These are wonderful questions!!!!
Christmas to New Year Plans
What do you do? Boxing Day we all go to Mum's for leftovers and a rehash of the day. Many of our family joke that this is when we start preparing for the next Christmas. I say strike while the iron is hot.
Do you have to go to your job or do you take vacation time? Both DH and my workplaces close between Christmas and New Year.
Depending what days I am off I will need to take paid leave but it is something that we expect so make sure that I have enough holidays saved.
In 2021, I am taking the first week in January off so that I can enjoy a bit more time at home.
Do you sit back and relax for the week? We do a few different things. We might go up to the farm for a few days, or we may just sit here and relax. Last year I was very behind getting things done and was working putting away Christmas until the very last day before I went back to work. This year I will be putting Christmas away earlier so that I can enjoy my break.
Do you have Christmas gatherings with extended family or friends? Last year we got together with DD and DFSIL the Saturday before Christmas for a more informal Christmas Eve. We find with everyone working that getting together on Christmas Eve makes for a very long day. We really enjoyed the Saturday and I am planning to do that again this year if able to. On Christmas morning the kids come over and we open gifts and have breakfast. They then go to DFSIL parents and we go to my Mum's. It has been many, many years since we have had any real get togethers with friends or extended family. Ilove the ideas of big Christmas parties, it just is not something we do.
Do you shop after Christmas sales? I have done the Boxing Day sales but really don't enjoy them. I find that there are a lot of sales that go all January long so will wait a week or so after Christmas and then venture out. It is a bit hit and miss, if we get a bargain, great, if not that is OK too. Over the last year or two I have been buying things that I need before Christmas. The card writing and gift wrapping is done early and I write a list of what supplies I might need for the new year. I try and make a list of craft items I might need too. Before Christmas the items start to go on clearance so I buy things then rather than wait to the new year when the choices may be limited. I often pick up a few things that will be the start of my Christmas shopping for the new year. There is a certain thrill to getting a good Christmas bargain.
Do you plan a New Year's Eve party? We do not do a NYE party. We are a pretty quiet bunch here and a very small family.. Traditionally we buy Chinese food and we all get together and enjoy the last meal of the year. We will watch a movie or just sit outside (it is hot here) and chat the evening away. We may set goals for the new year and at some stage will set of some poppers and sparklers. We sometimes stay up to midnight but we often don't make it up that late.
Do you pack Christmas away for another year? I try and get Christmas away before I go back to work the first week of January. After last year I am hoping to get Christmas packed away before NYE this year.
Do you reflect on Christmas and start plans for the next year? Mum and I are great Christmas planners. I really like the planning more than the event. I love the anticipation. Mum and I will do a quick recap on Boxing Day but will get together on the first Thursday of the new year and do a planning day. We will talk about what worked, what didn't, what quantities we had, was there enough, too much? We will plan a menu and write a quick shopping list and divide between us what we will buy. We will talk about what gifts were a hit, were the stocking fillers OK? I love starting the new year with a fresh plan in place.
Do you feel the letdown that it’s over or do you plan a project or something exciting to avoid the letdown? I always feel a great let down after Christmas that lasts for a fair while. It is hot here so it is hard to get stuck into major projects but I do a lot of planning and dreaming.
I need to really focus on getting back to normal as quickly as I can.