Avoiding Christmas until I absolutely cannot do so any more. Which this year will be roughly around 00:00 on Tuesday the 25th December.

Someone in my residence went to put up 'The Tree' today; I vacated the room like it was on fire.

I have to admit it is partially out of guilt. I haven't bought them anything and they keep grinning at me like a mad man and mentioning having bought me something (without mentioning exactly what 'it' is. This has got me doubly anxious because I haven't asked for anything. When should I worry?)

Don't get me wrong I do like the idea of Christmas. But I don't like everything that goes with it... or the fact that I went to get the shopping in August earlier this year and found tinsel where they normally kept the shampoo. 

Your enthusiasm is endearing. Possibly infectious. Keep it up and you might even make me warm up to the idea.  (Although I am going to keep this away from my housemate as they need absolutely no encouragement whatsoever... If they carry on I'm going to stab them with a sharpened candy cane off 'The Tree'.)

Last edited by Mnemosyne (December 2, 2012 11:58 pm)

The title of this thread is sufficient to explain many things, including why we've missed you so much, Molls!

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year. I, too, hate the commercialism and exploitation in the name of the almighty dollar (pound, etc.), but I find that at other times of the year as well, so I just overlook it, and enjoy family, friends, traditions, etc.

Our Christmas season is quite busy, and involves family get-togethers, listening to Christmas carols and hymns, decorating the house and barn, watching Christmas movies, and the joy of giving gifts to others and seeing their excitement and joy (especially with my children).

We began our festivities by attending "A Dickens of A Christmas" in upstate South Carolina. It's an annual event where the downtown streets are blocked off and basically converted into Victorian England. There are people in period costume, including Scrooge, carolers, bobbies, etc. (our family even dressed up--I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to do so). There are stands selling hot drinks and roasted chestnuts. Numerous "Father Christmas" figures are present, and many of the shop windows held musicians, actors depicting traditional Christmas gatherings and such, and dancers. Our 3-year-old stood mesmerized by the ballerinas acting out scenes from The Nutcracker ballet. I'm taking her to a performance by the same company this Friday for a special "date night".

We also spend a lot of time decorating the barn. Last year we had a 17' tall tree that we cut off the land. This year's tree is much smaller, but there will be homemade garlands and such to make up the difference. We're having a drop-in for the "neighbors"--only about 75 people or so, as country folk don't have too many neighbors nearby.

Oh, there's so much more, but obviously, this is one of our favourite times of the year.

The 'children' have chocolate advent calendars. We went into town yesterday and bought one each for my son's housemates with their names written on a little chocolate plaque (all part of Thorntons'  service). We have yet to get a tree. We have a real one in one room and an artificial one in another.

I too hate the commercialism of it all especially the decorations etc. for sale in shops in August. I think we should take the leaf out of the book of some Dutch towns that ban anything to do with Xmas until December 1st.

I am (trying to) make everything as presents this year. Knitting them actually. Hats, scarves, sweaters etc. I am definitely at risk of repetitive strain injury at the moment! Last year I made sloe gin and various jams and chutneys but the fruit and berry harvest has been dreadful this year so I haven't been able to make any. 

First family gathering is next weekend when one sister-in-law comes down from Norfolk (brother-in-law has to work). So have a batch of stuff made ready for them and the great nephews/nieces, nowt for the parents. Then my daughter and I are going to the Christmas horse show at Olympia, London on the 21st. This has become something of a tradition the last few years. The 23rd sees an early Boxing Day meal at mother-in-laws' (father-in-law passed away four years ago just before Xmas) . Christmas Day we are all going to brother-in-laws' & sister-in-laws' (another lot) with their offspring & other family members (except the one who is in Australa at the moment). I will also be visiting my brother, sister and dad before the day.

I love decorating the house and when they were smaller the kids used to go and help choose a tree from a local Xmas Tree Farm just a couple of miles away. My daughter absolutely adores 'The Grinch' Christmas film...so do I.

Since it is so dark and gloomy here at the moment I shall be lighting candles, especially scented ones. I still have to write and send all my Xmas cards (pull your finger out Missus!) My daughter has banned me for having any with Santa dressed in red as she says (correctly) that it is a symbol of a commercial organisation (CocaCola).

Well done Molly for starting this thread.

Last edited by Davina (December 3, 2012 7:36 am)

I don't have too many Christmas traditions now that it's mostly just me. I do see my brother and his kids occasionally, as he alternates holidays with his ex. But, the one tradition I do have and look forward to every year is that I watch 24 hours of A Christmas Story on tv. That's one of my favorite Christmas movies and I just watch it over and over. 

Molly Hooper wrote:

I've just (over)decorated my tree! All I need now is presents to put underneath. But If I start wrapping cardboardboxes as fake presents my parents might get a bit worried!!
I also have an advent calendar (just boring cadbury's). When it get nearer to the BIG day our family generally have a carol singing/playing session with minced pies and mulled wine (but no spaghetti hats )
The ONE (and only) downside of Christmas would probably be the outrageously HUGE number of Christmas concerts I have coming up!!!

You can never over-decorate a tree... although you could be like me and totally lack any artistic flare with tree decorating. I have been banned from decorating the tree in my home ever since last year's case of 'Precise Tinsel Spacing Disorder.' Everyone laughed at me, it was humiliating, then I saw my friend was also laughing at me and then I couldn't stop seeing the funny side.

On a slightly related note: I can't be the only person on this forum who is absolutely bursting at the seams to write the following phrase to you (and genuinely mean it of course):

'Merry Christmas Molly Hooper.'

There.

I said it.

I'm going away now. 

I hope your sweaters are as nice and colourful as John's. 

One time I got banned from decorating our tree (I was like 7) I'd covered it with tinsel and beads and miniature TY Beanies!

PTSD, that's funny! I kind of have the opposite. I chucked so much stuff on this year that the top half nearly toppled over (Yes, fake tree, sorry!!) so I had to counter-weight it with huge metal bells!

Merry Christmas to you, too, Mnemosyne. That's the good thing with having this name; getting random greetings that aren't always directed entirely at me (More to my alias!!)

I so wish that I could get you all Christmas presents. But that would be slightly impossible. I'll think of something - maybe I'll get some stuff and then sacrifice it in my back garden... or maybe not...

Hmmmm dramagod's back too!!   wb  dramagod!!

Molly Hooper wrote:

One time I got banned from decorating our tree (I was like 7) I'd covered it with tinsel and beads and miniature TY Beanies!

That sounds adorable.

Molly Hooper wrote:

PTSD, that's funny! I kind of have the opposite. I chucked so much stuff on this year that the top half nearly toppled over (Yes, fake tree, sorry!!) so I had to counter-weight it with huge metal bells!

Ours is a fake too. You don't want to spend Christmas hoovering up pine needles do you?

Molly Hooper wrote:

Merry Christmas to you, too, Mnemosyne. That's the good thing with having this name; getting random greetings that aren't always directed entirely at me (More to my alias!!)

Thank you very much.
Nothing wrong with an alias. Disguise is always a self portrait.

Molly Hooper wrote:

I so wish that I could get you all Christmas presents. But that would be slightly impossible. I'll think of something - maybe I'll get some stuff and then sacrifice it in my back garden... or maybe not...

I do that... no one even blinks anymore.

And a happy new year!