From outdoor dinners to idle days be the sea, to dividing time between the Gold Coast and Sydney, we chatted with our team member, Peter to find out what coming home for the holiday means to him. 

What does coming home for the holidays mean to you?

Coming home for the Holidays for me means time away from the regular day to day of the year before, to get away, disconnect from your routine and reconnect with family, friends and yourself for quality time of celebration and indulgence in your favourite things.

Who do you celebrate the holiday season with?

I love that the holidays can be anything you need it to, with whoever you like. Family traditions are important, and I spend time with my family at this time, but I make sure to spend lots of time with all of my very close friends while we all have more time to enjoy each other’s company.

What do you do for the holiday season?

I split my time between family occasions in Sydney across the start of Christmas, and heading to my partner’s family home on the southern end of the Gold Coast near the beach for a sunny break up north over the New year. Lots of time outside, dinners, cooking, watching films, listening to music all together makes it a great way to spend these summer days.

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

A swim on Christmas Day has become a must for me. If we’re not in a winter wonderland, then why not use the Australian’s summer holiday season to spend these long idle days by the sea with our favourite people.

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

The dinner table is the space in my home throughout my life that connects the most to the holidays. Stretching out those fun moments and entertaining all of our favourite dinner guests help extend those holiday feelings all year.

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

I have fond vivid memories of my sister and I spending summer holidays at my grandmother’s old kidney-shaped Pebble Crete pool with the whole family when we were little. I can still picture my mother and aunts sitting around the old spun-fibreglass outdoor setting in their wide brim hats, while my grandfather listened to the cricket on his portable radio under the purple shade of their Jacaranda tree. We’d be in the water the entire day until our hands would prune.

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

Christmas Eve is a full Italo style affair, my partner usually makes a porchetta with all the classic sides, and I jump in, to craft a dessert that teams well with it all, sometimes a tiramisu, banoffee or Basque cheesecake.

What is one gift you’re excited to give this year and why?

The new Jess Sellinger colours have really piqued my interest personally, so I’d love to share around some of those rich new colours and shapes with my loved ones too.

What gift did you choose from the Jardan Holiday Gift Guide? Who is it for and why did you choose it for them?

You can’t have a great holiday season and entertain your guest, or be a good guest at that, without bringing a wine! So why not tote it around in the Tanchen wine bag, a much more stylish way than the bottle shop paper bag. I chose it for my good friends who are never short of a place to be off to with a wine in hand, no matter the season.

What is your favourite thing about the holiday season?

Enjoying the time in between, where you lose track of the date, and time is measured between meals and swims. There’s no better way to switch off entirely and reset for a new year.