Christmas Traditions!
Stolen from the lovely trobadora
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
As a kid, hot chocolate, with egg nog a close second. As an adult, my Opa's egg nog recipe, which makes for a very happy holiday indeed.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Definitely wrapped and under the tree. The kids get conscripted into elf-duty in wrapping for parents and other kids. Sometimes this gets a little confusing. One year, my sister got all five emergency whistles. Another year, my SIL got thee sets of kitchen tongs.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. Plus, on my parents' tree, the little bubble lights, because they remind my mom of when she was a kid.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Whenever life allows, but somewhere in the two week window before Christmas. Or, this year, tonight.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
That's harrrrrrrd. Sauerkraut, because we only really make it for holidays lately, along with the Christmas ham, probably. Although one of my cousins will commit unspeakable acts for Pillsbury crescent rolls.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Singing along to "Counting the Days", on the Sesame Street Christmas tape. It still marks the start of the holiday season. Also the Christmas morning where our puppy got out the door unnoticed, but we found her quickly because she'd taken my dad's shoe along as a chew toy for the road.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I can't really remember.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No. Christmas Eve is the day of frantically wrapping EVERYTHING, so nothing gets opened till Dec. 25.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
I take it out of the box, plug it in, and start sticking ornaments on. The star goes on when I find the box it's in. Ditto the tree skirt. My brother and I are not allowed to but the lights on my parents' tree together after we duplicated, word for word, without ironic intent, the annual parental Argument of the Lights.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love. Love, love, love. After six years too far south for snow, I get excited every single time.
12. Can you ice skate?
Not really, but I haven't tried in a while.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Now, it's the little cast-iron horse that Santa gave me the year I desperately wanted a pony. At the time, I was less enthused. (Note, in NO WAY could we have afforded a pony.)
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Family. I'm able to see so many people I love, whether it's family I was born into or family I've made along the way, and each moment with them is something wonderful.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
My Oma's poundcake.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas Eve church. Also, our Christmas stockings, which are the first things that get opened by everyone on Christmas morning, and they always have an orange in them.
17. What tops your tree?
A sort of filigree silver metal star.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving. I love having an excuse to get stuff for people I like.
19. Candy Canes?
YES.
20. Favorite Christmas show?
Emmett Otter's Christmas Special.
21. Saddest Christmas song?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. The version with the really depressing lyrics.
22. What is your favourite Christmas song?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Also, We Need A Little Christmas. The version with the slightly less depressing lyrics. Also, I love, love, love traditional carols in all shapes and sorts and will sing them till I lose my voice, especially: Angels We Have Heard On High, The Holly and The Ivy, Good King Wenceslas, O Tannenbaum, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, O Come, All Ye Faithful. Christmas carols make me joyful.
23. Favorite Christmas movie?
Mame. Or Auntie Mame. The musical version - I always get them mixed up.
24. How long do you leave up Christmas decorations?
I try hard to have them away by February.
25. What kind of cookies do you leave for Santa?
Chocolate chip! And carrots and apples for the reindeer. :D
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
As a kid, hot chocolate, with egg nog a close second. As an adult, my Opa's egg nog recipe, which makes for a very happy holiday indeed.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Definitely wrapped and under the tree. The kids get conscripted into elf-duty in wrapping for parents and other kids. Sometimes this gets a little confusing. One year, my sister got all five emergency whistles. Another year, my SIL got thee sets of kitchen tongs.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. Plus, on my parents' tree, the little bubble lights, because they remind my mom of when she was a kid.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Whenever life allows, but somewhere in the two week window before Christmas. Or, this year, tonight.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
That's harrrrrrrd. Sauerkraut, because we only really make it for holidays lately, along with the Christmas ham, probably. Although one of my cousins will commit unspeakable acts for Pillsbury crescent rolls.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Singing along to "Counting the Days", on the Sesame Street Christmas tape. It still marks the start of the holiday season. Also the Christmas morning where our puppy got out the door unnoticed, but we found her quickly because she'd taken my dad's shoe along as a chew toy for the road.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I can't really remember.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No. Christmas Eve is the day of frantically wrapping EVERYTHING, so nothing gets opened till Dec. 25.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
I take it out of the box, plug it in, and start sticking ornaments on. The star goes on when I find the box it's in. Ditto the tree skirt. My brother and I are not allowed to but the lights on my parents' tree together after we duplicated, word for word, without ironic intent, the annual parental Argument of the Lights.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love. Love, love, love. After six years too far south for snow, I get excited every single time.
12. Can you ice skate?
Not really, but I haven't tried in a while.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Now, it's the little cast-iron horse that Santa gave me the year I desperately wanted a pony. At the time, I was less enthused. (Note, in NO WAY could we have afforded a pony.)
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Family. I'm able to see so many people I love, whether it's family I was born into or family I've made along the way, and each moment with them is something wonderful.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
My Oma's poundcake.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas Eve church. Also, our Christmas stockings, which are the first things that get opened by everyone on Christmas morning, and they always have an orange in them.
17. What tops your tree?
A sort of filigree silver metal star.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving. I love having an excuse to get stuff for people I like.
19. Candy Canes?
YES.
20. Favorite Christmas show?
Emmett Otter's Christmas Special.
21. Saddest Christmas song?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. The version with the really depressing lyrics.
22. What is your favourite Christmas song?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Also, We Need A Little Christmas. The version with the slightly less depressing lyrics. Also, I love, love, love traditional carols in all shapes and sorts and will sing them till I lose my voice, especially: Angels We Have Heard On High, The Holly and The Ivy, Good King Wenceslas, O Tannenbaum, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, O Come, All Ye Faithful. Christmas carols make me joyful.
23. Favorite Christmas movie?
Mame. Or Auntie Mame. The musical version - I always get them mixed up.
24. How long do you leave up Christmas decorations?
I try hard to have them away by February.
25. What kind of cookies do you leave for Santa?
Chocolate chip! And carrots and apples for the reindeer. :D