Oh, goodness. I just read D's update and now I'm feeling all Christmassy and I need to jump in with my own list....
Things I Love About Christmas - Decorating My Grandpa's Tree. It used to be decorating grandma and grandpa's tree, but this is the second Christmas since grandma died. This tradition started when I was three years old. Grandma thought it would be fun for me to come over and decorate her tree. Well, the tradition stuck. Once my brother was born, he joined me, and this will be Year 28 of decorating the tree! We pick a time, and then my brother J and I go over to the house where Grandpa has set up the artificial tree and strung the lights on it. We haul out the christmas ornament box..they have been stored in the same red and green corrugated cardboard box since I was three. The ornaments are stored in layers, wrapped in paper towels and tissue paper. Grandpa turns on the Christmas music and J and I sing along as we go through layers and layers of ornaments and hang them on the tree. We try to put certain ones right in front the bulbs, some always go towards the top of the tree, and there is one special ornament that we fought over as children. It's a heavy purple shimmery orb that is made of volcanic ash. It always has a place of honor on the tree, and when I was six and J was three, Grandma had to start putting a note in the ornament box that said who hung it the year before. It brought tears to my eyes last year when I pulled the paper with her handwriting on it out of the box. After the tree is decorated we always order pizza and eat fresh-baked cookies (which, I might add, Grandpa has done a bang-up job of learning to do the cookie baking that Grandma used to do.) I don't foresee myself giving up this tradition as long as my Grandpa lives. It's peaceful and fun and lovely and one of the best days of the year.
- Cutting Down Our Christmas Tree. As much as I love my old Christmas traditions, I love my new ones too. This will be the third Christmas that T and I have been together. For the past two years, we have driven to a small Christmas Tree farm over the river in Wisconsin. We bring a saw, spend about an hour walking around looking at trees, smelling the trees, and taking goofy pictures. When we finally choose one, we cut it down and drag it on a tarp back to the truck. Then we stop somewhere for hot apple cider (there may or may not be whiskey in this cider) before we go home and put the tree up.
- Christmas Music. In my parent's house growing up, we did not listen to Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving. Ever. Period. The anticipation every year was so exciting! It also killed me a little each year, though, so now that I am an adult I have been known to break out the Christmas music as early as October. I love it all. OK, except that one about the boy and his shoes. I hate that one. A lot. There is a song that my grandma used to have on a record album from 1978..it's called "C'Mon Ring Those Bells", and I'd have to say it's my all-time favorite. I also love the entire Amy Grant Christmas Album, and all the old-fashioned stuff from Bing and Frank. I have been known to stay in a crowded store for an extra 15 minutes just to listen to a little more Christmas music. -
Family. I see almost all the members of my extended family during the Christmas season. It gets hectic, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I see my Uncle B and his kids on the day after Thanksgiving. We all get together at Grandpa's house and play games and eat. On Christmas Eve I see T's family. On Christmas Day I see my parents, my brother and his wife, my nieces, both grandparents, and all my aunts, uncles and cousins.
- Food. This is probably going to be the longest part of this list! Maybe I will try to contain myself. I could discuss Holiday Food for hours. The day after Thanksgiving officially starts The Christmas Season, and for me it kicks off that day with Uncle B's chicken wings. They are so good. They are teriyaki. Not too sweet, not too salty, not too greasy....just perfect. I also love Walgreens brand sugar cookies with sprinkles. They only come out around Christmas and they are wonderful. They used to come in a tub but I think now they are sold in a regular cardboard and cellophane package. I like to buy apple cider and heat it on the stove. On Christmas Eve when I was growing up, we would have Grandma and Grandpa over after church. We would have a buffet-style dinner and it would always involve hot lil' smoky weiners, and things from Swiss Colony. Crackers, cheese, sausage, hot mustard, tortes....Christmas isn't Christmas without Swiss Colony, you know. I plan to continue the Swiss Colony thing this year, even though now we see T's parents on Christmas Eve instead of mine. Christmas breakfast is spent at Grandpa's house. Canadian bacon and cheesy potatoes and orange frosty shakes and green frosted cinnamon rolls. Then by lunchtime we are over at my grandma's house and she has a platter of fruits and cheeses and perfectly salted beef sticks. I think for the rest of my life when I see a platter of sectioned oranges or sliced colby-jack cheese, I'll think of my grandma.
- Smells. I love Christmas candles and air fresheners and potpourri. I love the candy-cane shaped pens that Walgreens sells that have peppermint-scented ink. I love the brisk, cold air on Christmas morning. I love the smell of coffee on Christmas morning. I love the smell of baking cookies.
- Church on Christmas Eve. I like to go to the midnight service. It's quiet, and the music is beautiful. I love singing "Joy To The World" with 75 other people. I love sitting next to my parents in the dark, candlelit service and listening to The Christmas Story. I love holding a candle and singing "Silent Night". I love the peacefullness of it all.
- Christmas Decorations. Holy moly I'm a freak for it. I will buy anything, if it has a Christmas theme. Candles, candle holders, garland, salt and pepper shakers, platters, cheese knives (I have never used a cheese knife in my life) figuirines that I don't have room for, socks, nightlights, napkin rings (I have never used cloth napkins), whatever. When I get old I'm going to be The Crazy Old Christmas Lady. Upon my demise my kids will have to deal with storage garages filled with Christmas decorations.
- The Actual Christmas Story. I think it's nice. I like the story of when Baby Jesus was born.
I could probably go on for another few hours, but I'll spare you and stop. For now. Happy Holidays!