A Christmas Meme

[borgmama1of5]

From  metallidean_grl

1. How elaborately do you decorate your home for the holidays?
I have always loved Christmas decorations, especially the trees and the lights. Gowing up we sometimes had two trees, and I would always take one night during the season to sleep in the room with the lit tree. When my girls were little, and even recently, decorating the tree has always been a special occaision, done sometime the week of Thanksgiving. I also have an old family Nativity scene and a collection of angel figures going back to my childhood. We used to live at an apartment with two big pine trees that nearly reached the second floor windows, and I would hang out the window and throw lights down onto the trees and then finish decorating from the bottom. Until the year that I waged the infamous squirrel battle, wherein the local squirrels would chew through the cords and I would buy more lights. We went through 17 strings of lights before I surrendered.This year is the first where I have no children at home, and I won't even be home on Christmas, so I am just putting up a small tree and a few decorations.

2. Real or artificial tree?
A very special artificial tree--we bought it the third year we were married, and have had it ever since (32 years) and it is pathetic--hopelessly bent, very un-full branches--which leaves room for tons of ornaments, and the transformation from sad old tree to sparkling with memories is my favorite thing!

3. Do you mail out Christmas cards or send e-cards?
Mail, with handwritten addresses and little notes to many of the recipients.

4. How have your Christmas traditions changed or evolved over the years?
For one thing, the difference between having small kids at Christmastime and being all teens and adults is a big change...

And for 30 Christmases I have always had a caroling party for family and friends, where we walk around the neighborhood with carol books and sing (and freeze) and then come in for hot cider and catch up with each other. I must say, in all modesty, those parties were legendary. All my kids' friends grew up with this as part of their Christmas tradition. My favorite memory is the year that 4 teenage boys, who no longer did everything with their families, took the bus to come to the party when they realized it was happening that night. This year the tradition is moving to Nashville where two of my girls are hosting the Nashville inaguration of the family tradition.

5. What's your biggest Christmas wish for the upcoming holiday?
That a very dear friend recovers her health.

6. What do you look forward to the most during the Christmas season?
All the decorated houses. And getting to give presents.

7. What's your favorite Christmas carol?
"Birthday of a King" when I sing it with my 3 daughters. And "Angels We Have Heard on High", also sung with them.

8. What's your favorite Christmas movie?
Tie between "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

9. What's your favorite Christmas cookie/candy?
Don't actually have one.

10. What's your favorite Christmas decoration?
I have so many ornaments that have stories behind them, I can't choose one.

11. What's your favorite Christmas gift received?
Nothing stands out. I remember things I've given, though. One year when I was a teenager I made elaborate ornaments for everyone in my family, specially themed for each person.

12. What's your favorite Christmas memory?
I don't remember the year, but I was between 5 and 7, probably. Our family had gone to Midnight Mass, and Dad had dropped us off in front of the house while he went to put the car in the garage. When we got upstairs (we lived on the second floor) and opened the door, Santa Claus was asleep on the couch! I KNEW it wasn't my dad because he was parking the car. So I choose to believe, to this day, that I met the real Santa.

Your turn!

Comments

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so fun. I love your memories. The sad old tree you talk about reminds me immediately of Charlie Brown's sad little tree and when it was decorated it was very beautiful. Some lights and ornaments can really change something ordinary to beautiful. Angels We Have Heard on High is also one of my favorites. Your Christmas memory is so sweet. At that age to come upon Santa, What fun that must have been.

[beckieb.livejournal.com]

This is great! And what a lovely story about Santa! My aunt also insists she saw him flying over the rooftops when she was a kid!