麻豆约拍

Each year nearly 15 and a half million people travel home for the festive period.

Just a few of them share their stories as they head home.

Long journeys, short journeys, each trip is for a reason and each trip will trigger a multitude of emotions.

This programme captures those feelings: from the excitement of Christmas that never seems to leave us, the feeling of relief of making it to a safe haven after a difficult year, the feeling of uncertainty and fear of how Christmas will play out, the feeling of stress from the actual journey.

Tension levels increase depending on the weather and traffic conditions and the kids in the back of the car gradually getting more and more bored, chiming 'Are we nearly there yet?' every five minutes.

The great Christmas getaway is always wildly anticipated but often fraught and highly stressful: are all the kids in the car, is the snow going to come, will we get caught in a jam?

Feelings and emotions galore as travellers make their journeys home.

Producer: Martin Poyntz-Roberts

First broadcast on 麻豆约拍 Radio 4 in December 2014.