26 Dec 2024
You might recognise Christmas Day as Bucks Fizz and a croissant for breakfast, some opening of presents, dogs and cats excited by boxes and wrapping paper while the kids are shrieking.
You may go to a service at your local church. Or be popping in and out of a hot kitchen juggling timings written on the back of a Christmas card envelope – or being told to stay out of said kitchen if you aren’t the one cooking.
Then there’s a huge meal, Grandma snoring through The Snowman followed by everybody else falling into a Yorkshire pudding or cheese coma before the King’s speech, some turkey sandwiches and games on telly later and then a sigh of relief it all went okay.
But throughout our great city, there are folk spending their day rather differently, whether that’s because they are of a particular faith or nationality, or they have decided to avoid the traditional trappings of December 25 altogether.
St Albans mum-of-two Sharon Chapman is Jewish but has a Christian husband, and this year her family marked both Christmas and Chanukah as they fell on the same day.
“It’s a beautiful miracle that it’s falling on Christmas Day, I actually can’t remember when that last happened. So it’s extra special especially as Martin, my husband, celebrates Christmas and I celebrate Chanukah, so it’s symbolic of our mixed faith family. “We keep things simple as I’m not overly observant. It’s more about sharing and passing on the tradition with the children.
“We light the menorah and as a family recite the prayer. We then remember why we light the menorah and a little bit of the history. I usually play fun Chanukah songs off YouTube. We eat donuts, chocolate coins and play with the dreidel which the kids always enjoy.
“It’s all about the fun and experience of being together as a family, remembering that we are the light that we are creating and to shine that light in the darkness.”
Local businessman Oliver Zissman is also celebrating Chanukah: “Lighting the Chanukah candles is the number one thing for us. It’s one of the, if not the only, Jewish festival that for non-religious Jews, kids can actively get involved, so we do that on each of the eight nights.
“Another tradition is eating fried food (to recognise the oil used in the olden days to keep the lights lit), so doughnuts tend to be gobbled up. Potato Latkas are another but strangely kids aren’t as keen on those.
“It has been a challenging year for Jewish people, as much if not less, than those in Gaza and elsewhere. I wouldn’t say it’s more or less important because of that. Christmas is what we look forward to for the fun, food and general festivities. Chanukah for us is a time to remember our roots and keep the tradition alive and to remind the kids where their family roots lie.
“For my dad, who is more religious, he gives the grand kids Chanukah presents as opposed to Christmas presents. That’s a generational thing and sadly unlikely to continue when Christmas has such a commercial part in gift-giving.”
Owner of Chaos City Comics and Empire Records Marina De Sclavis recalls when she was back in Italy.
Although she has now “totally embraced Christmas culture here” she recalls how when she was living in Italy she would avoid eating meat on Christmas Eve: “Usually my mum would cook spaghetti with tuna and then we all stayed up until midnight to celebrate Jesus’ Nativity and then we would open the presents right then at midnight together.”
Fellow Italian Elena Hogg, food writer for the St Albans Times and owner of FOOD by Elena catering business, explained that the main Christmas celebrations traditionally take place on Christmas Eve in Italy.
“That’s when families gather together to exchange gifts and share a meal. Christmas Day itself would traditionally be more relaxed and usually involve a trip to church as well as to relatives.
“Christmas Eve’s meal is centred round fish, rather than meat, on account of the traditional thinking that pre-feast days should be meagre and less indulgent than the following day’s blow-out. In practice, though, this is entirely the wrong way round: the intended light meal is actually the main event.
“As with many Catholic countries, the twelve days of Christmas feature more heavily than in others. In Italy, the end of the Christmas period is marked by a celebration they call ‘La Befana’, derived from the word for Epiphany. La Befana is an old woman whose house was visited by the three wise men on their star-guided journey. The fatigued wise men sought a place to rest, which La Befana granted them.
“After the wise men departed, and having heard all about the baby Jesus, La Befana realised she wanted to bring a gift to the newborn as well. So she set off with gifts and tried to catch the wise men up, but became lost and spent her days calling at all the houses she passed, leaving a gift in case that might be where baby Jesus lived. To this day, children in Italy receive a gift from La Befana on January 6th.”
Local publican Ros Kintu will be working at The Farmer’s Boy on December 25: “Christmas begins on Christmas Eve, where we always have a live band. This year it’s The Latest Flames, which is John Clare’s latest venture, which I’m really looking forward to. The music is from 9-11pm though festivities continue into Christmas Day, where we serve until 2am and close at 2.30am.
“A bit of a breather then until Christmas Day itself, where we open at midday until 3pm, where we catch up with our regular customers and also get the opportunity to meet and get to know anyone else who may venture in. We still adopt the usual custom at The Farmer’s where all regulars are offered a Christmas drink of their choice, and of course there has to be mince pies on the bar for everyone. The jukebox is set up to play carols and Christmas songs. Depending on the weather a log fire may be lit to complete the scene.”
Also working on the big day is St Albans resident James Edwards. He assists in a supported living service and will be helping people who have learning disabilities to cook their Christmas meal and with anything else that may arise.
Volunteer Anjali Rundle will be helping with the cooking at the St Albans Community Pantry’s Festive Feast on Christmas Day in Sandridge.
It is free to attend and no booking is required.
She said: “Since my parents died I’ve found Christmas really hard and have really struggled with my mental health in previous years. I’m hoping that doing something useful for others this Christmas will help me cope better and allow me to give back to the world.
“Christmas on your own is always tough, especially when it brings back so much grief and so many memories. Giving to others is a good way to feel connected with people and feel like you’re part of something good, even when the season can make you feel even more isolated and alone than usual.”
Muslim Raihaanah Ahmed, who is the founder of St Albans Community Pantry, has her own traditions: “We don’t share gifts or have a Christmas tree but we do gather with our families on Christmas Day to share a meal.
“My family work in the NHS so they cover their colleagues to ensure they get time with their families on Christmas Day.
“I spend the period providing additional services in the community such as Christmas meals, gifts for kids, special items in emergency food aid boxes and our community fridge is open every day except Christmas Day from 9am to midnight.”
Det Con Rowan Montgomery from the St Albans district Local Crime Unit is one of many emergency services staff who will be on shift during Christmas Day.
“Christmas for me has always been a family day, having Christmas dinner and playing games. I always had Mum and Dad there when I was younger, and I can’t imagine another child waking up and Mum or Dad not being there for the day. I do not have any children, and I would rather give a parent the opportunity to be at home and work in their place. I am okay working Christmas knowing that, and I’m sure one day someone will do the same for me.
“I’m technically office-based so won’t have to be out on patrol and responding to 999 calls.
“We could be dealing with someone in custody, attending a crime scene, a sudden death or providing support to colleagues in other parts of Hertfordshire. Alternatively, it could be spent in the office, trying to be as festive as possible, while managing incoming incidents.
“Should I be off on time, my plan is to go to my partners’ parents address with our dog, Spencer, to enjoy a late Christmas dinner, some presents and maybe one drink before heading to bed to be up and back in again Boxing Day morning. My ‘Christmas Day’ will be spent at home on December 28.”
Emma Njimogna is a clinical nurse specialist in the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice at Home team, covering St Albans and the surrounding areas.
This year she was working an early shift on Christmas Day: “It’s always a very busy time for us with the combination of winter illnesses making people more unwell, and the closure of other services meaning people rely on our team more than ever. In the days running up to Christmas we are often very busy as families try to ensure that their loved one will be as stable and comfortable as possible for Christmas.
“On Christmas Day itself, it’s hard to predict how busy it will be. Sometimes patients and families are reluctant to call us but I always encourage them to call if they need us – that’s what we’re there for! We’re there for them 365 days per year so to us it doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas Day or any other day – if our patients need us, we’ll be there.
“Some of our visits on Christmas Day are scheduled. For example, if someone needs a regular medication that we’re going in for every day, or if they have been particularly unwell in the days leading up to it and we want to check on them to see if there’s anything we can do for them.
“I always find patients and families are very appreciative of the fact that our service still runs on Christmas Day. When other services either close or operate reduced hours, they often tell us how grateful they are that they know they can still call on us. They tell us that it makes them feel safe and confident to carry on with their plans at home.
“As a nurse you know that working on days like Christmas Day is part and parcel of the job. As a team we take it in turns and this year it’s my turn.
“I’m working the early shift so I should still be home by mid-afternoon to enjoy the rest of the day with my children and family. In fact I’m hoping to time it right so I can turn up home just as all the cooking has been done and Christmas dinner is being served!”
