Christmas is upon us with last-minute food and present shopping (hopefully) completed and gifts under the tree.

The holiday sparks a lot of joy and perhaps some trepidation for those who will be cooking up glorious feasts for the many.

For some, it’s a time to pay tribute to those who are no longer taking part in the traditions or it’s a day that reminds people of the poverty that affects lives here in the island and abroad.

This was all brought up by members of the public who we spoke to amongst a busy Strand Street.

Deb Byron, 58, said: ’I love the decorations, the parties, the food... I enjoy it all and the family time. I love coming home and turning on all the lights when it’s a rainy day. It just cheers you up.’

She will be cooking Christmas Dinner for her family this year, which will be turkey with all the trimmings.

The Glen Vine resident said: ’I think Christmas can be a hard time for some people.’

Michael Ferrer, 30, said: ’I like the gifts and spending time with the family.

’In Filipino culture, you spend the whole night of the 24th with each other and as soon as it hits 12am you open the presents. In the Philippines during the "-ber" months you’ll see Christmas lights up from September and shops selling Christmas trees and decorations all the way on the run up to Christmas.’

The Douglas resident said the cultural norm for the family is to have a buffet.

’Instead of one big dish, you have four to five dishes. It’s only recently that we just do a roast dinner,’ he said.

Robin Burchill, 22, from Bride, dislikes the commercialisation of the holiday.

’It’s the pressure which makes people think "Oh! I’ve got to get this many presents for this many people!" It’s the only thing people seem to worry about.

’For me Christmas is about family time. I look forward to that - spending family you wouldn’t always see.’

His friend Charlotte Barnes, 19, from Sulby, said: ’I’m the same, but I like the magic of Christmas. I like the atmosphere when you have a really nice Christmas market like if you go to London at this time of year, it’s beautiful! I went not that long ago. The entire place has Christmas smells, like cinnamon and pretty lights everywhere. It just makes you smile.’

June Kirby, 69, from Onchan, said: ’I love Christmas because all the family gets together. I go around to my son and daughter-in-law’s home and we have a great time. There we have the other in-laws and my grandchildren.

’My daughter-in-law does the most fantastic Christmas cooking and the house is full of decorations. It’s like walking into a winter wonderland.’

One of their family traditions is to go to the panto.

She added: ’I feel sorry for people on their own. You think of them on Christmas Day.’

Sheila Hall, 70, from Bride, said: ’It’s about family for me. This year I’m celebrating at my daughter’s where I’ll probably be in the kitchen!’

Her specialty is sprout mash on Christmas Day.

’You put the sprouts in the blending machine and pour warm cream and butter until it makes a mash. People who don’t like sprouts will eat it.

She added that she’s not a fan of the Christmas adverts on TV.