Opinion: What does Christmas mean to you?

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Wind the clock back 72 hours.

You were probably stuck in traffic in the middle of town, glancing down at your list of jobs to do and cursing the festive season.

The big vehicle in front full of screaming kids tries to do a u-turn and while it's manoeuvring its way around a 19-point turn, you've missed the carpark outside the one shop you've been trying to get to in the past week.

Yip, it was Christmas and don't we moan about it.

It costs money, it turns shopping into a danger zone, you might be stuck with extended family that drive you nuts and the joy of having a week or two off work (or even just a few days) barely seems worth the frazzle to get there.

But boy don't we love it and if you ask me, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have the fondest of memories of Christmas as a child. The excitement building up to the big day was unbearable at times.

On Christmas Eve, I'd be so excited, I'd hardly sleep then I'd wake at some ridiculously early hour dying to hear the sound of others awake so I knew it was okay to run into the lounge and check out my loot.

One Christmas Eve as my older brother and I sat on the front porch listening to our dad mow the lawns (and smelling that undeniable summer scent of freshly cut grass), my brother and I swore we heard Santa's sleigh bells.

We jumped up with our jaws dropped and ran around the house with our necks craned back, checking every part of the sky to see if we could see Santa.

To this day I'll never forget the distant sound of those sleigh bells. The reality is, it was probably mum perched around the corner of the house sniggering away to herself with some kind of device that sounded like sleigh bells.

Christmas is stressful, it's busy, it's expensive and, sadly for some, it's heartbreaking.

No matter how you celebrated it, I hope you looked past the presents and food to those who really mattered and gave thanks for what you had.