A Terribly British Christmas

Hannah Butler shares her quintessentially English Christmas Day…

IN my household, Christmas Day traditionally starts early. The current record for me and my sister trooping into our parents’ room with manic grins and stockings in hands is currently 5am  – completely oblivious, of course, to the fact that said parents had been forced to stay awake until well into the early hours, due to the overexcited “can’t sleep” routines we inevitably made them endure.

The early mornings are still a prominent feature of Christmas Day though, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Those first few waking minutes, in which I lie in bed, heart pounding like that giddy 8-year-old who can already see the shadow of a filled stocking in the gap of light issuing from the bedroom door… that’s Christmas for me. That feeling continues as the family crams onto our parents’ bed, bleary eyed and giggly, exchanging Merry Christmases between yawns.

Image Credit: paparutzi

Over the years, this scene has evolved: a couple of years ago, my sister and I surprised our parents by buying and filling stockings for them, an act which has stuck. Last year’s stocking routine undoubtedly beat the previous year’s hands-down though: reaching the end of the presents, as my sister pulled out the obligatory orange that was to go straight back into the fruit bowl, I shook out my stocking and complained to my parents that they’d forgotten mine. Exchanging puzzled glances, they admitted that actually, they hadn’t put oranges in either of our stockings this year. This was when, taking a closer look, we realised that what was in my sister’s hand was last year’s orange, completely fossilised after twelve months in the bottom of her wardrobe. Disgusting, of course, but it left us crying with laughter. That moment made my Christmas last year. Not just the fossilised fruit – although that was pretty impressive – but the four of us sharing a moment of utter hilarity and closeness we don’t get to experience too often any more.

Christmas is full of special moments. I know that this year, like always, I’ll go to bed exhausted but unspeakably thankful that on this special day I can surround myself with those I love and cherish

This year though, I’ll also be donating to Crisis at Christmas, reserving a place for someone less fortunate than myself to enjoy warmth, company, support and advice on 25 December. For my family, Christmas is a day to over-indulge, and enjoy each other’s company. However, projects like this offer hope and support, changing lives and proving Christmas can be special in more ways than one.

Hannah Butler

Christmas In Krakow!

Whilst most people are welcoming the Christmas holidays as an opportunity for topping up that uni weight with mince pies, settling down with the relatives and dosing up on eggnog, there’s a whole world of opportunities out there that don’t involve mindless present purchasing and family arguments over a burnt turkey.

Europe is famous for its Christmas markets and if you’re going to head anywhere this holidays, Krakow, Poland, is the place to go!

Are you looking for culture? Unlike the British model of a consumerist Christmas, the Christmas calendar in Poland is full of customs and traditions that reveal a truly different attitude to the holidays. In Poland, Christmas Day is reserved for family and celebrations of Christ, instead everyone exchanges gifts on 6^th December and the rest of advent is spent spiritually preparing for Christmas, rather than dashing into town to buy a last minute gift of socks for that cousin you haven’t seen in years.

The Christmas market boasts a huge range of foods, drinks, gifts and souvenirs and is open until the 8^th of January, and if you’re after food then the traditional Christmas Eve feast tends to comprise of 12 courses! Then there’s Christmas itself, Three Kings Day on January 6^th and the Christmas season doesn’t officially end until February 2^nd, which leaves a lot of time for Christmas cheer.

Krakow Christmas Markets
Photo Credit – thenigo.com

What if you’re looking for the party? Krakow allegedly has the highest density of bars in the world, and if you’ve ever tried polish vodka you’ll know the hype is worthy. Top up your glasses with Żubrówka (Bison Grass) and Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka (spiced with bitter orange and cloves) and sample Polish vodka as it’s meant to be.

Or if beer’s more your thing, then a large one won’t set you back more than £1.50. Krakow also boasts some of the best cocktail bars in Europe, every cellar seems to comprise a bar serving up Szarlotka. All this and no kick out time, if you’re still drinking they’re still pouring. I couldn’t think of a better place to be for New Years Eve.

Maybe you’re looking for history? Krakow is bursting at the seams with history. Wawel Castle and Cathedral are truly magnificent and date back to the 1300s, but it is Krakow’s recent history that is most compelling. You can visit the site of Płaszów Concentration Camp and take in the haunting memorial to its victims, stop by at Schindler’s factory, visit the former Jewish quarter or take a tour and visit the sites where the film Schindler’s List was filmed.

For a truly sobering experience Auschwitz is nearby and somewhere everyone should visit for a reminder of humanities true capacity for cruelty, nothing can prepare you for the reality of it; Auschwitz-Birkenau is so vast you can’t see from one end to the other. The thing about Krakow is that no matter how major or minor your interest in history you need only walk around the town to learn something, you’re surrounded by history from the cities conception to its development under communist rule, and even graffiti serves as a chilling reminder of the cities past.

Basically, go to Krakow. Krakow’s brilliance as a city lies in the fact that you can go there and do none of the above and still have an amazing time; there’s so much to see and explore and even if you go there and do nothing at all it’s such an engaging city to visit!

It’s beautiful year round, but go over Christmas and you can embrace the culture and immerse yourself in the traditions. The Amber Market, Lover’s Bridge and the Wawel Dragon all get better with the holiday atmosphere, the crispness of winter and draped in Christmas lights. All this and you can fly there for around £40. (Oh, and the Poles themselves are pretty friendly too!)

Genevieve Kotarska

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RAG Christmas Market on campus today

Image credit: RAG Exeter

RAG will be decking out the Forum Piazza in all kinds of festive cheer as they hold their inaugural Christmas Market today.

The Market will run from 11-4 and will be packed with festive entertainment, including: performances from Big Band, Choral Society, and A-cappella Society; a Reindeer Rodeo (with a £10 first prize, and they’ll even be ensuring we do get a white Christmas on the English Riviera with a snow machine.

Alongside the entertainment will, of course, be a range of stalls so you can get an early start on your Christmas Shopping.

Emma White, RAG member and organiser of the Christmas Markets, told us, “’The Christmas Market is a brand new venture for RAG, and something we’re looking to establish as a key event in the upcoming years. We’ve got stalls stocking goods from crepes to burgers, vintage clothes to bottled wine, so it will be a great time to grab lunch and stock up on Christmas presents. We’ll set the scene with a snow machine and reindeer rodeo (£10 for whoever can stay on the longest!) and performances throughout the day.”

Third year Arab and Islamic Studies student, Georgia Harrison said she cannot wait to see what the market has to offer “especially as they’re conveniently on campus” however she is hoping that it’s “not as expensive as the overpriced one on the Cathedral Green.”

James Smurthwaite, Online Screen Editor

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