Christmas Day itself hasn't always been great. My parents went

Yes — that quote is attributed to Anne Reid, the English actress known for her work in Last Tango in Halifax, The Mother, and the long-running soap Coronation Street.

“Christmas Day itself hasn't always been great. My parents went abroad when I was very young, and I went to boarding school. We had a few Christmases before that — I remember a big sack of presents and Mummy cooking goose.”
— Anne Reid

Context and Meaning

Anne Reid shared this reflection in an interview discussing her childhood and Christmas memories. The quote reveals a bittersweet tone — a mixture of fond nostalgia and a sense of loss.

She recalls the warmth and family traditions of her early Christmases (“a big sack of presents,” “Mummy cooking goose”) but contrasts them with later loneliness after her parents went abroad and she was sent to boarding school.

The remark highlights the emotional complexity of holidays, especially for those who associate them with both happy memories and personal distance or absence. Reid’s candor and gentle humor are typical of her interview style — reflective, understated, and emotionally honest.