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It just isn't Christmas without...
Written By dreamweaver on Dec. 9, 2007.
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For me, it's just not Christmas without:
- The Christmas Tree Bread that my mom has been making every year for nearly 40 years (my entire life). It's a heavy sweet bread flavored with saffron and shaped into a tree, and she sometimes decorates the tree with dried cherries and other fruits. I make it now for my family since we're so far away from my mom, otherwise she'd still make it for us, just like she does for the rest of my family. The recipe came from Sunset Magazine way back when. My kids look forward to it every year, and my oldest daughter wants to help make it this year.
- Andy Williams' Christmas Deluxe on the stereo. My real father brought this LP home from Japan when he was in the Navy, and I've always listened to it every year since the time I had my own record player as a kid. The record cover was the kind that opened up, and there were pages inside with the lyrics to all the songs in English and Japanese. I played the LP until my husband and I didn't have a player anymore, and then I bought all the songs on iTunes and recreated it because it's just not Christmas without Andy.
There are many other traditional things we do every year, but those two things are the absolute "musts" in our house at Christmas. What are yours? What kinds of food, music, or traditions just have to happen at your house for it to really feel like Christmas? If you don't celebrate Christmas, substitute your holiday!
carmodyarc
Written Dec. 9, 2007 / Report /
Oddly, all the Christmas stuff I remember and try to recreate each year doesn't actually happen on Christmas day. For me and my family it's all about the week preceding Christmas, that's when we have all our fun.
Ollie
Written Dec. 9, 2007 / Report /
- Untangling the lights while swearing that we packed them up very carefully last year.
- And yes, finding the broken bulb while cursing very loudly.
- Making and drinking Mulled Wine for that warm, spicy feeling.
- Attempting to dress the tree without it descending into an argument about something petty and unrelated.
I'm not much of a traditionalist and me and my partner just take the day as it comes. I guess the one thing I always do, and enjoy doing, is cooking the lunch. But aside from that, just taking a day off and relaxing.
JPhill
Written Dec. 9, 2007 / Report /
- A Christmas tree decorated like crazy by my mom
- All of the holiday decorations around my parents house, again by my mom
- Little kids running around the house when all the family is over
- Lots of treats like cookies and brownies, etc.
Those are the things that stand out each year for me.
Sara
Written Dec. 10, 2007 / Report /
Oli
Written Dec. 10, 2007 / Report /
Gnorb
Written Dec. 10, 2007 / Report /
It's just not Christmas without family, or my waking everybody up at 5:00am so we could open presents.
I've been doing this since I could remember.
bloglily
Written Dec. 10, 2007 / Report /
staying up really late on Christmas Eve, putting together some toy whose parts get smaller and smaller as you drink more and more glug (which is not spelled like that, but the only time I've ever seen it written out I had already had so much of it to drink that I can't remember how it's spelled) that swedish stuff my husband loves.
swedish meatballs on Christmas Eve.
fruit cake. (Tasty fruitcake, in the best British tradition, not that nasty stuff that's studded with nuclear-colored dried/candied ick.)
skiing! We always go skiing right after Christmas. It is such a good way to clear your head.
singing in the choir at church on Christmas Eve. It is a sacred and beautiful time.
animejulie
Written Dec. 11, 2007 / Report /
Going Christmas shopping with friends and hanging out at my parents' house on Christmas Eve. Decorating the tree used to be on the list, until the dog started knocking over the tree. The tree is now in retirement. It was always depressing putting it away after the holiday, so I guess I don't miss it too much.
Tyme
Written Dec. 11, 2007 / Report /
Being around the people I care about. All of the holidays are about that to me now.
Of course Christmas wouldn't be the same if I wasn't cussing out those "some assembly required" presents...
dreamweaver
Written Dec. 11, 2007 / Report /
All of these replies are great; I really like to see what "makes" the holiday for everyone! Thanks for sharing.
Rich
Written Dec. 11, 2007 / Report /
Annoying people singing christmas songs knocking on the door. Freezing cold. Longstanding family issues being brought back into focus. Being woken up at 6am by an excitable 14-year-old.
Love me some Christmas.
shadowsun7
Written Dec. 12, 2007 / Report /
Lamb. Mint sauce. Dinner with family, and feel good Christmas music.
Giving presents.
:D
daviddemchuk
Written Dec. 13, 2007 / Report /
Social anxiety.
Twinkling lights.
Overspending.
Ghost stories.
Sugar cookies.
Tryptophan.
Leftovers.