Keeping up our FAMILY TRADITIONS!

Three women share the festive heirlooms that make this time of year extra special

- GILLIAN HARVEY

'It isn’t Christmas until my stocking is up’

Dara Stringham, 47, a bespoke tailor, lives in Isleworth, London with her partner Paul, 44, and their children Aneira, 14, Isadora, 12, and Frida, eight.

As I hang the stockings from the mantelpiece, I feel a flicker of Christmas magic - and I am reminded of my grandmother, Carmen, who made mine for me four decades ago. She stitched me and my siblings Esther, now 51, Jonathan, 49, and Hannah, 42, a stocking when we were babies. Every December, my mum, Yvonne, would fill them with advent sweets, candy canes and sugar mice.

Growing up, we lived in Germany and Grandmother was in the US, but I have fond memories of visiting her every few summers. And she was always present in our lives, sending letters and talking on the phone.

One of the most special things she'd do was record herself reading books for my siblings and me. We loved audiobooks but could never get English-language ones, so it was a wonderful gift. Grandmother is also the one who taught me to sew - and as a tailor, it's a huge part of my identity. Sadly, she died in 2015 but I think of her fondly, especially at Christmastime. She would love to know that her handmade stocking still takes pride of place every December. Even as an adult, Christmas isn't Christmas without the stocking.

I met my partner Paul when I was 20. Two years into our relationship, I stitched him his very own stocking for a family Christmas. A sign that he was here to stay.