December 09, 2024

Six Fireside Rituals for Christmas Eve

Cast your mind forward a few weeks to Christmas Eve. You’re huddled around the fire with your loved ones, excitement building for the big day. The tree lights are twinkling, the fire is roaring, candles are flickering, and the festive spirit is in full swing. Perhaps you have time honoured customs for the night before Christmas, or maybe this is your first time hosting – whatever your situation, these six suggestions for festive fireside rituals can effortlessly elevate your evening.

Canapés and cheeseboards

With meal prep underway for tomorrow’s feast, the evening of Christmas Eve is best suited for elegant canapés and indulgent cheeseboards. We’ll be referring back to the expert tips Neal’s Yard Dairy shared with us for festive cheeseboards, curating a mix of our favourite cheeses and all the trimmings. As suggested by Neal’s Yard, we’ll be slicing the Christmas cake early to accompany a creamy, salty cheese such as Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire.

If a cheeseboard feels too heavy, we’d suggest serving three or so light canapés, presenting them on hand-painted platters for everyone to help themselves. For little fuss and an easy clean-up, stick to the bite-sized rule that means no cutlery or plates to sort. One of our favourite festive canapés which is really simple to put together and taste delicious are smoked salmon blinis. Simply purchase ready-made cocktail blinis, spread a small amount of sour cream, add slivers of smoked salmon and garnish with a small sprig of dill.

Festive cocktails

Christmas Eve is definitely the right time to open the bottle of champagne you’ve been saving. You can’t go wrong with presenting fizz in a crystal coupe – perhaps garnished with a festive fruit such as physalis – or try out a simple cocktail recipe by adding a dash of crème de cassis, Chambord or sloe gin.

For an elevated champagne cocktail that is sure to impress, place a sugar cube in the bottom of a flute, add a small dash of bitters and allow it to soak in. Add two teaspoons of brandy, then top up with champagne. Cut a twist of orange peel, rub around the rim to release its oils then drop into the glass to serve.

Once the fire begins to die down, a whisky cocktail is a welcomed nightcap. For a classic Old Fashioned, mix two teaspoons of sugar, a dash of bitters and a splash of water in a tumbler until the sugar dissolves. Fill the glass with ice and stir in your favourite whisky. Add a dash of soda water and garnish with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry. Serve in our Murano whisky glasses for a special touch.

Games to entertain

For Christmas Eve entertainment, there’s no better time to gather around friends and family to play games. Elevate your age-old favourites with beautifully designed versions that will become family heirlooms, such as Abask’s leather playing cards set, leather backgammon board or mahogany dice tray for playing yahtzee. Alternatively, do as the Victorians did and enjoy a couple of rounds of parlour games. Charades is always a fun ice breaker if you’re entertaining a mixed group, and we love the Noun Game (where you take turns guessing people, places and things through numerous rounds). Alternatives include the Memory Game, Who Am I? and Ibble Dibble.

Gifting books

There is a wonderful Icelandic tradition named jolabokaflod that revolves around people gifting books to each other on Christmas Eve and spending the evening reading them whilst sipping hot chocolate. This is an especially good idea for anyone hoping to keep children entertained or manage the excitement of the night before Christmas. While this is traditionally focused around books to read (or cookbook and coffee table tomes for those less inclined to pick up works of fiction), a beautifully bound notebook would also work perfectly for scribbling down their thoughts.

Hanging stockings

It doesn’t matter how old you are, hanging your stocking on the fireplace on Christmas Eve is a time-honoured tradition. If you have children, make the occasion feel special by allowing them to hang their own stockings – perhaps have their names embroidered onto them for a personal touch. You can then place carefully considered treats inside once they’re safely tucked up in bed. Our velvet stocking and sacks are handcrafted from the most sumptuous velvet, intended to be lovingly unearthed year after year.

Extra special treats for Father Christmas

Do you really want to be sipping milk and crunching carrots once the kids have gone to bed? Redefine your household’s Father Christmas treats to ensure there’s something to look forward to waiting for you on the hearth. Fortnum & Mason is our go-to for something special that ‘Santa’ is sure to love: milk chocolate reindeer noses, peppermint bark and cerisette chocolate liqueurs all tick the ‘festive’ box while being delicious. If you’re sharing Father Christmas’s treats with little ones, Biscuiteers Nutcracker biscuit tin is delightful. For something for Saint Nicholas to drink, digestifs such as cream sherry or chocolate chestnut liqueur make for a suitably festive nightcap.