — perfect for celebrating.
It felt so different from how I used to spend Christmas in Asia, where it was all about dining out at fancy restaurants. This year was cozy, personal, and delicious.
New UK Traditions I Discovered 🎁✨
- Pulling Christmas Crackers:
At a team social dinner, I pulled my very first Christmas cracker — and totally messed it up. I thought it was a ribboned gift and ended up breaking it! What a newbie move. But hey, now I know, and I’m ready for next time. - Opening Presents on Christmas Day:
I always thought presents were opened on Boxing Day (I mean, it’s called Boxing Day, right?). Turns out, it’s actually on Christmas Day. Now I know for the future!
My Favourite Holiday Memory 🌟
One of my favourite memories was a fancy Christmas dinner I had out one year. It was extravagant, the view was too beautiful, a bit over the top, but a kind of happiness. Sometimes, treating yourself to moments like that makes the festive season extra special.
My Vision for Future Traditions 🎄
Being here has made me think about what kind of traditions I’d love to create in the future. Here’s what I’m dreaming up:
- Fun Games: Starting a debate club game where people argue for or against random topics like “Fruit is good/bad” or “Should Christmas be renamed Winter Holidays?” It’d be hilarious and spark great conversations.
- Kiddy Games: Something silly like moving marbles from one place to another in a timed race.
- Pecha Kucha Presentations: Quick-fire, fun presentations on random topics with friends.
- Festive Drinks: Drinking sparkling tea every Christmas!
- Classic Traditions: Eating turkey, decorating the tree, and creating magical moments with my (future) kids.
What Christmas Is Really About ❤️
Ultimately, Christmas doesn’t have to look a certain way. Whether it’s extravagant, quiet, or somewhere in between, it’s about the people you’re with and the memories you create. This year was simple, cozy, and full of firsts — and I can’t wait to see how my Christmas traditions evolve in the years to come! How about yours?