Kim Morris, 15, of Rushy Platt, a pupil at Commonweal School

When I was little, the presents had a meaning to the way I saw this festive day.

It felt like an adventure with things to be done and places to go. For some weird reason it felt like Christmas would never come, and it passed me without saying a word.

My adventure would last a year starting from January 1 to December 24. On December 25, my journey would end and there would be a treasure.

All the things I had ever wanted would be there in front of me, covered in festive wrapping paper and waiting to be discovered.

On my trip through the year, I'd make a list of what I wanted to find at the end it. To my surprise, I'd reveal not only what I wanted, but also much more than I ever hoped for.

A dream come true is how I saw this day, but it would have meant nothing to me if at the end of it all I didn't have the one thing that had brought me here, my family.

From my parents to my siblings, Christmas was the time that brought us all together.

They say it is better to give than to receive and I believe it is true. I have grown up with a sense of security and an image of all my family, merrily smiling together as one. Everybody forgets their individual problems on this day.

Another part of Christmas that has meaning to me is the luxurious food prepared and served at the table. From Christmas pudding to Christmas cake, stuffing, meat, vegetables and gravy, Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.

Everyone's gathered round the table. Crackers are pulled, silly jokes are read to one another and then the hats go on. Oh, the dreaded hats, how funny we all look in them.

We toast Merry Christmas and then dinner is underway. I think to myself: "This is what Christmas is all about, a family gathering. Love, loyalty and friendship shared between a group of people."

During this time, I forget about world poverty and wars. Instead I think about how much I care about these people round the table.

As I've got older, these images remain a part of my memory, yet the presents that I get, although they have love behind them, aren't as exciting as when I was five.

Now that I'm 15, Christmas is a little bit more hectic. I now have to buy presents for my family and it's not easy. I never know what to get them and when I do know what they want I can never get it due to lack of funds.

Getting back to the question "what does Christmas mean to me?" I can honestly say that family gatherings play a significant part and shall remain firm in my heart.

Emily Atyeo, 16, of Old Town, a pupil at Commonweal School

Christmas doesn't mean the usual Father Christmas, stockings and presents to me anymore.

At Christmas I see members of my family that I don't see very often, which is nice, and all of my mum's side get together and we have a big present fest. I love seeing my little cousins' faces when they open their presents and I like the feeling when they receive the presents that I've given them.

Last Christmas Eve, my dad and I delivered a bag of toys to the children's ward of Princess Margaret Hospital. It made me feel like I'd really made someone happy. And all Christmas, as I opened my presents, I knew that there would be children sitting in that hospital during their favourite time of year, enjoying the toys I'd given them and it made me feel as if I deserved the presents I was receiving.

Christmas, apart from the giving and receiving part, means the whole winter wonderland thing to me. I love walking with my friends on Boxing Day in the snowy and frosty lanes of little villages and ending up in a cosy pub in the middle of nowhere and thawing out over a drink and the log fire.

I love seeing the bare trees that are coated with frost like icing on a cake. It feels like I'm walking through one of those Christmas cards with the quaint village scene.

I like arriving home after walks like this and eating hot mince pies and smelling the spicy fragrance of mulled wine.

I have a weakness for Christmas lights too, when all the shop window displays are sprinkled with cotton wool snow and have figures of Father Christmas and his little helpers. It makes it all the more special if you are walking down the road with someone you care about, your best friend, or boyfriend for example. And you're all wrapped up in scarves and gloves and your nose is all cold, but inside you're all warm because you know that you've got someone to share this time of year with.

But Christmas season is also party season and, being a 16-year-old girl, I have spent many weeks preparing my outfits. Christmas is the only time of year in which you can turn up to a party and get away with wearing a glitzy top teamed with fairy wings, devil horns or a pair of those ridiculous flashing Santa hair bands.

Christmas also means memories. Like the school plays we used to do in junior school, and the paper cut outs of angels and snowflakes we used to spend hours doing in infants school.

So, all in all, Christmas means quite a mixture of things for me.