Christmas

This is the last of the celebrations that I will be discussing but I have to admit, Christmas is my favourite time of year. In the Peacock household, Christmas begins around mid-September, with Mum raiding the supermarkets to stock our upstairs landing with piles and piles of food. From mince pies to crisps, brandy butter to marzipan fruits, you name it; we are very likely to have it. One of the reasons that I love Christmas is because of the smells that fill our house. Mum really gets into the Christmas spirit by making homemade breads, cakes and biscuits that usually last us long into the New Year. Every year we all sit down and discuss what foods we would like to have for Christmas day. My list doesn't usually change. Twiglets, Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream, Marks and Spencer's Dutch Shortcake biscuits, Butterscotch Angel Delight (obviously the best flavour!), and chocolate in any form. For me, Christmas just isn’t the same without a chocolate advent calender and a selection box similar to the one shown below.

Similarly to Valentine’s Day and Easter, Christmas has become a time where manufacturers create a variety of festive figures for people of all ages to enjoy. It is a time where everyone comes together, many to celebrate the birth of Christ, and what better way to celebrate than with an abundance of delicious foods?

When I think back to memories of Christmases that have past, I often reflect on how chocolate has become an influential part of our celebrations. There have been times where Mum has dedicated the tree decorations to various shades of browns to blend with other objects that she has collected over the years. I remember one year walking around our local garden centre looking at Christmas displays. Suddenly my Mum joined us with a basket full of what can only be described as fluffy baubles (similar to the one shown below) to hang on the tree. That year our tree was dedicated to shades of dark, milk and white chocolate.

The most recent Christmas was blessed with the discovery of chocolate baubles which she had found in Boots. We were all given strict instructions not to eat them when they were put on display. She had counted them all, and would continue to do so until further notice. Obviously she knew us well enough to understand our temptation to sneak upstairs with one for a treat.

As you can see from this brief account, chocolate is a product which has many uses in my household, especially at Christmas. I am a firm believer in food being used as a way of bringing people together to enjoy each other's company whilst indulging.