The Christmas Tag By Someone Who Doesn't Really Do Christmas

I haven't done a tag here for about three years, but I saw Amber from The Mile Long Bookshelf do this (great blog, do check it out), so thought I'd have a go. I didn't realise how mellow I am about the festive season until writing this - it's never been a big deal for me but I'm slowly getting more into it over the years. Also I write the word Christmas here about a hundred times so enjoy.

1) What's your favourite Christmas movie?

      Die Hard.
      I saw something online that said there are two types of people in the world - those who think Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and those who are wrong. Truer words have never been spoken.
      I don't like most Christmas movies as they're too soppy and force the jingle bell gooeyness on you. However, Elf is a close second because we would always watch it in school before the Christmas break and we would quote/scream at each other "SANTA'S COMING!!! OMG!!"
      Ah, good times.

2) Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

      ...Christmas morning.
      I'm not a big Christmas person but there are just some things - what kind of monster opens them the night before??? Father Christmas hasn't delivered all the presents yet!
     I open them when I wake up on the day, sitting in my bed (would like to take the opportunity to thank all my irritating as fu- wonderful friends who put loads of glitter under the wrapping paper/in Christmas cards to spill all over me.

My silhouette interrupting a festive projection

3) Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

      Unfortunately not - we don't tend to celebrate Christmas and the day is like any other, so there aren't many wonderful idyllic Christmas advert-esque memories. But, I remember when my aunt spent the holidays with us and we cooked a traditional English Christmas roast - we even had pigs in blankets and wore paper crowns from crackers.

4) Favourite festive food?

      Roast potatoes. I love me some potatoes.

Me from a few years ago. I am very good at crackers

5) Favourite Christmas gift?

      My camera - it's a FujiFilm Finepix S8200, which I got last year. Since my birthday is so close to Christmas, I can ask for slightly bigger presents (plus I rarely ever ask for anything from family so I can feel less guilty). I've been putting it to good use as you can see on this blog. The photos have been much better across this year, I've made a beautiful online portfolio of my work and I've started getting commissioned for my photography.

6) Favourite Christmas scent?

     The smell of fresh gingerbread as it's baking is the best - homely, cosy and tasty.

7) Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

      I text my close friends at midnight, but that's about it.

8) What tops your tree?

      Before we got rid of our tree we would put a star on top. I'm not sure what we're using this year (if we have a tree). I told you we didn't celebrate Christmas much. We used to use this artificial tree every year - when it got dumped that was a sad day for me.
      Recently, I saw some students make their own 'tree'.

Student life

9) As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

      I wanted friends.
      I'm kidding - I don't think I asked for anything until last year. I first heard about Christmas lists when I was about 15 and the concept boggled me - you ...request gifts from your parents?
      Also, did anyone else think it was really weird how some kids buy their parents gifts with their parents' money?
     Fun fact - I didn't think stockings were a real part of Christmas celebrations until I was 17 - I thought they were just decorations hung up on the fireplace in TV shows. I didn't know parents filled them with trinkets and gave them to their kids.
      I'm really not joking.

10) What's the best part about Christmas for you?

      Giving presents to people, especially when I know I've got them something they LOVE. It's also great getting meaningful and thoughtful presents from people, especially if it refers to an in-joke/something I mentioned offhand ages ago.

Y'all are tagged to do this post, especially my friends who blog. Hope you all have a wonderful winter!