Christmas Dinner is Cancelled

“I don’t think I’ll bother getting a Turkey next Christmas” Barbara Royle mutters to her family’s despondent indifference to the festive bird (The Royle Family, BBC). No sooner had the words been uttered, a gasp of outrage wafts up from slumped bodies sandwiched together like a tin of spam. “No Turkey on Christmas Day!?”

Turkey is that toxic ex we just can’t seem to shake off. It’s a mountain of effort, and gives little in return. This year, for the first time, we decided to shake ourselves free of its dry, leathery grip, and lean into something more colourful, dynamic and varied: Xmas style tapas.

I wouldn’t say it was necessarily easier than making a roast: in fact, whipping up 6 dishes that tasted delightful on their own was cumbersome. However, the benefit was that many of the items could be prepared and prepped in advance. This meant Christmas Day did not put one, poor soul behind bars. Instead, it freed up a socialism of boozing.

The desire for excess, and the fear of having not enough food means a wealth of responsibility is placed upon one person. And, considering most of us are burdened by some form of work, this just doesn’t sit right. Christmas Day should be for relaxing rather than stressing over tides of tatties.

This year, each of us brought our own dish, which could be eaten either hot or cold. Christmas is, indeed, a lot about the food, but why make it so burdensome? Next year, I invite yee all to try something new: make a pie, feast on sushi, eat only cheese. Whatever it is, focus on the fun around you, and not the food in front of you.