Why Boxing Day is so much better than Christmas

December 25, 2017, 12:20 am

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Boxing Day is better than Christmas Day. There, I said it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and the magic of the day. I love waking up to a tree full of presents and sitting down with my family to eat far too much at dinner. I love the little traditions like always watching the Christmas episode of The Royal Family. I enjoy the day because everyone is happy.

But Christmas Day doesn’t come without its pressures, and happiness doesn’t always come naturally. Let’s face it, nobody wants to have a miserable Christmas. We spend all of December… Read the full story

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Is it normal to feel sad that Christmas isn’t as magical as it was when you were younger?

December 25, 2017, 1:10 am

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Oh, hey. I’m Lisa and I am a bonafide lover of Christmas.

Despite hating winter (I get cold easily), I have so much time for Christmas. I will suffer through November and December for Christmas. Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year (after summer…).

I love the decorations, the music and watching 80s/90s Christmas films while mainlining After Eights. I get joy from watching someone’s face when they’re opening a present I know they’ll love. I love our neighbours who go HAM on the Christmas lights.

And don’t get me started on food – I live 364 days for my mum’s Christmas dinner. No one makes Christmas dinner like my mum. Everything about it is perfect and she even went to the effort of making me special vegetarian bits when I turned veggie 11 years ago – and more recently she’s made me vegan versions of all my faves so I don’t miss out. It’s the best… Read the full story

How to cope if you’re alone this Christmas

December 25, 2017, 1:15 am

≫ Next: Merry Christmas from Mentally Yours! Here’s how to look after your mental health on Christmas day

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Christmas can often seem like one massive family party.

But for people who are alone this Christmas, it can feel like they’ve just weren’t invited.

The popularity of Twitter’s #JoinIn campaign started by comedian Sarah Milican to connect people to others who don’t have anyone to spend time with on Christmas Day is testament to the loneliness felt by people during the festive period.

This is something 43-year-old Natalie from Bedfordshire knows all too well.

She tells Metro.co.uk that although she spends the day with family and has ‘lots of laughs, play games and eat until we burst’, every Christmas ends with her ‘in bed, alone and in tears.’

‘I cry because… Read the full story

Merry Christmas from Mentally Yours! Here’s how to look after your mental health on Christmas day

December 25, 2017, 2:06 am

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IT’S CHRISTMAAAAAS.

Naturally, we here at Mentally Yours, Metro.co.uk’s weekly podcast on all things mental health, have created a lovely Christmas special for you to unwrap. Aren’t you all lucky?

Rather than tips on cooking the turkey or how to protect your Christmas tree from scratchy cats, our Christmas edition focuses on your mental wellbeing.

Because while Christmas is supposed to be full of joy and festive fun, it can also be bloody stressful – especially when you have a mental illness.

We chatted to counsellor and psychologist Philip Karahassan to talk about how to look after your mental health on the big day – from dealing with family to being alone.

Listen above through Soundcloud or go ahead and subscribe on iTunes.

Here's what you need to know about Mentally Yours:

Mentally Yours is a weekly podcast from Yvette and Ellen of Metro.co.uk, out every Monday.

We talk… Read the full story

What’s it like intervening with a suicidal person and saving their life?

December 25, 2017, 3:00 am

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If you spotted a fellow passenger on a train platform acting erratically, what would you do?

Would you intervene or would you be too worried about doing something wrong, unsure of what action to take?

If you’re in the latter camp, you’re not the only one.

Research has shown that public passengers have a key role to play in suicide prevention. The majority are willing to act, but many want guidance on how to help and reassurance they wouldn’t make things worse.

A new suicide prevention campaign called Small Talk Saves Lives is giving travellers the confidence to act if they notice someone who may be at risk of suicide on or around the rail network.

Launched by Samaritans, British Transport Police and the rail industry, including Network Rail and the train operating companies, the campaign hopes to save many lives a year.

Considering that suicidal thoughts are temporary and can be interrupted by something as simple as a question, the campaign aims to give… Read the full story

You’ll soon be able to make a phone call with your nails

December 25, 2017, 3:22 am

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In probably the best news we’ve ever heard, a nail extension will soon allow you to make a phone call.

That’s right.

So forget worrying about smudging a fresh manicure digging around in your pocket for your phone, you will quite literally raise a finger to your face to call someone.

Forget robots and wearable technology, the future is here.

And who’s responsible for this?

Well, the first-ever mobile nails is a collaboration between 02, Nails Inc and inventor Sean Miles.

Read the full story

Meghan Markle wears a £986 camel coat at Sandringham for Christmas Day service

December 25, 2017, 4:52 am

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While you were unwrapping presents, our new favourite almost-royal, Meghan Markle was up bright and early to head to the Christmas Day Church service with the royals.

Naturally, she wore something pretty snazzy for the occasion – a camel wraparound coat paired with a fancy chestnut hat and Stuart Weitzman boots.

It’s an elegant, pared back look – no Christmas jumpers here – that still sticks to Meghan’s signature style.

Now for the specifics.

Meghan’s Christmas coat is by another Canadian brand, Sentaler. It costs £986, and, shockingly, it’s still in stock in plenty of sizes – so you can buy an exact match if… Read the full story

What it’s like to train as a female rabbi

December 25, 2017, 6:00 am

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Think of any religious leader and chances are, you probably automatically think of a greying bearded bloke.

So it’s unsurprising that being a rabbi – and a female one at that – can provoke shock.

A rabbi is a spiritual leader of a Jewish community and their roles can vary from counselling, catering to religious needs such as weddings and spiritual guidance.

And for Deborah Blausten, a 25-year-old trainee rabbi from London, it’s not just her gender but her age that surprises people.

So what motivated her to swap medical lectures to train as a rabbi? What are her biggest challenges? And do you have to be super religious to follow in… Read the full story

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No, you’re not the only one who has a family that hates each other

December 25, 2017, 7:00 am

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Christmas is about spending time with family and friends.

Except…actually, it isn’t.

Not many of us are able to squeeze out to spend time with our mates on the big day because they too have been forced into spending the day with their families.

Every festive film is centred around family. Every song seems to talk about being snuggled up with loved ones.

But for many of us, that’s just not the reality.

When your family don’t get on and every Christmas seems to end in rowing, you can feel like a complete failure.

Everyone comes back from the holiday refreshed and talking how their entire… Read the full story

All the arguments you’ll probably have had with your family by the 27th December

December 25, 2017, 8:00 am

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I don’t know about anyone else, but my family Christmas is usually characterised by a divide.

The first few days are like an advert for Yuletide happiness, everyone laughing as they refill each other’s glasses and revel in festive joy. ‘It’s so wonderful to be together!’ we all say. ‘Why don’t we do this every weekend?’

Then, after about 48 hours, the regression sets in. You remember that your parents are REALLY CRITICAL and that your sister is VERY PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE. Someone will mention Brexit.

And that, my friends, is when the fighting starts. So, as a gift from us to you, a tick list of every single argument… Read the full story

How one woman is challenging mixed race representation in literature

December 25, 2017, 9:22 am

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When you think of a dystopia, chances are you probably think of The Handmaid’s Tale or Farenheit 451.

What you don’t think of is a mixed-race protagonist fighting a ‘one size fits all’ education system.

And this is the crux of Fall In Line, a recently launched book by author and secondary school teacher Charlene Shaw.

The dystopian fiction poses a timely question: what would happen if the government took things too far?

Fall In Line focuses on millions of schoolchildren’s GCSEs being replaced with one exam which decides the rest of their lives.

If you’re deemed Elite or Special, you have every chance of a quality education and a university degree. If you’re… Read the full story

How to avoid the traps when shopping the January sales

December 25, 2017, 10:00 am

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Once Christmas is done and dusted, there’s only thing on most people’s minds: the Boxing Day and January sales.

Forget those presents you received only a few days ago, there’s a few things you’ve had your eye on for a while.

But before you know it, you’ve ended up coming home with things of things you didn’t intend to buy.

Tashema Jackson, money expert at uSwitch.com, tells Metro.co.uk:  ‘Every year retailers up and down the country will be offering reductions and markdowns on essential to luxury items, as last season’s must haves are replaced with the new season’s trends.’

So how do you avoid the traps… Read the full story

10 leftover turkey recipe ideas for Boxing Day and beyond

December 25, 2017, 4:01 pm

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For carnivores, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a roast turkey taking centre stage at the festive table.

10 of the best gluten-free mince pies to stock up on today

Crispy golden skin, mouth-watering meat, stuffing, rich gravy and cranberry sauce accompanied by all the trimmings – pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts, honey roasted parsnips, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and more.

(Anyone else salivating right now?)

With all of that food, plus the inevitable Christmas pudding, mince pies and a considerable amount of chocolate, by Boxing Day there are bound to be leftovers. And specifically, leftover turkey.

But turkey isn’t just for Christmas Day.… Read the full story

6 things you’ll only know if you work in retail on Boxing Day

December 25, 2017, 4:01 pm

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Christmas is officially over for another year – how upsetting.

But, fear not – because while everyone else is recovering from a joyous day of food, drink, and presents, as a retail worker, you’ll be up early to endure a nightmare commute, in the freezing cold, to serve ungrateful shoppers hellbent on ruining your day.

Different from having to work Christmas Eve (which by definition is still deeply unpleasant), Boxing Day comes with its own unique set of unsavoury scenarios to test your sanity.

Seeing double?

Retailers vary but, as per… Read the full story

The best Amazon Boxing Day deals 2017: TVs, gin and mattresses

December 25, 2017, 10:03 pm

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The annual Amazon Boxing Day sale is officially here.

Every year a huge number of shoppers head online in the hopes of snapping up a decent deal in the Boxing Day sales, where retailers offer huge discounts across toys, books, beauty and gadgets.

And this year Amazon, the one-stop retailer, has rolled out hundreds of discounts on products such as Echo Buttons, an Alexa Gadget, gin and TVs.

So if Santa didn’t bring you what you really wanted now is your chance as we’ve dug through Amazon’s Boxing Day deals to bring you the very best ones.

Home

In need of a new mattress?

Grab the Eve Memory Foam Mattress now… Read the full story

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I hated a Christmas present and said so, and I don’t regret it

December 25, 2017, 11:00 pm

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Christmas: it’s the thought that counts right?

But what happens when that ‘thought’ leaves nothing more than a bad taste behind?

You can experience Hogwarts in the snow all throughout the festive season

Crap gifts are the bane of the festive season.

They tell us, ‘I know you, but not well enough’, or, ‘I have to give you something but I don’t even like you’, or just, ‘Take this and shut up’.

Bad presents effectively work as a non-verbal insight into just how little the giver thinks of us.

And before you label me materialistic and… Read the full story

Should vegans own pets?

December 25, 2017, 2:30 am

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If you’re a vegan about to enjoy Christmas with your non-vegan family and friends, you’re almost certain to endure a torrent of questions and challenges directed at your lifestyle choice.

For Christmas is peak plant-based Moral Maze time, with our dads asking about the ethics of soy plantations and our air miles and our grans claiming that cows would all die miserably if we didn’t suck the milk from their teats.

But one question that comes up time and again, within and outside the vegan community, is where vegans should stand on getting pets.

Veganism, to some degree or other, is the refusal to consume any animal products.

That means eating meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and not buying leather, suede and any other animal hides for fashion or interior purposes.

Why? Well, because animal production is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gases on this earth. Many of us believe that eating meat and dairy is positively… Read the full story

8 toys your friends got, but you didn’t, for Christmas in the 80s

December 26, 2017, 12:00 am

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As the 80s ad companies ramped up their Christmas campaigns, we all stared at our boxy brown TV sets in hope.

Maybe this year we would actually get it: That must-have toy our friends had been smugly playing with since last December.

Read the full story

25 festive cakes and cookies to bake over Christmas

December 26, 2017, 12:00 am

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Christmas is a time for spreading good tidings and holiday cheer.

It’s also the time for gingerbread, candy canes and star-shaped sugar cookies.

Christmas 2017: 16 vegan Christmas bakes and sweet treats

Don’t believe me? Just ask Santa.

The best way to make your nearest and dearest happy over the festive season is to ply them with delicious festive treats.

You can even get the young’uns involved with the icing and decorating – that’s if they don’t gobble the ingredients in the making.

From snowman cupcakes to Rice Krispie… Read the full story

Gingerbread latte hair will make you feel festive even now Christmas is over

December 26, 2017, 12:52 am

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Don’t feel bad if you missed the boat on all those Christmas beauty trends – from Santa eyebrows to snowflake lips.

There are some festive trends that are wearable long after the big day.

Take gingerbread latte hair, for example. Just like a gingerbread latte, it’s cosy, comforting, and really shouldn’t be reserved just for Christmas.

As PopSugar explains, the colour trend is based on a deep, coffee-coloured base with highlights of warm copper – inspired by adding milk into your latte and watching all the swirling shades of brown appear in your cup.

It’s warm, cosy, and will look stellar… Read the full story