Unwrap It! December 24th – Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

What a magical day. The anticipation of Christmas Eve is unlike anything else. It’s really hard to describe it. It’s just like a different magic that you cannot comprehend. I’ve spent today as I’ve spent all other Christmas Eves – with my favourite tiny human who now really gets it and is super excited. We spread reindeer food and did some Christmas crafting. It’s been perfect.

So, this Christmas Eve morning was the time to open the last book in my book advent calendar. It’s a wonderfully festive read and again one I’ve never read before! I’ve even finished the book from yesterday, The Last Thing To Burn which was a great read. I just couldn’t put it down so stayed up till quite late to finish it. I’m sad it’s come to an end but it’s been an incredible experience. I’ve absolutely loved it and I will definitely be doing it again next year.

December 24th:

Finally, for those of you who have followed my blog for some time, you may remember that every year I also take part in the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod on Christmas Eve. This year I was gifted the stunning festive edition of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. It’s absolutely beautiful and will sit proudly on my bookcase.

So, whilst I settle in this Christmas Eve evening with my beautiful book, all that’s left for me to say is, a very, Merry Christmas to you all. Have a wonderful day tomorrow full of peace and happiness.

I’ll be back after Christmas to review the book I chose to complete my reading challenge – it might surprise you because it’s not my usual genre or style at all. Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas again!

Big love xxxx

Christmas Eve!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Christmas Eve! Just a short post from me today to wish you all the merriest of Christmases filled with love, joy and all your wishes, hopes and dreams. For me, Christmas Eve has been truly special as I’ve spent the day with my best friend and her daughter, my god-daughter. I love Christmas because of all my own childhood memories and surprises I can now give to my family now I’m older, but it’s a different kind of special now my she can understand. She’s very very excited!

You may also remember that I always take part in the Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition, Jolabokaflod or (The Book Flood) on Christmas Eve. Books are exchanged for gifts so the whole evening can be spent reading. The book I received was The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories edited by Jessica Harrison. I’ve read a few already but I am going to leave some for next year too as it really is a beautiful collection of stories I’ve mostly never heard of. Also, I’m so grateful because it’s a lovely edition. Anyway, the story I have chosen for Christmas Eve is, ‘Christmas’ by Tove Jansson. It reminded me of me as a child, of all the small people I have in my life now for the magic and wonder of Christmas.

For me, it’s the opening and the ending of this story that I absolutely love because it is just so relatable to me. You want to be swept away with joy and wonder as a child. Let’s face it, we all want that as an adult too! For me, this story does that. I’ve read it twice in the process of writing this post as well actually!

‘The smaller you are, the bigger Christmas is. Underneath the Christmas Tree, Christmas is vast. It is a green jungle with red apples and sad, peaceful angels twirling around on cotton thread keeping watch over the entrance to the primeaval forest. In the glass balls the primaeval forest is never-ending; Christmas is a time when you feel absolutely safe, thanks to the Christmas tree.’

‘I crept into the green primaeval forest and pulled out parcels. Now the feeling of love under the branches of the tree was almost unbearable, a compact feeling of holiness…forgiving everything during the year that was past…forgiving everything on earth as long as they could be sure that everybody loved one another.’

Now, I’m going to sit by the fire and read a bit more ready for the big day tomorrow. All that’s left for me to say is have a very merry Christmas and happy reading!

Big love all xxx

How Winston Delivered Christmas – Alex T Smith

Hello Loves!

Happy Christmas Eve! 🎅🏻🤶🏻 I’m very excited for Christmas. It’s such a beautiful time of year and a time where we can all take a moment and reflect upon anything and everything. For me, it is such an important time because I spend it with my lovely family.

But first, time to share with you and Advent calendar of different sorts today: a book. I spotted this last year and amazingly I’ve managed to remember it and read it this year. I hope you enjoy this review as much as I did reading it.

Overview

This little gem of a book is told in twenty four and a half chapters. The idea is to read a chapter a day from December 1st until Christmas Day (the half chapter being for Christmas morning but I’ve already read it in preparation for this post!)

This book gave me a huge, warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It’s just ridiculously cute. The story follows a little mouse called Winston. He’s a small but mighty character which a huge heart. On Christmas Eve he finds a letter addressed to Father Christmas. He makes his mission to ensure it gets delivered in time for Christmas.

His journey is full of great challenges but he does meet some equally lovely characters along the way. He meets a beautiful white cat and a very helpful rat who works at the world famous Fortesque Department Store.L

Winston is so lovely and just wants the letter to be delivered. He doesn’t stop at anything and doesn’t let anything get in his way. For such a small character, he is one brave mouse.

By the end of the advent story, he is rewarded with a lovely new home and a plush warm bed, just in time for Christmas.

Final Thoughts

This is a perfect Christmas story. It features cute, fuzzy creatures, Father Christmas, lovely food and good deeds. It’s ideal if you have little ones too – it’s just so magical. I also really love the fact that it’s an advent story. This time of year is so crazy busy that it’s just perfect to have a little chapter before bed each night.

This book is for absolutely everyone. There’s nothing to not like about it and the illustrations, created by Smith, are just stunning too. What’s also beautiful is the range of activities throughout which you can do with your family. I particularly like the letter to Father Christmas, making pom-poms and snow gloves. Just heavenly!

Lastly, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Have a lovely day with your loved ones. Make some beautiful memories.🎄🎁

Big love all xx

Christmas Traditions: Christmas Eve!

Hello Festive Friends!

Happy Christmas Eve! I can’t quite believe it’s here. I absolutely love this time of year and what it stands for. For me, Christmas is about spending time with family and loved ones as well as time for reading plenty under a warm snuggly blanket with a hot beverage.

I’ve added a cheeky Polaroid of my beautiful Christmas tree to share with you all. There’s nothing more beautiful than a dressed tree, standing proud in all its glory. 🎄

My post today is all about Christmas traditions. Around the world people have different traditions for the Christmas season. In fact, before Queen Victoria’s reign we didn’t even celebrate Christmas in England. No one had even heard of Santa Claus or knew what a Christmas cracker was. Cards weren’t sent and it was seen as another working day. I marvel at how much it has changed.

We personally all have our own Christmas traditions which mean so much to each of us. What traditions do you have as a family? I decided this year to branch out into a new tradition from Iceland. My fellow book bloggers, this one is absolutely for you too!

Jolabokaflod, or the “Christmas Book Flood,” is from Iceland and is one of the most lovely traditions I think I’ve heard of. I stumbled across this earlier this year and decided instantly I wanted to do this. Icelanders give books to each other on Christmas Eve and spend the night reading the book they received. This tradition is deeply engrained in Icelandic culture. The majority of books in Iceland are sold between September to December as people prepare for the Christmas season. This is absolutely something I could go for.

I’m so inspired by this that I’ve decided Jolabokaflod is now part of my Christmas routine. I’m genuinely really excited about this! I really enjoyed picking out a book for someone to read specifically for this evening. I gifted a copy of Charles Dickens Great Expectations and in return I received Miss Marley by Vanessa LaFaye. Dickens is the perfect writer for this time of year so I’m looking forward to reading this A Christmas Carol spin off.

So, whilst I read my book, munch on some chocolates and await Christmas morning, I wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas. 🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Big love to you all xx

Christmas Eve

Hi everyone!

Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you’re all well and ready for the big day tomorrow. Christmas isn’t always a happy time for people. However, I hope everyone finds peace this festive period.

For me, Christmas is a time for family and close friends. The tree is up! The snowman is lighting the way. My dad is making sausage rolls as we speak. The last thing I needed to do is wish my wonderful followers a very Merry Christmas.

Also, I wanted to share 5 of my favourite quotes from a range of books for Christmas. Of course, you may have many of your own.

Firstly, Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich. This one makes me feel quite warm and fuzzy!

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself around you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”

Next is one from The Book Thief. This book has me in tears, I can’t deny that fact. This quote reminds me of the joy from simple things.

“It was the beginning of the greatest Christmas ever. Little food. No presents. But there was a snowman in their basement.”

I always find Dr Seuss humorous and fairly accurate. I can’t disagree again with his views on Christmas.

“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. The Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Clement Clarke Moore is always quoted. I personally love this poem. I read it every Christmas Eve.

”Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”

My final quote is rather witty and fairly accurate for myself personally. Being as my wrapping paper is covered in it this year as well as last, it seems apt that I leave this till last. Taken from Eloisa James’s Paris in Love.

“I don’t want the Christmas season the end, because it’s the only time I can legitimately indulge in on a particular addiction: glitter.”

I’m feeling so festive and warm inside. That could be the mulled wine talking!

So Merry Christmas my lovelies! I wish you all the very best. Have the most wonderful day. Make some magical memories. Remember those who can’t be sat at our tables this year. Let’s have hearts that are quite full.

Big love xx