There are a lot of jokes and memes on the internet about
there being two types of people come Christmas time. I’m one of those people
who is hanging out for December first so I can decorate my tree. I buy all the
candy-cane flavoured items at the supermarket, I love listening to Christmas
songs and I love wrapping all the presents and placing them under the tree.
Yep, cast your Christmas judgement this way.
This year will be the first holiday season that I’m not with my
family. I’ll be honest, it scares me a little. I know I’m going to feel horribly
homesick in the lead up to the 25th and there might be a few tears
when I Skype home.
For now I’m trying to focus on all the things I love about this time of year, especially keeping up the traditions that make me feel connected to
home.
Silly Hats
 |
| I'm unimpressed with your human traditions. |
Every year there is a Santa hat or reindeer ears to be worn.
When we pop our Christmas crackers at lunch, the rule is that everyone has to
wear the paper crown while reading out their corny joke. I guess they call it
the silly season for a reason.
No one is safe…not even the dog. (If you think Cici is looking
at the camera with utter contempt, you’re right. We’ve dubbed this outfit the
Christmas Coat of Doom.)
Chocolate for
breakfast
My sister and I started this one. Christmas Day is the only
day of the year where we can have chocolate for breakfast.
Usually it’s a box
of Favourites. (I always dig the Turkish Delights and Dream White Chocolates out
first.)
Top of the tree
 |
| This was a singing and dancing Santa hat! |
In our family the youngest member of the family is the only
person who’s allowed to put the star on the top of the tree.
Christmas Presents on
Christmas Eve
I think this is an Italian thing, but my family opens
presents on Christmas Eve instead of during Christmas morning. We always sit in
our parent’s lounge room with coffees (or maybe a sneaky Baileys) and biscotti
while my sister and I hand out the gifts.
Bing Crosby
My dad has this wonderful old record player and we always
begin Christmas proceedings with him playing White Christmas by Bing Crosby. It’s
my favourite Christmas song and always puts a smile on my face.
That's my Christmas in a nutshell. This year I'll hopefully be having an actual white Christmas in Canada. Perhaps I can add making snow angels to my traditions list?
What are your Christmas traditions? Have you ever been away from your family at Christmas time? I need your tips on how to get through it!
Your Christmas traditions sound like so much fun, Stefanie. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy DH and I do share one with you -- eating chocolate for breakfast. Honestly, is there a better way to start the day? One of my favourite things, though, is sitting on the veranda on Christmas evening as the sun sets, sipping champers and chomping fruitcake. :-)
Oh I love the champagne and cake on the veranda idea - what a great way to end the day :)
DeleteAnother one who thinks that your Christmas traditions sound fun.
ReplyDeleteCan't think of any special Christmas traditions in my family - that said I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas until 1 week before Christmas every year.
I understand the love/hate thing - it can get a little stressful at times!
DeleteFor sure. But the main part of the love/hate is birthday induced. Just far enough away from Christmas that people know better than combining it with Christmas, but at the same time close enough that it stinks.
DeleteStefanie
ReplyDeleteI love your Christmas traditions we do a lot the same :) always chocolates in the morning and lots of laughter and fun and we have lots of Christmas pudding and cake as well. I have not been away from family at Christmas I do feel for you with that but a white Christmas would be awesome
Have Fun
Helen
White Christmas was on my bucket list, so very excited that I'm ticking it off this year. For someone who'd only ever seen snow once it's been pretty exciting!
DeleteLove your traditions, Stefanie. For me, champers and chocolate at any time of the day. It's all about pacing ourselves so we can still eat choc and drink bubbles late in the day.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the grazing :)
DeleteFun post, Stefanie!
ReplyDeleteWe share the same taste in chocolates - Turkish Delight and White Dream all the way. :)
We also do the paper hats and corny joke reading at Christmas lunch. I keep expecting my adult sons to object, but they seem to value the tradition of it as much as I do.
There's something wonderful about Christmas that takes you back to the best bits of childhood, bad jokes included!
DeleteStefanie, Christmas with your family sounds marvellous. We also do the sitting around together, opening pressies and the joke reading over the meal. I've been trying to interest mine in a new tradition of a champagne brunch. One day!
ReplyDeleteOooh I love the idea of a champagne brunch, combines two of my favourite things ;) Hopefully you can convince the family!
Delete