We caught up with Daniel from our Sydney team to find out what coming home for the holidays means to him - from looking forward to his Nan’s pavlova to flipping through old photo albums and enjoying sunset swims.

Who do you celebrate the holiday season with?

The holiday season is always a healthy mixture of time with family and friends.

What do you do for the holiday season?

For me, it’s a great time to reconnect with family and loved ones. I am always a little more indulgent at this time of year and never feel guilty about it. It’s also a great time to reflect on the year that has been and to take some time to set some intentions for the year ahead. Oh, and sunset swims, lots of them!

Do you have any special traditions when you return home for the holidays?

Besides the obvious traditions around food and gift-giving, I am normally the first one to pull out the old photo albums. I love looking through old photos of my family and seeing what fashion trends have come back into style.

Is there a particular place in your home that brings back holiday memories?

The dining table is always a place that holds a lot of memories for me. We spend so much time together as a family around the dining table. It’s here that we’ve eaten, laughed, and cried together. We’ve shared meals, gifts, and stories over many years.

What’s a holiday memory that brings you the most joy? 

Being nine years older than my younger brother, I used to love seeing how excited he would get about Santa and how much joy he would get from all the presents Santa would leave him.

What’s on your dining table for the holiday celebrations?

My family is normally quite traditional at this time. We always have roast turkey, a Christmas ham but we never forget to indulge in fresh oysters and prawns. We also never go without Nan’s Pavlova drowned in fresh berries and passionfruit!

What gift did you choose from the Jardan Holiday Gift Guide?

I chose the Arlo Tray. To me, this is a great gift because it’s so versatile. You can style it with coffee books, your favourite candle, and beautiful flowers. It could be used to pass around drinks or canapes if you’re entertaining or style it on a shelf with some beautiful cocktail glasses, ready to prepare your favourite aperitif.

Who is it for and why did you choose it for them?

The Arlo Tray will be a gift to Mum this year as I know she will find different uses for it, especially when entertaining over the holiday period.

What is your favourite thing about the holiday season?

There is a shift in people’s energy at this time of year. It is always nice to see people relaxing and enjoying themselves.