888poker Ambassadors Prep for the Holidays, Part 1
As you prep for the holidays, take these tips and holiday traditions from your favorite 888poker ambassadors and remember what the season is about for you, whether it be poker tournaments, family or some much-needed time off.
Natalie Hof
What are your plans for the holidays?
I don't have big plans for the holidays. It’s just about relaxing with my parents and my big brother, eating a lot of food and watching old Christmas movies.
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
Every year my two oldest friends and I catch up, talking, drinking and going out. That became quite a tradition.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
It depends. Not every year, but mostly I don't play at all because I have no time for that. But it’s only three days without poker. Its doable, right? :)
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
I don’t decorate my apartment. But my parents will do that. A lot of mini Santa clauses and a Christmas tree, of course :)
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
My tip for Christmas is just enjoy being with your family and beloved ones; don't worry about finding the perfect present. It’s not about that. And if you want to buy a present, it’s good to carefully listen to everything your girlfriend/mother etc. says and then you know what she wants. ;)
Nicolau Villa-Lobos
What are your plans for the holidays?
I'm going to Paraty with my family for about 10 days. Mostly going to the beach, waterfalls and will be grinding online a few days. haha
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
My family is not very religious, so the tradition would be a nice dinner, exchange some gifts and then go to the beach on the New Year’s Eve.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
It depends. These past couple days, I've had a lot of fun grinding online, so I definitely will be playing during holidays, not on the 24th, but I will have some fun as well.
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
We don't haha; it looks exactly the same.
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Just find some time with your family and enjoy being with them.
Bruno Politano
What are your plans for the holidays?
30 days on the beach with my family. :)
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
Traditions?! Hmmm I always spend this part of the year with my mummy, dad and sisters, [bringing] all the family together!!
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
Hmmm...I take a "break" but I play with friends sometimes. heheheh
What is the best gift you are going to give someone this holiday season?
haha To my fiancé I will date our marriage. hahahah
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
In my mummy’s house, [there’s] a LOT. She loves those things and all the family too :)
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Enjoy 100 percent of your vacation, take a rest and [come] back 200 percent to hard work in 2017. It will be a BIG year!!
Bruno Kawauti
What are your plans for the holidays?
Spend the maximum amount of time with my family and friends :)
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
I always go to my aunt’s and spend time with my family.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
No poker during holidays! I think it’s good to take a break during this time of the year!
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
My home stays the same, but my aunt's home is where we spend the holidays. We always put up a lot of lights and a big Christmas three!
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Holidays are the best time of the year to rest, enjoy the family and friends and do all the things that we don’t do during the year because we are so busy working and playing.
Chris Moorman
What are your plans for the holidays?
I've just left New York, as I wanted to go check out Christmas there. It was amazing. I've been on the road for poker for the last few weeks so I'm excited to just relax and spend time with family.
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
My only tradition is that I never play poker on Christmas Day! Besides that I just like to spend time with my loved ones and have a nice meal.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
If I see a good game or tournament I'm still keen to play as long as it isn't on Christmas Day or New Years Eve. One year I grinded a soft Sunday schedule on New Year's Eve and ended up losing and feeling incredibly degenarate as a result. After that I vowed to always take New Year's Eve off from poker.
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
My wife does. We have a tree filled with ornaments from everywhere we have traveled around the world together, so that's kind of a fun tradition we have started.
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
I think a tip people should remember is not to play poker drunk. Generally I don't like to play much over the holidays because if you end up losing it can put a damper on everything.
Sofia Lövgren
What are your plans for the holidays?
Spend time with family and relatives in Gothenburg, eat a lot of Christmas food and just enjoy a cozy Christmas holiday in my home country.
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
In Sweden, the most important day is julafton, (Christmas Eve) the 24th of December. We will have like 30 relatives around our Christmas julbord (Christmas smorgasbord lunch) with loads of typical traditional food. We then sing Christmas songs together and dance around the Christmas tree. Then it’s time for candy and drinks while my daddy, dressed up as Santa Claus, suddenly shows up with all the Christmas gifts. In the evening, we continue with a typical Swedish dinner called lutfisk (stockfish). We light a lot of candles everywhere and Christmas is by far the coziest time of the year, especially when it’s snowy and cold outdoors in Sweden.
On the 25th, juldagen (Christmas day) we take it very easy, just relax, enjoy our Christmas gifts and finish the day with a Christmas turkey dinner with the close family.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
I usually take a break from poker during Christmas just to spend time with family and relax. Some evenings I open up some online poker tables to play. There are lots of recreational players playing this time of the year so it's good value to play if you want to make some extra money.
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
We always meet at my parents' place in Gothenburg to celebrate together with all relatives. I help to decorate, and to me, making everything really Christmassy is very important. I love candles and of course a huge glimmery Christmas tree.
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Spend time with and take care of each other and just relax!
Kara Scott
What are your plans for the holidays?
Sadly, my side is too far away in Canada to visit in person but we always have a nice phone call and send each other these fantastic gift boxes full of little things to make us laugh.
Giovanni and I go to Italy to spend Christmas with the family there. Everyone on his side celebrates on Christmas Eve with an incredible dinner at his mom's hotel. It's such a very elegant affair and always makes me feel like we're stepping back in time to an earlier age.
New Years is spent at home in Ljubljana with as many friends as possible coming to visit and stay. We have a huge turkey dinner, play some games and then go out into the square to drink hot wine and watch the fireworks. I love this time of year!
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
Since my husband and I come from different cultures, we're still blending our traditions and seeing which ones stick over time. Did you know that Italians don't really do Christmas stockings? I had no idea. They do stockings in January instead and an old witch brings the gifts instead of Santa. Seriously!
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
The holidays are normally a full break from poker. Our friends and family love playing games but they tend to be much less serious games than poker. High-stakes ($2!!) bingo usually happens with all the aunties and kids at some point.
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
Last year was the first year we had a tree and decorations, as we're normally too busy, right up to the end. I love having a tree though so that's definitely happening this year. I have some great decorations that I've collected or been given over the years - everything from delicate blown glass baubles to a Tardis. It's eclectic instead of stylish.
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Try to keep your eyes and ears open all year for gifts. I have a list on my phone. Anytime someone mentions something they like or need, I write it down. That way, figuring out what to get is easier and not such a last minute panic.
Dominik Nitsche
What are your plans for the holidays?
My plans for the holidays are very simple. I'm going to visit my family in Germany over Christmas for a week. After that I will head to Sydney to spend a bit of extra time in Australia.
I don't think seeing my family on Christmas counts as a tradition but I try to make time for it every year, of course.
What traditions do you have, if any, for the holiday season?
One thing that comes to mind is that every year on the 22nd of December everyone from my high school tries to make it to the Christmas Market. It's a great opportunity to catch up with old friends.
Do you take a break from poker during the holidays or bring it home with you?
Christmas is usually a bit of a break for me but this year I might make an exception and play a few tournaments on Sunday. The games are going to be quite good I'm sure.
What does your home look like during the holiday season? Do you decorate?
My family does put up a small Christmas tree and a little bit of traditional Christmas decoration but nothing crazy. Once again I like that my family is not too much into Christmasy things. It's more about all of us coming together rather than the gifts.
What tips do you have for others over the holidays (whether it be gift giving, decorating, traveling, etc.)?
Well I gotta say, this might be too late at this point, but book your flights early. Flights get expensive over Christmas and New Years if you don't book them way in advance.
If you see a flight from one European airport to another and it's 350 euros, you should probably consider using some of your air miles to buy that flight.
Actually many poker players don't collect air miles. You obviously should be doing that. It's something that has helped me out many times in the past when I needed to book a flight on short notice.
Look for part 2 of this holiday preparation series tomorrow!
