more than there is a typical Christmas. We talked to four families about their very different festivities
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“There’s nothing traditional about our family when we get together”
Flic Everett, 41, from Manchester
explains why her Christmas is a time for playing happy stepfamilies
F
or Christmas lunch every year, I sit down to eat with my husband Simon, my son, Wolfie, 18, my eldest stepdaughter Mimi, 22, my mum and dad – and my ex-husband’s parents, Joan and David.
They are Wolfie’s grandparents, who have played a huge role in his life – and we’ve remained close even though I split up with their son, 16 years ago. The most fun we had was when Wolfie, Mimi and her
two sisters were younger and would spend Christmas with us – the first time they were aged between four and nine. We pulled out all the stops, and thinking back I suspect that we went dramatically over the top – I was up until 3am colour-coding the wrapping of all the tiny stocking presents so that nobody’s got mixed up! At 5am they were all up in a screaming excited flurry of
unwrapping. My dad dressed up as Father Christmas, only to be unmasked by one of the little ones wanting to know why he had on the same shoes as Grandpa. Having always had quiet Christmases as an only child,
I found it fantastic fun to buy so many festive presents and share dinner with so many people. Nobody has ever suggested that we should do it any differently. Of course,
it has evolved through the years, and now the children are grown up, there are plenty of variations. In the evening, Wolfie will probably go and see his dad, and Mimi might join her two younger sisters and her mum – unless they’re in Hong Kong, where they often go for Christmas. On Boxing Day, we visit either Simon’s mum and his stepdad and half-sister in Bolton – his American cousins and uncle plus his new girlfriend are coming over this year, too. Or we might go round to see Simon’s dad, stepmum, and his four half brothers and sisters, plus his baby niece, recently born to his eldest half-sister and her second husband. It’s confusing to me, never mind trying to explain it to others! Joan and David first came for Christmas Day when the
children were young. My ex had a new family and they generally go to his in-laws for Christmas. It seemed crazy for Joan and David to spend the day by themselves when they could be with us. Mimi spent much of her childhood with Simon and I and so prefers to spend her Christmas Day with us. On paper it sounds insane, but in practice we all get on fine and all the steps, halves and exes have been absorbed to the extent that, sometimes, it’s hard to remember who is actually related by birth. Everyone’s coming to ours this year, to give my mum, who usually hosts, a rest. We have a very traditional Christmas – crackers, paper hats and the big meal. When the children were young we would open presents before