For I am a lemming
HOLIDAY SURVEY
1. Hot chocolate or apple cider?
Hot apple cider, as I can't usually have hot chocolate! But I reserve the right to change my mind once I have tried making some Green & Blacks dark chocolate with orange and spices hot chocolate with soy milk.
2. Turkey or Ham?
Erm... I usually get a veggie burger, or, if I'm lucky, nut or lentil roast.
3. Do you get a fake or real cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
Have done both in the past. If I was to have my own house with ample space, I would get one of those with the roots all attached where you can re-plant it, because despite how high maintenance they are, I do love a real tree.
4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
Not since I was a child.
5. Snowball fights or sledding?
Sledding, for the same reasons as firenightingale!
6. Do you like hanging around the fireplace because it's warm?
Yes, but I feel guilty because of how energy inefficient it is.
7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
No, I HATE it. Well, I hate the thought of it. I like the feeling of accomplishment when you come away, but I absolutely hate trekking around a mall with my coat, my wrap, and heavy bags over my arms through crowds of equally sweltering, tired and grumpy people. Blech. I'm going to try and do all of my shopping either online or at Camden Town this year.
8. Favorite Christmas song?
O Magnum mysterium, by Morten Lauridsen, as sung by musica intima; the Huron Carol (a Canadian standard); I wonder as I wander; Lully lulla, especially as sung by Loreena McKennitt; In the Bleak Midwinter, either version; Let all mortal flesh keep silence; O Come O Come; Lulajze Jesuniu, a traditional Polish carol I sang with the VCC; Gaudete.... Generally, I prefer anything old and traditional to anything new or likely to be played in a mall. And it should, ideally, send a shiver down my spine.
9. Do you love Christmas or your birthday more?
Not really much difference, having been born 11 December. But Christmas, I guess.
10. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
Love 'em! Agree with Night on A Christmas Carol and with Kev on A Christmas Story and that old claymation Rudolph. Classic! Also How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the original preferably, but I did actually quite enjoy the Jim Carey one (sacrilege, I know!).
11. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
I usually pull it out around my birthday for no other reason than that it reminds me. Ack! T-minus two weeks! Christmas time!
12. Stockings before or after presents?
Before! Mandarin orange in the foot and you go bouncing onto the adults' bed with it, wake them up, and they pretend to be interested and surprised by your loot.
13. Carolers, do you or do you not listen to them?
Same as Night again -- if we were to get them, I would listen and pay.
14. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?
Always go. To Vancouver, to Calgary, to Chester, to Nana's, to Whistler, to Mark and Amanda's....
15. Do you read "The Christmas Story" the night before Christmas?
No, don't do that tradition.
16. What do you do after presents and dinner?
There's an "after" presents and dinner? Erm, I don't know, drink a glass of sherry, shove the last of the nuts in me and collapse into bed?
17. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Spiced, mulled wine.
18. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
See answer about going downtown to shop. And I love ice-skating!
19. Favorite Christmas memory?
The entire Canadian branch of the Jones clan under one roof at the cottage in Gibsons. I'm sure it must have happened one year or another.
20. Favorite part about winter?
When you wake up and discover it's been snowing and it's settled. (Just repeating Night verbatim on this one. I love that light, bright, tucked in feeling of snow shining through your window. Bonus points if school's been cancelled.)
21. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?
Can't... remember....