The Bellamacina Family’s Christmas Traditions

'Twas the night (or month) before Christmas, and deep within the English countryside, actress and poet Greta Bellamacina invites Liberty along to a taste of her family's festive celebrations. A cornucopia of festive tradition, elegant eclecticism and artisanal finds: Christmas curated with a distinctly Liberty twist.

Ahead of a season overflowing with comfort, joy and a hint of chaos, Greta threw open the doors to the family home she shares with husband, the poet and artist Robert Montgomery and their three children Lorca, Lucian and Ersilia, to give Liberty a glimpse of festive tidings to come.

It’s the night before Christmas, what are you wearing, doing and prepping for the big day?

It changes every year, but some Christmas Eves we manage to get to the theatre to see a matinee performance. It feels really special to be in the audience amongst other people all dressed up and in good cheery spirits. Then followed by a very late lunch/early dinner in a cosy pub, like the Spaniards Inn in Hampstead, where all the rooms have fireplaces and the ceilings are low and wonky.

How is the house decorated? What are your tips for a beautiful yet refined festive home?

Foraging in the garden for ivy and bits of holly. Most of what we decorate the house with comes in from the garden. 'Bringing in the green' in that way seems to connect to older pagan winter celebrations. And we always keep a bit of dried ivy up on the mirror all year long, as a reminder of winter.

What’s the first thing you do on Christmas morning?

We try and prolong the day for as long as possible so we often start with a family breakfast and a walk around the garden, and we try to give the children the discipline of doing that before we open presents.

What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?

I love a new leather diary, I still like to write all my appointments down in a paper diary. I love a fresh one at the beginning of the year, so I can start to dream the year's calendar ahead.

What are some of your favourite festive traditions?

Opening the box of Christmas tree decorations from last year and remembering the stories that each bauble holds. Last year I was making a film in Rome and we bought lots of gold angels from a shop in the Vatican to put them on the tree and this year we rediscovered them again and it reminded us of Rome.

What will you and the family be wearing on Christmas day?

Robert will be wearing his Liberty blue Paisley pjs and dressing gown which he has been coveting for months, and I will wear a vintage Simone Rocha dress that I bought when I had my first son ten years ago. The children will most likely be in something matching, and Ersilia will be in her first Christmas dress, we might dress her up like the Christmas angel with a tinsel halo.

What’s for dinner? Who’s cooking what, and how are you setting the table?

We are vegetarians, so for Christmas day we either cook an Indian vegetarian curry feast, or Italian food to honour my Italian ancestors. This year Italian I think. We always buy enough Italian herbs when we visit in the summer to see us through the winter, and branches of chillies which we hang up by the kitchen window to dry. And we use them every day, I like to know there is a little piece of Italy in almost everything we cook in England.

For the table, an extraordinary hand embroidered linen tablecloth by Loretta Caponi, which came from Florence, and Liberty tableware in aqua and pale plum colours. And the dark plum colour of a good bottle of Bordeaux.

How do you spend Christmas Day?

A game of Monopoly that lasts over three days and a Christmas comedy that the whole family can enjoy. We also quite like a box of chocolate liquors, there is something quite retro about them. I love the whiskey ones that pop in your mouth.

What are you most looking forward to about the season?

Talking , laughing and singing by a fire with family and friends. Watching the trees shed their leaves but still standing strong.