1 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.
2 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 a some time each day (before breakfast works well) to see what’s behind that day’s advent calendar door together.
3 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 traps and trimmings that come along 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.
4 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).
5 Book a ski chalet… in Dubai
Next time you’re hading to Dubai for the weekend, stay in a ski chalet overlooking Ski Dubai at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates (04 341 0000). The luxury ski chalets all have that cosy alpine feel inside, albeit with modern extras such as large plasma screens, wireless internet, spacious marble bathrooms and Molton Brown toiletries. Just don’t expect a woodburning fireplace.
6 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 youre not hoping to find it on Showtime. If it’s monsters you’re after, you can’t go wrong with 1984’s 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 tearjerker For more inspiration, check out our 12 (Movie) Genres of Christmas feature here.
7 Say it with Post-its
Write Post-it notes filled with Christmassy thoughts and wishes or inspirational holiday messages and giving and put them up around the house. For a bit of festive cheer at work put them up in your office space or around your work-mates’ cubicles if you think they need a pick me up.
8 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.
9 Buy sprouts
Do you really eat them at any other time of year? Honestly? Make the most of the humble sprout and stock up on the most divisive of seasonal side dishes. Despite once being voted England’s least favourite vegetable they’re packed with health benefits and are even said to battle cancer. To avoid mushy sprouts don’t cut an ‘x’ into the bottom, par boil and finish by sauteeing in butter.
10 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 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.
11 Greet people
We’re not sure if it’s a UAE thing, but we genuinely miss being greeted in the morning, evening… or any time really. With Christmas just around the corner, we’re going take the oppportunity to start wishing everyone happy holidays and try to engage with people more, whether at the local hypermarket or just around the office.
12 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.
13 Make a scrapbook
If you’ve decided to stay in Abu Dhabi for Christmas and really start to miss your family and friends, try making a scrapbook filled with photos and other things that remind you of all the great times you’ve spent together. It will help to make it feel like everyone isn’t so far away and it makes a great gift for mum back home too!
14 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 so pretty and Christmassy.
15 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.
16 Watch The Nutcracker
Catch Tchaikovsky’s world famous classical ballet December 15-17 at the Madinat Theatre in Dubai, when the highly acclaimed Vienna Festival Ballet Company returns to town. The Nutcracker ballet tells the story of young Clara who is given a nutcracker toy for Christmas, which magically transforms into a prince who whisks her away to the Land of Sweets full of sugar plum fairies, a mouse king and gingerbread soldiers. Sheer enchantment for children and adults alike. Tickets cost Dhs165 (balcony) and Dhs185 (stalls) and are available through Time Out Tickets www.timeouttickets.com.
17 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 around the world), but the Chritsmas 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?
18 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.
19 Bring a Northern Hemisphere Christmas to Abu Dhabi
Turn your air conditioning up so it’s really, really cold (sorry, polar bears) and put on hats, gloves and scarves and pretend to go for a walk. When you’ve ‘come back’, turn the air-conditioning off and make steaming cups of hot chocolate. Simples.
20 Make mince pies
Some people love them, some people hate them, but it’s simply not Christmas without mince pies. There are countless recipes on the internet for these classics (we reckon the secret to success is all in the pastry). Whip up a batch and invite friends round for a cheeky drink and a Christmas snack.
21 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.
22 Host a Nativity play
Round up the whole neighborhood 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?
23 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.
24 Don’t complain about decorations going up too early
Because, let’s face it, they always do. Get in the spirit and embrace it! Wander around all the malls and take in the various shop displays and decorations. Get inspired about what you’re going to do at home without buying your decorations too early and then realising they’re hideous compared to everything else you’ve seen. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Planning is key whether you want traditional or ultra-chic.
25 Get caroling
If you love a good old singalong 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.
