I wish you all a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah
Buon Natale - fröhliche Weihnachten (I am half itlian, half German after all)
I have to admit that this year, christmas for me is a little difficult and I also have to admit that I am not big at celebrating christmas at all. I just dont easily fall into the holiday spirit - is all.
after my cat died, i am just still so sad. But i I did something good in her honour. I donated to the local shelter (I remembered Marinas words and since I really loved that thought, I made a note to do that) and also donated all the food I had left - so there is that :) I also got some feedback that the cats love the food at it got a 10/10 rating :D so yeah that did bring a little smile to my face.
I would love to hear about all your christmas tradisions - or maybe hanukkah ones? Or how do you all celebrate the holiday season? Any special food? Traditions? Songs? family visits? etc.
My Christmas traditions have changed over the years - I grew up with British/Canadian parents, but for the most part we celebrated in the North Armerican style - turkey dinner with all the trimmings, with dessert being a rice pudding because no one liked plum pudding. The only baking Mom did every year was mince tarts. The tree went up on Dec 21st, and was down on Jan 3rd.
Decades later, my traditions are house lights and decorations are up on the first weekend of Dec, with the house being decorated a bit at a time over the next few weeks. The small fibre optic tree is put on its shelf around the 20th. We switched to a tree that goes on a shelf because of the numerous cats eyeing things up.
We used to put up a small Christmas village as well (the cats used to 'log' the trees and we'd find them all over the place), but in recent years we've just been too busy. I make my mom's mince tarts on Christmas Eve, then wrap presents while watching Christmas movies and sipping mulled wine. Pet stockings go up on the fireplace. Over the years as the pets have passed, each one has been moved to a spot on the entertainment unit. In the evening I attempt to roast chestnuts on open fire (well, it's a fireplace insert, but it's still a fire). I'm seldom overly successful, but that's the challenge. If we're lucky, we'll spot a few deer of the deer who tend to walk through our back yard to the road. I live in a small city, but we still have small forests in the neighbourhood and it's wonderful to see the deer outside, especially on Christmas Eve.
First thing in the morning, or whatever time we're up, gifts are given to the critters. Usually catnip toys for the cats and bones for the dogs, or some other special treat. Human gifts were opened after dinner, which used to be the traditional turkey with all the trimmings. Last year we switched to Butterball's 'turkey in a box' which is a lot less work. A little bit of turkey is set aside as a treat for the critters.
When I wasn't working at a nonprofit, I used to make gifts for all my friends - things like bath salts, milk bath, a wassail mix and chocolate spoons that I decorated with snowmen, Christmas trees and snowflakes. I'd deliver them on Solstice. That was fun, but took a lot of time, which I no longer seem to have.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Well, since you asked about traditions.... The lovely JC had me talk about our Christmas traditions, so if you want to listen it'll be on Sunday 10 am PST which would be 6 pm in London.
Happy Holiday’s Jess! In answer to your question, my family has a few tradition:
- Big Christmas night dinner. This year will be quiet, but in the past we would typically have anywhere from 25-35 people over (family, friends and neighbors). It would get loud and super tight and crowded as I’m sure you could imagine.
- Where ‘normal’ people leave out milk and cookies on Christmas eve night, my family would always leave out a glass of red wine. Miraculously it was always empty the next morning 😂
- We all open one small gift on Christmas eve.
What about yourself? Any special traditions? Also, I’m very sorry this year has been tough for you. The first holidays are always the hardest after losing a loved one. ❤️🩹😢