Christmas is a time that is immensely personal for each household, based on religious significance, cultural traditions, family bonding and the various vibrant or calm ways that we all choose to decorate our homes, and welcome guests. It can be full of nostalgia, joy and spirituality, while being a great excuse to get everyone together and share in the occasion of good food, fun cocktails, inevitable family dramas and memorable story making. It’s not always a happy time for everyone, which is why as we get older the spirit of community becomes ever more important – but for those who love the festive season, it is a wonderful time to show our appreciation.

Emily Scott: Chef & Author, Cornwall.

“I adore the promise of Christmas and all the festive season brings; the traditions and being with the people I love. Christmas loves: scents in the air – fresh cut pine, cinnamon, cloves and mulled wine; writing cards, wrapping presents and decorating with dried cow parsley, fir, holly and mistletoe; hanging stockings, paper chains and orange-clove pomanders; the promise of snowflake shortbread, quince mince pies, clementines, sugared almonds and Quality Street.

Growing up, home was always full and welcoming – the larder and fridge stocked to the brim. Boozy Christmas cake, glazed ham, game pie, artichoke dip, jars of chutney, smoked salmon, good bacon, a goose (for a change), glazed carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, spiced red cabbage, pigs in blankets, cranberry stuffing, cheese forever, Christmas pud, brandy butter and port at the ready.

Early to wake in our beach house – it’s carols on repeat, a sea swim, tipple of rum, presents, laughter, family and gratitude. A late lunch by candlelight, crackers pulled, hats required, glasses full, hearts happy.”

@emilyscottfood; emilyscottfood.com

Marta Nowicka: Interior Architect, Founder of DOMstay, East Sussex.
   
“With five homes to decorate and two cultures to fuse, Christmas is busy at DOMstay, and it’s all about feasting! On the 24th, we celebrate Polish Christmas ‘Wigilia’ at St John, our converted ambulance station, in Rye. With the first star [the first star in the sky symbolises the start of the festivities] everyone shares special wishes, hugs and kisses, and we break blessed bread before sitting down to a 13-course dinner – including wild mushroom consommé, homemade pierogi and cranberry jelly. Ivy, crab apples, scented candles and flowers adorn the table, and following tradition, there is always an extra place setting, for an unexpected guest. Our theme changes annually, last year was ‘hot’– our fir tree decked with red chilli peppers and ginger cakes on ribbons. Christmas and Boxing Day is then a fusion of champagne, charades, bonfires and dog walks, with local, wild foody fare.”
   
@dom_stay; domstay.com

Sharan Kaur: Founder of Nām, Bath.

“December is a welcome ‘old friend’: busy shop days, late-night deliveries of beautifully wrapped gifts and a stream of familiar faces. As a working mother, I’ve found pockets of promises kept, have created lasting memories, eagerly repeated with my young daughter: nostalgic gingerbread making, last entry National Trust Light Trail visits, meandering with homemade hot chocolate and winter dog walks foraging natural finds to decorate our mantels.

As part of a large Sikh family, our get-togethers involve four generations enjoying the cultural richness of both our British and Indian heritage – reflected in our food, language and music. Festivities begin with us sat together on the floor, heads covered with scarves, eyes closed to meditate, through a repeated prayer ‘mool matar’ for around 20 minutes. Once the chanting draws to ‘absolute pin drop’ stillness, my mother rises to serve a large spoonful of karah parshad (sacred sweet ‘halva’), directly into our hands. In that moment we each individually feel we are home for Christmas.”
   
@namstore_bath; @namstore.co.uk

Marte Marie Forsberg: Photographer, Dorset.
   
“Festivities begin at midnight on November 30th. Growing up in Norway, my mother made a handmade advent calendar filled with tiny presents, which I now do for my daughter. For me, it is the cosiest time of year and, from December 1st, we decorate our home and cook, salt, ferment and bake mouth-watering food, including seven kinds of traditional biscuits. Moving to the Dorset countryside 10 years ago, English and Norwegian traditions are now combined – weekly advent dinners, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations. Candles glow in every window, Norwegian ‘Gløgg’ and English mulled wine simmer on the stove, Christmas scents infuse each room and my heart feels full. As December ends, our tree is planted in the garden, but joyful lights, candles and wreaths are kept up into the new year – and bulbs planted in small pots to welcome the new beginning.”
   
mmforsberg.com

Davina Stanley: Interior Designer, Founder Paper + White, Cambridgeshire.
   
“Our celebration is a Jewish-meets-Christian affair: Chanukah, followed by Christmas, when our old rectory comes alive with family, and friends. Handmade decorations I’ve collected since I was a small child decorate real trees – one tasteful, one more chaotic, and the house is filled with giant wreaths and lots of garden foliage. Our annual party on the 20th signifies the start of the holidays: my husband always in Father Christmas costume, me in a vintage, over-the-top, sequinned Alice Temperley number, and delicious handmade fruit-cake vodka ready for guests to take home. Christmas Eve pyjamas are a must for all generations staying, and despite having teenage children, the start to Christmas Day is always an early one. Lunch is traditional and late – worked off by our annual Boxing Day family swim at Brancaster beach. Then quiet fireside days before we do it all again for new year!”
   
@paperandwhite; paperandwhite.com

Rob Wyn Yates: Abstract Realism Painter, Suffolk.
   
“The build-up to Christmas is a busy mix of creating and partying. Flowers Gallery in London curate an annual group show, inspiring people to gift art at Christmas – so painting for this, and bespoke commissions, begins well before December. At home celebrations revolve around my partner’s collection of vintage decorations: from ’60s crackers to glass sputnik tree decorations (he owns antique shop, Inda Cottage in Framlingham). We host festive Christmas drinks at the shop and in my art studio (aka ‘The Bunker’), then rush to the West Country or Lake District for the big day. My family comprises of cooks and wine merchants, so a good time is pretty much guaranteed.”
   
@robywynyates.studio; robwynyates.com

Ali Heath is an interiors expert – her new book, “Create: At Home With Old & New” (Mitchell Beazley), is out now.
   
Emily Scott – All images Time & Tide Hardie Grant UK / Kristin Perers.
Marta Nowicka – Portrait image credit: Mark Cocksedge. Fireplace image credit: Felix Speller.
Marte Marie Forsberg – All images Marta Marie Forsberg.
Sharan Kaur – Portrait images: Paolo Ferla. Lifestyle shot: Gareth Iwan Jones.