“For me, Christmas is about calm and consideration – about letting in the light and making room for differences, always on the children’s terms. I lean into a familiar tradition where adults and children form deep bonds. Where we celebrate each other, the light, and the positive in life,” says Amanda Betz, who celebrates Christmas with her husband and two children – joined by a circle of people with varied traditions, united by one common thread: the adults give only one gift. According to Amanda, this means you put extra care into delighting that one chosen person.

The joy of creating something small with intention, of being attentive and valuing tradition, is not only a hallmark of Amanda’s Christmas but also of her artistic work. She consistently explores cultural context and meaning – particularly in her work with paper, where she draws on both history and the material’s aesthetic possibilities.