It’s been a long wait, but lo and behold, we’ve arrived at everyone’s favourite time of the year! Despite strict quarantine requirements, most things in Hong Kong have reopened with holiday spirits in full swing.

Work-wise, 2021 has been a crazy, hectic year. Now that I’m on leave, I’m finally able to catch up with friends and family. And Christmas is probably the only time of the year when I don’t feel overwhelmed or drained by the flurry of social activities going on. But if I had my way, I would be huddled over the couch with a mug of hot cocoa.

Over the years, I’ve found that holiday rituals play a big part in calming my mind in preparation for the last days of the year. So here I’ve rounded up my favourite things about the Christmas season, plus a handful of cherished mementoes collected over the years.

Reading the Message in a Bottle from Santa Claus Village

When we visited Finland’s Santa Claus Village in 2007, we mailed home a postcard in the form of a red corked bottle. But, of course, social media was barely a thing back in the day (we were still counting SMS messages by the character), and it was customary to send postcards and other stuff by snail mail.

It’s crazy how long ago that family trip was. I would be lying to say I can recount much of it, except it was freezing, and I realised that reindeers don’t come with red noses. I’m not a big fan of cold climates, but I would go back again in a heartbeat.

Writing more Christmas Cards and Postcards

There’s something special about handwritten cards that cannot be replaced by text messages. The only damper to writing cards is worrying that your recipient might forget about them or worse still, toss them out the week after. This is why I only shop for cards that I would want to keep or put up on the wall (I think that’s a pretty high bar).

All my friends know by now that I swear by Rifle Paper Co. cards all year round. Every year, they release new holiday designs – decadent gold foiling, whimsical characters, beautiful hand-drawn elements — you name it. Surely greeting cards can’t get much better than that.

Laying out Festive Tableware and Holiday-Themed Bites

Full-on holiday tableware is an absolute joy to look at. I wanted to make the most out of them and went for an assortment rather than getting complete sets of anything. I have to admit, though, that I love the poinsettia and mistletoe relief plates enough to reach for them regularly! All tableware featured is from Zara Home.

I may be a bit of a bore, but I’m so grateful to have Marks & Spencer Food every Christmas. They've got the entire family covered, from mince pies to peppermint gummies and star-shaped tortillas.

Lighting Holiday-Scented and Themed Candles

Legit Christmas trees will always be considered a luxury in local households. But what’s an excellent ol’ holiday season without the enticing scent of pine fir? Enter Rifle Paper Co.’s glass candle, filled to the brim with notes of cranberries, fir and cedarwood.

Apart from scented candles, I also have a penchant for collecting decorative pieces like the pinecone from Zara Home (senior season). I don’t think I will ever have the heart to burn them… so they can just stay for the aesthetics.

Every year during dinner, we leave an assortment of pillar candles burning in the centre of a Christmas wreath — it’s become a symbol of the family sitting together for a quiet celebration. We like an assortment of IKEA pillar candles, but recently, we’ve taken to Greenrich’s ginger lily candles.

Picking Christmas Ornaments

I'm very picky regarding the ornaments I put on my tree (or on my desk). Usually come in classic colours (red, green, blue or white) with a touch of gold, like the Rifle Paper Co. Letters to Santa postbox, which has become a crown jewel in my collection.

We like to comb through IKEA’s Christmas section for their more premium ornaments that add a tremendous Scandinavian touch to any tree. I used to really like kikki.K for their minimalist or paper ornaments, too (like the black Joy ornament below), but they rarely release them anymore.

If applique or glittering glass ornaments are more your thing, Marks & Spencer and Franc Franc stock great options in whimsical themes (like the featured white ornament with the red scripted Joy). I don’t remember where the felted Christmas tree is from, but I think it was a gift that came with some Christmas purchases.

Hanging up Traditional Christmas Stockings

I saved the best for the last — my most treasured piece is a Christmas stocking from my grandma when I was a kid. 2 decades have flown past, and I still remember badgering my parents to give me small candies and toys so I could stuff it up properly. I adore its traditional look – quilted with red and gold trim and finished off with a jacquard ribbon – even though some may consider it old-fashioned.

Zara Home and IKEA both stock seasonal options if you’re on the hunt for a cosy one to spice up the mantelpiece (or doorknob).