Monthly Musing – December 2021 – The Christmas Itch

“Are you suffering from the Christmas Itch?”

It’s an expression that I saw on social media the other day and on investigating, I discovered that I do!  It’s that moment when you think you’ve finished buying everything you need … but then you spot one more thing.  And another.  And another.  Especially when things are reduced at the last minute – all kinds of little treats that you know your family will love but are completely unnecessary as you’ve already bought the presents you know they want.

The answer, my friends, is to stay strong and resist!  Ha!  So much easier said than done and although on the whole I’ve managed pretty well, a certain person might have faltered over the Christmas-tree-shaped shortbread (actually, any shape of shortbread) in a festive tin.  It turns out that I am as much a sucker for a festive tin as I am for the biscuit-y contents!  (And yes, that would be a present for me! 🙂 )

We’re bombarded from all sides these days, aren’t we?  Adverts on TV, radio and social media plus so many emails counting down the days and the deals, and it’s so much easier to have what we want NOW so waiting until Christmas isn’t the necessity that it used to be years ago – making it even harder to find gifts for the people who really do have everything.  It’s no wonder that our eyes wander to those buy-me-now offers at checkouts or online.  I am finding myself missing the days when my girls’ Christmas lists consisted of most of the contents of the Argos catalogue (they have always lived in hope!) because at least everything was contained in one place!

It has been easier to resist this year, though, knowing that so many other people are not going to have the happiest of Christmases again.  It feels wrong to buy nonsense gifts that we absolutely don’t need when our local food bank gave parcels to over 130 families in 3 days recently (I know this because I went with not so small daughter’s Guides unit to hand over their collected donations) and I know that it will be similar in other places.  My Christmas Itch has been replaced by Christmas Thankfulness that I am even in a position to think about spending money on something that we don’t actually need.

It puts us in a place where we want to do everything and be everything – generous with our friends and family, supportive to businesses who have struggled over the last two years and to offer a helping hand to those who are relying on food banks and other agencies to get by.  Fortunately, it is possible to do all of those things, and I know that many people have been far more mindful of where they bought their gifts and how they spent their money this year and perhaps, in the most unexpected sort of way, it has brought the true meaning of Christmas to the forefront of our minds in a way that it wasn’t always in years gone by.

We may not be “back to normal” again this Christmas, but our desire to help others is not contained by any virus and if anything, I think that our collective sense of goodwill has grown stronger over the past two years.  This makes me feel Christmassy far more than any last-minute gift prompted by the Christmas Itch could do … even a tree-shaped shortbread biscuit!

 

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12 Responses

  1. Christine Whiting says:

    I know exactly what you mean about tins, I am now the proud owner of three small tins containing tea and another suppose to be present an Ikea tin I converted and worked my way through the gingerbread thin hearts. Hey Ho Happy Christmas

    • winwickmum says:

      Those IKEA boxes are great, aren’t they? I nearly bought one the day but then remembered that I’m not as keen on ginger thins as shortbread so managed to leave it in the store 🙂 Happy Christmas to you too! xx

  2. CJ says:

    Well said, the consumerism takes over rather at this time of year. Let’s hope Christmas becomes a little bit more sustainable. I can totally relate to wanting to buy something for the tin though. And I do love vintage tins very much.

  3. Charlotte says:

    Yes we do need to be thankful for the many blessings that we have. I do love all the inviting tins and shortbread is impossible to pass by. Maybe we have learned to be more giving and sharing in the last two years.

  4. Sharon says:

    Happy Christmas Christine x
    A very grateful Christmas that our family can be together on Christmas Day. X🥰🎄🎄🥰🎄🎄

  5. Marie Grace says:

    Thank you for your well written and really enjoyable blog. I love the photos of your garden plants, and photos of others knitting, which I have found wonderful. I may even try a Shetland hat next year.
    And maybe, we are all learning to be grateful for our circumstances, even if they are not what we planned for Christmas.
    God bless you for your blog, and the information you share. May your business go very well 2022 too.
    Kind Regards
    Marie Grace

  6. Fiona Wimsett says:

    I am new to Christine’s blog, having only this year discovered sock-knitting, but I have loved reading her blogs, articles, and the kind and interesting comments that others have posted. Christine is a great teacher and kindly steered me through two ‘not sure here’ points on my first pair of man socks. They are now finished! Yay! My next pair are already on my teeny circular needle, and those I will be giving away to a person I don’t know, as my ‘thank you’…. Merry Christmas to you all, and may all go well for you in 2022. Fiona X

    • winwickmum says:

      That’s amazing, I’m so glad I was able to help you and I know for a fact (from running the Yarndale Sock Line for 5 years) that your gifted socks will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Merry Christmas to you too! xx

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