We answer every festive dilemma you've ever had
Christmas may be the season of loving and giving, but it can also be a faff.
We asked some of our favourite people for their helpful advice, inspiring suggestions and trade secrets
How to make the perfect gravy
No Christmas dinner is complete without a delicious rich, creamy gravy. I start while the meat is resting, place a saucepan over a medium heat and pour in 500ml of chicken stock, then a sprig of thyme and rosemary, a bay leaf, a couple of cloves of garlic and a glass of red wine.
The juices from cooking the meat are where all the big flavour comes from, so I tip those in from the roasting tin, whisk everything together and reduce the heat to low. Once the gravy has simmered for 30 minutes, I add a tablespoon of cornflour and whisk until the gravy starts to thicken. I finish with a splash of double cream, simmer for few minutes and strain through a fine sieve into a warmed serving jug. For that really delicious sweet Christmassy flavour, a tablespoon of cranberry sauce in the gravy is the final touch.
Clodagh McKenna, chef and cookery author (@clodagh_mckenna)
Three ways to do party nails
It’s not Christmas without a classic red mani, a look that’s effortless and complements all skin tones, nail shapes and sizes. Add a glossy top coat for glamour, or play it cool and go matte.
For some festive sparkle without going overboard, pearlescents are a big trend this year. I'm a fan of OPI’s shades, Snow Holding Back and Sleigh Bells Bling.
To up the glamour, try some tinsel glitter nail art: take a fine liner brush and use gold or silver glitter polish to paint small swirls all over a nude base colour. It looks best if the swirls aren’t too uniform (and is much easier to achieve!)
Iram Shelton, pro nail artist (@iramshelton)
The most versatile gift to have, ready-wrapped, in the cupboard
I have no problem with re-gifting - we once had a family bottle of wine that stayed with us for years because everyone wrapped it up for someone else for Christmas!
These days I try to keep more of a thoughtful present cupboard, something my mum always did.
I’ll fill it through the year with things I’ve found in the sales and a few other staples - trinket dishes, which are inexpensive but always interesting-looking, and beautiful drinking glasses (everything from champagne saucers to short-stemmed bistro glasses).
If there's a cookbook I've been loving that year I'll add it in - they say the marker of a good one is something you've made more than three dishes from. This year it's Jeremy Lee's Cooking - his restaurant, Quo Vadis, is my favourite... there’s hardly a moment I’m not thinking about his pie and chips!
Laura Jackson, broadcaster and co-founder of Glassette (glassette.com)
How to keep your Christmas tree alive
Even the most expensive tree won’t last if you bring it in at the end of November, so I'd definitely advise decking your halls nearer to Christmas.
I like to put my tree up on the second weekend of December and once it’s home, give it a good soak in a bucket outside before bringing it in. There is an old wives’ tale about adding sugar to the water, but it’s probably more important to keep the water fresh and topped up - any pine needles that fall in can decay and taint it. And choose a good tree: Norman firs are your classic, but I’m partial to a blue spruce for colour – both types are longer-lasting and smell divine.
Alice Vincent, gardening expert (@noughticulture)
The best way to hang fairy lights
I prefer a simple tree, with thousands of twinkling lights, which is why I love our best-selling cluster lights. They're are tiny, but there are lots of them and they look just so beautiful you could almost use just them alone.
Always test your lights before the laborious process of putting them on the tree, then start from the top down. Get a family member to help you so you can feed them back and forth around the tree and ensure the lights are evenly spaced between branches. Try to wind the lights between each layer of branches and don't by shy about adding a second length of lights if one is not enough. Tuck the trailing wire behind the tree and ideally inside a tree skirt
We decorate the tree together as a family and use a mixture of glass and white decorations some new and many which I have collected over the years including a few vintage ones. I like to choose just two or three signature decorations and I always like to tie these on to the branches.
By Chrissie Rucker OBE, founder of The White Company
What to make for breakfast on Christmas Day
As the chief cook, I’ve always found breakfast at Christmas an extra but necessary hell. I try to look at matters sensibly:
1) you definitely don’t have any extra room in the oven(s) and
2) you are about to feed people a ridiculous amount of food for lunch, so be kind to yourself.
I think eggs get overlooked, maybe because we feel they’re mundane, but they won’t be heavy and starchy and require far less fuss than, say, pancakes. My Middle Eastern self will always throw spices in for lots of lovely, aromatic wake-me-up flavours that stimulate your appetite, so by lunchtime guests will be hungry again. Start with some chopped onion, garlic, cumin seeds, chilli flakes, a little turmeric and fresh coriander and dill, and then scramble in your eggs. Top with a handful of crumbled feta or your favourite cheese, and if you feel compelled to elaborate on such simplicity, add smoked salmon or bacon on the side.
Sabrina Ghayour, author of Persiana Everyday (@sabrinaghayour)
Three Christmas crafts with kids in ten minutes
Cardboard bauble: Take some card, get your child to draw or paint a design, cut around and add a loop of ribbon. Hang on your tree.
Homemade wreath: Cut a plate-sized circle shape out of a cardboard box and poke small holes all over. Take some tree cuttings and fill the holes with stems of foliage (we use Christmas tree or herb cuttings from the garden). Tie string around the top part and hang pride of place.
Matchstick tree cards: Paint the stick parts of several matches Christmas tree green, and one brown. Break the heads off two green and the brown, and glue in a vertical line on folded card (stick your brown at the bottom). Add the remaining matches diagonally on either side for branches. The unpainted heads are your baubles.
Sydney Piercey, author of Sustainable Play (@sydney.piercey)
If you want to go away for Christmas (but haven't booked anything yet)
If you’re still desperate for a New Year escape, plan a city break to an under-the-radar destination. Forget Paris, try Montpellier. Switch New York for Montreal. Don’t head to St Lucia – try the Dominican Republic, instead.
By staying off the beaten track, you’ll cut costs and raise the likelihood of hotel and flight availability. Or, look closer to home and head into the hills, with a stay in the plethora of cosy cabins popping up all over the UK. I love the design-driven wilderness cabins from Unyoked.com, which have just launched and still have early January availability. Two underrated Christmas destinations? The buzzy university town of Leuven, in Belgium, has a dazzling display of festive lights, while Switzerland’s Ticino offers typical Swiss festivities, in a unique Mediterranean micro-climate.
Lucy Kehoe, Digital Editor at SUITCASEmag.com
Three stylish yet practical ski jackets
Aeron jacket
Adjustable sleeves, a flattering cut and good zip locations (handy for practical dorks like me!), from a great sustainable brand.
Nya Gore-Tex jacket
More padding and a thermal defence system, for those who prefer not to layer and have it all-in-one.
Fur trim jacket, £35 for 4 days
If you want to change up your look or can't afford a high-performance jacket, renting is a great option - EcoSki has a great edit.
Chosen by Jenny Jones, Olympic champion snowboarder
How to make any outfit feel instantly festive
For me, Christmassy dressing is about being chic and not too literal, so it’s worth investing in a couple of longer-term pieces that speak to your style.
These could be: a red jumper, a tartan top (which I think is a good staple), something brocade (sparkly but not too party), a pair of velvet trousers that are tapered at the ankle, a statement clutch bag, and some sort of bejewelled pointy flat shoe.
I have a pair of Prada black satin flats with a diamante brooch that I’ve worn six Christmasses in a row - they're brilliant for toning down anything a bit dressed-up. To the opposite end, an showstopper bag with a plain black dress or jumpsuit is an instant festive party enhancer. It’s all about having a few jolly pieces that you can wheel out from year to year.
Laura Fantacci, co-founder of Wardrobe Icons (wardrobeicons.com)
Three things to have in your pantry for unexpected festive guests
1) A panettone
This keeps for ages. Plus, there are so many things you can do it with it. Slice it and serve with a pot of hot tea; cut into squares to serve alongside cocktails; or for a showstopper dessert, cut it crossways like a sponge and layer with whipped cream and pistachio butter or Nutella. Reassemble it like a cake, cover in soft meringue made from egg whites whisked with sugar, and burnish with a blowtorch (actually quite cheap to buy and small to store!). The end result is a gorgeously impressive snowy mountain.
2) Gorgonzola cheese
A secret ingredient for a quick pasta – add a big dollop and a splash of pasta water and stir together, adding slivers of pear and crumbled walnuts on top.
3) Premixed negroni
Put equal parts of Campari, sweet red vermouth and dry gin in a glass bottle, shake and store in the fridge, then pour into glasses dressed with ice, pomegranate seeds or slices of orange.
Skye McAlpine, author of A Table for Friends (@skyemcalpine)
How to graciously decline a Christmas party invitation
If you’re saying no because you simply don’t want to go, or fancy a different party, show the person you really want to see them another time. Tactfully decline by avoiding saying vague things such as, ‘I may be free, can I let you know nearer the time?’ Don’t give too many reasons (it sounds suspicious), and definitely don't lie! Go to the effort to arrange an alternative date, and be mindful of your social media on the day – the host you declined will be understandably upset or offended if you’re seen having fun elsewhere. Also: if you find last-minute that you do have energy in the bank, it's never late to say you're available last-minute or that your plans have changed.
Jo Bryant, etiquette expert (@jo_bryant_etiquette)
How to keep the Christmas magic alive
Order a tasteful stationary set from Polar Post to write to Father Christmas and then fill in your details online to received a personalised letter from the man himself, or sign up to the International Elf Service for a bundle of 26 letters (one-a-day) with updates from the elves' workshop, written by Elfie and his pals.
The Bespoke Letter Collection, £22.99,
Keep up to date with Santa's progress as he delivers presents all over the world via NORAD, The North American Aerospace Defence Command. While the rest of the year it tracks everything that flies in and around Canada and the United States, on December 24th, it adds a special mission: tracking Santa.
Watch the magic unfold from 4am on Christmas Eve. NORAD Tracks Santa Website
Visit Lapland... in Windsor, where an enchanted forest has been dusted with snow, Mother Christmas decorates gingerbread, the elves are busy toy making and you can ice skate and explore a variety of charmingly festive shops in the Elven village, before taking a trail past the reindeer, to a personalised visit with a very impressive Father Christmas.
Book early as this super popular experience brings all the festive wonder of Lapland, just without the airmiles.
From £125 for a family of four, Visit Lapland
Sarah Tomczak, Red's Editor
Songs that feel festive (but not naff)
Christmas is a time to bring together your people, your 'fam' - however that looks - for a good feast, a groove and some hugs! Here are my songs for doing just that:
Funky Ass Christmas – Aloe Blacc
Christmas Night in Harlem – Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter
Santa Baby – Eartha kitt
December (Based on September) – Earth, Wind & Fire
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday
Winter Wonderland – Chet Baker Quartet, Russ Freeman
Soul Vibrations – Dorothy Ashby
Sha La Da La La (Christmas Time) – The Sha La Das
When Was Jesus Born – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Golden – Jill Scott
By Gemma Cairney
How to tablescape (on a budget)
Most flowers aren’t in season around Christmas, so snip some branches from the back of your Christmas tree and weave herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage into them for a natural table decoration. Orange slices dehydrated in the oven will add a splash of colour.
A mismatched collection of colourful (second-hand) crockery adds instant personality. If all you have are plain white dinner plates, layer them with napkins, menus and crackers -surprisingly easy to make with an online template, old wallpaper samples or stiff wrapping paper and ribbon. For menus, try handwriting on off-white card paper, adding a simple watercolour border.
Christmas tables are laden with serving dishes, so avoid one big decorative centrepiece that’ll get in the way. Instead, put flowers and foliage in smaller bud vases dotted around the table, which can easily be moved as dishes come out.
Kirthanaa Naidu, food and table stylist @kirthanaa
Three of the best board games (that don’t require an hour of deciphering instructions)
1) Who Knows Where?
You race opponents to be the first player to travel around the world by locating famous places. Everyone plays at the same time and flexible rules make it great for lots of ages.
2) House of Games
Based on the TV show, you can recreate your favourite challenges at home. Tackle trivia together or face off in the iconic Answer Smash.
3) Confident Board Game
For this game you don't need to be a trivia buff because rather than giving one answer, you give a range. The smallest/closest range wins the point.
Kerry Nicholls, Lead Gift Buyer at John Lewis
How to fit in family (and still feel like you're having your Christmas)
Allow yourself to have timeouts where you’re on your own for 20 minutes, completely free of responsibility, with no pressure to perform or cooperate. Christmas is full of 'shoulds', including, 'You should be having a jolly time!’ and it becomes tyrannical. Make space for more of what you want, whether that’s time to meditate, watch something on Netflix or go for a walk. If you’re stretching yourself thin by attending multiple Christmasses, it can also be helpful to just assume you’ll let someone down at some point. This is OK. It is not your responsibility to make everyone's Chrsitmas a 'success' or carry the emotional weight of everyone else there.
Charlotte Fox Weber, psychotherapist and author of What We Want
The only Eggnog recipe you'll need
A proper Eggnog is whisked in a punch bowl, so give it a whirl. This recipe does 10 and can beserved hot or cold.
Start by building the punch in a large bowl. Beat 75g sugar together with 6 egg yolks until they turn light in colour, then whisk in 300ml of good quality aged rum, 200ml Oloroso Sherry, 1 litre of whole milk and 400ml double cream.
Add the seeds of 1 vanilla pod, then in a separate bowl beat the egg whites with 25g sugar until peaks form. Gently fold half the whites into the mixture and save the rest to top each serving. Serve with a ladle in punch cups, garnishing with grated nutmeg.
Joseph Wood, Head Bartender at The Ivy
How to cure a festive hangover
To reduce the chances of a hangover, drink natural or organic wines, or white spirits. Then, before you hit the sack, mix some coconut water with a squeeze of lime, some coconut sugar and a pinch of sea salt to rehydrate and balance electrolytes. Repeat the next day.
If you’ve overindulged, drinking ginger tea or sucking on a piece of ginger on a hangover can curb nausea and kickstart metabolism, to help your liver. Bananas can also help replace potassium. And if you feel low or anxious on a hangover, sip liquorice tea. According to Ayurveda, it improves cognitive function and also works on the adrenals.
For a good meal, I'd always recommend a warm bowl of beetroot or green vegetable soup with a cheese toastie.
By Jasmine Hemsley/ @jasminehemsley
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