Warning of festive relationship stress

The four festive ‘Fs’ — finance, family, food, and fantasy — are responsible for much of the tension in the run-up to and during Christmas, according to a relationship counselling service.

Maura Leahy is clinical director at Relationships Ireland, which offers advice to couples and families.

She said overspending, spending too much time in fraught family situations, stressing about creating perfect Christmas meals, and having unrealistic notions about what the holiday should involve, all put stress on relationships and can engender confrontation.