Good evening

I found myself in the middle of a conversation this week about family traditions at Christmas.
One member of my family - you know who you are - wears a Christmas jumper each year that was knitted by our mum around 40 years ago, long before the current fad for the acrylic versions.
In our house, the same (paper) Christmas fairy is always at the top of the tree as she has been for 25 years and in others Christmas dinner is not complete without Yorkshire puddings.
One reader got in touch with me recently to say that his family has never put the tree and decorations up before Christmas Eve, even when the children were young, so that the festive excitement is concentrated and all the more fun for it.
Family traditions, however odd they may seem to other folks, are what makes Christmas special. In fact, it wouldn’t really be Christmas without them.
So however tempted you may be this year to forgo them because the house will not be as full as usual, if they are important to you, make sure that you keep them.
This year, it is more important than ever.