STYLE LIVING Photography by briangrech
CHRISTMAS With…
The festive season means so many wonderful things to so many different people. Here Style on Sunday chats to three wellknown individuals to discover the intricate nuances, and delightful traditions, that go hand-in-hand with their Christmases.
Wherever I am in the world, I fly back for Christmas to spend time with my family. We always have a lovely sit-down meal that starts at 1pm and goes on long into the night. Traditionally I host New Year, but this year I am doing Christmas. I can’t wait to get into the kitchen to start preparing! Every year I make ravioli stuffed with Jerusalem artichokes and porcini mushrooms in a truffle sauce – it’s my signature dish. I make other things too – everything but the sweets, because I don’t eat them. My advice would always be to plan ahead. A soup is a great starter – I make hopscotch soup, which always seems to be a hit. I also serve duck with pancakes for the children. They may not be Christmas traditions as such, but they’re our traditions.
Mariella Scerri
The entrepreneur behind Orienta balances her time between Malta and Bali, and is about to launch a new jewellery e-business. As always, Christmas for Mariella will be about family – and great food!
I believe Christmas is very personal, as is festive decoration. Nothing is too much or too little when it’s done to your liking. Fairy lights make me happy to go home, so I put them up as early as possible – usually by the 8th, so I can enjoy them for a full month. My favourite Christmas decorations are the crystal ones on the tree because they shimmer so prettily. But I change things a little each year. I choose the festive collection for the shop at a massive fair in Germany every February, and keep a few hand-picked items for myself.
“I’m hosting Christmas lunch this year and I can’t wait to start whipping up a storm in the kitchen.”
I did spend Christmas in Bali once, but it didn’t feel much like Christmas (especially because of the heat!). The highlight was mass – celebrated with hundreds of Catholics and really evocative of the true meaning of the season. I do get inspired by my travels though – the festivities in both New York and London are incredible. Being dressed in cosy attire, snuggled up by the fire and looking out at the city’s lights is just magical.
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