At this time of year, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the seemingly endless to do list — buying presents, preparing a meal and hosting family.

But really the best part of the Christmas season often comes when we are building memories with the people we love.

The Royal Gazette’s Lifestyle section asked some of our contacts to tell us about their favourite Christmas memories.

For Cha’Von Clarke it was her first holiday with her son, Kaiias-Gianni Clarke, born December 14, 1998.

“He was born two days after my birthday and waking up on Christmas day 1998, dressing him into (what he may now, at 15 years of age, call embarrassing) a My First Christmas Santa outfit was the best experience ever.

“He was so cute, with rosy cheeks, and a true bundle of joy. Christmas that year was unforgettable as I held my newborn baby and reflected on the birth of Christ. His name, Kaiias, means man of God.”

Every Christmas since has been a blessing, she said.

For Rebecca Faulkenberry, now starring on Broadway in Spiderman, the best part of the holiday is having a few hours of downtime with family.

“I’ve had a crazy Broadway Christmas schedule over the last three years and only get the 25th off, so I fly home for 24 hours,” she said. “From the madness of Times Square to walking along the beach in Bermuda with my family a couple hours later — that’s unbeatable!”

Author Rod Farrington said one of his favourite holiday moments came while his sons were still young and they spent Christmas in the Rocky Mountains at Estes Park Colorado.

“We stayed in a log cabin with no TVs and long before hand-held video devices,” he said. “The cabin was nestled in a valley surrounded by snow-covered mountains lined with evergreen trees. That Christmas Eve night, with a fire glowing in the stone fireplace, we noticed snow was beginning to fall. The family went out on the front porch of the log cabin and it was truly a Christmas card moment.” He continued: “That night we were a complete family with the heavens above looking down upon us. At that one moment in time there was not a better place on Earth to be.”

Angel Burgess, of A2Z Shoes and Accessories, said one of her most special Christmas moments is linked to a precious gift. “My most memorable Christmas was when I was about 14 years old and my mother gave me a ruby and diamond ring.

“It meant so much to me because it was my real first piece of fine jewellery. My daughter Zoya now wears the ring on a chain around her neck.”

Cyclist and blogger Kris Furbert said he still recalls the magic and excitement of getting up early on Christmas morning as a child.

“Waking up early on Christmas morning to find my cat Put Put snuggled up next to me [was one of the best feelings],” he said.

“I’d go to my parents and ask to open my presents only to be told to go back to bed and wait for everyone to wake up. Impatiently I’d wake up my brothers and sisters as I was eager to see what was under the tree.”

He added: “The smell of turkey, ham and stuffing means Christmas to me, and being with family makes it mean so much more.”

Island Restaurant Group CEO Philip Barnett said one of his standout Christmas moments was when a treasured present was destroyed by the family pet.

He said: “My favourite memory was Christmas in Devonshire Bay when I was ten or eleven years old. I had asked Santa for a Stretch Armstrong [action figure] and was thrilled to get it.

“After playing joyously with it on Christmas Day, our Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Bijou, got a hold of it and destroyed it.

“Turns out it was filled with corn syrup so Bijou was all hopped up on a sugar high, bouncing off walls and running amok around the Christmas Tree.”

Local rapper Deondre Morris has had a lot of good Christmas memories, but his favourite came when he got a PlayStation 2 entertainment system in middle school.

He said: “Everyone had one except me, but I wasn’t sure if I would get one from my parents because it was expensive and they didn’t get us expensive gifts. But when I saw the box I thought ‘That must be a PlayStation’ and when I unwrapped it that was the best feeling ever.

“I had the time of my life. My brother and I used to argue over whose turn it was to play it all the time! I still remember that.”