20 November 2023 , 10:44
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Pete Andre makes the most of every Christmas with his kids because he was never allowed to celebrate it growing up.
The Mysterious Girl singer says the first time he marked the festive period was as a parent after being was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. His mum and dad Savvas and Thea are "very strict Christians" so Pete only celebrated Christmas until when he himself became a dad – which he says was a "beautiful" way to experience it for the first time.
He is now a proud father to Junior, 18, Princess, 16, nine-year-old Amelia and Theo, seven. They now make a big thing about it and are preparing to thrill the youngsters with some games in the build-up to December 25. He says he can't wait for Christmas as the present buying really begins.
Pete was raised as a Jehovah's Witness by his mum and dad Savvas and Thea (Instagram)
Now the singer makes up for lost time with his family (peterandre/Instagram)Writing in his OK! Magazine column, Pete, 50, put: "The build-up to Christmas is upon us. We’re putting our decorations up at the start of December and the kids join in, which makes everything so much more fun. We have lots of traditions – like Elf On The Shelf – but, I’ve got to admit, Emily introduced them.
"I’m still kind of new at this because I grew up in a very religious household and we didn’t celebrate Christmas. So the festive spirit is down to Emily. Oh, and Santa, of course…" He previously told The Mirror all about his childhood and what he loves most about the holiday season.
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He said: "I grew up in a strict household of Jehovah's Witnesses. We didn't celebrate birthdays or Christmas or anything like that. I still respect everything I learned, even though I'm not part of the faith." The singer then explained: "But one of the things is a lot of people say is: 'Do you feel you missed out' and I say: 'Well, you don't know any different'.
"But, now the kids are going through it I get to live it through them and it's beautiful. It may even be more special because it's their first time but it's also mine." When asked what he enjoys most about Christmas he revealed: "I enjoy seeing it through the eyes of the kids. I can tell you a thing I do not enjoy – I have to tell you this before I tell you everything I enjoy – is this flipping Elf on the Shelf! If they could start it on the 20th, that would be amazing. But when you have 25... how many ideas can Santa think of?!"