Cecilie1200
Diamond Member
Statistically speaking, of course, most of us probably celebrate Christmas in one form or another, whether religiously or secularly. But I know there are members of the board who celebrate other holidays at this time of year. Tell us, please, which holiday - if any - you celebrate, and how.
My family, of course, celebrates Christmas, both secularly and religiously.
We put up and decorated the tree this weekend. I wanted to put it up sooner, but that was the first time my daughter and her kids could come by and do it, and it's really something that should involve as much family as possible, I think. Now I'm sitting in the living room, enjoying the tree lights and sewing a cross-stitched wall hanging to give to my granddaughter for Christmas. That might not sound terribly "Ho Ho Ho!" to other people, but some of my favorite Christmas memories growing up were of sitting in the living room next to my mom, the tree twinkling in the corner, and sewing or crocheting while watching TV. Every year, when the Christmas decorations go up, I feel an overwhelming urge to be working on some sort of needlecraft project.
We don't have scads of discretionary income this year, what with all the repairs that have come up around the house and the expense of starting my new business, so we decided on just one or two presents apiece. I decided to make my granddaughter's gift because there's not really anything she could need or want that she doesn't already have showered on her in abundance by other family members. Without being a lot wealthier than I am, just about anything I buy would be redundant. One-of-a-kind handmade gifts, though, are the kind of thing a person can treasure forever, and this wall hanging is going to look adorable over her bed. It says, "The Princess Sleeps Here" in bright, rainbow-shaded letters, with a tiara in one corner and a magic wand in the opposite one done in opalescent thread.
Right before Christmas, we'll be attending the Christmas program at the church. It just wouldn't be the holidays without stage fright-stricken little kids dressed up as angels and shepherds.
And I have to admit, I actually really like Christmas sermons. Go figure.
My friends and I are trying to plan a trip to Winterhaven to go caroling, if we can find a night when everyone's free. Winterhaven, for those who've never been to Tucson in December, is a neighborhood in the north-central part of the city whose residents all decorate their houses elaborately for the season, and offer hayrides, trolley tours, etc. through the neighborhood. Some nights are designated as walkthrough nights, with no motor vehicles allowed except by residents. The weather's been so lovely and mild this year, it's perfect for walking. There are collection points at the entrance for the community food bank, and the hayrides and such charge a certain amount of donated food for the rides.
This week is designated as the cooking/baking/candy-making time, since that's my preferred gift for most people not of my immediate family. On the list this year is fudge - both with and without pecans - oatmeal-raisin cookies, chocolate rum balls, and beef and chicken tamales. We'll have to see what else I'm in the mood for after I get those done.
On Christmas Day, I'll be doing a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner for the crowd of friends who don't have other places to go for one reason or another. I've never understood why so many women seem to think that cooking a turkey dinner is or must be such an ordeal. On the other hand, I cheat quite a bit. The turkey and the mashed potatoes are from scratch, but most of the rest comes at least partially pre-made. Hey, it's my holiday too, right?
After Christmas, the local SCA chapter starts its round of 12th Night parties, and we'll be attending at least some of those, culminating in the New Year's Eve Masque at my lawyer's house.
My family, of course, celebrates Christmas, both secularly and religiously.
We put up and decorated the tree this weekend. I wanted to put it up sooner, but that was the first time my daughter and her kids could come by and do it, and it's really something that should involve as much family as possible, I think. Now I'm sitting in the living room, enjoying the tree lights and sewing a cross-stitched wall hanging to give to my granddaughter for Christmas. That might not sound terribly "Ho Ho Ho!" to other people, but some of my favorite Christmas memories growing up were of sitting in the living room next to my mom, the tree twinkling in the corner, and sewing or crocheting while watching TV. Every year, when the Christmas decorations go up, I feel an overwhelming urge to be working on some sort of needlecraft project.
We don't have scads of discretionary income this year, what with all the repairs that have come up around the house and the expense of starting my new business, so we decided on just one or two presents apiece. I decided to make my granddaughter's gift because there's not really anything she could need or want that she doesn't already have showered on her in abundance by other family members. Without being a lot wealthier than I am, just about anything I buy would be redundant. One-of-a-kind handmade gifts, though, are the kind of thing a person can treasure forever, and this wall hanging is going to look adorable over her bed. It says, "The Princess Sleeps Here" in bright, rainbow-shaded letters, with a tiara in one corner and a magic wand in the opposite one done in opalescent thread.
Right before Christmas, we'll be attending the Christmas program at the church. It just wouldn't be the holidays without stage fright-stricken little kids dressed up as angels and shepherds.
And I have to admit, I actually really like Christmas sermons. Go figure.My friends and I are trying to plan a trip to Winterhaven to go caroling, if we can find a night when everyone's free. Winterhaven, for those who've never been to Tucson in December, is a neighborhood in the north-central part of the city whose residents all decorate their houses elaborately for the season, and offer hayrides, trolley tours, etc. through the neighborhood. Some nights are designated as walkthrough nights, with no motor vehicles allowed except by residents. The weather's been so lovely and mild this year, it's perfect for walking. There are collection points at the entrance for the community food bank, and the hayrides and such charge a certain amount of donated food for the rides.
This week is designated as the cooking/baking/candy-making time, since that's my preferred gift for most people not of my immediate family. On the list this year is fudge - both with and without pecans - oatmeal-raisin cookies, chocolate rum balls, and beef and chicken tamales. We'll have to see what else I'm in the mood for after I get those done.
On Christmas Day, I'll be doing a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner for the crowd of friends who don't have other places to go for one reason or another. I've never understood why so many women seem to think that cooking a turkey dinner is or must be such an ordeal. On the other hand, I cheat quite a bit. The turkey and the mashed potatoes are from scratch, but most of the rest comes at least partially pre-made. Hey, it's my holiday too, right?
After Christmas, the local SCA chapter starts its round of 12th Night parties, and we'll be attending at least some of those, culminating in the New Year's Eve Masque at my lawyer's house.
