Wednesday, December 06, 2006

It's beginning to look a lot like......

My friend Marti asked me to answer her questions about Christmas traditions, so here goes.....

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or put them under the tree unwrapped?
I am sure this answer won't be well received. We don't do the "Santa" thing. We just never wanted to fib to our children being afraid they might not believe what we tell them about God. I know it is not a big deal to some people, but to us it is. We still give presents and even unwrapped ones we just don't say they come Santa. We have a great children's book that explains Santa to kids. It is called "Santa, Are You For Real?". As far as I can tell my kids have grown up happy and loving Christmas. We tried to make Christmas about what God has done for us instead of what we get. With that said, my kids still loved their presents!

3.Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Depends on what my mood is each year. Sometimes we use colored, other times white.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No.


5. When do you put your decorations up?
I usually start the first weekend in December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
We usually have lasagna on Christmas day.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.
I recall one Christmas Eve being with my dad. We were at a laundry mat for some reason. I remember worrying because the Santa report had started. (for those of you who don't know...radio shows would give a "Santa report" letting children know where he was) Anyway, he used way too much soap in the machine and I remember the suds going all over the place. Kind of like an "I Love Lucy" episode. Random, I know.....

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Don't remember.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. We have always opened one gift on Christmas Eve. Since the kids have gotten married we do all of our "Christmas" on Christmas Eve so all the other families can have their time without stress. We do it after our Church's Candlelight Service, which is an amazing Lessons and Carols Service.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
I have too many trees.....I do all kinds of things. Sometimes one theme, like Disney ornaments. The main tree is decorated with the same familiar ones from year to year.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
I use fake snow on the tree. I love it...makes everything look so magical.

12. Can you ice skate?
HA....I did it before....use to live in Ohio as a teen...but that was LONG ago!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yes, Chatty Cathy!

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
I love giving gifts to people, probably too much! (as my bank account shows)

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
I love divinity. I rarely have it. It is hard to make here because of the fog.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I also love the traditions our family has. One that is a real hit is the "Wise Men's Trek". We don't have the wise men with the nativity scene. Now, truthfully in the Bible, they did not arrive until quite a while after the birth of Christ. (more than a year but less than three) We try to enjoy that fact by making our wise men move around the house. They are always in another room on their trek to the nativity scene. Right now, they are in my bedroom. It is a fun thing because you never know where they might be. And the kids had a fun time moving them along. Over the years, I have added more "wise men" to the group along with standing camels. I mean how can camels lay down and get anywhere? I found more, of coarse, on eBay! I like the 1950's paper mache type. That was the one my Grandmother always put up. I searched eBay for years to buy other ones to give to the kids when they got married and to supplement my collection. I even added chickens, sheep dogs, goats and cows! Don't laugh!

Also, I love stuffing stockings. Somehow I am still
the primary stocking stuffer after all these years. The kids insist I do the stockings. I search high and low all year for fun and unusual things!

I enjoy Christmas books. Each year we add another one. My daughter loves "The Velveteen Rabbit", I am not sure which one my son loves the most but a big favorite is "The Cajun Night Before Christmas". I personally love "Gift of the Magi". It always brings a tear to my eyes.

We love to display our Christmas cards on the doors of our home! Operation Christmas Child boxes.... I better stop thinking...the more I think, the more I think of!

17. What tops your tree?
A glittery star!

18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving?
I love giving, but I also love receiving!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
The First Noel

20. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol I still sing the songs....."A hand for each hand was planned for the world...why don't my fingers reach?" Sorry...couldn't help myself!


Merry Christmas and God bless us every one!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, that's all very nice... Except you forgot to mention that we sometimes refer to Santa as 'Satan Claus,' just to put things into their proper perspective.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing all that! Wonderful!
But when does the dragon come in over the nativity scene? =D