One word, two syllables. Has the capacity to fill you with absolute joy or drive you to insanity; inexplicably playing 'family-friendly' games with mild hysteria while wearing a turkey shaped hat and a furry jumper kindly knitted by Aunt Maude. Yep – it's Christmas.
As a Christmas fanatic (my festive playlist began in October and I won't apologise for it), nothing makes me happier than endless tear-jerking supermarket ads, platters of beige finger food being consumed with wild abandon and a diary filled with parties specifying that tinsel-based attire is NOT OPTIONAL. Ah, yes, um, and the birth of Christ. Obviously.
But even the most festively-minded among us would be forgiven for finding ourselves slumped on the kitchen floor somewhere between the fourth showing of Love Actually and yet another game of charades (during which which you find yourself explaining the rules to Grandma. Again.) With that in mind, here are our tips for surviving the holiday season without going categorically insane...
1. Insist on full participation
No one likes a fascist, but Christmas often requires at least one person to be incredibly keen – think of this role as like that of the voice-over guy on X Factor; we all need a little chivvying on every now and again to get into the festive spirit. That doesn't just mean exclaiming "Well, isn't this just FUN" every ten minutes (or, indeed, making raucous announcements every time someone enters the room) but someone who will suggest party games when everyone's in a bit of a slump and force everyone to join in. Even the biggest Scrooge will struggle to remain disgruntled while wearing a pair of antlers, we promise.*
*We can't actually promise this.
2. Practise your 'pleasantly surprised' face ahead of time
This will come in handy when you are presented with a pair of orange sparkly arm warmers and have to exclaim just how much you'd been hoping for them. Also when your mum unwraps her annual pair of lacy knickers from your dad. Dig deep.
3. Keep the food coming
Christmas is a time for nourishment (physical and spiritual, thank you). It is not the time to remind everyone that you are on the 5:2 diet and really shouldn't have a glass of Baileys. The important thing to remember here is that there are no diets in the Nativity story, and no one wants to hear about yours. Christmas reveals a God who loves so extravagantly and abundantly that he'd send his own son to live in our broken world and save us. If that isn't a cause to have a celebratory third sausage roll, I don't know what is.
4. But don't slump
The error many of us make at Yuletide is eating so much at lunch that we struggle to get off the sofa past 3pm. This is inadvisable, particularly if you haven't picked your seat wisely and are stuck being on a team with whoever's sat next to you. Always think ahead.
5. Speaking of games...
They really are a vital part of any Christmas day, but again – choose wisely. A three-hour Monopoly showdown is no one's idea of a good time; quickfire games are the way forward, and prevent you from grinding your teeth down while Uncle Frank deliberates for 25 minutes over whether or not to buy Marylebone.
6. Take breaks. Lots of breaks.
When it's all getting a bit much, just get out of there. Go for a walk, read a book in a quiet room or simply sit on the loo for a bit – just remember that people will start to ask questions if you're in there for too long.
