By John Enslin

With Christmas fast approaching, the Great Hosting Debate has begun – and if your family is anything like mine, it’s never as simple as “whose turn is it?”

While over half of Brits will open their doors this year, almost one in five admit tensions rise before the turkey hits the oven.

Trust me, I get it.

My girlfriend Lydia is from Buckinghamshire. I grew up in South Africa. Together, we’ve spent five years navigating two completely different Christmas universes – and learning to merge more cultural quirks than either of us anticipated.

Eight per cent of Brits end up hosting purely because they have the biggest house, and another four per cent because their kitchen is deemed superior, according to new research from premium housebuilder Redrow.

For us, the decision swings on something else entirely: whose traditions need honouring that year.

Last Christmas, my family flew over to the UK, which meant merging a South African summer........

© LBC