The festive season is finally upon us and while we’re too busy wondering where the year has gone, our City Women’s stars have been reminiscing on Christmas past as they revealed their favourite presents growing up and traditions.
‘Tis the season of joy and laughter so we also threw in a couple of pop culture related questions, too.
Rewinding back in time we’re transported into their childhood homes as we start with favourite presents, which of course brought back a whole lot of nostalgia.
For City wingerLauren Hemp it came as no surprise that the European Champion picked a particular Danish brand that specialise in interlocking bricks.
“Probably some Lego,” she laughed.
“I’ll probably say that because it started my love for it. I think my first set was a Ghostbusters car, and I really enjoyed making it so from there I just carried on. Normally with hobbies I can get bored of them but that’s one that’s stuck with me for a while.”
Surprisingly she wasn’t the only one to pick the iconic toy, asRebecca Knaak also reminisced on the times she spent building creative objects with her family.
“I remember my brother, my cousins, we used to get Lego and then we would just build the whole evening. Actually, then my parents and all the other grown-ups had the same fun as we had so I guess it was actually the best present for everyone,” the German defender said.
“I remember I got one of these Lego Technic but it was like you could do three things out of it. I think one was a submarine, one was a helicopter, and then you could do another one. But I remember I've done the helicopter like 10 times and it was really tricky, but that was our favourite one definitely.”
Ayaka Yamashita’s favourite present growing up was housed in an egg-shaped handheld video game.
“A Tamagotchi! That was very popular at the time, so that was my favourite,” the City ‘keeper said.
For those who might not be aware, the goal is to raise the Tamagotchi pet as it goes through different life stages and it was the world’s first virtual pet. The first handheld toy has released in 1996 and the original sold about 40 million units worldwide.
The pet would develop differently depending on the care the player provided, with some even dying due to poor care! I’m sure if our number 31’s goalkeeping skills are anything to go by her Tamagotchi friend will have been in safe hands.
From digital pets to living pets,Laura Wienroitherreceived a very special delivery from Santa. A littleShih Tzucalled Wieny – after their surname of course.
“I remember me and my brother got a dog once.
“So we had no idea, we’d always wanted a dog and then obviously in the evening when we opened the presents, there was like a little box with like all holes in it and we were like, oh, that's a bit weird, so we opened it and they said our parents had ordered something for the both of us and so we opened it. It was a little puppy in there. So that was the best Christmas present.”
Moving onto more traditional proceedings we asked about their favourite Christmas traditions and even learnt a thing or two about different cultures.
However, we start with a slightly unusual tradition in Japan that always catches the headlines is their chosen holiday meal. An estimated 3.6 million Japanese families get their ‘Christmas dinner' from none other than KFC!
It’s known as one of their most sacred traditions andAoba Fujino is no stranger to doing Christmas the Colonel way.
“My mum was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken, so me and my family we all ate KFC chicken. On Christmas night, Santa Claus came and gave us presents and waiting for him to come with presents, they are my big memories of Christmas. Kentucky Fried Chicken and Santa Claus.
“One Christmas I wrote a letter to Santa with my sister and also we left cookies for him. The following morning, we found the cookies all gone and also he replied to our letters in English so we were very impressed and really believed he existed.”
Speaking of Christmas dinner, it’s a personal favourite forAlex Greenwood, who will wait eagerly all year round in anticipation of the sacred meal.
“I love being with my family,” the City captain explained.
“It’s a time where you get to spend some crucial time with your loved ones. I’m so grateful for what I do, but this job doesn’t allow for that often. I also love a roast dinner, but only on Christmas. It’s a very English thing to have it on a Sunday but it’s not for me. But that one on Christmas Day just hits differently, the trimmings, the sauce, the pigs in blankets. If I’m going to do it, I want to do it properly, so I save myself once a year to have my roast.”
In Germany and Austria, they celebrate Christmas on the 24 December, which was both Laura Wienroither and Rebecca Knaak’s favourite traditions as they get to spend the day with their families, and of course going with the theme so far, eating a whole lot of tasty food.
Down Under, the festive period looks vastly different with families often spending their day on golden sandy beaches.
Instead of being tucked inside, they celebrate with a summer theme and sometimes even a Barbecue, asMary Fowler explained.
“Growing up, my family would always go to the beach and we just spend quite a bit of time there,” the Aussie international said.
“I remember, we'd have crackers and seafood and I love doing that because then we'd open our gifts in the morning and then we could bring some of our games to the beach and then we all eat there and play.
“Now that I’m a bit older and I live overseas, it's a bit harder to carry those things on. But a more realistic one would be doing Secret Santa. I love doing it, I think it's so exciting. I love gift giving, I think it's really a love language of mine, but I buy too many gifts. My bank account doesn't like it. I do not stick to the budget. Oh, I love Christmas so much.”
With the dark nights drawing in there’s nothing better than sitting down, hot chocolate in hand ready to watch your favourite Christmas film, but with so many to choose from, there’s obviously nothing better than a classic.
Home alone was a popular amongst Codie Thomas, Lily Murphy, Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler. With Eartha Cummings and Rebecca Knaak picking the classic Love Actually and Laura Coombs going with The Holiday.
Home Alone is a true classic, even if you’ve watched it 1000 times, Love Actually is worth it just for Hugh Grant’s dancing alone and The Holiday is set in the most beautiful location, so I think our players have concocted the perfect films to kick off your festive movie marathon.
Despite some radio stations playing Christmas songs in November, we took it to the next level by starting in October and you can’t play festive music that early without a few laughs and of course multiple karaoke sessions mid-interview.
Laura Coombs opted for Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson along with Lauren Hemp, although it’s not one of the standard choices, it can’t be denied that the 2013 hit is a true classic for the holiday season. This year the record actually crept into the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the third week of November, marking its earliest return ever.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a section about Christmas music without mentioning the icon that is Mariah Carey and All I want for Christmas is you.
As the pop diva eagerly awaits her permission to defrost, Rebecca Knaak, Codie Thomas and Mary Fowler will be ready to whack it straight on the playlist come December.
Words: Alice Wright