I love Christmas, but that has nothing to do with Christ.

Just a few days to go and unlike alot of you I am cool, calm and collected. Christmas shopping CHECK, Festive plans CHECK, New Year changes (at work, at home in head) CHECK, All future plans to save the world noted CHECK,  Bank balance low, Bugger.

Wellllllll, can’t have it all.

It’s Christmas, but neither ‘Christ’ or ‘mas’ play a particularly important role in this for me. I mean, I know it’s original purpose was in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ, giver of love and all things holy; but I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for divinity in my old age.

I was Christened a Catholic and I listened to Nonna’s stories of heaven and hell, of good and evil and I even learned the lords’ prayer. But I am a pessimist when it comes to religion and religious celebrations, lost in-between coverage of perverted priests, and the undeniable contradictions and manipulations ( This is not exclusive to Catholicism, either.) Admittedly, in my limited knowledge of Jesus and his teachings, I gather that all he really wanted was for people to act with integrity, honesty and courage. Which in theory, guides us all along the 'right' paths through life, always leading us to love. For this I respect HIM. Although I will save THAT conversation for another day.

Ultimately, I do not celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, and until a 'few' years ago all I cared about was presents under the tree, however un-palatable that may be for some - I am no charlatan.

Instead, I like many, choose to focus instead on Christmas as a time of giving; a time to share love and happiness with those we hold closest to our hearts. We give to those who have little, and spend time in nostalgic banter with family and friends, stuffing our faces and listening to naff christmas songs.

In our family, as with most things, food is of the essence; and it is not restricted to Turkey with stuffing. There is pasta e vongole, baccalà, insalata di baccalà, zeppole, then there’s roasted chestnuts, panetone, beef, chicken, lamb, stuffed peppers etc (not necessarily in this order) Rarely ever a turkey in sight actually.

Ah, Christmas. Don’t you love it? I must assume you’re nodding your heads in agreement.

I'm looking forward to strolling through London tonight on my walk home, lights glittering, people busily last minute shopping, and carol singers wailling along the snow-kissed streets.

Lets eat, drink and be merry…(or at least eat and drink.)

Merry Christmas (without the Christ or mass) x