Ever noticed that since moving out of your parent’s place the festive period has lost its lovely sparkle? The luxuries you took for granted before – a cupboard full of mince pies, a decorated tree, blankets that don’t smell of damp – all cost money and, let’s face it, Christmas is a pricey little nugget. It’s difficult to get your Xmas on when you’re living in a freezing flat with no log fire to warm your chilly feet, and instead of the local carol singers all that’s in ear shot in your crowded house-share is the sound of your mate having sex in the next room.
Instead of feeling all sorry for yourself wrap up in something warm, gather your mates and head out into winter for a dose of proper festive cheer. We’ve found some stuff you can do for absolutely free and it’ll keep you merry right up to Christmas day – or, at least until the last day of work, when you can get a train back to the nest.
Go to a Christmas market
Every city in the UK has a Christmas market and, unless it’s super fancy, entry is totally free. Go, soak up the positive Christmas vibes and don’t forget to take your mittens because these things usually take place into the evening and it’s getting proper cold out. If you’re smart and plan ahead you’ll come away with a load of extra freebies, too, like the cheese and chocolate samples they give away at the Belfast’s City Hall market. If you’re spending time in Edinburgh this Christmas head to the Scottish Market in St Andrew’s Squarewhere the traditional clothes stools will give you all the tartan inspo you’ll ever need, and when you’re shuffling amongst the wooden chalet’s in London’s Winter Wonderland you can just about pretend you’re in the Swiss Alps, instead of five-minute walk from Marble Arch tube. If you don’t want to pay a fortune for a glass of mulled wine find yourself a hip flask and wear a coat with deep pockets. What? We didn’t say that.
** Get really into Christmas lights**
Christmas lights are just lush, aren’t they? Some towns get local artists to create beautiful neon landscapes of joy and festivity, like the Enchanted Forest display in Scotland’s Pitlochry and Stockeld Park in West Yorkshire, but we don’t need to pay for such theatricals here in Team Freebie.
If it’s a blow-up Santa and a few red and green light bulbs in the shape of a star you’re after, head to the nearest town centre – or better yet, go find a nice hill, take a blanket and your friends, and go enjoy the amazing view.
If you live in London and are after something a little more special, go admire the peacock feather lights on Bond Street or the giant reindeer in Covent Garden, and if you live in Manchester there’s a giant tree in Spinningfields that’s sponsored by Pringles and is made entirely of Pringles tubes. Yeah, you heard us – they’re calling it a ‘Cripsmas’ tree. It lights up at night and we couldn’t be happier. If you tweet a photo of you and your mates while you’re there, you could win a load of prizes, too, like cinema tickets. Not as fabulous, but still pretty great, is Bristol’s giant snow globein the shopping quarter. You have to pay to go inside, but does it say anywhere in the rules that you can’t stand directly outside it and have your picture taken? No sir, it does not.
Get some Christmas culture
Just ’cos it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you have to get all cheesy and unbearable with the joy. Anyone who wants to ease themselves into the holiday spirit should head down the culture route and go to The Artist’s Open House festival in Brighton. For three weeks this winter the public can access artists homes and studios for free, meet the artists and admire their work – there’s the very real possibility of free tea and cake, too. Also good old Southbank Centre in London has its annual winter festival, where you can go see the giant rabbit instillation by the river, learn how to knitat free workshops and help make a throw for charity. If you’re starting to feel like a proper Scrooge, remember to keep an eye out for free local comedy nights in your town, because Christmas is stressful and we all need a good laugh – Angel Comedy in London has free events every week through December.
Go see some carol singers
This one goes out to all our customer service angels dealing with other people’s problems this winter. After your shift, or during your lunch break, track down the nearest carol-singing event and get yourself a dose of much-needed zen. Trafalgar Square in London will host 50 different choirs round the huge Christmas tree this year, and if you live in a city don’t forget to head to the local Cathedral, like the one in Liverpool, where the Cheshire and Merseyside NHS workers are putting on their annual carol shows, or the lush Cathedral in Bath where you can slip into one of the 20-minute mini services they’re putting on to calm down local shoppers. Definitely beats sitting at home with Mr Hot Water Bottle and listening to* Last Christmas* on repeat until there’s no more tears left.
Be a kid again
Most towns and cities will put on really fun, free events at Christmas. Yes, they’re technically aimed at kids, but if you want to make the most of what the local council has spent your precious tax on we say get involved. There’s a free snowflake trail in Liverpool where you can win a holiday worth £1500 and every Thursday something Christmas-y is happening in the city centre, like a live reindeer parade. In Manchester you can go hear some scary Curious Tale ghost stories at the University library, then explore the building’s exhibitions after dark, and in Brighton the beach huts are being turned into live-action advent calendars. Also remember that while every year we moan, if you think about it, snow is essentially a free toy from winter to us with love. If it does end up coming our way this year, don’t hesitate to grab the nearest sledge-like object and head out to the park with your friends. When it gets too cold, you can all pile under a duvet, drink hot tea and watch Elf. Amazing.
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** Follow Helena on Twitter @HezzleHazzle**
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.