Give, give, give
It can be anything from buying a small meal for the security guard in your building to giving Dhs50 to a parking attendant or offering sweet treats to your office boy. It definitely won’t cost you very much, but it will mean the world to those you give to. Nothing beats putting a smile on someone’s face so spread a little joy.
Pick up an advent calendar
Counting down the days until Christmas is a great way to build up the anticipation and get in the festive spirit. If you have little kids at home, make a big deal of it – set aside some time each day (before breakfast works well) to see what’s behind that day’s advent calendar door together.
Go Christmas shopping early
Although the malls never really get super busy before Christmas, there’s no time like the present to start shopping for presents – and all the other trimmings that come with the festive season. Starting early also helps spread the cost for what can be an expensive time, so if you see something good for a family member or a friend, bag it! There’s nothing worse than the disappointment of not being able to get that perfect gift you saw a month ago.
Go ice-skating
Abu Dhabi’s Olympic-sized ice rink at Zayed Sports City is open to the public and is a guaranteed winner, whether you’re young or old. Head over with the family for some gliding fun (02 444 8458). There is a smaller ice rink for kids at Marina Mall (02 681 2310).
Have a Christmas movie marathon
Watch the greatest Christmas movies of all time – and trust us, there’s a film for everyone, as long as you’re willing to rent or buy and you’re not hoping to find it on Showtime. If it’s monsters you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the 1984 classic Gremlins, while if you’re looking for a wholesome family flick Miracle on 34th Street (1947) will do the trick. Failing that, The Snowman always hits the spot for kids while It’s a Wonderful Life is a guaranteed tear-jerker.
Christmas tales on your iPad
Sure you still have to work, but make the most of your lunch break or free time by reading Christmas stories on your iPad – you can get Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from the App Store and even How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Download an animated festive screensaver
A roaring fire, a Christmas tree with gently twinkling lights, Father Christmas shooting through the sky… The festive options online are endless these days. So if you’re staring out of the window at yet another sunny day, change your scene inside the office. If none of these suggestions tickle your fancy, do a quick Google search and wade through a list of websites longer than Santa’s naughty list.
Potluck party
It’s that time of year when everyone plans to head home to be with their close friends and family, so plan a potluck party with a Christmas theme the weekend before everyone goes away. Everyone brings along their favourite Christmas party dish, saving you the trouble of cooking lots of party food and giving everyone the chance to find a new favourite. Plus, it’ll be like you’re all spending the holiday together… just a little bit earlier.
Practise your present wrapping
Give your gifts the personal touch – and go crazy. Surprise your family and friends with more than just the present you’re giving them. Don’t just stick to funky wrapping paper; go all out with the big bows, Christmas themed stickers and glitterati. Maybe even a little rhyme on the wrapping paper hinting at the contents – at least that’s how the Swedish do it!
Start putting the Christmas tree up
Decorating the tree is an essential part of the run up to Christmas. You can buy a fake tree from all good hypermarkets then simply pick a colour theme for your decorations or hang up bits and pieces your kids have made at school. Get as many people involved as possible and don’t forget the fairy lights – they always make a home look incredibly pretty and very Christmassy.
Have the scents of Christmas waft through your house
No, by that we don’t mean install a vat of reindeer manure. Fill up little bowls with a mixture of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and dot them around the house (they smell like mulled Christmas drinks). If you haven’t got room for a real Christmas tree for the authentic smell, buy a bottle of pine air freshener – but go easy, you don’t want Santa passing out from the fumes.
Watch old Top of the Pops clips on YouTube
So the BBC programme may be one that only the Brits remember (with the exception of international versions in some parts of the world), but the Christmas hits performed by acts on this music show, which ran from 1964 to 2006, will be remembered by most nationalities. What is Christmas without a bit of eggnog-flavoured nostalgia?
Make a Christmas mixed tape
Yes we all moan about hearing it too early, and that it’s the same songs every year, but those Christmas classics help us feel a little bit closer to home and get everyone in the festive spirit. Buy a compilation CD and have it on in the car. Just think of all those guilty pleasures – Mariah Carey, Wham!, Cliff Richard… Go on… you know you want to.
Build a sandman
There is little chance that the heavens will open and cover Abu Dhabi with a blanket of snow over the festive period, so your chances of building a snowman sit at about nil. Instead, why not hit the beach and make a sandman? Decorate him with sunglasses, beach hats or even a bikini. You could even try getting out into the desert to build your sandman, but good luck getting that thin desert sand to stick…
Speak to your Nan
Let’s be honest, whether she’s in another country or not, it’s probably the only time you’ll speak to her this year. Too expensive? Get her on Skype. Or failing that, just get yourself on Skype and fork out for some credit – calls are still laughably cheap to landlines from your computer or iPhone with the online phone service. Go on, you’ll feel better for it and she’ll be happy too.
Host a Nativity play
Round up the whole neighbourhood and bring out everyone’s inner drama queen (or king) to take part in a Nativity play, it’s not just for kindergarteners you know! Get yourself a director’s chair and call the shots. Leave your friends wondering why you suddenly have no time for them – they’ll be in for a surprise when they receive a ‘red carpet’ invite to watch your play. If you’re looking for some real drama, dare to cast an actual ox and donkey… what is it they say about never working with animals and children?
Wear a… special jumper
A knitted one, preferably with a snowflake or 3D Santa on. H&M seems to have already rolled out both men’s and women’s snowflake knitted options, though if these are too ‘fashionable’ (arf!) for you, we recommend jumping on eBay for the naffest of the naff.
Get carolling
If you love a good old sing along there’s no time better than Christmas. You can download the words for all the old favourite carols online, get some friends and family round and get practicing. Double up with the mince pie idea above and you’ll be overloaded with festive-ness.
AND FINALLY… RUN TO THE SUPERMARKET FOR SOMETHING YOU’VE FORGOTTEN
You couldn’t just pop to the shops if you were living almost anywhere in Europe, where everything is closed on Christmas Day. However, living in Abu Dhabi means you’ve absolutely no need to panic – most places are open on December 25. Christmas crisis averted!
