Merry Christmas from Team NLP

As we all start to slow down in the next few days ready for the Christmas holidays I thought it might be interesting to explore some of our English traditions.  Do you know where they originate? As families we all have our traditions. One of ours, which is terribly dated now, is to buy the Radio Times and enjoy the thought of all those potential restful holiday days. As an entrepreneur, I never really close down completely over the holidays, and yet the world is a quieter place and there is more space to enjoy 'being' rather than 'doing'. As I opened our Radio Times on day one yesterday, the 20th December, I appreciated the fact that the holidays had officially begun!

So which traditions will you be enjoying this Christmas? Here are a few...

• The Christmas tree was popularised by Price Albert and Queen Victoria when the Prince brought over the festive tradition from his native Germany. For most of us, it's not officially Christmas until we've up up our tree and decorated it. 
• Speaking of decorations, when do you put yours up? For us, it's as close to the 1st December as we can manage.  What we all know is that we need to make sure to take them down before the 12th night of Christmas - or the 5th of January. My Nana always used to say that leaving them up any longer brings bad luck, and who wants to start a new year off that way?
• The tradition of sending Christmas cards is believed to date back all the way to 1843. At the time, Sir Henry Cole wasn't able to send out personal messages during the festive period, so he hired an artist to design a card that he could send to lots of friends. John Calcott Horsley was that artist, and the tradition has continued ever since. Although have you noticed getting fewer cards these days since social media? I still love to receive those personal messages and updates from friends and family alike. 
• While we've hung stockings at the ends of our beds or mantles for as long as we can remember, with the hopes of receiving some treats or stocking fillers, the origin of this is said to relate to Saint Nicholas. After attempting to discreetly leave bags of gold by a family's chimney, one accidentally fell into a stocking. And, from there the Christmas stocking became a firm family favourite.
• Boxing day got it's name from 'boxing-up' unwanted gifts to donate to those less fortunate on the day after Christmas. Boxing Day was also typically a day off for the servants of the house, with them receiving a special box of gifts from their employers. 

However, you choose to spend your holidays, all of us at Team NLP wish you a restful, happy and healthy holiday.

See you in the New Year when we have some exciting news about new programs and changes to our leadership team.

Until then, have wonderful time.

Lindsey and all at Team NLP x