The period between Christmas and the new year is often considered a strange part of the calendar.
Some people have to go to work, while for others, it feels like a series of endless, lazy Sundays with post-Christmas TV programmes and leftover roast potatoes.
Time is but a construct for those few hours of daylight when you have no obligation to do anything whatsoever.
Whichever side you're on, nothing feels quite normal, and yet it's also something that we go through every single year.
The period between the two festive holidays is known as 'Twixmas'.
So where did this word come from and what does it mean?
What is Twixmas?
Twixmas is the unofficial term for the period between Christmas and New Year. This covers the days after Boxing Day, between December 27 and December 30.
While no official dictionaries have recognised it, it's increasingly used in commercial settings.
If anything, it's a good way to summarise the period before New Year, where people don't tend to do a lot apart from relax.
What are the origins of Twixmas?
It's hard to tell where this word came from, but some reports suggest it's linked to the old English word 'betwixt,' which means 'between'.
Others have suggested that marketers and salespeople created it as another way to advertise the holiday period.
According to the Urban Dictionary, however, there might also be some reference to: "Twix, take a break."
The famous chocolate bar's tagline "Need a moment" was hugely popular in the early 2000s, and some might interpret that as a link to taking a break between the two holidays.
As there's not yet any official recognition of the word, we'll leave this one up to you to decide.
What can you do at Twixmas?
As already mentioned, the 'Twixmas' period isn't a bank holiday, so some people unfortunately have to go to work.
Many would have instead taken the Christmas break off work, meaning they've got plenty of time to relax and decompress before New Year's Eve parties begin.
Those heading back to London after visiting family for Christmas tend to enjoy 'Betwixmas' as a period to check out exclusive restaurants, drink on a weekday, and enjoy time off work.
When it comes to Twixmas, most people simply get cosy and relax in front of the telly.
It's also a nice time to connect with friends, catch up with family, and get all your Christmas snacking out of the way before making your New Year's resolutions to cut it out.
