Holiday meme
Nov. 27th, 2007 05:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stitchwhichOddly, while I don't really enjoy those long, long question and answer memes (and after a while, stop reading them on my friend's journals) I do love this season. And I read everyone's answers. So I'm jumping on that boat, too. As a Wiccan, what the heck, my answers might surprise someone...
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Well, you konw htat really cool holiday fabric that you just don't have any use for because not everyone is a bored middle-class menopausal woman? I buy the ones that make me grin and create bags with ribbons or hemmed squares so they can be loosely pinned/stitched into wrapping. We buy maybe one roll of paper a season.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial. Our decorating-set-up date is later than the 'best' of the season and once the Douglas Firs were verboten, well... much as I hate an artificial tree, it is more eco-friendly. And it's fun to watch my menfolk set it up and 'artisitcally' arrange the limbs.
3. When do you put up the tree?
December 6th - the Feast of Saint Nicholas.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually, after Epiphany but this time we're leaving it up until Zack comes home at the end of January. He might not be able to help us set it up, but we can enjoy the ritual of packing it away ("I remember this ornament! I made it when I was...").
5. Do you like eggnog?
Love it. It doesn't love me so much anymore though. :(
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My Aunt Delores didn't tell my mom but she picked my brother up from the babysitters where he was living and brought him to my Grandparent's house for the holiday. I hadn't been allowed to see him for months. It was the bestest present ever and the whole family kept silent so my mom wouldn't know and cause a scene.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Zack, our eldest. He lives so far away I have no idea what he'd want...
9. Easiest person to buy for?
Shawn. Clothes or gift cards for videos/games.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
No gift. It happens pretty often and sucks when you think you might really get one. It's not so bad when you know you won't.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. Always. It is one of my favorite rituals of the season. Choosing the cards (we buy a selection and then carefully choose which of the cards will go to each person based on what we think they'd enjoy), writing the blessing/wish inside, choosing the right stamp to make them smile if they notice it. There's no way that can be replaced by a virtual card. You can't hold those in your hand or leave them on the kitchen table to make your spouse smile when he gets up... (Or tape them to the entry wall so you see them every time you come in or leave the house - all that love, right there to see and touch...)
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Wizard of Oz. It was a Childhood family ritual to gather around the TV on Christmas eve and watch the broadcast on CBS(?). Everyone watched it, with the curtains open on the picture window and the snow falling outside. *happy sigh*
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
January
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes. A lovely gift that we might never use deserves to be cherished rather than hidden away.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Wedding Cake cookies. :) And the tangerine that Arni puts in the toe of my stocking.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored. Lots, and bright.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
I don't remember it's title... "Oh my dear hert, young Jesu sweet, prepare ye cradle in me sprit..." From The Ceremony of carols by Benjamin Britten
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. We hold the stockings hostage. :)
19. Can you name all of Santas' reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Coach, Rudolph, and Rudolph's sweetie who's name I have forgotten.
20. Angel on the treetop or a star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Giftmas eve, just one, usually the "new pajamas or slippers" present (we don't get to choose which one we'll open). Afterwards, on the day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Canned music everywhere I go for 6 weeks unending. I think it'd cut down on the rudeness if there were a blend of seasonal and non-seasonal pieces in the stores. I htink half of the frowns come from hearing yet another version of "Oh Little Town of Bethlahem" for the sixth time in two hours. Why does it always have to sound like Loung Lizard Themes?
23. What do you love most about Christmas?
Sharing a holiday with all of my friends and loved ones.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Well, you konw htat really cool holiday fabric that you just don't have any use for because not everyone is a bored middle-class menopausal woman? I buy the ones that make me grin and create bags with ribbons or hemmed squares so they can be loosely pinned/stitched into wrapping. We buy maybe one roll of paper a season.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial. Our decorating-set-up date is later than the 'best' of the season and once the Douglas Firs were verboten, well... much as I hate an artificial tree, it is more eco-friendly. And it's fun to watch my menfolk set it up and 'artisitcally' arrange the limbs.
3. When do you put up the tree?
December 6th - the Feast of Saint Nicholas.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually, after Epiphany but this time we're leaving it up until Zack comes home at the end of January. He might not be able to help us set it up, but we can enjoy the ritual of packing it away ("I remember this ornament! I made it when I was...").
5. Do you like eggnog?
Love it. It doesn't love me so much anymore though. :(
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My Aunt Delores didn't tell my mom but she picked my brother up from the babysitters where he was living and brought him to my Grandparent's house for the holiday. I hadn't been allowed to see him for months. It was the bestest present ever and the whole family kept silent so my mom wouldn't know and cause a scene.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Zack, our eldest. He lives so far away I have no idea what he'd want...
9. Easiest person to buy for?
Shawn. Clothes or gift cards for videos/games.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
No gift. It happens pretty often and sucks when you think you might really get one. It's not so bad when you know you won't.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. Always. It is one of my favorite rituals of the season. Choosing the cards (we buy a selection and then carefully choose which of the cards will go to each person based on what we think they'd enjoy), writing the blessing/wish inside, choosing the right stamp to make them smile if they notice it. There's no way that can be replaced by a virtual card. You can't hold those in your hand or leave them on the kitchen table to make your spouse smile when he gets up... (Or tape them to the entry wall so you see them every time you come in or leave the house - all that love, right there to see and touch...)
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Wizard of Oz. It was a Childhood family ritual to gather around the TV on Christmas eve and watch the broadcast on CBS(?). Everyone watched it, with the curtains open on the picture window and the snow falling outside. *happy sigh*
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
January
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes. A lovely gift that we might never use deserves to be cherished rather than hidden away.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Wedding Cake cookies. :) And the tangerine that Arni puts in the toe of my stocking.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored. Lots, and bright.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
I don't remember it's title... "Oh my dear hert, young Jesu sweet, prepare ye cradle in me sprit..." From The Ceremony of carols by Benjamin Britten
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. We hold the stockings hostage. :)
19. Can you name all of Santas' reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Coach, Rudolph, and Rudolph's sweetie who's name I have forgotten.
20. Angel on the treetop or a star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Giftmas eve, just one, usually the "new pajamas or slippers" present (we don't get to choose which one we'll open). Afterwards, on the day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Canned music everywhere I go for 6 weeks unending. I think it'd cut down on the rudeness if there were a blend of seasonal and non-seasonal pieces in the stores. I htink half of the frowns come from hearing yet another version of "Oh Little Town of Bethlahem" for the sixth time in two hours. Why does it always have to sound like Loung Lizard Themes?
23. What do you love most about Christmas?
Sharing a holiday with all of my friends and loved ones.
