How to Be Fully Present and Mindful During Christmas Celebrations
Dec 09, 2025
A perfect Christmas for me equals celebration, twinkling lights, sparkling drinks, murder mysteries, building a grotto under the stairs for the children, the smell of falling pine needles, warmth, comforting food and connection. In the past, I have often overindulged and felt exhausted as a result. Nowadays, I plan a more restful period which includes less alcohol, higher quality sleep and enhanced rituals - a delicious hot chocolate by the fire, more nutritious warm salads and time to enjoy the smells and sounds of Christmas with family.
Here at L.A Brewery, we truly resonate with ‘hygge’ - the Danish and Norwegian word for a contented mood evoked by a sense of comfort and cosiness.
Breaking down the 'hygee' moments.
If I were to break down the ‘hygge’ moments of Christmas, it would look like this:
Lighting: Glowing light in the form of candles, standard lamps & fairy lights and log fires.
Scents: Nothing beats the smell of a real Christmas tree in my view, but if that is impractical, there are plenty of essential oils that evoke Christmas, including orange, frankincense and pine, which work well in a diffuser.
Warmth: Wool blankets, open fires and wood burners.
Food: I like to have plenty of nourishing, vegetable-rich dishes that make Christmas eating a little healthier, alongside the traditional turkey roast.
Delicious and healthy Christmas recipes we’ll be focusing on are:
Roast carrots with herby yoghurt, harissa & butter by @courtneyroulston
Crispy parmesan sprouts by @healthbycaroline
Roasted cabbage with mustard sauce by @tastysimplyvegan
Connection:
For me, this comes in the sharing of food & drink, sitting down with family and our much adored animals, and even slipping in a few games. As old-fashioned as it is, I also love to sit with my mum in the winter afternoon sun and pore over a jigsaw puzzle for hours.
Celebatory drinks for the Christmas season
Celebratory drinks:
The Christmas season can swiftly become a time of regular drinking, a feeling which is often a little tiring and overwhelming, so it’s lovely to have a delicious range of non-alcoholic options at your disposal and for your friends and family. Whether you’re the designated driver, sober curious, or simply seeking the best non-alcoholic alternatives, for when your body needs a welcome rest.
Our best non-alcoholic Christmas drinks to stock your cupboard:
L.A Brewery Sparkling Non-Alcoholic White Rose & English Blush case - offering both sparkling white and pink wine-like drinks with added benefits including live cultures, anti-oxidants and beneficial acids. Chill overnight and pop the cork with friends and family at 6 pm or whenever the idea-toasting time occurs, or enjoy with a meal
The L.A Brewery Taster Bundle: a simple way to discover your favourite this festive season - the L.A Brewery Taster Case includes one of each of our sparkling non-alcoholic cans for just £10 - free delivery included. Bright, balanced, and uplifting - it’s the perfect bundle for exploring, gifting and loving.
L.A Brewery Considerate Host Bundle: This season, we’ve also designed the ultimate considerate host bundle - for your dinner parties that want all the fizz with none of the fuzz. You’ll receive a twin case of our Sparkling Bottles to pop, and a mixed case of our cans, catering to all palates - because taking everyone into consideration is the most thoughtful gift you can give.
Other drinks I recommend filling your cupboard with, especially if you are planning a sober Christmas, are:
Angostura Bitters – a few drops will enhance any soft drink with an additional layer of citrus, spice and herbal notes which are warming and pleasing to taste.
Belvoir Ginger Cordial – a truly delicious spicy ginger cordial that can be used to make still, sparkling and even warm drinks to warm you through the Christmas season.
Delicious coffee – the morning ritual becomes even more important when you are not drinking – an early morning sunrise with a homemade latte is very special. We like the Coldblow espresso blend and Union Coffee beans.
Sparkling water – an essential when your palate is overloaded and for mixing!
Herbal Tea – I keep a range of teas, including digestive assisting fennel, detoxing teas like nettle and immune boosting teas, including ginger & turmeric. If you are feeling extra brave, try triphala powder and make a tea with honey – it is very cleansing for the liver and a cornerstone of Ayurverdic medicine.
Hot Chocolate – for comforting evenings by the fire (or any time really). We love Pump Street 70% cacao Drinking chocolate and Bristol Fungarium Lion’s mane 50% cacao hot chocolate for an extra brain boost.
We are also putting together a Christmas non-alcoholic cocktail drinking guide for the big day, so watch this space! What are your rituals, and what do they mean to you?
