Galery

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There are various pretexts for celebrating during the last month of the year, which is why December is the favourite of so many people. Your town has been decorated since late November – now we are into the month of Christ's birth, and the New Year is just an inch away.

How can you diversify the most festive month of the year? See the list below.

1. Melomakarona and kourabiedes (cookies)

December is a good time to experiment in the kitchen. Cook a special dinner for your family based on recipes you have never tried before. E.g. take the risk and offer a different rendition of your Christmas melomakarona and kourabiedes – with chocolate and walnuts. If you fail – what the heck! What matters is that ou dipped your hands into the dough and your home smells of butter.

2. Try ice skating

Greece is not the country of ice rinks. But during this low-temperatures month, you stand a chance to try your hand (or leg) at figure skating. Visit one of the provisional rinks and play like a child with your children.

3. Cleaning

The chillier it is outside, the longer you stay at home. Isn't it the proper time for a ground-breaking cleaning operation, which might usher you into a New Year free of useless stuff at home? Make a few furniture reshuffles around the rooms, decorate and rejuvenate them just before you ring in the New Year.

4. Indulge yourself with a reasonable food binge

If it only happens once a year, then you are allowed to venture into some good food and drink. Being careful throughout the year might stoke up your expectation of the Christmas menu. Try all the dishes without hesitation, and tuck into muffins for breakfast.

5. A soul-searching exercise

December should be the soul-searching month, with an emphasis on all the good things, which happened to us during the passing year. Remember what you achieved in 2014, what kinds of hurdles you overcame and who the people that helped you along the way were. This might remind you to say thanks to them once again, especially if you haven't done enough of it during the year.

6. Respect traditions

You might, especially if you're young, perceive traditions as boring or posh, but Christmas holidays are a good time for a healthy degree of deference. Religious or just family traditions, decorating the Christmas tree or watching films together – they might make you warm inside, just like when you were a kid.

7. Read a good book or two

Apart from all else, December is a good chance to catch up on books, especially if the cold doesn't make walks around town such an enticing idea. If literature is something you're too busy to enjoy the rest of the year, Christmas time gives you all the excuse you might need to get engrossed in a good read.

8. Have fun

December is the time of parties, and parties give you a reason to put on makeup and high-heeled shoes. Dress up, dance with family and friends – this will ease the fine mood into next year.