Santa Claus is coming to town......

........Everyone pretend to be sleeping, so he leaves us presents.

When does the Christmas season start for you?

For me it usually started on the 4th of December, when I was a kid. Thats when my mum used to put up the tree and decorations. It's my sisters birthday and that was always part of the day.

Now I usually do the 12 days before and 12 days after, But one thing I do is play christmas carols or classical christmas music while I'm wrapping presents, no matter the time of year. I also read "A Christmas Carol" on pretty much a monthly basis. It's my favourite book ever and feel it's message isn't just for christmas, so I read it whenever I need a bit of that christmas spirit.

Thanks

John

I despise Christmas. I participate because I have kids....but only nominally. Every year I try to make it more enjoyable by refusing to be told how to celebrate and just trying to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

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Trying to practice and reflect God's scandalous grace


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It's the spirit of christmas I enjoy. One of my favourite things to do as a kid was come down stairs, open the back window and take in the air. It sounds silly, But christmas day always smelt slightly differant to me. It was just frost, But I always think of Jesus and his love at that point. Even now the smell gives me that feeling. Its only after this that I get into the whole ripping prezzies open. But Jesus always came first, even as a kid.

For me, Christmas is year-round (not that I leave a lot of lights and a tree up all year, mind you, though I do leave the Nativity Scene out). Of course, Easter is the same way. The pretty trappings are usually just right around the holiday (for Christmas, this starts right after Thanksgiving and ends on Epiphany Sunday for me).

As far as music, you'r likely to catch me listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas albums any time of year.

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I am the way, I am the light

I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes, I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don't turn away, just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there ,I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
-Believe by Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Don't fear tomorrow
And don't fear the night
It's where God repairs sorrows
That enter your life
-TSO

For the children are the architects of the future, and we are the architects of our children.
-Paul O'Neill

The world isn't the way it's supposed to be. That's why there's us. Champions. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be.

-TV's Angel


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Christmas for me doesn't start until at least after Thanksgiving. I keep noticing that radio stations continue to play holiday music earlier and earlier each year and the same goes for stores and advertising. But beneath the layers of commercialism I enjoy spending time with those I love and sharing in the spirit of Christmas. I try to embody the spirit of Christmas all year.

One of the things I started a few years ago at christmas after I get home from the kids house. I get all washed up, put on my PJ's, Housecoat and slippers. I make myself a nice mug of hot chocolate, turn the lights down, sit all cosy on the sofa and watch a movie. Then unfortunately I have to get ready to go to work, But for that couple of hours of solitude I really try to find that inner piece that only Christ can bring.

For me it's after Thanksgiving, but I pretty much will sing and listen to carols around the year. It's my absolute favorite season!

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‎Wenn wir die Zweifel nicht haetten,
Wo waere dann frohe Gewissheit?
~Goethe

A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility.
~D. L. Moody

Growing up my family always put up the decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving, and I suppose I still keep this mentality. At least in Pennsylvania, where the first really substantial, lasting snows usually happen around this time, it felt like a natural bridge between autumn and winter, between holidays. Not to mention the fact I like to go Christmas shopping on black friday. I'm not really obsessed with shopping or finding bargains; I just like the frantic energy that permeates malls on that day.

I try to keep Christmas AFTER Thanksgiving, but it's so hard even now to not find holiday stuff even now...and it's not even Halloween yet.

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(Still making magic every day.)

"If you want to obtain a certain thing, you must first be a certain man. Once you have become a certain man obtaining that certain thing will not be a concern of yours anymore."

For me the Christmas season begins on December 24 and ends at Epiphany.

The season of pre-Christmas preparation is Advent.

I'm a liturgical Grinch.

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Job 13:7