Conflict-laden festivities

Expert gives tips for a peaceful Christmas

Christmas is the festival of love - but in many families, conflicts disturb the Christmas peace. Why arguments are so common around the festive season and how they can be avoided.

Family celebrations can get really heated, especially during the most contemplative time of the year. "People are thinner-skinned at this time of year and their irritability threshold is lower than usual due to stress," explains expert Gabriele Schreilechner, who has been dealing with conflicts professionally for 15 years.

This is because differences that aren't dealt with properly during the year are dragged on until after Christmas - and then acted out around the Christmas tree. She tells the Krone what strategies she uses to prevent arguments.