Work is the last thing many Canberrans will be thinking about as they enjoy Christmas Day with family and friends.
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But for some, it's just another day in the office.
From hospital workers, bus drivers, police, paramedics and yes, even journalists, there are plenty of people who keep Canberra running during the holiday period.
Canberra's light rail network will celebrate its first Christmas this year and driver Warren Parsons volunteered to work it.
He doesn't have any family in Canberra, so spending the day with customers is the next best thing.
"I do like to work so I can spend time with people instead of being home alone," Mr Parsons said.
"That's what I crave the most - to be around people."
Everyone will enjoy free travel on Christmas Day, but Mr Parsons is hoping to spread some more festive cheer. A keen baker, he will bring some Christmas cake to share with colleagues and dress up in an elf t-shirt and hat.
With decades experience in the transport industry, he's used to working on Christmas - after all people still need to travel during the holiday period.
"Out of the last 20 years I've worked the last 13 Christmases," he said.
Mr Parsons will also be working on New Year's Eve - a big test for light rail's first holiday season. "I just love the driving aspect and helping passengers get from A to B," he said.
Canberra's light rail network will run on the regular timetable over the holiday period, with Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day operating on the public holiday timetable.
No one wants to get sick at the best of times, but being stuck in hospital over Christmas can be especially hard for patients.
Canberra Hospital staff who work Christmas try their best to brighten up patients' days. Wardsmen Jason Ford and Tony Goreski both do shift work so working on Christmas Day is nothing new to them.
"I've worked the last six in a row - it's a bit more festive than usual and you try to cheer people up," Mr Goreski said.
Wardspeople are essential staff to the smooth running of the hospital, with their jobs involving transporting patients, responding to code blacks, performing CPR and restraining violent patients. Working the holidays can take its toll, but they know sickness doesn't stop for public holidays.
"Everyone is in the same boat, they're missing their families on Christmas Day so basically everyone you're working with is your family that day," Mr Ford said.
By helping to make sure the hospital functions, it means their kids miss out on having Dad home on the special day.
No one wants to be sick on Christmas and especially when you're sick and away from your loved ones I think we'll try to brighten it up as much as we can.
- Canberra Hospital nurse Megan Charlton
"You wake up, open the presents and rush to build them before you come to work," Mr Goreski said.
"The kids are a bit upset that you've got to come to work but you've got to do what you've got to do."
Nurse Megan Charlton will be working the morning shift on Christmas Day at the hospital.
She has young children so they are going to celebrate on Boxing Day instead. "They're too little to know otherwise," she said.
Ms Charlton said she would focus on trying to make the day a little more bearable for patients.
"I'll wear a nice bright scrub shirt and I think some of the wards have put together little gift packs for patients to try to brighten things up and I'm sure they'll be lots of food," she said.
"No one wants to be sick on Christmas and especially when you're sick and away from your loved ones I think we'll try to brighten it up as much as we can."
