h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've realised that I missed out X ! But it doesn't matter, because X is for Xmas and today is exactly a month before Christmas.

I haven't done much preparation for Christmas this year. In fact, I dislike modern Christmas, because it is the excuse for an excess of consumerism: people give presents nobody wants and buy decorations that go straight in the bin. People eat too much, drink too much and have rows with their families. Some even end up in police cells or the local hospital. Yet, if you live in the Northern hemisphere, you need some celebration at this, the darkest time of the year, to express the ancient hope that the sunlight will return.

I wondered what Christmases I remember, but find they tend to merge. For some years, we went to Yorkshire to stay with my husband's sister and their family. Everybody would get up late, have breakfast and assemble round the Chrismas tree, when the father of the family would don his hat and hand round presents. Then we would go for a walk on the moors, across landscapes that looked like a Christmas card. One Christmas, we walked round a local reservoir, past a waterfall that had frozen into a cascade of icicles. Christmas dinner would be eaten in the late afternoon and meander on into the evening, with fish and lots of vegetarian delicacies.

Nothing goes entirely to plan, of course. One year I made a 2 pound Christmas pudding, but boiled it dry, burning the pudding and ruining my pressure cooker. On other Christmases, the weather changed while we were there and we had difficult journeys back through ice and snow. As time passed, my sister-in-law's family grew, acquiring a grandchild and making Christmases which include everybody difficult. So there will probably be just the three of us this year.

[Amy P]

I enjoy Christmas overall but I'm glad when it's over. My favourite moment is when I close my door behind me on boxing day - it's when the nice peaceful part of my Christmas holiday starts.

Deb

I surround myself with colorful Christmas dinnerware and artistic tree-shaped objects. I have three boxes of Christmas CDs. A feast for the eyes and ears.

Happy Christmas!