There’s a very particular phrase that circulates as Christmas approaches, usually delivered over a glass of wine: “Shall we just not do presents this year?”

This is almost always suggested by people who already own everything. The sort of people who, if they fancy a new coffee Thermos at 8:42am, simply buy one. Socks? Ordered. Pyjamas? Bought in October. Candles? Seventeen already, none ever lit. These are also the people who believe a £10 gift is radical generosity, holding it out proudly as if they’d made a personal sacrifice, when it costs roughly the same effort as tapping their card at Pret. They mean well; they’re not villains, just living in a different festive universe.

For normal people, those who don’t replace headphones the moment they crack, or buy new jumpers because the old ones “feel tired”, Christmas presents aren’t chores, they’re events. We notice things, such as “Mum mentioned she likes that tea”, “Dad’s gloves are falling apart”, “she’d never buy herself that scarf”.

Christmas is the time when those small, thoughtful luxuries become possible. The candle isn’t unnecessary, the pyjamas aren’t a waste, the socks aren’t just socks, they’re a sign that someone noticed. Normal people look forward to giving presents as children look forward to the tree. Receiving one, chosen, wrapped and anticipated, carries weight far beyond the price tag.

So, by all means, if you want a no-present Christmas, enjoy it. Light one of your 17 candles. Slip into your already-owned pyjamas. Sip from your latest flask. But don’t be surprised if the rest of us quietly miss the thrill, the thought, the meaning, and even the socks. For normal people, Christmas isn’t about having less. It’s about, just for once, having a little more.
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