Down for the Count's Christmas traditions
Have you ever wondered what our musicians get up to around Christmas? Apart from frequenting Travelodges and motorway service stations, of course.
Oh, and putting on some magical musical performances, when they find the time.
We chatted with a few members of Down for the Count and asked them if they have any special Christmas traditions.
Christopher McClain, violin/viola:
During the tour, when it reaches Christmassy time, I get a big bottle of Jack Daniels and lemons and honey, and I set up shop in the dressing room, or the green room, and I make hot toddies for people. That’s part of my Christmas tour tradition.
Then when the Christmas tour stops, I have a plaid onesie. I zip it all the way up to my chin. I get in bed, open up Netflix, get a really big panettone and some cheese and I go to town on them for a day or two.
Alex Howgego, piano:
Christmas in our family is usually marked by the occasion of the Cheltenham Show. My parents usually come down for that one, and I am reliably informed that it’s part of their Christmas calendar.
Traditionally as well, the end of the Christmas tour has meant a jaunt off to Portugal, which is where my wife is from. I have been known in the past to finish the last show at 10.30pm, pack everything down, drive back overnight and get straight on the flight to Portugal.
Sophie Gledhill, cello:
My best friend and I have always celebrated a second Christmas halfway through the year because we love Christmas so much! We’ve been celebrating that since we were ten years old, and now we are… significantly older than that. It’s been running for nearly thirty years.
It’s called Franmas, and it’s usually around June. We always have vegan gluten-free pizza on Franmas Eve, and watch The Santa Clause.
Hannah Rabbitt, tour manager and Tim Rabbitt, trumpet:
Hannah: I go to the pub! I grew up in a small village. On Christmas Day, we would open our gifts in the morning and at midday, everyone would go down to the pub and all the kids would bring their coolest toy. The year of Bop-It was a very loud year. There was a year when a lot of us got bikes, and so we all went to the village green to ride them in the wet mud. That’s still our tradition - we go down the pub, and we come back home for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately I can’t bring a toy to the pub, because no one buys me them any more.
Tim: Every Christmas morning, since I was seven, my dad and I go out and play cricket on the street.
Hannah: Tim and his family play carols on the street on Christmas Eve! Lots of people come out to sing along. His sister and mum play piano, violin and viola, so they tend to just sing because you can’t hear them outside against the brass! And then on Christmas morning, Tim somehow ends up on drums (one of the two times a year he plays them). Apparently it doesn’t always go well.
Monica Vinoly, violin:
In the Canary Islands it is tradition to celebrate on Christmas Eve. My uncle has a restaurant, so our family meets there and eats like there's no tomorrow. On the 25th we wake up, open presents and then we go to a restaurant by the sea to eat some more! And for me it is very important to have a swim in the ocean too.
I am glad that I am living in the UK now though and I get to experience “a proper Christmas” with mulled wine, winter wonderlands, gloves, beanies and Mariah Carey everywhere!
Mike Paul-Smith, conductor:
People who have been following Down for the Count for a while might know that I love making cocktails. My wife and I have this new tradition that instead of Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning, we have a Cable Car. It’s a gorgeous cocktail inspired by the San Francisco cable cars… spiced rum, citrus fruit, orange liqueur, cinnamon. The best way to start Christmas!
Lulu Andrews, cello:
The Andrews family Christmas usually consists of plenty of mulled wine, lots of games/quizzes, watching the King’s speech, playing Christmas carols with our musical neighbours, and most importantly, watching Love Actually! Boxing Day leftovers are a big deal too, and I always get very sad when the roast parsnips run out!
We of course have the Down for the Count Christmas album playing on repeat throughout!
Polis Loizou-Denyer, Marketing & Comms:
I love watching and reading spooky things during the Christmas season (and generally)! I’m from Cyprus, where the Greek speakers’ folklore has festive goblins called kallikantzaroi, who come up to ruin human lives during the 12 days of Christmas. The night before Epiphany, you’re meant to fry this particular pastry and throw it onto the roof of your house to sate the malevolent, sugar-loving beings. I never get around to that, but I do bake. I make melomakarona, a sort of spiced cakey biscuit soaked in syrup and sprinkled with chopped walnuts, and vasilopita, a citrussy cake for New Year which you cut up at midnight – the person whose slice contains the hidden coin is blessed for the year. Last year on the tour, I also made Biscoff fudge for everyone. That went down well.
About the author
Hayley Sleigh is a writer and communications specialist from Nottingham. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online publications, including LeftLion, Idle Ink and the Dear Damsels annual 2019. She is supporting Down for the Count with the promotion of our Swing Into Christmas tour.
