Hearsay
It has become apparent to me that some people like to talk. I think I am a fairly easy person to converse with. I am also very inquisitive, asking many questions. However, sometimes I do not have to ask any questions at all and people just talk and talk, telling me all sorts of sordid details. Things I do not know if I should believe, things I do not want to believe. I am a trusting person. I want to believe everyone. However, I think it may simply be naiveté on my part.
Today (it is still today in LA) is Migé's birthday, so if you have not yet wished him a happy day, please do so. I have a gift for him that I plan to give him when he returns home along with something to go inside of it. He is talking about a slumber party when he is back home where he plans to get affectionate. I am not quite sure what that means, but it made me laugh. For those in Los Angeles, be sure to give him 28 spankings for me as well as one for good luck.
Sunday is the traditional day to find a Christmas tree. Many times I do not have one as I usually celebrate with my parents, however, since Rufus is here with me this year, I thought a bit of Finnish tradition would be a nice thing. Monday will be the day to decorate and light the tree. My mother was kind enough to provide me with flags, electric candles and himmelis for adorning.
Christmas Eve is more of the highlight of the season than Christmas day. My mother has invited us to the early evening church service after sunset. I have yet to discuss this with Rufus, I am not sure how keen I am on attending. It has always been a fear of mine that lightening will strike me down, as ridiculous as that sounds. Going to sauna is always tradition on Christmas Eve, so perhaps we will do that while the family is at the churchyard. I will at least take Rufus by the churchyard so he can experience the beauty of all the candles at the graves, set into the snow.
When I was a child, my father would dress up as Joulupukki (Father Christmas) and my mother would coerce me into dressing up as his little helper in red tights, a long red cap, and a gray cotton suit also decorated with red. I have pictures that I look back on with much dismay. When Father would enter the house in his red suit he would ask, Are there any good children here? in which my response was an emphatic yes, even though it was not always true. This year, there will be no dressing up unless my young cousins come to visit. However, I do like the thought of my father dressed up and Rufus sitting on his knee.
My mother normally prepares red Christmas fish and we have a family meal consisting of whatever extended family is remotely close, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. One year my mother prepared reindeer and I had a fit. Of course, I was quite young at the time, but the thought of eating Joulupukki's reindeer was extremely frightful. Hopefully she will not subject us again to that and stick with the salmon, ham, rutabaga casserole, mixed beetroot salad and rice porridge at the end of the meal.
Christmas Day is usually fairly quiet, just spending time with the family while many people go to church. I thought that on Christmas Day, Rufus and I could stay in and he could tell me about the traditions of his family and we can exchange gifts as I think is probably customary for him (my family exchanges gifs on Christmas Eve). I might even attempt at making my very own Christmas glögg to warm us up, not that I need any more warming besides him.
Hyvää Joulua!
-Juska-
Today (it is still today in LA) is Migé's birthday, so if you have not yet wished him a happy day, please do so. I have a gift for him that I plan to give him when he returns home along with something to go inside of it. He is talking about a slumber party when he is back home where he plans to get affectionate. I am not quite sure what that means, but it made me laugh. For those in Los Angeles, be sure to give him 28 spankings for me as well as one for good luck.
Sunday is the traditional day to find a Christmas tree. Many times I do not have one as I usually celebrate with my parents, however, since Rufus is here with me this year, I thought a bit of Finnish tradition would be a nice thing. Monday will be the day to decorate and light the tree. My mother was kind enough to provide me with flags, electric candles and himmelis for adorning.
Christmas Eve is more of the highlight of the season than Christmas day. My mother has invited us to the early evening church service after sunset. I have yet to discuss this with Rufus, I am not sure how keen I am on attending. It has always been a fear of mine that lightening will strike me down, as ridiculous as that sounds. Going to sauna is always tradition on Christmas Eve, so perhaps we will do that while the family is at the churchyard. I will at least take Rufus by the churchyard so he can experience the beauty of all the candles at the graves, set into the snow.
When I was a child, my father would dress up as Joulupukki (Father Christmas) and my mother would coerce me into dressing up as his little helper in red tights, a long red cap, and a gray cotton suit also decorated with red. I have pictures that I look back on with much dismay. When Father would enter the house in his red suit he would ask, Are there any good children here? in which my response was an emphatic yes, even though it was not always true. This year, there will be no dressing up unless my young cousins come to visit. However, I do like the thought of my father dressed up and Rufus sitting on his knee.
My mother normally prepares red Christmas fish and we have a family meal consisting of whatever extended family is remotely close, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. One year my mother prepared reindeer and I had a fit. Of course, I was quite young at the time, but the thought of eating Joulupukki's reindeer was extremely frightful. Hopefully she will not subject us again to that and stick with the salmon, ham, rutabaga casserole, mixed beetroot salad and rice porridge at the end of the meal.
Christmas Day is usually fairly quiet, just spending time with the family while many people go to church. I thought that on Christmas Day, Rufus and I could stay in and he could tell me about the traditions of his family and we can exchange gifts as I think is probably customary for him (my family exchanges gifs on Christmas Eve). I might even attempt at making my very own Christmas glögg to warm us up, not that I need any more warming besides him.
Hyvää Joulua!
-Juska-