Christmas Time Is Coming!

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

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[sunshineforJesus]

I love Christmas and am looking forward to
the decorating,shopping and even enjoy wrapping the presents.

My mom on the other hand finds Christmas stressful,and my brother and dad aren't
into decorating.

 

[Citanul]

I'd like to start a tradition to go caroling at local nursing homes during the Christmas season. It's usually very saddening to go in some nursing homes, but I think it's an important and necessary thing to do.

That's something we've done at my church in past years - we've cancelled a Sunday evening service and instead have gone around to nursing homes as there are a number in the immediate vicinity. It can be a little difficult to organise as sometimes the staff seem to be reluctant for us to turn up en masse, and I think there was one occasion where there'd been a shift change and they'd forgotten to tell the new shift that we were coming, but those who we do end up singing for definitely seem to appreciate us doing it.

 

[Citanul]

We don't have Thankgiving as a point of reference for the onset of Christmas. Rather, it's regarded as officially being here when the shopping malls start playing Boney M...

When it comes to Christmas family traditions, a couple of years ago we made the decision not to bother with presents, which everyone was very happy with as it eliminates one of the major headaches around this time of year. We'd never been into giving big presents anyway, but there was still the hassle of coming up with what is essentially a token gift for everyone which is now gone, and I suppose it's made easier by there not being any kids who are expecting something.

My mom still puts together what I'd guess you could describe as "party packs" with sweets, and the odd knick-knack, but there's absolutely no expectation presentwise. So the emphasis is very much on getting together as a family.

Although this year will mark a bit of an end of an era. My brother left home earlier in the year, so now that all their kids are gone my parents are in the process of moving to a retirement village, and since they've always been the ones who host our Christmas meal I don't quite know what's going to happen in the future.

When it comes to favourite Christmas songs, there's the somewhat clichéd response of Fairytale of New York, but also this one which I discovered a couple of years ago and really like it. Not just because of the sentiment expressed, but also because it's not a wintery Christmas song, so is more relatable for me.

 

[Take Heart]

Girl, I was excited for Christmas about 2 weeks before Halloween. xD
I love Christian Christmas songs! My family and I would open one present on Christmas eve and then open the rest on Christmas Day. My Church holds a Christmas 'party'/'gathering' in which it's heavily focused on Jesus Christ as opposed to Santa and all that stuff. I like to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas, Home Alone, etc. I LOVE love the act of giving, even though that shouldn't be restricted to just one day out of the entire 365 days of the year, but you know what I mean. I love wrapping up the presents and seeing the look on my family's faces . I tend to get things that are practical-something they'd use right away or something that they find helpful. My family used to put up lights but that became hard since our roof is kinda high and steep-ish. I love driving slowly, when no one's behind me, and admiring the lights. I love hot chocolate + marshmallows, onesies xD, listening to Christian-based songs in the mall/grocery stores, sweaters, knit hats, infinity scarves mittens..fresh fallen powdery snow that coats the trees..it's so pretty.

 

[Travelers.Soul]

I have loved reading through all of your responses.

I love this time of year (from before Thanksgiving until about New Year). I love Christmas carols and some of the old Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, etc. In fact I have already been listening to Christmas music...I started a couple of weeks ago. This year I seem to be more excited about Christmas than I have been in the last couple of years. My family and I aren't really able to decorate this year for a couple of reasons but we are doing what we can and normally we put up our Christmas tree the evening of or the day after Thanksgiving. It usually depends on when my nephew is here because our Christmas tree cannot be decorated without him! I love looking at all the shops (even if I don't buy) that are decorated even though I despise the crazy crowds that sometimes go with it.

The smells of the season are amazing as well. Here there is a bite to the air and a crisp feeling, the evergreens smell like heaven, and everything seems to smell better. I LOVE baking for the holidays and I love how during this time of the year our kitchen usually smells of spices, sugar, and all things good. May I suggest everyone trying Wassail? There are different versions but it is so good. Yum!

I have a few movies I watch EVERY year once the Christmas season descends. I love watching A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sims, Elf, The Grinch (both versions), then some of the old Christmas cartoons from my childhood.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

That's something we've done at my church in past years - we've cancelled a Sunday evening service and instead have gone around to nursing homes as there are a number in the immediate vicinity. It can be a little difficult to organise as sometimes the staff seem to be reluctant for us to turn up en masse, and I think there was one occasion where there'd been a shift change and they'd forgotten to tell the new shift that we were coming, but those who we do end up singing for definitely seem to appreciate us doing it.

I've had some similar experiences myself so there are some obstacles to get around when caroling at nursing homes. But like you said, many of the old folk are so appreciative that it makes it all worth it in the end.

 

[Take Heart]

@Travelers.Soul
I totally agree about the smell during this season ♥ I just looked up Wassail. I also looked up the recipe and it sounds amazinggggg o Q o
Do you mind sharing the recipe that you use? I want to try making it this year! : )

 

[Rigatoni]

I remember back in elementary school I was a part of a bell choir, and every year around this time we would learn how to play Christmas songs on the bells (such as Pachabel's Canon and Joy To The World). We would even perform during mass on Christmas Eve - I miss those days lol.

 

[Cearbhall]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Thanksgiving but I'm already in the Christmas mood!! SOOOOOO that being said, who else is in the holiday mood and what do you do during this time of year?

I've been putting up decorations and listening to Christmas music.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I prefer the less commercialised Christmas songs, the ones that are played over and over again on the radio. I usually break out classical stuff and my Enya Christmas CD. Or find alternative Christmas playlists on Pandora or YouTube to play.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

What about ornaments?

Did y'all hang old ornaments that possess sentimental value (stuff given to you, stuff you made as a child, family heirlooms, ect) or use pretty ornaments that you went out and bought?

It's a mixture of both for me, but the majority is definitely ornaments collected over the years which have great sentimental value in the family.

 

[Multifavs]

I looove Christmas! It's my favorite time of the year, and I just love everything about it. The decorations, the music, the Christmas-themed drawings/stories/etc. I get to make, the peaceful and loving feeling...it's all so beautiful and fun. Looking at Christmas-related things always makes me so happy.

I don't start most of these things until December 1st because it feels a little too early before that to me. But there are a few things I do ahead of time so I can have them done by then.
The things I'm doing early this year are:

• sewing a fabric Advent calendar, which I'm working on right now
• continuing working on a Christmas tree craft with my mom that we didn't get to finish last year
• drawing something to use for my Christmas avatar this year, I'll do that at the end of this month (and I'll listen to Christmas music while drawing it )

I have a few things planned for December this year, but I need to think of more lol. I'm going to draw some things, maybe sew some more things, write a Christmas story, and decorate and bake some things with my mom of course. There's also something else that's a surprise! Oh and I'll also listen to Christmas music and play red and green characters in Super Smash Bros. games, haha.

I do almost all of the decorating these days, including putting up the tree. But my dad does bring the decorations and the tree out, and everyone does help me with decorating the tree.

I loved reading everyone's posts, by the way. You all have such fun ways of celebrating Christmas. Let's all have a fun and blessed Christmas season this year!

 

[Saucy]

My family Christmas traditions have been changing since our dad and grandma passed away. They were the big time Christmas people in the family who did all the organizing. We'd have a large party on Christmas eve, then Christmas morning, the adults would have mimosas while the kids opened their gifts. Grandma would always make the best egg casserole and a homemade coffee cake. It's the only time she would make it.

 

[Rigatoni]

What about ornaments?

Did y'all hang old ornaments that possess sentimental value (stuff given to you, stuff you made as a child, family heirlooms, ect) or use pretty ornaments that you went out and bought?

It's a mixture of both for me, but the majority is definitely ornaments collected over the years which have great sentimental value in the family.

Same with me. =) Old ornaments from over the years given by family, and some uniform, modern ornaments. Also obligated to throw on the random Dallas Cowboys ornament for good measure.

 

[Multifavs]

What about ornaments?

Did y'all hang old ornaments that possess sentimental value (stuff given to you, stuff you made as a child, family heirlooms, ect) or use pretty ornaments that you went out and bought?

It's a mixture of both for me, but the majority is definitely ornaments collected over the years which have great sentimental value in the family.

I think we have a mixture too. We have cute/pretty ornaments that we bought and some that family members gave us over the years. Earlier this year we got some ornaments from my grandparents on my dad's side and kept our favorites, so we'll be putting them on the tree this year.

My brother and I made ornaments before, but I think they were all made from paper. We put them in storage now since we have so many ornaments.

 

[LoveDivine]

My family Christmas traditions have been changing since our dad and grandma passed away. They were the big time Christmas people in the family who did all the organizing. We'd have a large party on Christmas eve, then Christmas morning, the adults would have mimosas while the kids opened their gifts. Grandma would always make the best egg casserole and a homemade coffee cake. It's the only time she would make it.

That’s really nice. I think you need to replicate her coffee cake to keep the tradition alive

 

[Saucy]

That’s really nice. I think you need to replicate her coffee cake to keep the tradition alive

Yes, as my sister has started her family and I hope I'm next soon (lol) we hope to continue the tradition.

 

[Travelers.Soul]

@Travelers.Soul
I totally agree about the smell during this season ♥ I just looked up Wassail. I also looked up the recipe and it sounds amazinggggg o Q o
Do you mind sharing the recipe that you use? I want to try making it this year! : )

I'll try to find it and post it.

What about ornaments?

Did y'all hang old ornaments that possess sentimental value (stuff given to you, stuff you made as a child, family heirlooms, ect) or use pretty ornaments that you went out and bought?

It's a mixture of both for me, but the majority is definitely ornaments collected over the years which have great sentimental value in the family.

We have a tradition in my family where everyone buys an ornament for that year, within a set price range. We have a decent collection of them now and it's nice pulling them out and decorating the tree with them.

 

[Travelers.Soul]

@Spirit Reborn I couldn't find our recipe but this is pretty much it. (We use apple cider)