As the festive season draws near, we’re reeling with excitement over the treats, tipples, and tunes that wait around the corner. To help heighten the Christmas spirit and get you in the merry mood, we asked the team our burning questions about their festive favourites.
Sit back, grab a hot chocolate, and read what financial accountant Amy Jaques, accounts assistant Judyta Posiak, managing director Steve Forrest, and junior surveyor Henry Smith had to say.
Q: What is your earliest memory of Christmas?
A: The house bursting with family, all crammed around the dining table. There was always room for everyone. My nan would come and stay over on Christmas Eve, which was always a highlight. My brother and I would wake up ridiculously early, full of excitement. Naturally, my dad would yell, “Get back in bed!” – a command we completely ignored, but my nan took it very seriously and dutifully went back to bed. My brother and I thought it was hilarious. Those mornings were pure chaos and joy – Christmas magic at its finest.
J: Looking outside for the first star on Christmas Eve with my sister. This is an old tradition in Poland that involves children looking for the first star, which symbolises the Star of Bethlehem and marks the beginning of the Christmas festivities.
S: Playing draughts with my dad until we were tired, in the hope we would not wake up too early. But it was never successful. The excitement would get the better of us and we’d be awake ridiculously early, only to be told “Get back to bed!”
H: Waking up way too early to find Santa sacks in the living room and turning on Christmas music to wake up my parents so we could open our presents.
Q: Do you have any special Christmas traditions?
A: Decorating the house is still a major event in our family, just like it was when I was a kid. Back then, the pièce de résistance was the kitchen roof; one year, we even made it look like a giant Christmas tree (90s kids, you’ll remember foil decorations were the vibe).
Now, I love creating new traditions with my kids. One of our favourites is building the Home Alone Lego house. It’s a festive family experience, though slightly stressful when someone loses a crucial piece.
And, of course, there’s the Christmas Eve panto. It’s a tradition we all look forward to. There’s something about the combination of slapstick humour, questionable jokes, and my kids laughing their heads off that makes it the perfect way to kick off the big day.
J: Yes, we celebrate Christmas Eve, which is the traditional Christmas supper in Poland, held on 24 December. The evening features a variety of delicious foods, family gatherings, and the exchange of gifts.
S: Growing up, our family didn’t have Christmas traditions, apart from going to church, which is something we did every Sunday. As a child, I never appreciated being dragged to church on Christmas morning when there were so many toys to play with. But now, I miss it if we don’t go.
H: Watching Polar Express every Christmas Eve, because it’s one of the (if not the) best Christmas movies.