'Tis the season for festive cheer, but Christmas excess is not for everybody. We present a curated selection of alternative (but excellent) things to see, hear, taste and do
The festive season's unfaltering dedication to excess is part and parcel of its charm – but as many of us know, December can often present too much of a good thing. For those who are less than enlivened by the thought of a carol-singing choir, a turkey sandwich, or even an evening in with Love Actually, we have curated a list of alternative events, ideas and ornaments to fill your calendar. From the documentaries you've been meaning to watch but never quite found the time to, to lightshows, roller-discos and Scandinavian-inspired dishes which might appeal, there are ideas suited to all five of the senses. Mince pies optional.
Outstanding Experiences
For those among us who would prefer to pass on sofa time altogether, the world outside awaits; if you're more concerned with the Winter Solstice than a visit from Santa, you could do worse than to visit Iceland’s gorgeous shores, where the Northern Lights this winter are rumoured to be at their brightest in decades.
There are myriad activities to chose from closer to home too – whether you'd prefer to strut and skate at London Southbank’s Bump Roller Disco, or experience a unique after-dark fair at the exquisite Kew Gardens, with its one-mile-long illuminated trail, complete with food stalls and vintage fairground rides.
If you’re lucky enough to be spending the season in New York, don’t miss the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular’s precision dancing show at Rockfeller Centre, for a dose of glitz. And between a brunch and a walk through Central Park, we highly recommend you plan a visit to the Picasso Sculpture exhibition at MoMA – the show runs through February 7, so there's simply no excuse to let it pass you by.
Scholastic Enlightenment
Christmas needn’t be a time for switching off, leaning back, and letting your mind turn into a slew of sherry and mince pies. For those looking for intellectual stimulation around the 25th, American radio podcast This American Life’s acclaimed little sister Serial returns this winter for a long-awaited second run – this time focusing on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Bowe Bergdahl’s disappearance into the hills of Afghanistan.
The break provides a welcome opportunity to pick up the publications you might have been pushing to one side all year, be they philosophical – Bertrand Russell’s A History of Western Philosophy is one lucid and comprehensive suggestion – or fictional – Jonathan Franzen’s Purity, a tale of secrets and surveillance, is sure to provide a welcome distraction from Christmas television.
Home Improvements
"By reshaping or decorating our outer selves, we express our inner sense of self: 'I like that' becomes 'I'm like that,'" once declared the liberal political author Virginia Postrel. Wise words, and an equally fitting mantra for festive decoration. If you’ve decided against decking the halls with boughs of holly this season, why not try a non-traditional means of decorating your home? Donna Wilson’s Ernest pouffe makes for excellent fireside seating all-year-round, weaving as it does traditional tones of red and green alongside fluorescent orange and pink, to create a contemporary variation on a theme.
Similarly modern in feel, Monologue London’s green wooden wonderland ornaments make for a refreshing change from the seasonal nativity set – and in their non-specific colour palette of greens, pale pinks and gold, you can keep them on display after December has ended. As for table-top decorations, Sophie Southgate’s beautifully understated vessels – with their softly curved edges, muted tones and gold leaf-coated interiors – are functional as well as decorative.
If you simply cant relinquish your tree, Bentzen's Paper Crystal Baubles make an elegant replacement to tired Christmas baubles, whether hung from a fir-tree or a conveniently placed in a Swiss Cheese plant. Use in addition to Maison Margiela's timeless Fireplace candle for an evocative ambience which gently echoes, rather than demands, festive cheer.
Culinary Delights
For those looking to switch up their culinary preferences come the 25th, there's no shortage of restaurants offering attractive alternatives to the classic turkey and roasties combo this Christmas season. During the holidays, London eaterie Babbo will be serving up two different festive menus. From mouth-watering fig, cinnamon and apple carpaccio, to crunchy sage and braised cabbage, veal fillet and homemade panettone, guests will be able to indulge in some authentic Italian Christmas deliciousness at this favourite Mayfair spot.
If you’re more of a Nordic foodie type, Skandilicious welcomes you to enjoy a traditional Swedish Julbord this winter. The culinary journey will begin with a glass of Glögg before guests will star venturing into the heart of Swedish cooking, from cold cut meat and smoked salmon offerings to unmissable Swedish meatballs. And why not end the evening with some ginger and saffron baked treats?
From the North Pole to New Zealand, Kopapa will surprise you with its inventive Maori-inspired assortment of flavours and textures. Whether it’s the artichoke and crispy buckwheat soup with Sichuan pepper, the roast lamb with black fig or the pumpkin, ricotta and kale pie, this innovative restaurant will cater for your Christmas meal with an exciting choice of alternative winter dishes.
Visual Stimulation
If you're looking to substitute festive cheer with something a little more poignant, Dreams Rewired, a fascinating new filmic project, is an evocative look at the transormation of contemporary society into a hyper-connected madness. The film "traces the desires and anxieties of today's digital world back more than a hundred years, when telephone, film and television were new," using found footage from nearly 200 clips with a commentary voiced by AnOther Magazine A/W15 coverstar, Tilda Swinton.
Also on 2015's must-watch list is Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado's highly anticipated Salt of the Earth – an investigation into the life and work of the latter's father, social documentary photographer Sebastião Salgado. Staggeringly powerful in its original footage of Salgado's body of work, this feature-length film will stay with you long after the screen fades to black.
The same might also be said of Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, albeit for very different reasons. The first fully authorised Cobain documentary, Montage follows the fated musician from his early years in Aberdeen, Washington, through his rise to fame and final downfall with Nirvana, and is, wihtout a doubt, one of the standout docu-films of the year.
Seasonal merriment brings with it a wealth of on-screen diversion, and not only that which confines you to your living room. Westbourne Grove’s 20th Century Theatre, a hidden gem tucked into the heart of London's Notting Hill, is giving itself over to a week-long programme of festive flicks this December, including holiday classics The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf and Miracle On 34th Street. If you're itching to escape your sitting room, you could do worse than to soak up a little cinematic entertainment within the walls of this beautiful Grade II-listed building.
