I would like to talk about a slightly quirky tradition that my extended family has kept up for as long as I can remember. Every year on Boxing Day, instead of staying indoors in front of the telly, we all wrap up warm and head up to a local hilltop at the crack of dawn for an outdoor sunrise picnic.
It all started with my grandparents several decades ago, and nowadays it involves three generations, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and even the family dogs. We gather around seven in the morning, regardless of the weather, carrying thermos flasks of hot tea, leftover roast potatoes, and warm pastries. The highlight is always a rather ridiculous, light-hearted quiz that my uncle organises, where the winner receives a battered wooden spoon that gets passed around every year.
I suppose what makes it quite peculiar is that most people spend that day lounging on the sofa in their pyjamas, recovering from the festivities. For us, standing on a freezing, windswept hill in woolly hats and wellies might seem completely bizarre to outsiders, but it has become an absolute staple of our holiday season.
As for why we continue doing it, I think it acts as a wonderful anchor for the family. Modern life is so hectic that we rarely get uninterrupted time together without mobile phones buzzing constantly. Being outdoors in the crisp morning air forces everyone to genuinely chat, laugh, and bond. Even though we always grumble about the biting cold on the walk up, none of us would ever dream of skipping it.