What are the best and worst Christmas presents you have received?
Santa brought me a typewriter when I was nine. It was the best present I ever got and I used to buy ribbon for it in a little shop in Galway when the ink ran out. I have fond memories of that. The worst? I once got a candle that had ‘First Prize Raffle’ sellotaped on the base.
What do you generally do around Christmas time – is it family time, staying overnight in a hotel or leaving the country?
I like to listen to the radio all day on Christmas Eve as we prepare dinner, and we normally have a full house for dinner at ours. We always read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas just before bed on Christmas Eve, even though our kids are 22 and 17 now. Some years I have been more coherent in my recitations than others.
What do you like least about Christmas?
It brings up strong memories of those who have left us – people feel their loss keenly at Christmas. And old memories – even the really good ones can hit hardest at this time of year. I suppose there’s a beauty in this too.
The Christmas dinner – turkey, ham and all the trimmings? Or something else entirely?
I am a turkey and ham and glazed carrots and marrowfats and sausage stuffing and gravy and roasters and cranberry sauce and spiced beef (not on the same plate) and roast spuds and all the trimmings girl. Oh, and I adore Brussels sprouts. And wine; I adore wine too.
Favourite Christmas food and drink?
I am a sucker for a 1980s-style prawn cocktail before dinner and I love a bottle of something sparkly for breakfast on Christmas morning. I also like a pint of Guinness in a pub over the season.
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
I absolutely do.
Is Christmas overrated?
The idea of Christmas as a time to reflect and give, and to celebrate this spirit, is a very positive thing. Not to be the Grinch, but in a material sense there’s a lot of pressure on people.
How do you like to decorate?
Every decoration the kids ever made is hung on our real tree, and on Christmas week I like to light lots of candles about the house.
Best Christmas memory?
Playing a game called The Dude with my entire family one Christmas, someone fell on him in a very dramatic manoeuvre and he deflated. I laughed until I cried.
Do you pass on unwanted Christmas presents – tell the truth
I genuinely don’t.
Who’s on your naughty list?
I’ll take naughty over nice, so most of my friends are on the naughty list. With me.
Christmas jumper and/or pyjamas – yes or no?
The jumper, but only if it’s hand knitted.
Elaine Feeney’s second novel, How to Build a Boat, was published in 2023 and was nominated for The Booker Prize. Her latest poetry collection, All the Good Things You Deserve, was published this year.
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