The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

The Christmas/ Holidays Thread.

2K views 13 replies 11 participants last post by  Avna 
#1 ·
Figured it's about time. For me this December has been off to a rocky start, maybe this will help. And I must say by Christmas in no way meant to exclude those that celebrate something else, in fact the opposite. So for this one thinking will be for every thing else not labeled in another. But really throwing those things in here also is perfectly fine. So how bout things like

Favorite songs/ dislikes in that department
Best memories
Things you like to do
Things you're curious about-for instance the Jewish traditions interest me
Bad office parties/ gag gifts stories
Toy you always wanted but never got.
Favorite toy
Things you miss- I saw on another site the Sears wish book
Hopes for this year
Any and all other additions

And most importantly, if things are hard for you at this time of year don't be shy, still join in. Maybe someone will say something that helps. The gift of kindness is one of the best of all.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
well, I try not to let Christmas take up too much time. I mean, I don't want it to be so long of a time period that it feels watered down. so, I like to NOT put up any decorations until no sooner than two weeks prior. and, I take the tree down on New Years eve or day. or sooner. I like haveing it be short and sweeter. special. not a whole month!

I get the tree (real) and put it up on the weekend that is closest to the 10th , and I no longer put up lights. there are SOOO many people doing elaborate displays that the modest few I had look pathetic in comparison. better I skip it.
I used to always do ginergread houses with my sons, and cookie baking and decoratig. but, they dont care about those things much anymore. so, we keep it very simple; a tree, some online shopping, one trip to downtown Seattle for shopping and light viewing, and mayb one family party.
it's enjoyable and kept small.

Christmas is more for kids, and when everyone is grown up, but the next generation hasn't come along yet, things get pretty quiet.
 
#3 ·
We really don't do much either. We'll meet his daughter, her SO and the grandson out for dinner sometime this month (sometimes not until Jan.). The grandson wants money these days to work on his Bronco instead of presents. His other daughter lives in GA and his son is in FL so we don't see them for the holidays. We go to my family function on Christmas Eve. I quit putting up a tree at all once the kids got so busy they didn't have time during the holidays to come. Hubby and I will spend a quiet Christmas day and I'll spend some extra time with the critters and give them a few treats out of the stash Santa leaves them. LOL

For some reason Christmas has just never been my thing even when I was young. I like Thanksgiving much better. I do like to drive around and look at decorated houses though.
 
#4 ·
Christmas isn't a huge deal, & winter isn't my favorite season at all, but it's definitely a fun time of year IMO. I'm 25 & still love it haha. Although, I do ALL my shopping online.
I like to go see Christmas lights, it's really fun I've been doing that since I was really little!
At my work we have a nice office Christmas party every year, with a Pollyanna which is really fun. It's in a few weeks. :)
I live alone so I usually just put up a 'mini' tree in my living room, nothing major. I decorate my mantel & headboard with Christmas lights though.

I usually buy myself a lot of gifts too though. LOL. Single life!
Every year on Christmas I spend it with my parents & we have a nice Christmas dinner. Always a good time...plus wine! AND I LOVE watching Christmas movies!
 
#5 ·
We do a lot for Christmas. Of our five children, three are grown and two are married with children of their own. For us, this is a time for extended family. My brother, his children and my husband’s siblings, spouses and children all come to dinner at our place for Christmas Eve. Friends and acquaintances of extended family who have no one to celebrate with are also welcome (two of my children are military).

Christmas Day dinner is at my in-laws. MIL’s birthday is the day after Christmas and we generally all invade a restaurant to celebrate since the rest of us are all cooked out. DH’s and my wedding Anniversary is between Christmas and New Year’s so we also do something for that.

Everyone is spread out all over the country so Christmas is the one time of year anymore that we can all get together and see each other. So good to see the nieces and nephews as they have grown up into fine adults.

We celebrate St. Nicholas on the eve of the 5th, a remnant of my mother’s East European heritage. I do a lot of cooking and baking. Mostly cookies and Pirogi, which was my grandmother’s specialty. I am the only one in my family that still makes them, so my brother really appreciates the memories associated with eating them. My kids, especially my youngest love them.

One of the newest things I have discovered as far as decorating is the laser lighting. Because we live in the boonies where there is minimal light pollution, I have found that I can set one of these babies out and it gives the illusion that even our 50’ trees are entirely covered in lights. Set one on the hill overlooking the canyon and the whole canyon looks as though it has been decorated. Really, REALLY amazing and so easy!
 
#6 ·
I admit Christmas is not my favorite time of year, and neither is winter. I hate snow and being cold. I think years in retail when I was younger and being forced to listen to non-stop Christmas music made me absolutely sick of it, and I don't listen to it if I can avoid it, outside of church service.

I do however enjoy spending time with my family, and seeing them open the presents I've thought up for the year. This year I'm going to try to give my brother and sister-in-law a night out so they can go get dinner together while I babysit my niece. Likewise for my parents, I'd like to get them some gift cards to their favorite restaurant. Both my brother and my parents pretty much get what they want, when they want it, so they're hard to shop for.

I have made a tradition out of going with my parents to church services on Christmas eve, too. Even though I am not religious, I love the lights and songs. They bring back a lot of very fond memories from my childhood, and of my grandparents who are no longer with us. We usually are making some sort of dish for the family gathering the next day, as well.
 
#7 ·
you know, I thought that this thread was going to be sort of ho-hum, since we have the same thing every year, but reading about how each one of you celebrate the season has really brought a smile to my face. it's so different, yet, I can totally see myself doing just what you do!

I'm feeling more Christmassy already!
 
#9 ·
Love the Budweiser Christmas advert. It’s not a tradition I grew up with. Many years ago I was lucky enough to be able to ride a Clydesdale while my own horse was lame and it was definitely a unique experience.
With work, short dark days and cold weather I’ve yet to get in the Christmas mood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aubie
#10 ·
This is what I went through today wrapping presents
1. Get wrapping paper from bedroom
2. Go back to bedroom to retrieve eldest rat you accidentally locked inside
3. Gather scissors labels tape and bows
4. Unroll paper to desired size
5. Remove youngest rat from paper roll
6. Chase rats off paper
7. Start to wrap present
8. Remove rats from presents and place them where you think they won't cause trouble
9. Remove rats from your head
10. Throw 1sr piece of paper as rats peed on it
11. Unroll and cut new piece
12. Chase rats away
13. Quickly wrap present and put said present in rat free zone


Oh my boys are making wrapping a joy this year
 
#12 ·
Christmas for my family is very quiet. My kids are 17 and 20 - my son graduated from college in May and has a "real" job where he works shifts and hubby works weekends. So this year both are working over night on Christmas Eve. Step kids are 27 and 29 and they spend Christmas with their Mom and her extended family.

My Mom has lived out of state most of my adult life - although she now lives closer we don't do much as far as get togethers. My Dad and Step Mom moved to TN and don't come home.

My MIL passed away on Christmas Eve 10 years ago so my Hubby is not always feeling up on that day.

I miss the big family gatherings of my childhood but still look forward to my kids opening gifts.
 
#13 ·
Figured it's about time. For me this December has been off to a rocky start, maybe this will help. And I must say by Christmas in no way meant to exclude those that celebrate something else, in fact the opposite. So for this one thinking will be for every thing else not labeled in another. But really throwing those things in here also is perfectly fine. So how bout things like

Favorite songs/ dislikes in that department
Best memories
Things you like to do
Things you're curious about-for instance the Jewish traditions interest me
Bad office parties/ gag gifts stories
Toy you always wanted but never got.
Favorite toy
Things you miss- I saw on another site the Sears wish book
Hopes for this year
Any and all other additions

And most importantly, if things are hard for you at this time of year don't be shy, still join in. Maybe someone will say something that helps. The gift of kindness is one of the best of all.
Merry Christmas, and best wishes to all.
 
#14 ·
Since I converted to Catholicism 25 years ago (from Buddhism, long story), I've had sort of parallel Christmases each year. Catholic Christmas begins the evening of December 24th. Before that it is Advent which liturgically speaking isn't the slightest bit like Christmas. The color is blue-violet, there are no flowers in the church (only undecorated evergreens), we sing only Advent hymns like People Look East and O Come O Come Emmanuel. It is supposed to be a time of inwardness and prayerful preparation, which in this culture, good luck. On Christmas Eve the church breaks out the gold and the lights and the poinsettias and the wreaths and the Nativity etc. I'm heavily involved in the church deco committee so I'm up to my ears in it. I go to Midnight Mass (well, I am one of the cantors so yeah, I have to show up!). We sing Christmas carols until Epiphany, January 6th.

Secular Christmas is my extended family, which celebrates Cookie Decorating Day in December (my family is quite artistic so the cookies can be wild) and a big feast on Christmas Day. I send out Christmas cards, when I get it together. We cut a tree at one of the many tree farms around here. We have a table top creche we made out of clay many years ago. Sometimes I manage to get out to a Messiah Sing-a-long, with those family members who are good enough singers to find that enjoyable.

This Christmas is a little sad because my daughter moved to Massachusetts in October and is enmeshed in landing a job; she won't be coming home this year. On the other hand, she presently is deciding between two offers, both good!

Christmas, I have found, is sort of what you make of it. Over the years I've winnowed out the things I find too stressful (buying gifts for more than my immediate small family, cooking, baking, parties with a lot of noise, alcohol, and strangers) and mostly limit myself to those activities that are meaningul for me. Some years my energy is too feeble for much. It's okay, if I get to Midnight Mass, I have done Christmas.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top