insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 65

CHRISTMAS With Love From Kent CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FROM THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE, YET, DESPITE BEING ‘TRADITIONAL’ THEY VARY FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY, FROM PERSON TO PERSON. AS WE GROW OLDER AND MEET NEW PEOPLE, JOIN FAMILIES TOGETHER AND SO ON, OUR TRADITIONS CAN CHANGE AND GROW WITH US. YET THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT STAYS, AND THAT WE PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. Vyper Auto Details // Tonbridge www.vyperautodetails.co.uk If you need some tradition inspiration, look no further than our own county. This month, we spoke to some Kent-based businesses to find out how they celebrate Christmas, and what traditions are nearest and dearest to their hearts. Into The Blue // Biggin Hill www.intotheblue.co.uk “Being a small business that started in 2017, every day is a working day as I try to make it successful. But for Christmas it's a different story. Nothing beats the looks on my son and cousin's faces when they find out Santa's left them presents for being good boys. So normally for Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day it's all about family, food and memories that'll last a lifetime. And being born in South America I would say Latin Christmas food is something you should definitely have on your ‘to eat’ list. — Aaron Paul "My favourite Christmas Tradition is definitely Santa's Stocking, and the fun opening it on Christmas morning. I get just as excited aged 60 as when I was 6!” — Jim Maitland, Managing Director "Me and my son Liam always leave carrots for Santa's reindeers (he spends A LOT of time working out how many to leave so each reindeer gets fed), mince pies for Santa and a little glass of whisky too on the doorstep. This is a modern take on leaving it on the hearth of the fire as Santa traditionally comes down the chimney and we haven't got one, so Santa does the present drop by leaving a bag on the doorstep, ringing the doorbell and then disappearing before Liam can get to the door!” — Caroline Face, Content Editor "My favourite Christmas tradition in recent years is visiting Winter Wonderland Hyde Park the weekend before Christmas, walking around the Christmas market, drinking mulled wine and eating Bratwurst sausages!” — Melody Kane, Admin Assistant "One of my favourite Christmas traditions is going to Brighton to spend Boxing Day with my boyfriend and his family, eating fish and chips in our favourite restaurant right next to the pier and then going for some late Christmas shopping!” — Eider Gomez, Digital Content Manager 65