The holidays!!!! Whether you celebrate CHanuukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus whatever...there is a feeling that comes along with it. I am not sure what it is, but somehow the holiday season brings out the best in people, if only for a while. Granted, there are some people who absolutely HATE the holidays, usually because of some type of familial memory they would rather forget, but for the most part, people usually look forward to the holiday season. Why do you think that is?
Do you? Why? What associations do you make with whatever holiday you celebrate? Are there special traditions that you and your family partake in for the December holiday? What about New Year's? Are there traditions that you would want to continue with your own families someday? What is your favorite part of your holiday? And finally....what do you wish for this season? World peace? The end of of childhood hunger? Homes for everyone?
(use your judgement/50pts)
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People look forward to the holidays as a time of love and rest. A time where the daily routine is broken in a good, expected way, and they can relax. This may or may not be true but people seem to stick with their first impressions of an idea, and for the holidays, that was a time off school, where you were the center of attention and you didn’t have to wake up to catch the bus, or do boring math problems, or sit in a cold classroom at seven twenty when you could still be safe and warm in your bed.
I do look forward to the holidays, not perhaps because I get to be off school, for some of my favorite holiday events are actually in school. I look forward to the holidays because to me the holidays are about showing your appreciation for a person and their value in your life by giving them a gift. I most enjoy giving gifts to my friends, and those that I give are usually carefully thought out. Within my family I look forward to the holidays because it gives me an opportunity to see the family I do not often see, such as my cousins in NYC or my grandfather who lives in Vineland, though these places are not very far, I do not get to see these family members as often as I would like. So the holiday provides a welcome opportunity to get together with family and friends.
I associate the feelings of warmth and of giving with Christmas, which is what I celebrate, this is because often there are warm pancake breakfasts and a plentiful pile of gifts to give and receive. One tradition that I enjoy for Christmas is that of having breakfast with our neighbors, who are good friends of ours, after the presents are opened and we have all gone to church. Our neighbors come over and my dad makes David Eyers Pancakes, which are divine. New Years we do not have very many traditions, unless my parents going to a party is a tradition. But as it is never quite the same party, it can’t really be one… I would definitely like to continue the friend’s breakfast on Christmas morning with my own family when I have one, as it shows that Christmas is not only just about family, but everyone else as well.
My favorite part of the holidays have to be the dinners, we have a complex system to negotiate around feuding family that involves my grandpop on Christmas eve and my grandmother on Christmas, and then off to Nana’s house. So I have many holiday feasts, and I enjoy every last one, except one that is fishy… (I’m not a fish person).
My wish for this season is for every person out there to realize how important they are to at least one life and to be thanked for the differences they make in every life they touch. In short, I want every person to realize his or her own worth.
-- Ali B :)
WOW! first post!!
I am going away, so I hope that I'll be able to comment on someone's post. I do not know what the internet situation will be in Utah...
Happy Holidays!
Have a great break everyone :)
The holidays, filled with food, laughter, food, family, food, lights, and, oh, did I mention food! I definitely think that food, no lie, is one of the major reasons people look forward to the holidays. Food is one of the few universal things that we all have in common, even though it may not all be the exact same dish. We see, as evident by Cervi’s “Ethnic Food Day” that there are so many stories and memories behind a simple dish, like sticky rice, which by the way is delicious, (shout out to Meg S) and corn beard (Jordan…even when it tries to choke you because there’s no WATER!). Each of us can learn so much about one another through a simple exchange of food. During this time of the year, it seems especially evident that food is a staple and has special meanings or uses in every culture. Since we are constantly exchanging, sharing, and eating our own unique traditions through simple, yet tasty dishes, we are constantly bring ourselves close to one another. This universal “coming together”, as I like to call it, seems melt away the icy, stone-cold hearts some us have built up over the year and replace them with warm, caring ones, instead. And why shouldn’t it? I mean, come on, who doesn’t like free food? Or who doesn’t like food in general? I think it is one of the few times we learn to appreciate the differences each of has and learn to accept those difference as a positive instead of using it as a mechanism and opening for allowing apathy into our lives.
I, as if not evident by the last 12-sentence ramble, look forward to the holidays immensely. I enjoy spending time with my family, eating all the amazing food, both at school and at my family holiday gatherings, and relaxing from the hectic life I have come to know over the past three months of school. Ok, so, I have to admit that most of my family annoys me to the point where I want to rip out my hair, strand by strand, but for some miraculous reason, not that I’m complaining, my family seems to be almost…normal. (Is that even possible?) My brother tones down his hyperactivity to about level two (normally a nine, according to my own standards), my sister doesn’t throw a temper-tantrum every five seconds (thank the lord, really thank you God, because when she enters her “pissy” mood, the entire family suffers a fate worse than being run over by a flaming train and being revived only to be killed again by the flaming train; it is really that bad.), and my mom and dad don’t bark orders and actually loosen up, and allow us to be kids and have more fun than work (Of course, that changes immediately after the first day back from break). Overall, it is a much more subdued and pleasant living environment in my house and that is always nice. As for the food, I think it is quite obvious why I look forward to it. But in an effort not to repeat myself; I enjoy learning about everyone’s unique background and food is an amazing way to do it and it just happens to help that ninety-five percent of the time it tastes amazing, as well. I also enjoy the unity that is achieved through food that few other things, events, etc… can boast. Lastly, is the time off from the craziness of school. I enjoy school tremendously, but every now and then I need a good break and the holidays happen to be the perfect time to do so. The already tranquil and serene environment is only bettered by the thought of not having to do integrals or write twelve pages of bio notes on things I really don’t understand. Of course, presents don’t hurt either, but lately, I have learned to appreciate the intangible more than the material because you never know when it could all be taken from you.
Associations: I’m beginning to think that every answer will, in one way or another, encompass food. But besides the obvious answer of nourishment, there are lights, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of lights. I, personally, love lights. The way they make the night seem more inviting and less desolate and the beauty they add is an extra bonus. Family, Snow, Christmas Trees, Midnight Mass (aka church), Caroling, Presents, Santa, and Reindeer are just a few others that come to mind. (Wow! This list is long, can you imagine if I tired to explain every one of them and the significance they have to me? That would go on forever -0_0-).
Special traditions: once again, food is involved, along with a few other events. Every year, except last year when we had no kitchen, my dad makes homemade sugar cookies and we, my brother, sister, and me, decorate them. As, juvenile as it sounds, I enjoy it. My siblings and I don’t fight and everyone seems happy and it brings out the kid in all of us, a real achievement these days. There’s also the annual assembly and decorating of the Christmas Tree. We pull out old ornaments we made in third-grade art class and reflect on just how much each of us has changed and sometimes tell stories of the olden days when we were so innocent and then question “what went wrong?”. There is midnight mass at St. Nicholas Church in Egg Harbor City. Everyone stays up until midnight and heads to church. The church is brilliantly decorated with dark green Christmas Tress adorned with gold lace and beautiful golden glass balls. Each of the eight trees is wrapped in white lights that sparking and reflect off of the glass balls creating a dazzling rainbow effect that illuminate the entire church. I’m become entranced in an array of brilliant green and shimmering white. See why I enjoy going so much? Then there’s also Christmas Eve, when we have dinner with my dad’s side of the family and exchange gifts, talk, and just have an awesome time laughing all night, until church of course. Then Christmas Day we journey to Mays Landing and stop at my grandmother’s restaurant where we partake in a feast of epic proportions with my mom’s side of the family, which, minimally is 18 and can max out at 30 or more! We also exchange gifts here and talk, laugh, and eat (see how it just keeps popping up?). After this busy day, we head home and rest, while opening the rest of the gifts from each other and sitting off the tens pounds of food we have just gobbled down. Then we head to bead and sleep forever and wake up refreshed and ready to eat again, not really :) And that’s our tradition every year, except this year…we will be having dinner with my dad’s on Christmas Post (Friday) because the roads are supposed to be very bad and my grandfather hates to drive when there’s a grey cloud in the sky.
Here we go again. So, on New Year’s we all stay up, and my dad makes the worst possible, but mind you delicious, snack/junk food ever. We sometimes invited over a few family members, play games, and toast to the New Year while watching the ball drop. After that, we all lazily drag our feet off to bed as we prepare to head back to school again.
I probably will continue most of these traditions if I have a family in the future. I enjoy them so much and I feel my family and children would as well, because really, who doesn’t like mounds and mounds of food :) It will also help to remember the awesome time I had with my own family when growing up.
Well, beside all of the amazing cuisine, I enjoy being with my family the most. I don’t spend enough time with them the rest of the year and during this season we seem to all connect on a whole new level and nothing material can replace that feeling. And I don’t want to end up despising my parents and I figure this is the best way to rekindle the dulling flame of our relationship. I can’t really imagine the unbearable pain of not being able to even talk to your parents during this season. I really feel bad for anyone in this situation, which leads me to the last part of my extremely long post.
I have often been warned, “Be care fully of what you wish for…” and since then have, every time I thought I had a good, altruistic wish, I have undoubtedly found the flaw and how it could backfire miserably or be interpreted the wrong way, I hate having this pessimistic bug. (GRRR!) But, for the sake of the season and this blog, I will overlook this evil, little man on my shoulder and voice my wish, which, oddly enough, does NOT include food. My wish would be that old arguments, betrayals, and feuds could be resolved and everyone could be with their family and friends this holiday season. Now, why would I wish for this when there are thousands of people dying from AIDS and starvation everyday? Truth be told, I have no clue, I just think no one should be alone during the holidays, because, to me, that would be a spiritual starvation. Which would hurt more than every diseases and affliction of the body ever could.
Yes! Second Post!
TO Eeveryone:
Happy Holidays and Have a Great New Year. Best of luck in '09!
I am in a particularly awful mood right now, and hence have decided to write this now before the virus that is consuming my laptop decides to eat me again. (Hence my lack of online activity for the last 2 weeks).
I hate Christmas. Every year the months leading up to this ruefully anticipated day twist my stomach, and although it is partially due to familial stupidity, it's also due to personal stupidity.
My family is large, loud, and messy. We generally spend the better part of December trying to get our house looking presentable for the holiday season. Or rather, I do. My mother and father like to pretend they do a crapload of work to pitch in, but all they really do is yell a lot and tell small children what they ought to be, but are not, cleaning. And frequently, their not-doings get me into boatloads of trouble because justice is stupid and doesn't exist. For instance. I spent a better part of my afternoon cleaning the kitchen and making cookies. I am not refering to the joyous kind of cookie making seen in pilsbury commercials or on Holiday bilboards. No, I refer to the machine-like, rushed, frantic cookie making of my house in the holidays. After disscussing with my mother her plans to make cookies after I vacated the area an hour or so ago, I left out the supplies she would need, such as sugar, vanilla, brown sugar, salt, baking soda and FLOUR.
You'll never guess. Twenty minutes ago my dad walked into the kitchen to find Burke and Liam throwing flour at each other.
My Aunt Siobhan arrives tomorrow. The kitchen is coated in a film of white slickness. My eyes are heavy and puffy, the results of little sleep, little food, lots of pmsing and little chocolate, and although my muscles all ache and wince everytime I move, having not yet fully recovered from this past weekend, I now have to finish writing this so I can go- yet again- clean the kitchen. You may be wondering why that falls to me. Surely Liam, who is 10, is old enough to assume such responsibilities as cleaning up after himself? But no. Again, justice is proven fictional, and I will tell you why: I have a social life. If I do not clean the kitchen, my mother will say I cannot go to the Christmas party tomorrow night until it is clean. If Liam does not clean the kitchen, he'll get yelled at, with few other consequences.
So now, even as I repeatedly fall near sleep in this overly comfy chair, the amount of work I have ahead of me is yet daunting. In the words of Natasha Bedingfield, "How am I gonna fix tomorrow when yesterday's still a mess?".
Another thing I hate about christmas is the self-loathing it incurs. I am naturally inclined to try to make everybody happy, and it doesn't work. I am to scatter brained and stupid to keep a handle on what I want for who and how much and where I can find it and etc. So instead I just quietly dispise myself for falling short of my own expectations, leading to potentially insanity-striking situations, like sitting on the floor of the laundry room in tears, rocking back and forth next to the washer as it makes grumbling noises of disapproval, to tell me I ought to be doing homework or cleaning, but being unable to bring myself to stand given the trench of hate and anger and frustration I've driven myself into.
Christmas does nothing but bring out the worst in people. My mother becomes a siren, shrieking whenever she feels the need to communicate and blowing like a hurricane wherever she goes. My sisters become obsessive, selfish children, bent on this toy or that, with no goodwill towards men (or me) to be found. I become a train wreck of lack of sleep and depression, a non-functioning piece of furniture no more useful than those big silver alligator clips that are spring based but have no teeth or bend, so the hair just falls right out of them. I cannot wait for it to be over and I wish it hadn't come in the first place.
In an effort to save this blog from simply being a hate-rant, I will answer the other, less negative parts of the question. My family doesn't really have any positive traditions, except those I hate and have been angrily typing about. New Years I normally spend with friends, and hence it's 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times infinity times better. I don't want how I've spent every Christmas up til now to ever be replicated for any future family I may be a part of. I only like 3 parts of the holiday, the first being bells, like jingle bells, the second being lights and the third being feeding people.
As for what I want for Christmas? Well, I'll be honest, I'd really like to be sedated next Christmas season, and don't much believe in wishing for things. Hence ruling out the generically accepted but also equally generically ignored answer of world peace. I prefer practicality. Which is why I would like socks, and for next Christmas to come and go far more quickly than this one has been dragging by.
"Food is one of the few universal things that we all have in common, even though it may not all be the exact same dish."
MATT W:
That little part reminded me of the disney commericials about food around the world. Not that I watch it a lot...my sister does.
"My brother tones down his hyperactivity to about level two (normally a nine, according to my own standards), my sister doesn’t throw a temper-tantrum every five seconds (thank the lord, really thank you God, because when she enters her “pissy” mood, the entire family suffers a fate worse than being run over by a flaming train and being revived only to be killed again by the flaming train; it is really that bad.), and my mom and dad don’t bark orders and actually loosen up, and allow us to be kids and have more fun than work (Of course, that changes immediately after the first day back from break)."
Oh and I liked this description of your family. It made me laugh a little but I can understand your frustration with younger siblings:/
"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."
Personally, I couldn't agree more. I love Christmas. When I think about it, I never even had a chance to dislike Christmas. I don't know any better. Every year since I can remember it's been a big deal in my house. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, my mom hauls in the holiday decorations and transforms our house into a Christmas wonderland. Sometimes I think she's a little crazy, but then I head over to my mom-mom's house and immediately realize just what crazy is. This woman can decorate. She is ridiculous! I don't even know if there are words to express how beautiful her house is during the holiday season. Let's just put it this way, she puts up at least 5 trees every year. And on top of that over 200 snowmen figurines. One year I counted. Yup, I walked around her house and counted every effing snowman. Oh yeah, she also has a snow machince. She'll set it up on her balcony, and spray the fluffy white "snow" all over the house, without even a care about the mess it will make. To her, it's all about pleasing her family and getting enjoyment out of the holidays.
My mom-mom has always, and will always (as long as she can move), set up a Christmas village. When she lived in the log cabin, she didn't have the room to make it as big as it could be. Instead, she was forced to set up a bunch of little displays instead of one big one. However, now that she's in her new house, she can go to town. Her finished basement, with the warm and cozy woodstove provides the perfect atmosphere. Now, let me tell you what I mean by Christmas village...my mom-mom makes "mountains" out of thick gray paper, that she molds and sprays and puts glitter on. She then mounts them on a platform, to set the scene. Once this is all done, she sets up her houses and churches and stores, adds in the people dressed in their Christmas clothes, the sledders, ice skaters, horses, streetlamps, benches, everything quaint and adorable that you can ever imagine. She sets up a train, which is always a favorite with my little cousins, and there you have it- The perfect Christmas village. I get so jealous that I don't live there. I can literally sit for hours and admire all the beauty captured in her display. In fact, I do :). Every year my cousins and I play a game where we all pick the building we would want to live it, the horse that would be ours, what sledder we are. It's kind of silly and childish, but isn't that what the holidays are about?
So I ranted about my mom-mom. Honestly, I think that it's because when I think about the holidays, she comes to mind. My fondest holiday memories all involve her. So this brings me to the point that the holidays truly ARE special. If you forget about the hustle and bustle and the materialistic gain, you'll be surprised what Christmas can do for you. Inevitably I feel transformed into a young girl again, finding joy in my family, and all the festivities. The true meaning of Christmas, to me, is a time to reconnect with your inner child, and to remember and relive all that is good within the world.
As far as traditions are concerned, my family has many. On Christmas Eve, we all sleep in the same bedroom, usually mine because I have the biggest bed. Without fail, Kate complains that she won't comply unless she gets a spot in the bed, Jason keeps us up way too late because he talks when he's excited, Erin feels the need to tickle me and be a weirdo, and I just can't stop laughing. It's wonderful. Then, we all wake up 2 hours later and attack my parents. The rule is, no waking them up before 7:30, and we aren't allowed to go out and look at the tree and presents until everyone is together. So, we have to wait. Jason is always the first up, he wakes Erin up, then me, and finally Kate, who takes FOREVER. We take a family picture in our pajamas (corny, I know) and then begin unwrapping. We all take turns, it helps things last longer. After this, my parents start making breakfast. A HUGE BREAKFAST :). Oh god, is it delicious. After we eat, it's time for family presents. We each hand ours out one by one. Then we open stockings. Every year, this is our process, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Another Christmas tradition in my family- cookies. Just last night I stayed up until 12:00 making cookies with my mom and sisters. At least 5 varieties are made, usually more. Yummy yummy. When I have a family, I'm pretty sure this is what I want for my children.
So this is my Christmas, special and unique and wonderful. My favorite part is being with my family, my least favorite is coming back to school :(. Oh yeah, and New Year's isn't that special in the Palermo household. We just hang out and eat a lot. My grandmom makes a turkey. So yeahhh.
This holiday season I wish that everyone I love will just be happy.
Take in consideration that I’m wasted from all the sugar, cheese, pasta, flour, and what not I’ve eaten today. Thank you.
I’m guessing that the first question goes to the “the holiday brings out the best in people” comment. Okay. So people throw up rainbows during the winter season because they are relieved from stress at the work place and or school, get to spend time with loved ones, the scrumbibiliumcious food there is to offer, and of course the bundles of surprises wrapped in pretty colors =).
As you all know I am not a pessimistic person. Duh. If I was that smile sure does do a dandy to hide that side of me. Anyways I’m trying to say that I do get antsy over the winter holidays. I absolutely love it. Why you may ask? Because of the reasons listed in the last paragraph. I’m serious. Look at the last paragraph for my answer.
Next question. As a Catholic I celebrate Christmas. The birth of Jesus. Yeaaah. Ummm. It means it’s time to take out the artificial tree from the backyard and bend the branches. =) Great times. Great times. We decorate it in gold ornaments and whatever holiday cards we get from people. I also associate it with food. The rule is eat til you puke. Yup. We have this reef in church and every week until Christmas we light a candle so the reed ends up with three purple candles and one pink candle lit.
I’m a Catholic Hispanic so we do posadas. Posadas are rosaries done for nine days until Christmas Eve. Rosaries are made up of very redundant prayers and songs that replay over and over again. But it’s amusing. I like it. Also my dad’s side of the family are “the drinkers”. They make this alcoholic beverage called Cocito. I can’t say what’s in it but it is Puerto Rican and apparently good. I wouldn’t know though since I don’t drink nor intend to do so in the future.
Moving on. I don’t really do anything traditional during New Years. Like normal people I usually just toast with sparkling cider and give kisses and hugs to each one of my distant family that I just so happen to be with when the clock strikes twelve.
I would like to continue the tradition of posadas, sparkling cider, and affection of the holidays because two of the above are part of my heritage which I intend to uphold.
My favorite part of the holidays has to be being surrounded by all of my loved ones. They make me the smiling person that I am today. Without them I would be lost in this world and I thank God that they are still with me today.
I just wish that everything will be just fine for everyone no matter their circumstance.
Dang people can write. Okay time to comment someone.....
Fiona . Your blog was hilarious. Bravo. I would say cookies for you but your probably sick of them by now =).
I loved these parts
"I hate Christmas."
"As for what I want for Christmas? Well, I'll be honest, I'd really like to be sedated next Christmas season"
If I was alone write now I would have laughed my ass off.
I hope your holidays get better. =)
We’re arguing again, but this time my head is buried in my Indian-styled arms on top of the marble kitchen counter and I am beginning to care less about what he has to say being eleven thirty at night. About thirty seconds have gone by since he last pleaded for me to look up at him. As if lifting my head above the surface of an ocean, I stare straight at him with glazed, bloodshot eyes, but without blinking, without smiling, and without any intent of making conversation. It is right around our son’s second Christmas, and I know exactly what he wants to talk to me about. He wants to know why I refuse to introduce my son to the idea of a Santa Claus, even though he knows full well what my answer is going to be. So, instead of answering right away, I continue to look into his distant blue eyes, making sure that he understands perfectly well that these next few words are the last few words he can expect out of me. “Because I promised him,” as I then dive my head back down into the ocean.
The moment I become acquainted with my first child, I promise to never lie to them, not even once. When I come out of a doctor’s office after just being told that my child has cancer, I will tell my child if they ask. If my child comes home with homework they need help with and I don’t have a clue as to what the answer is, I will not waist time trying to make one up. If they feel as if they are making a mistake and ask for my opinion, I will give them complete honesty. Consequently, I will never attempt to convince my child that the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, the Easter Bunny, witches and ghosts, or Santa Claus are indeed real. Although I do believe in my theory of “truth delayed”, I believe that the amount of honesty shared in a relationship strongly correlates to the overall strength of the relationship. If one finds it difficult to maintain honesty in a relationship, the relationship is bound to either fall apart or be considerably damaged. “Truth delayed” is my belief that a lie can be told at a specific time, only if it is possible that the lie can become a true statement later on. Telling your child that Santa Claus is real is a lie that cannot become the truth later on. Every year, a child around the age of twelve is faced with the unexpected reality that Santa Claus is not real; it’s heartbreaking, but more so extremely hurtful to the child’s relationship with their parents. If I ever have children, the last thing I would want is for them to question who I am as a result of my lack of honesty. Unlike most parents, I want to become their best friend. I’m confident that if I never present them with a lie, they will have no reason to either.
Furthermore, I do not doubt that the holidays bring out the best in people. After all, it is the time when police officers can finally make their quotas, innocent young children have an excuse to be greedy, and churches actually stand the chance of making more money off of new members. Most would give the over-used, rarely-true answer that it brings the family together, the snow brings happiness to people’s hearts, it is a time when families can enjoy a good meal together, and children can reflect upon what they have been given as rewards from their deity. The truth is that people have more green to fill their pockets with, making the division between social classes more defined than ever. Homeless people are left with their cardboard boxes and scraps of food, knowing that they will most likely not survive through the rest of the winter, and parents are driven out of their minds trying to get every gift enlisted upon their children’s Christmas lists hence gaining a few speeding tickets along the way.
Yet, if you ask me what my favorite holiday is, I would say Christmas. Although it is true that I dress up in all black when we go to church for Christmas, I don’t care so much for a few of my relatives, and I usually gain five pounds by the end of the night, I love Christmas. There is nothing more important to me in the world than forming new memories and new experiences. In fact, I believe that to understand why we are here on this planet can be seen through our experiences. I love the fact that a few Christmases ago, the first present I opened up was a pink Hello Kitty TV of which I almost broke the antenna off of. Then there was the time when I was having Christmas Eve at my grandparent’s house, as we always do, and my grandfather got really drunk so he started telling me all of these different things he wanted me to know if he were to ever die. That same night, I realized that I can never attempt to mix just four ounces of coffee with about eight ounces of coffee favoring. There was another time when my mom yelled at me as I was trying to maintain my sarcastic personality in the family as I open each present and said “oh my gosh…gee, this is great” in a very unimpressed mood, or I pretended that it really was the greatest thing in the world, seeming as if my whole life depended upon that one gift. My siblings thought I was being hilarious, so that at least had the effect of making me feel better. There was another Christmas when my older sister was really little and she thought that my grandmother hated her because “I got the better Christmas present”. She ran up to my grandmother’s back bedroom and began crying. Ever since that Christmas, my grandmother has been buying my sister and I these really strange pajamas that usually have lace or some other eccentricity on them to make us feel “grown up”. There’s also the time each Christmas when my cousins, my sisters and brother, and I all laugh at the ridiculous subjects that get brought up as the adults talk to one another in a circle down in the living room. It is always so much fun to watch them through the vent that is basically a hole in the floor of the upstairs covered by a removable gate to let you see the entire circle of adults downstairs. It is so much fun when we play “spies” and tumble all over the dark hallways and then quick put our backs to walls as we speak through walkie-talkies. A few Christmases ago we would even act out plays from poems by Shel Silverstein. They were usually never that great, but it was really exciting as a kid to dress up in all of the different costumes.
There are many traditions that my family usually follows through with each Christmas. First, on December sixth, my German family celebrates St. Nikolaus Day by setting a pair of our shoes by the staircase. Then, in the morning we walk together to see what kinds of presents St. Nikolaus left for us, most of which is chocolates. Nevertheless, my family failed to do this as of this year. Also, a few weeks before Christmas, my family makes Christmas cookies after we take a drive through a few neighborhoods to see all of the different houses with lights on them. We didn’t do that this year either. We even make chains out of construction paper for each one of our rooms to count down the days before Christmas. This year, we didn’t make the chains though or look at a few houses decorated with lights. Usually, we watch at least one Christmas movie together, but we haven’t so far. We also put ornaments on our artificial tree which is unfortunately falling apart this year as it is losing more and more of its leaves. This year, it took us about ten minutes to put all of the ornaments on our eight-foot tree, but my older sister was at college while we did this, and I had to do biology homework right after we finished. Then, on Christmas Eve, we go to church, which serves as the gates to hell for me. I would love to state that none of this is true; that in fact we did follow through with all of our traditions to put some happiness to my writing, but then of course I would be lying. Hopefully this Christmas though, I can make some more memories and meet new experiences to make up for these temporarily-lost traditions.
In the future, I cannot wait for the day when I have my own apartment and I stay up all night one of the Fridays before Christmas to decorate the entire area of the room. I can see it already with one of the walls covered entirely with rainbow Christmas lights, Christmas cookies in the oven, and the 1960s version of ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ on my pink Hello Kitty TV. Actually, I have that movie already, along with ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town’. If I have kids, I will certainly continue celebrating St. Nikolaus Day, decorating the Christmas tree, making cookies, and visiting neighborhoods with lots of decorated houses, but at different locations. Each year, we will go to a new place to celebrate Christmas. One year we can go to Germany, then Denver, then Italy, then some place in California or Michigan, and perhaps even Iceland or the Scandinavian Peninsula. I want to make sure that they get the most experience out of this world as possible. Even if we get stuck in an airport one year, it will be a Christmas to remember playing with the escalator, riding the conveyor belt, watching a few planes take off, skipping down a few glass-enclosed hallways, and running through the empty terminals. My favorite part of the holidays is just making these different memories to keep and recall over one’s lifetime, and especially making even the worst Christmases imaginable become one of the best.
How can I say it? Where do I possibly begin to describe the unimaginable exhilaration of New Year’s Eve? Well, for the past two years, my family has been going to First Night in Ocean City which is basically a night when the city has many different activities going on each hour of the night, ranging from magic shows to karaoke to comedies. Then, afterward, when it is twelve o’clock, there are fireworks that travel out over the ocean. Afterwards, my sisters and brother and a few of our friends watch movies together. For me, it is not the actual activities that is the best part; it is the whole idea of traveling around one of my favorite places at night without the thought of school invading my mind. Bringing a friend along the way makes it all the better and safer I must admit with all of the mysterious tourists walking around. This year, I’m pretty sure my family is not doing First Night. After all, it is a tradition, and this year does seem to be the year of anti-traditions. Nevertheless, my parents are letting my sisters, brother, and I walk around the city, see the fireworks, watch movies, and let friends sleep over. I really could not ask for anything more, and I probably will pass on this tradition with my own family.
This season, I have one wish for myself which seems almost unattainable, but it is something that I would love to accomplish if not this year, then at least at some point in my life. The number one thing on my goals list is achieving happiness. Additionally, one of the things that that would really make me happy this year would be if I was able to gain enough confidence to be myself in school. I’m sure many people have this wish, but this is something that I have tried to accomplish every year and have yet to be successful. While trying to gain this confidence, I hope to experience as much as possible along the way. Hopefully, this year will end off with plenty of memories and next year will begin something completely different to look back on. I’ll just have to remember what Hillel said: “if not now, when?”
In response to Alison C:
“I look forward to the holidays because to me the holidays are about showing your appreciation for a person and their value in your life by giving them a gift. I most enjoy giving gifts to my friends, and those that I give are usually carefully thought out.”
“My wish for this season is for every person out there to realize how important they are to at least one life and to be thanked for the differences they make in every life they touch.”
Alison, I want you to know that when I got your card today, it really meant a lot to me. Of course, being the shy, quiet person that I am, I smiled a lot and said “oh my gosh, thank-you Alison”. Yet, really Alison, I’m not sure how to explain how much brighter your card made my day. I’ve always wanted a friend that I could count on and that I know would be there for me, and for me, you’re that person. As a matter of fact, I like to consider you my “travel buddy” as well as my closest friend. There is no one on this earth who I would love to travel with more than you. Unlike myself, you can actually read a map, your not afraid to ask for directions, you seem to understand exactly how a city works before you’ve even seen it, and you always seem so carefree. I, on the other hand, cannot read directions for the life of me, I hesitate to talk to strangers (even at this age), and I am always worrying about something. There is nothing in the world that I love more than traveling, but traveling with you makes it all the better. Also, I love the fact that you know how much I love “little girl” movies, so that part really cheered me up.
Also, in gym, you know when you hid the basket ball beneath your shirt just to be funny? (Don’t worry, know one is really going to read this part of the blog anyway, besides Ms. Bunje…if you care…which probably you don’t...I don’t know…anyway) Well, the reason why I was laughing so much was because it made me think of how great a mom you are going to be some day, I was just too embarrassed and not sure of how to say this to you. I can see you having pancake breakfasts on Christmas morning with all of your little kiddies already. You are going to be an amazing mom Alison, trust me. Also, I’ve been wondering what I would want to be called when/if I become a grandmother. When you said that you call your grandmother Nana, it got my attention, and I think that’s the name I might use too. I don’t know why I have never heard of that before, or maybe I have, I just haven’t seen it in writing. Lastly, I would just like to thank you again for your card and to let you know that you did make someone feel important at least to someone’s life. Thanks Ally!! B.T.W. would you want to go to Ocean City with me for New Year’s? I’ll text you later. I just figured that I should mention it since you might read this response anyway. Alright, well, Merry Christmas Ally and I hope you are having fun in Utah!!
Car
I think i actually know what you're talking about...my sister watches hours upon hours of Disney channel. It bugs me to death.
Fiona
Sorry to hear that the holiday season brings so much pain and suffering :( I do, however, know how you feel when it comes to cleaning. Everyday until christmas, I get slapped with a cinderella list of chores to do:clean the bathroom, mop the floors, vacuum the rugs, wash the dishes, make the food...it goes on and on, everyday from December 15 to the 26. I have know life during that time. Sometimes I can escape the duties but most of the time I can not. So, I m completely sympathetic there. I also know how depressing it can be trying to cheer everyone up, I used to and still do attempt to complete such a hard feet.
On a side note: Your blog was amazingly written and I couldn't stop reading. I look forward to your every week because I know you always seem to have a unique perspective and I enjoy reading about it. So, please, keep up the awesome work :)
I wholeheartedly believe that the feeling you get during the holidays comes from your past experiences with it. Those who grew up having nothing, getting nothing, giving nothing, probably will end up hating the holiday season. Seeing people so happy all the time and talking about all the gifts they'll get and how much money they're spending on others, that whole type of atmosphere makes those less-fortunate ones feel like shit. But those who grew up in a very family-oriented setting with lots of gifts and gatherings and "love", those people will end up continuously enjoying the holidays.
Now me, I don't enjoy Christmas, or the holiday season in general, but I also don't completely despise it. As a little kid, I had a nice Christmas. I remember TONS of presents from Santa, video-taping us opening our gifts, and spending a lot of time with our relatives. But as I got older, the gifts obviously lessened, the video-taping thing stopped, and I only see the relatives that happen to stop by my mom-mom's house at the same time I do. I haven't thought Christmas was anything special since 6th grade. For the past few years, all Christmas has seemed to me is a few weeks of blowing hundreds of dollars on gifts for people that you probably don't even care much about, and if you do, they probably won't like any way. The whole, "It's the thought that counts" saying really lessens in meaning during this time. I don't do well with family gatherings (thankfully we don't have any, anyway), and I hate all the food that's involved because Thanksgiving JUST happened and after this is a few months of being stuck inside. But what I hate most of all is the act of buying presents. "Shopping" and "Jen" do not mix well. I get sick in the mall if I'm there for any longer than 30 minutes (it's the smell or something). So I can only handle department stores, really. I hate being around so many people and I hate waiting in lines. And when I do happen to be shopping, I HAVE to shop for a LONG time. When people tell me to be "in and out", to me, that's like taking a shower, it means an hour. But on top of everything else, I hate spending money. Hate hate hate hate hate. I barely like spending money on myself. I hate buying clothes, food, accessories, movie tickets, anything. So, why would I ever feel good about spending money on other people? I just don't. I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing that I had to spend money for others to appreciate my gift. Don't get me wrong, this isn't always the situation, but for the most part, yes, yes it is.
Throughout the years, our family traditions just faded away. Like I said, we used to video-tape opening the presents and we'd all go to my mom-mom's house. But we also used to wake up at 4 in the morning to open the presents because we just couldn't wait. Besides that, there weren't many other traditions, and none of them have actually continued. And I don't think I've ever spent my New Year's with my whole family. I used to sort of drift from relatives' houses to friends' houses over the years. But I don't think any of my traditions were unique or meaningful enough to carry on with my own family.
I don't give a crap about Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Valentine's Day, or any other holiday during the winter season. All I care about is winter in general. My favorite part of the holiday season is the season. I love love love the cold. I love the freezing cold. I love being freezing cold and then being able to get all warm and cozy. I love being freezing cold in the snow making snowmen, sledding, on the quad, snowboarding, having snowball fights, ice skating, making snow forts, playing with my doggies, climbing trees, jumping off of houses, everything. All of my best memories come from the winter season, yet none of them come from the actual holidays during the season. I love the smell of the cold and the first real snowfall. I love laying out on my roof at night snuggled up in blankets and watching the shooting stars with my best friend until the cold is unbearable any longer. I love knowing that the very next season to come is softball season. So, what else would I wish for this season besides snow. I don't want a couple inches, either. I want a real snow fall, like back in 5th grade =D. I want to have to shovel my way to the dog pens and make a sled-course off my deck. I want enough snow that school's closed for another week and there's no way for me to get anywhere besides hiking 7 miles to reach my closest friend. I'm not only wishing for snow for my own personal gain, although that just makes snowboarding season THAT much better, but I love the memories I've had with snow and it actually does create less tension within my family because we all love the snow. Besides the numerous car accidents, of course. And my doggies love the snow, as well, so we all benefit.
Oh, the holidays. I personally love this time of the year. I love driving down the streets and seeing all of the houses beautifully decorated with lights, the Christmas trees peaking through the windows. I love all the desserts (I am a huge dessert fan), the cupcakes, cookies, candy, all of which I love. I love getting together with my family, talking about random topics for hours on end. (At this year’s get together, we talked about ‘Mary Jane.’) I do think that people become happier during the holidays. I don’t know why, but people just seem to smile more, say thank you more, and just seem a little merrier. This is the time of year where people put aside their material life just for a second and give a little something to those less fortunate.
I definitely get happier during the holiday season. Even though I obviously don’t celebrate Christmas, but I love everything about it. I love the hustle and bustle of finding gifts at the last minute, I love the decorations, and I love the cold weather. I LOVE the cold weather. Winter is definitely my favorite season. The scarves and gloves, sweaters and jackets, I always look forward to getting bundled up. I love the hot chocolate, the warm cookies, and the burning hot soup. During this time of the year, I tend to love everything!
I am Jewish, so my family celebrates CHanukkah. Every year we go to my uncles house in Pennsylvania, and all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, are there, playing football in the yard, watching football games on television, and hiding presents for the little kids to find. We eat tons of food and at the end of the night, we light the candles, reciting the blessing. When I was younger, on every night of CHanukkah, my mom would hide our presents, and all my sisters and brother and I would have to find them using the ‘hot and cold’ method. As we have gotten older, I just got annoyed when I couldn’t find my presents, so that tradition stopped. Every Christmas, along with every other Jewish family in south Jersey, my family goes out to a movie, and has dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
In our house, New Year’s isn’t that big of an event. I am usually out, most likely at a friend’s house. My siblings are out as well, and so my mom and dad spend it alone, falling asleep before twelve has rung. I do hope to pass these traditions on to my family. When I get older I want my brothers and sisters and I to get together and spend one night laughing about when we were younger like my mom does with her siblings now. I want to go out to the movies with my family on Christmas and be the only family in the Chinese restaurant that night. I want my kids to be proud of the Jewish background, and never wish they could celebrate Christmas.
My favorite part of the holiday is definitely spending time with my family. We have so much fun together; I would never trade that for anything. Although we may fight at times, at the end of the day, we share laughs and have the best of times. For this year I wish that everyone is happy. Although it may be cliché, it hurts to see people depressed or angry. I just want everyone to accept what God has given to them, and be happy where they are in life.
Right now, my brother and I are going to the mall. Not to get anything, but just to see how many millions of people have waited until the last minute to get gifts!
Happy Holidays!
Devon!
I loved your comment. I could see your family cuddling up in your bed. And when you mentioned how Jason talks a lot when he is excited, I honestly started cracking up. I remember you describing what your family has for breakfast on Christmas to me, and when you mentioned it in your blog. I remembered the egg, sausage things that you have! I loved your blog!
And P.S. every time I spelled ‘Hanukkah’ in my blog, I spelled it “CHanukkah” just for you!
Holidays usually bring out the best in people. It's a time for giving, rejoicing, and appreciating. Most people may look forward to the giving part and receiving of gifts. Is that really awful, since we are a capitalist country? Food is huge, too! There are cookies, brownies, pepperoni bread, and a huge Christmas dinner by the end of Christmas. For many people, it is also a very stressful time. I once heard how this time of the year, the most suicides are committed. Especially now, the country's financial situation is horrible as everyone knows. There's a lot to be aware of spending wise. As a child, I loved Christmas. Every child does. However, this season isn't all that special. I work Christmas Eve, which is the first time ever. I'm missing out on family tradition where we eat a huge dinner and pass out gifts on Christmas Eve. You have to do what you're obligated to do. The holidays also creep up quickly. While working at the mall, I watched all the people and the customers we have bring in bags of goodies for their loved ones. Some customers were extremely happy, full of joy. Others were not so much. They seem very stressed out and had a lot on their mind. I guess it all depends on what you take out of the holiday.. your outlook. This is the first year where I don't know what I'm getting because I didn't really ask for anything. I've been realizing, since my manager pointed it out to me, I'm extremely materialistic. I love having nice things, but I don't think i over exagerate what I have. Most of the things I do have, I paid for. So for this holiday, I didn't ask for anything in particular. I didn't even snoop around the house to see what I did get. I'm just really looking forward to that bonding moment. For a change, I didn't worry about what my parents got me. I worried about what I got for my parents. I spent a couple hundred dollars on them, and I feel really good about that. It really is better to give than receive. Past holidays, I would buy them little trinkets and make homemade cards. This season was the season to go all out. New Year's has never held any type of tradition. I'm either at friends, at sisters house, or with family. It alters. However, I always make a resolution. I use to always say "revolution". This year is going to be something like "not eating Johnny Rocket's food anymore!".. since I'm there all the time I tend to eat there. As weird as it may sound, I always think about what will happen when I have my own family. I really can't wait to have stability in all areas of my life from my career to having a stable marriage and reproducing a child. I’d love to be able to give my kids happiness, make cookies and pepperoni with them, give them a gift on Christmas Eve, and just have a family fun day in the future. My favorite part of the holiday is the relaxation after which it’s finished. I love spending the day at home on Christmas and just staying in your pajamas all day playing with all the new gadgets. This season I just wish that everyone could find happiness in the smallest places.
Jen:
"Shopping" and "Jen" do not mix well. I get sick in the mall if I'm there for any longer than 30 minutes (it's the smell or something). So I can only handle department stores, really. I hate being around so many people and I hate waiting in lines. And when I do happen to be shopping, I HAVE to shop for a LONG time."
I agree. I hate the mall. I always find myself there.. but I hate it. I hate all the people, too. Especially, all the rude ones. Like yesterday I was in borders.. waiting for my hot white chocolate mocha.. and this guy is talking to the woman in front of me flirting when HELLLO MISTER I WANT MY COFFEE because I was crabby and emotionally distraught from the movie "Seven Pounds" Best movie ever.. everyone should go see it. I cried a never ending cry for about ten minutes. So anyway.. I hate lines too and it's always nice to talk to customers.. but of course everyone should be aware especially during the Christmas Season.. people are usually in a hurry and impatient. Anyway.. I loved your blog and I think you had a lot of good points especially in your introduction.
I arrived home late on Saturday night to find the Christmas music blaring, my parents singing along, sipping eggnog, and the Christmas tree being coated with lights and decorations. I couldn’t help but be enveloped by Christmas spirit as I lent a helping hand in decorating and another voice to sing along. The holidays for some reason come along hand-in-hand with the connotation of good cheer and happiness. Some of us aren’t as lucky as the next, so I feel the holidays are a time when I can really start to appreciate the people and the things I have. I’ve always been raised to enjoy the holidays, no matter how stressed my mother gets, or how boring the family parties can be. All of that is overshadowed by the happiness Christmas brings along. No matter how many things go wrong during the holidays, I’m still always filled with cheer. I’ve been taught that the holidays are a time of pure delight by my family and my teachers. No school, no worries, no bickering; Just pure bliss. Unfortunately though, there are some people that just despise the holidays. I have sympathy for them, though, because they must have a viable reason to hate such a glorious time of year. A friend of mine just lost her mother, so no doubt the holidays for her family will bring along a bit of sadness. But Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate is about giving in my opinion. So my family, friends, and I have been doing everything possible to make her and her family have a great holiday. We’ve decorated her house, garnished the Christmas tree, and raised money to buy them all presents. It not only helps them achieve a better Christmas, but it gives those helping warmth in their heart that is incomparable to anything else.
As for traditions in my household, there really aren’t many. When I have children of my own, however, I would like to form my own traditions to make my children more family-oriented than my own family is now. On Christmas Eve morning afternoon, my mother is generally in gotta-finish-wrapping mode. When something goes amiss, she flips, blaming anyone in her vision of misplacing whatever she lost, like the scissors, or tape. She’s usually out looking for last minute presents, too. My older brother and my father are generally both working at the time, so my little brother and I are the ones who witness our mother’s fury. I lend a hand in wrapping to ease some of her stress. I even enjoy wrapping too so it’s a plus for me. That night, we haul over to grandma’s house in Hammonton for dinner and eat till we burst. We all gather around the gifts after we eat and tear the wrapping paper off. At around ten, we thank everyone for the presents with warm hugs and kisses, and head home for peace of quiet. When we arrive home, we get to open one small present that’s already awaiting our arrival under the tree. In the morning, we have to wait until my parent’s get up to start opening presents. We all eagerly wait by the tree. After our parents finally awake, we tear our presents apart with excitement. We begin to play with our new toys, try on our new clothes, and play with our new iPod, or cell phone. When all of the madness is complete, we clean up our trash and the excitement dies down. We usually go our separate ways from there. I go to a friend’s, my older brother disappears somewhere, my parents stay and enjoy the peace at home, and my little brother plays with his new toys.
My favorite part of the holidays is the sense of happiness that goes around, and that’s exactly what I wish for everyone this holiday season. I wish for everyone to be happy. Happy for what they are blessed with, who they have, and where they are in life.
Holidays are normal days in this family. The only change we made in the routine is putting up a tree with shiny lights. That's about it. There is no real feeling other than maybe seeing people you care about smile. Ah... holiday hugs are always the best! Hugs everyday are the best really. Ahem, anyways...
People usually look forward to the holiday season because it's a break from the constant struggle of dealing with life and its problems. I myself look forward to the holiday season because it's a break where I can just relax and have fun with no real deadlines. I can hang out with people I don't usually see and spend time with my family. Since we don't really celebrate Christmas, Hanuukah, Kwanzaa or Festivus, I don't really have anything I can associate with so I'll just make up my own holiday! I call it "the Winter Solstice of Beginnings and Endings!" Alright, that's long, but hey, it works! We don't have too many special traditions and the putting up the tree started last year so I don't think that really counts. There is only one real tradition I suppose that we do on New Year's Eve. We always watch TV and wait for the ball in NYC to fall. It's really nice, just sitting with eachother and enjoying eachother's company. I hope to continue this with my own family one day.
My favorite part of the holidays is just hanging out with my peeps and family. I don't think anything could ever beat that. It's just nice to be surrounded by people who love and care about you.
And my wish?
I hope my friends will have a wonderful holiday break. It's nothing too big because I know that not everything I want can come true. So, with what I have, I can at least accomplish this wish, right?
P-mo,
Your Christmas sounds like so much fun. :) I would love to have a relative who decorated their house as much as your grandmother does! And I think it's cute how you guys all sleep together Christmas Eve :). I liked your blog a lot! :D
I am in love with Christmas, no doubt about it.
I know for a fact it brings out the best in people because it is a huge deal around my house. I get so excited and happy during the Christmas season that I can hardly control myself. I’m like an excited little puppy rattling its cage until someone lets me out. Everything about the holidays makes me go insane with glee, and all I want is to be with my family and friends. I know being around everyone I love makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I think that the laughter and the bonding that I do with my family is the real reason I love the holidays. From putting up the tree together and wrapping presents together each event is a family thing. It almost forces me to really see my family in the best light possible and spend time rather than being an isolationist is my room on my computer. My Christmas memories are happy and excite me because every Christmas the same happy and wonderful things happen. It’s a loving time of year, and everything always seems to fall into place, I can’t help but love this time of year.
I think it solely depends on how you’ve faired in the past on how you will take in the future to the holiday. I cannot help but wish that everyone has at least one or two wonderful memories of the holiday season. I think that how you feel about things like the holidays and life in general is completely based on where you’ve been and where you want to be.
Christmas is the most amazing thing ever. I am pretty sure that I haven’t had a lot of white Christmases but I have transferred my white birthdays ( my birthday is march 7th and I have seen snow on many occasions) into white Christmases. I think a warm fire and my grandmother opening her stocking that she never expects she is going to get. Waking up my mother with her scowling at me because it’s only like 8 in the morning and I’ve been up since four. The butterflies in my stomach that enable me to sleep and that make me bounce up and down until she finally caves and lets us all go down to open presents. I have never really grown up with it comes to Christmas and quite frankly I wouldn’t change that for the world. It’s so important to me that I never lose that feeling of loving Christmas, it is so much a part of me that all year long I think about it because of the many memories that I hold so dear to me. Every year pretty much has the same flow, but I love it.
First I have two Christmas Eves. The day starts off by being secretly kidnapped by my father to wrap presents for my mom at his office. She knows we do it every year and it’s something I’ve learned to really look forward to. We blast the radio on random Christmas Stations and my dad sings at the top of his lungs and then I join him. Then, I go home to twiddle my thumbs and wait to get ready. Our first Christmas Eve event is walking over our neighbors to have a huge Christmas feast. He makes these amazing cold string beans and I usually eat so much of them. After that we open presents because its Nikolai’s birthday the next day and Christmas too so it’s only natural that we want to open some gifts. They used to do their Christmas that nights too, like full on Christmas because his mom used to work in the casinos the next day. Then, we flee off to my Aunt’s for the desert portion of her meal. It is really important for us to be with both families, and my neighbors are like my second family. They honestly mean the world me and so do my blood family so it’s really great to spend time with both families. Also, ever since my grandfather passed away my grandmother spends the night so she can wake up with a house full of people. That was totally my idea.
Now for Christmas Day. I wake up extremely early and start to pace around my room. I try going back to sleep but the excitement can’t be tamed. It’s a loin that’s hungry and I don’t try to kill the lion, it would just be too hard. So after pacing from anywhere from two to three hours I finally crack and run and jump on my parents bed. My dad is usually awake and stirring while my mom is still as a log in bed. So I have to jump on the bed a million times to make her wake up, because she won’t wake up willingly, doesn’t she know it’s Christmas time. Then I run down stairs and wait for everyone to catch up. After everyone catches up its time to open presents. I would rather see everyone open up their stuff than just me opening presents. I just love the whole Christmas feeling. Then we have breakfast at my house with everyone. It goes by really quick and it’s not really an important aspect of my family time. So we chill at home with no one and my mom always says it’s one of her favorite parts because she loves the quiet after hustling and bustling all month long. So eventually we’re back to showering and getting ready. It’s time for the big family night at my grandmothers. We eat a huge feast and talk all night. It’s one of the reasons I love Christmas so much. I honestly always want to keep these traditions going.
New Years is never anything special in my house besides banging some pots and pans to be honest.
My wish for the season is that everyone homes for everyone, because I think it’s most important for everyone to have somewhere to call their own.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Dev-
Personally, I couldn't agree more. I love Christmas. When I think about it, I never even had a chance to dislike Christmas. I don't know any better. Every year since I can remember it's been a big deal in my house. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, my mom hauls in the holiday decorations and transforms our house into a Christmas wonderland. Sometimes I think she's a little crazy, but then I head over to my mom-mom's house and immediately realize just what crazy is.
I totally get what you mean here, I wouldn’t know how to hate Christmas if I tried. It’s always been so happy and cheery after Thanksgiving that life just becomes amazing and happy. I have never had the chance to hate Christmas, and probably never will.
I absolutely LOVE the holidays! I love how they seem to bring everyone together and bring out the most merry, good feelings. There is overall warmth to people’s hearts even in the midst of this frigid wintry weather. Generosity is abundant all over the world because part of this festive season is the joy of giving to others who need help. Even in this economic recession, people are still donating money, food, and toys to help those less fortunate. That really shows something about the human character around this time of year. The good spirits of the holidays just seem to bring out the best in all of us. It is a wonderful thing to see how holidays can even bring the most diverse people together in such a time of joy.
Since my family is Catholic, I was raised on the idea of Christmas and celebrating the day Jesus was born. Every year we have the same traditions. Our Christmas tree goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving, as well as the lights on our house. We decorate it at night listening to the jovial melodies of Christmas music and drink egg nog. My mom is very festive around this year and our whole house looks like Christmas threw up on it! There are wreaths, snowmen statues, and little Santa figurines all over the interior of my house. Then the month of December flies by, while each day my sister and I take turns opening our advent calendars up until Christmas Eve (which is today ) !!! Then Christmas Eve, my sister and I spend the day straightening up the house for when my grandparents and aunt come over for dinner. At night we go to church, which always seems to last hours. I feel like a little child when we are attending the mass. I am antsy and always get yelled at by my mom for talking to my dad, because my dad and I are same way. Church is torturous on Christmas Eve, which then provokes my mom’s glowering looks and lecture on how without God there would be no Christmas. We all head back to my house and eat hot roast beef sandwiches and the cookies my mom had whipped up today. The rest of the night consists of watching any Christmas movie on television, and ever since I can remember my mom reads the book T’was the Night Before Christmas to my sister and me. We are then forced to go to sleep which has steadily gotten easier from when I was younger, I think because all I want to do lately is sleep!
Christmas morning, ahh, the little kid excitement that bubbles up in me when I wake up and realize there is presents sitting under our Christmas tree! My sister and I always run into my parents’ room around 7:30 and wait for them to get the friggn video camera ready as we all go downstairs in a collective group, though I always make sure my sister is the last down. We all sit there in admiration of the presents, taking it all in. These past few years I have taken my time opening because if you rush it then they will all soon be too quickly gone. It usually takes an hour and a half to open everything, maybe longer because my sister is dramatic with everything she opens. She takes five hours to do gasps and “Oooos!” and whatever else she does while the camera is rolling. She is such an actress! After we throw away the wrapping paper and whatever else, we all get ready to go to my grandparents’ house. The arrival time is anywhere from 10 to 1030, which is where my family meets up with my aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparents. We all eat bagels and the adults prolong the opening of more presents which fill the living room, it is no exaggeration! There are piles of presents that make it difficult for us to all find room to sit comfortably. Opening at this house usually takes 2 and a half hour sometimes more. After that is complete, the rest of the family and friends of the family come over and enjoy a dinner of ham with homemade macaroni and cheese and various veggies. My favorite part of these festivities is waking up Christmas morning, there is just nothing equivalent to that level of excitement.
New Years, the past few years have been with friends. I used to go to my aunts house but lately I have been going to parties with friends and things like that. I would like to have my children follow the same traditions on Christmas and how I used to have for New Years. I think that it just brings the family together and is just such a beautiful thing to reflect on as I am growing up. I love traditions because it is something that stays the same even as the years are changing. It is something that is stable and I know I will always be able to have. I want my future family to feel that way too and to be able to have those wonderful memories like I have had growing up.
My life is right where I want it to be right now, and I am so grateful for everything I have. Even in this holiday bliss, I am constantly reminded of those less fortunate though. It is broadcasted throughout the world of how during this time especially people need to be helped. If I could have one wish for this season, I would want everyone to be able to be somewhere safe and warm for the holidays. I would want them to have a roof over their heads and a bed to sleep in, also I would want them to have warm, delicious food to eat and presents. I don’t think it is fair for anyone to be left out in the cold this holiday and I have been donating canned foods and money to try and help those who need it more than me.
Hayley-
“My favorite part of the holidays is the sense of happiness that goes around, and that’s exactly what I wish for everyone this holiday season. I wish for everyone to be happy. Happy for what they are blessed with, who they have, and where they are in life.”
That is so true and exactly what everyone should be able to have. You said it so perfectly. The holidays are a time of reflection on life and a time to be at peace with where someone is in life. Everyone should have a chance at happiness this time of the year, because it is what helps create the wonderful cheerful mood that seems to envelop people of all ages. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, whatever the holiday celebrated may be gives them a chance to be happy and grateful for that they have this time of the year.
Linds- I love your Christmas spirit and how not even Billy could bring you down :)
Holiday. Just the word brings a smile to my face. Then, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling in my body, the kind you get after drinking sizzling, hot chocolate, and think: happiness. Happiness, because it’s the season of giving and love. Now, tell me, how you can HATE a time to love? Impossible.
I love holidays. Sooo much. I love everything that makes it the holiday season. Crazy shoppers, rushing to get the perfect presents for their family, hot chocolate, candy canes, all the happy faces, and the love that’s flowing from everyone. The most important part to me would have to be the giving. People are just so generous and their loving side comes out during the holiday season. The thing I look forward to during the holiday season is seeing those jolly Salvation Army folks standing outside stores to help to give. That’s always makes a smile come to my face. How can you resist giving them money? You can’t. (YOU BETTER NOT.) This might sound silly, but it’s not. This ability to give is what everyone was born with, even if it shines more in others. It’s still there.
Well, I celebrate Christmas. So, my family has its own traditions. On Thanksgiving Day, we put up the Christmas tree in our living room. My sister, brother, niece, and me decorate the tree, room, and house. Sometimes we decorate outside, when people aren’t lazy to decorate it. We make cookies from scratch which is always fun AND yummy. Then, on Christmas Eve, we wrap presents, and sleep downstairs (sometimes) to wait for Christmas to come. We wear our little holiday pj’s to sleep, and then wake up, eat some yummy food, and open our presents. My sister and I have always dressed up for Christ Day, even if no one comes, it’s just…..tradition. Now to the presents. We don’t just start digging into them. We do it very orderly. Hahahaha. Well, we do it oldest to youngest, which stinks for me. So my dad opens a present, then my mother, then my brother followed my sister then me. The addition has been Kimora, my niece, who is noe the youngest. Score. =] After, everyone just stays in the living room for a little longer and looks at their presents. Then, they bring up all their presents to their designated rooms, and then what do they do? Look at the presents again of course. In more detail I suppose. However, there is only so much you can examine on socks…
New Year’s Eve is the same every year. We all sit around the living room or kitchen, and watch the celebration in New York. Then, we all count down, and then scream, “Happy New Year!!!” Well, they don’t technically scream…only I do…heh. Then we all do the a “cheers”, and drink sparkling cider in pretty glass cups which we use only for New Year’s. I like it; it’s exciting.
I want to keep all these traditions alive. I am a crazy person when it comes to tradition. If my parents or anyone even hints at breaking a tradition, I seriously just go off on them. I give them a huge lecture on tradition, and how we have to keep doing it. Like this year, we did a lot of last minute shopping, like 1 hour ago we were still shopping, and my mom was like, “I don’t think we need to wrap these presents, we can just let everyone have their own big bag, and they can just pull things out of it one by one. You waste too much paper.” … … …my response:
REALLY?! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GOING TO USE THE PAPER FOR ANYHOW?!?!! EASTER???? HOW CAN WE HAVE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT WRAPPED PRESENTS?!? THAT IS NOT CHRISTMAS. NO. I WON’T ALLOW IT, YOU BUFFOON. NO! NO! NO!
Well, that was my response in my head. My response to her was a cit more subtle because I didn’t want to get whacked with bamboo thank you very much.
My fav part of the holidays – wait, I already told you. The giving. So, next question. Of course I wish for all of those things you listed. Everyone does. Well, mostly. But I think I’ll be more specific with my answer. I wish to be able to have a life outside school. I wish so much for this. Next year, I want to have fun. I can’t spend my senior year, locked up, studying. No way. I cannot. My other wish is for hot dogs. =] Much easier attainable and oh-so delicious! I actually had a dream about hot dogs last night, they were all – never mind; it’s a long story. I’ll tell you another day. Just saying, dream hot dogs are just as amazing as real ones…mmm. =]
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! =]
One of my favorite Christmas songs:
Where are you Christmas
Why cant I find you
Why have you gone away?
My world is changing,
I'm rearranging,
does that mean christmas changes too?
Where are you christmas?
Do you remember
The girl you used you know?
you and I were so carefree,
now nothing's easy,
Did Christmas change?
Or just me?
-Cindy Who
Most people, not including myself, look forward to the holiday season with more happiness and joy than any other time of year. College students come home for the holidays, families fly out to see each other, and everyone feasts the night away (which is sometimes even better than the gifts). It’s somewhat indescribable because it is different for everyone. But with the holidays come relaxation, giving and pleasure —for some I must say. It really depends on how you have experienced this time of year before.
I wouldn’t say I hate it, but I really don’t like Christmas, or the holiday season all together. However, I didn’t always feel this way. When I was little, I had the best Christmases ever. As a family, my mom, brother and I would all go pick out the best tree we could find and decorate it the second we set it up. My mom forced us to take a Christmas photo every year for our annual card (which we both despised) but ended up doing it anyway after much fuss. Every year we would drive around a see all the houses decorated with beautiful Christmas lights. Hundreds of cookies would be baking in our tiny oven to give to neighbors and friends. And the house, right after Thanksgiving, would glow with lights and garland everywhere you turned.
When the day finally arrived, I would get loads of toys from Santa at my mom’s house, tons more at my dad’s, then even more at my grandpa’s! It was like I had three Christmases every year. But for some reason, only a few years ago, my love for Christmas sort-of disappeared.
The holidays have turned into is a time for all materialistic brats to beg “Santa” for presents they don’t need, and get away with it. Stores all over are becoming freaking disasters from people lining up outside the doors waiting to wipe out everything in sight. It is merely a month of blowing hundreds of dollars on people you may not even like, who will probably hate the gifts anyway. I feel this sort of pressure during this time of year that I can’t stand—like I can’t forget someone so I have to buy for 10 more people than I originally planned. Sorry, but I don’t have that kind of money.
I’ve become discouraged because my cute little traditions no longer exist; beginning when I realized Santa wasn’t real. I used to wake up at my dad’s at 6 am to open my gifts. Then, my mom would pick me up and we’d drive to my grandpa’s to spend time with the rest of the family. They don’t even pick out special gifts for me that they would have to put a lot of thought into—they just send a card with money in it (not that I’m complaining, but it’s not the same). We still visit my grandpa but it is no longer exciting for me. There’s no one my age to hang around with, so I find myself texting my friends complaining about the horrible time I am having. We haven’t gotten a tree in the last three years, I couldn’t even tell you why, and we haven’t decorated the house since I lived Galloway. I don’t see my dad or get anything from him, not even a phone call. We don’t bake anymore, and didn’t even do our annoying holiday cards this year. It doesn’t even snow anymore. I hate all that it has become.
For New Years, which used to be my favorite part of the holidays, my best friend from Galloway would have a big family party every year. I would always look forward to it because all my friends would be there. But ever since I moved, it hasn’t been as fun because we eventually made different friends, so I stopped going. This year, I’m going to make sure I do something special.
So, the few “traditions” I had no longer exist because they really aren’t worthy enough to continue I suppose. But when I have a family, I’ll be sure not to forget about the little things we do which are what really count.
This season, I wish for something or someone to change my mind about the holidays. I wish for a big snowfall that will bring everyone together by something other than presents. I wish for happiness, and I wish I wasn’t sick.
Molly:
"Oh, the holidays. I personally love this time of the year. I love driving down the streets and seeing all of the houses beautifully decorated with lights, the Christmas trees peaking through the windows. I love all the desserts (I am a huge dessert fan), the cupcakes, cookies, candy, all of which I love. I love getting together with my family, talking about random topics for hours on end."
I completely and utterly feel the same way as you do! Desserts are amazing, and festive. Plus, i always llok at all the Christmas lights in my neighborhood, which are spectacular. Btw, when i get older and richer, i am going to do the Christmas lights like Cervi showed us, in sync with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra song. Look for my house! =P
P.s. - You said the word "love" 13 times. Just saying. =]
Jennnn-
I can't even pick out a quote in your blog because I loved the whole thing. I believe that you described how you felt about the season really well, and it seems as though we have some of the same views. I also haven’t really cared for the season since about 6th grade when I had to move away from all my friends and close family. Things just aren’t the same as when we were little. The spirit of Christmas isn’t in me anymore. And seriously, whoever created “it’s the thought that counts” is pathetic. For me, it just seems that I don’t care enough anymore. The holiday season brings me more agony than anything else.
I hope you have a good winter break though. I wish for snow as well.
I think people tend to look forward to the holidays because they know it is a time that is traditionally associated with relaxation and a break from routine and hard work, good times and food with friends and family, and perhaps a few good presents. Who doesn’t like all of these things? It is a time when the greedy and stingy are forced to share with others and realize how good it feels to give and share happiness. For the most part, the joyous atmosphere of the holidays seems to transpire into even the grinchiest of people.
For the most part, I always seem to be in a good mood during the December season. I am always stressed out when I know I have a lot of presents to buy still. There never seems to be enough time to get it all done without freaking out. I’m sure I would like buying people presents more if I really had time to search for the perfect gift. Since I can’t drive myself to shopping areas, I have to rely on my busy parents. Another stress of the holiday is knowing that I will have to do a huge holiday cleaning before Christmas. Every year I have to clean like a mad woman in order to appease my mother and ease her stresses of having company in a “messy” house. It never seems messy to me. She probably has reason to worry because my grandparents (her mother and father in law) come up from Florida. My Pop-pop has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and I think my Mom-mom has developed it as well after living with him for so long. It always makes for an interesting Christmas. These couple of stress givers aside, I enjoy the Christmas music on the radio, the random people in the mall that will just start talking to you about their holiday experiences, and the family parties where you eat and laugh all night. We always go to my great aunt’s house for Christmas Eve dinner after church (the same readings every year..), and we always have Christmas dinner at my house with my grand parents. We don’t really have much of a tradition other than that. We open our presents on Christmas morning with my mother videotaping the whole ordeal much to my dismay. The next day is my birthday. This is usually my favorite part of the holidays. I get to have another day to party and celebrate. Although, I do hate it when people say, “Oh that sucks so bad. I bet you only get one present sometimes from people instead of one for Christmas and one for your birthday.” I never know what to say to that. I haven’t ever known anything different, so maybe I do get ripped off. With all the chaos of the holidays, it’s kind of hard to keep track. I like that I get one more day of parting than the rest of the world. This year I am getting my license (hopefully), so that driving test is another thing to worry about. For new years, I usually go to some party in my neighborhood with my family. But this year, since I should be able to drive, I might do something different. Because I don’t really think there is too much tradition for the holidays with my family, I don’t know if I’d be able to pass anything down to my children. I would like to maybe create some traditions of my own.
Peace and the end of world hunger would be a wonderful thing to have this holiday. Who doesn’t want these things? But on a more tangible basis, for Christmas and my birthday this year I only asked for two things: A car and a down comforter for my bed. The first is kind of expected of a seventeen year old to ask for, and the second is just something I figured would be nice. :] This year I really didn’t know what I wanted besides these two things. A car is obviously a lot, so maybe it will strengthen my chances of getting it because it’s all I want. But besides that, I really couldn’t think of anything that I didn’t have that I really wanted or needed. This Christmas will be a surprise because of that, and that’s how I think it should be.
Time to get ready for church! Fun..
"This season, I wish for something or someone to change my mind about the holidays. I wish for a big snowfall that will bring everyone together by something other than presents. I wish for happiness, and I wish I wasn’t sick."
Sara darling,
I wish you weren't sick either :[. A snowfall would be lovely, yet it probably won't happen this year.. Maybe for New Years! It seems that we need to hang out and bring your christmas spirit back. I love you <333
Morgan, thank you so much :] its hard but i just love the holidays too much for anyone to break my spirit, and part of it is that i have you guys in pre calc and you guys are actually there for me so for that thank you times a hundred.
Toni:
"So for this holiday, I didn't ask for anything in particular. I didn't even snoop around the house to see what I did get. I'm just really looking forward to that bonding moment. For a change, I didn't worry about what my parents got me. I worried about what I got for my parents. I spent a couple hundred dollars on them, and I feel really good about that. It really is better to give than receive. Past holidays, I would buy them little trinkets and make homemade cards. This season was the season to go all out."
Your blog makes me so happy. It's so honest and I love how much you care for others. Your views are kind of the complete opposite of mine though. While you say you didn't even snoop around to see what you got, I have to. I hate being surprised and I hate the awkwardness if I get something that I don't like because I didn't even ask for it. I've never really had the chance to go "all out" on my parents because I don't have a job, so I still have to resort to buying them a jacket or something. This year I managed to buy my dad and I tickets to the Cowboys v Eagles game this Sunday, but that's only because my dad's girlfriend bought them and I just have to pay her back.. slowly.
Sara VP-
Wow, our blogs really are quite similar. You made so many good points and it actually made me sad. I guess because I can relate so much to it. I hate change, so when all the Christmas traditions just seemed to fade over the years, I realized how much I missed the old days. It's really not the same any more. And the whole situation with your dad made me really sad, as well. My mom called me for the first time in about 3 weeks today and I told her I would just e-mail her one thing that I want for Christmas because I'm not even going to see her until the day after. I know this is nothing compared to your situation, but I know this bothers me because I can't ever remember a time when I haven't been with both my parents on Christmas day (even last year when they were still separated), so I can only imagine how hard it must have been through the year to lose touch with your dad. But I really hope you have a great holiday, despite how much you hate winter (your occasional paper made me consider writing one in response about how much I love winter), and snow really does make the season so much better =D. And feel better!
I’ll get one fact straightened here; I don’t celebrate Christmas. In fact, I don’t really celebrate anything during the holidays. There isn’t a “Buddhamas” (thanks Hils) or anything of the sort. Holidays are part of the year where I curiously watch people scuttle around collecting things, and note how commercialized the months have become (oh yeah, I'm going there).
Now back when I was around 4 or 5, I had absolutely no clue that my family didn’t celebrate Christmas. And those were the days I loved “stuff.” Toys, in particular. So while growing up in Tokyo, my next door neighbor and best friends Yuichii and Taihei told me how a "Guy in a read cloak travels around the world and gives kids whatever they want."
Apparently, the only requirements he asked for was a wishlist stuffed inside a stocking.
Well two problems there. My house didn’t have a chimney, and I didn’t have stockings either. So using my brilliant 5 year old mind, I decided to substitute a chimney with the windowsill, and stockings with socks. So I scribbled down my list;
JANIRU'S WISHLIST
1. Bumblebee Transformer with Meca-Locking Joints
2. Power Rangers Bike Helmet
3. Power Rangers Dino-Sword
4. Kamen Rider (Japanese show) action figures
5. And some food (I was hungry).
So I rolled the list up, stuck in a holed-up sock, and placed it outside on that faithful Christmas Eve night.
As soon as I wake up, I rushed to the window. And to my great, great, great dismay, there was nothing there. No colorful boxes of Transformers, or the sharp looking Power Rangers Dino sword. Hell, there wasn’t any food either! I had gotten gipped!
(I found the sock a couple of days later in the laundry. I don’t know what happened to my list).
So I’ve understood since a pretty young age that Christmas (or the Western definition of it) is a fluke and a sham. Santa didn’t exist, or maybe he didn’t like Sri Lankans. Every year, I watched all my friends get their shiny new toys and clothing and sat depressed as my amount of material goods stayed relatively the same. So for a large portion of my life, Christmas signaled depression and envy. I’d look on in dismay as my friends played with their new Gamecubes, iPods, and the sort.
Around 6th grade or so, I started to see why exactly my family didn’t “celebrate” Christmas. It took me until around then to finally realize the values my parents had taught me, and that was that things do not signify happiness. The modern world prides itself in marking status and wealth by however many shitloads of things they had. And that doesn’t fit my convictions of my ideals.
Even though I live in a capitalistic society, I despise it. I hate going to the mall. It makes me sick to my stomach. Watching people attack each other over Xboxes disgusts and appalls me. And I’m not trying to play that whole hippy stereotype, because I really, really, really, REALLY hate this notion of materialism.
Yes, I’m gonna be THAT guy. I find the real concept of Christmas fascinating. Birth of Jesus? Nice. Apparently that means trampling to death employees in department stores.
This past Black Friday, I literally felt like puking as I sat on the benches at the mall, while my mother and father went around trying to get everything at a bargain. Ugh.
That’s not to say I hate Christmas. I just hate the money driven bitchfest-side of it.
The one part of Christmas that I do enjoy immensely is the joy of giving and being with family. It’s the time of the year when my few remaining relatives come visit this hell hole called New Jersey, or I get to leave for a period of time. I was supposed to visit my family in the UK this year, but that never happened sadly. I also enjoy giving people presents (which are mostly things I make myself). I’m strangely one sided.
I don’t know if I’ll celebrate Christmas with my children. I’m most likely going to marry out of race, it’s a probable reality. I don’t even know if I’ll stay in the States.
And what do I wish for this season? I want my migraines to stop, I want the Bears to win the Superbowl (like that’s going to happen), and I want everyone to have a wonderful time. World peace and end to world hunger? That’s just too unrealistic at our current global state. It’s a reachable goal I think, but it can’t just happen at whim. So those are my realistic wishes.
So happy holidays everyone. Happy Buddhamas!
Fiona: I just quietly dispise myself for falling short of my own expectations, leading to potentially insanity-striking situations, like sitting on the floor of the laundry room in tears, rocking back and forth next to the washer as it makes grumbling noises of disapproval, to tell me I ought to be doing homework or cleaning, but being unable to bring myself to stand given the trench of hate and anger and frustration I've driven myself into.
You couldn't have said it any better. This is the time of the year when I lose faith in myself, and end up being extremely lazy and annoyed. I feel like setting something on fire (in a totally sane way). I think it's the lack of sunshine. Seasonal depression is where it's at.
The Blog That Stole Christmas
The holidays has always been the best time of year for everyone. Whether you actually celebrate a holiday or not, the break always stands for something. The pivotal end of school you have been dying for; the time when you finally have the chance to relax; everyone seems to have this heir of graceful emotions flowing about them. It is just that time of the year. The mood always seem the same; just everyone running about gleefully on those days they have off.
At least that's the type of associations I make. It probably just comes from sixteen years of a constant traditional routine which sprouted a very long time ago. It just always seem like this really happy time of family, friends, food, excitement, hype, and sometimes anxiety I've come to know. Every year has been exactly to the same beat. The days before always seem chill. We usually aren't doing much, sometimes running out to grab a last minute gift. Usually some friends will come over or will hang out somewhere, always a chill time (well, this year there was a little incident with friends and a car, but will talk about that later ;]). We are always hyped up for Christmas morning, ever since we were like four. My brother and I would go to bed at about twelve and wake up at like three-thirty because we were so excited. Last year was a little better because my brother managed to sleep till seven, but I doubt it's going to be a consistent thing. After watching A Christmas Story a gillion times, we would wake our parents up at five-fifteen because that's when they would finally agree to wake. We would open presents and then our Grandmom, MomMom rather, would come over. After she left, we would chill for about an hour then run to my Uncle's and open gifts there. Usually this would all be before ten-in-the-morn. Then for a long time, we would just sleep and interact with whatever our gifts may have been. By Three, we would be on our way to our Aunt's for the families dinner on my Mom's side. Ask Gary or Rachael, they're always there. And they can tell you how crazy it is every year, with like thirty people running around. By about Nine that night we were home. The next day we would be in New York. Some of these change from sports or event,s or just plain family drama; however, they have stayed relatively consistent for as long as I can remember.
So for me, in the grand scheme of this, my holiday season is all about tradition. I may watch A Christmas Story a million times in one sitting, or I may drive the same place and do the same stuff every year for a long time, but it will never get old. The same old smiles and same old routines that are constantly ran through each year does not bother me. As long as everyone is happy during the season and stays gleeful, I'll be happy. When I think about it, I only have a few things I really want. I know one is that Christmas will always be the same: joyful.
For the first order of business I would like to say that no one celebrates Kwanzaa anymore, and so it should be removed from the list of holidays. Now I must play madden, I will be back shortly with my blog.
To Fiona:
O.O; Dang... I feel for you... But, think of your friends and the happiness they have! ^__^ And don't forget, Tim *wink wink nudge nudge*! Fiona, you do make people happy! You have to be happy too in order to make others happy!
*hugs* holiday hugs make everyone happy! Smile and relax!!! Everything will be great! Hope you had fun at the party!!!
Christmas came so fast this year and to be honest, it still doesn’t feel quite like the holidays. Most people hate the holiday season because it consists of scrambling for the perfect gifts, pushing and shoving through mass crowds of people, and standing in endless lines. But true to the blog question, this time of year does bring an unexplainable feeling to everyone. Well, at least to me. I look forward to the holiday season because there is a feeling you get when you see people’s reaction to a gift. I like to watch movies like Home Alone and Elf that seem truly great only around this time of year. And I especially love singing Christmas songs. It is the music that usually triggers my feelings. These carols and songs can only be heard during this time of year. Songs that really hit the spot are Jingle Bell Rock and Oh Holy Night. I could really listen to Christmas music all year round. I currently have a list of over 200 songs by different artists that all have to do with the holidays and I’m currently working on downloading them all.
This year, I didn’t really ask for anything specific, except for a new computer. Every year, what I really want is for everyone to be happy. I know that may sounds a little vague, but since this is the season to be jolly, I don’t like seeing anyone alone or unhappy. And when I really look at my parents, I see how they work so hard. And even if it’s for a short period of time, I want to see them happy and relaxed. It would be great if this would be possible for everyone in the world. But right now, I’m just trying to make this possible for the people I care most about and even just for the people I see everyday.
As for traditions with the family, well, I liked to say that we’re a close-knit family with tons of quirks and traditions, but we’re not. However, we do have the slight few. Every year my parents throw a Christmas Party. Guests usually consist of my parents’ friends and their little kids. But it’s usually a big hit. And of course, every year my family and I go to church. It always varies when we go though. Sometimes it’s Christmas day and sometimes it’s Christmas Eve, like today I’m headed for the church as soon as I’m done this blog. My favorite part of Christmas is of course, Christmas morning. It seems like the members of my family are never in one place together. We’re always off doing our own thing, but every Christmas morning we all gather around the tree, all around one place. It’s actually pretty chaotic that morning. We’re all throwing presents around, looking for our own, and throwing our purchased gifts to others. And as for New Year’s, the family doesn’t usually spend that time together. I’m usually out with my friends and my parents are usually at home with theirs. However, no matter where I am, I always persist on watching the ball drop. It isn’t New Years to me without that little detail.
When I have family of my own, I want even more traditions. Traditions that will set our family apart from the rest. I cannot wait to give my children a holiday that they will always remember and one that they will continue with their own children.
SaraVp-
I really hope you feel better! No one should feel crumby over the holidays. As for your blog, I agree completely that the holidays have become a time filled with spoiled children and not to mention credit card debts. As cliché as it may sound, I think everyone needs to find the “true meaning of Christmas” again. It really stinks that your traditions with your family has faded. I wished you had a better holiday season.
Everyone-
No matter what you celebrate, I hope everyone is having a fantastic break. See you all when we get back! <3
The wonder of finding trinkets jammed inside fanciful socks, and old Christmas tunes scratching off of transcribed records… Spheres of fragile glass and egg-shells bedecked with beads, all bound tightly to the boughs of a spruce tree… The peculiar smell of trees and wood-smoke and gingerbread and mincemeat… The promise of some elaborate, fanciful theme to the gifts and the chance to help my sister set up the display… The chance to talk with my sister in person after months of telephone conversations… Watching some old cartoon version of A Christmas Carol… You’ll seldom find me happier.
We use the same ornaments every year, and people always seem to find them peculiar. More than twenty years ago, my mother and her sister had decorated eggs with bright bugle beads, and we have put them on the tree every year since. And, for as long as I can remember, we have put birds on the tree as well. The mushroom-and-feather-ones you can find in A.C. Moore. If I somehow end up with the box of decorations, I will certainly use them on my own tree. But, as I don’t plan on having children, I doubt most of my traditions will continue. I love giving gifts, but they are most valued by children. The wonder could not be replaced, but unless my brother has kids I won’t be able to pass wonders on to my kinsmen.
The New Year comes in unmarked, though, unless I’m spending the night at a friend’s house. The mirth and good cheer is left over from the just passed holiday, and is wearing a bit thin. At this point we’re discovering the imperfections in the trinkets that were perfect and new-bright shortly before. The midnight curfew no longer interests me, not now that I have to stay up that late with homework.
And for my wish… It’s already given. I won’t claim the high, the mighty, or the unattainable. There are two friends I haven’t seen since this past summer. I want to talk to them about the book I lent them the last time we talked. And they’ve already agreed to come.
Selfish, I know, but attainable. I wish only for things within my power. When my power grows, I will wish for greater things.
Christmas is the cabin in the blizzard, the shelter from the storm. As we trudge through winter, we are physically and mentally drained. The grey skies and bitter cold zap the life out of us. There’s no warm shining sun or fun beach days. We’re cooped in our houses, bored until spring comes. But Christmas is a refuge. In the damp days of December, we have something to look forward to. Holiday cheer, caroling, cookie baking, and gift giving liven up the dreary mood. The holiday season spices up winter. Good feelings and merriment rejuvenate and keep people going till spring. Time off from school and work lets us loosen up, and kick back and relax. Looking at the calendar December first, I can’t help but smile because I’m reminded that Christmas isn’t far off.
My family watches The Christmas Story every year, without fail. Our other tradition is hanging ornaments on the tree. Ornaments have a special significance in my family. Every ornament tells a story. My mother’s mother died along time ago, when my mom was in her early twenties and one of the things my mom cherishes most is the ornaments left behind., From it’s protective storage box to its place on the upper branches of the tree, each half-a-century-old-ornament is handled delicately with care. Another set of ornaments, which has significance, would be the Disney ornaments. It’s a large collection with characters like Donald and Daisy Duck, dressed as angels, Pluto, with reindeer antlers, Peter Pan, Bell, Snow White, and the rest of the Disney gang. My parents got them the first year they were married. There’s also a slew of handmade ornaments from my sister and me. There are also some fairly new ornaments. Every Christmas my mom gives my sister and me a new ornament. She says when we grow up, we’ll have our own collection. I’d like to continue these traditions. Someday I want to shop for our-first-Christmas-ornaments. I want to be able to open up a box of ornaments and laugh about all the good times. I’m if I have kids, I’d defiantly continue the tradition.
My Christmas wish is to have a great last week of 2008. This has been a great year. In previous years, there have been moments where I look back and cringe. This year I can’t think of instances where that has happened. I look back and see great memories and new friends. My wish is that these last few days could be as perfect as possible. I want to have a wonderful Christmas. I want to see family and spend New Years with my friends. I hope everyone has a great Chrismahanukwanzakah and see you all next year =)
Linds-----
“First I have two Christmas Eves. The day starts off by being secretly kidnapped by my father to wrap presents for my mom at his office. She knows we do it every year and it’s something I’ve learned to really look forward to. We blast the radio on random Christmas Stations and my dad sings at the top of his lungs and then I join him.”
That is the cutest tradition ever. It sounds like so much fun. Merry Christmas. =)
The holidays are finally here, and its amazing how fast the world creeps up on you when your not paying attention. It actually feels nothing like the holidays except for the fact its freezing outside and still not snowing, which has become a characteristic of the holidays in New Jersey. Despite the bitter weather outside some people are still able to reach deep into their souls and find those warm fuzzy balls of good feelings that aren't always easily expressed. But in December those feelings burst forth in the form of "the holiday spirit." Its actually quite obvious to where these feelings are birthed from. People see this time of the year as a chance to right their wrongs and become close with the people they care about. In December, giving to the poor is looked upon as something amazing, which is clearly exemplified by the Holiday Food Drive at Oakcrest. In December, families coming together and being a whole unit again is a key tradition during the middle of the month. In December, people exchange gifts to show their affection for each other or the fact that they are someone special to them. All of these things can be done throughout the year, so it doesn't really make sense as to why suddenly in December it sprouts such good feelings. In my eyes if you look at it as the period right before death you can see why all this gives life to happiness. December is the last month of the year and the days are slowly ticking, just like when someone is on their deathbed and their life is slowly ebbing away. People show up with gifts, and the family comes together to remember all the good things in that person's life. If the person is still able they try to do for others and spread as much cheer as possible before dying, just like December does. See picturing December as the month of death for a year can convey the psychological reasoning behind the good feelings that come out solely during this month.
In my eyes I actually dislike the holidays. I don't hate it as much as I hate other things but I most assuredly don't like it. My holidays have always been filled with grief despite the fact I usually end up getting everything I ask for. I guess that goes to prove material items don't make people happy. During my holidays my family usually falls into disarray and the warm loving feelings that visit families at this time always seems to skip over my household. When I was little it was always just my mother and me for Christmas morning, which as a little kid means only me opening presents while my mother occasionally found a present that one of my sisters had left. Then we would go over to my sister's house where a massive party of people I didn't know told me how cute I was. Eventually all the adults would get drunk into a stupor and I would have to spend the night, when in reality all I wanted to do was go home and play with my toys. Years later my other sister and her two children moved in with me and Christmas became more festive and for once I felt the happiness that Christmas is suppose to bring. Its almost as if the more people feverishly opening presents and snapping pictures during the morning the happier I felt. This happiness never lasted too long because still everyone ended up being drunk, except now I had to watch after the two children. Two badass children I might add. Recently, my family has dispersed because of an illness in the family and it is only my sister and me left opening presents tomorrow on Christmas morning. The warmth from family is practically nonexistent at this point in my life due to these family issues, and the fact my sister is quite unbearable to be around too long. All those other reasons why people experience blissful feelings at this time are pretty much devoid also, considering as I've been told I'm "selfish and self-centered." It is always being said that it's better to give than to receive, but for some reason I never remember to give. This is the first Christmas that I've actually bought people gifts, and sadly I only bought gifts for three people. My sister was actually forcing me to get her a gift so technically I only got two people anything for the holidays. I guess I'm sort of a Grinch during Christmas time only because I tend to be grouchy year round, but no one pays too much attention until December so it seems like I'm being overly angry. This and the fact that I really don't have anyone to spend Christmas with really exemplifies my disheartened disposition towards the Holidays.
Possibly the most festive holiday during this season usually turns out to be New Years, due to the plethora of laughs I receive from it. It never fails on New Years for my entire family to show up and get incredibly drunk, except for me of course. Then the drunken activities lead me to laugh at their incredulous stupidity, along with scamming many of them out of money in the process. Oh did I mention this is all before the ball drops. Once the ball drops all hell breaks lose. My one sister finds some ability to realize her children are still awake and begins to try to usher them off to sleep, which causes an uproar in itself. Then as the children begin screaming like tortured angels my mother stumbles into the mix to argue with my sister about the children's bedtime, in which causes WWIII. Needless to say I end up having to break up a fight, which my sister's boyfriend tends to want to get involved in, causing me to be forced to yell at him while tearing my mother and sister away from each other. Children are crying, parents are fighting, males are trying to mediate, and in the midst of this our family friends just turn the TV up to maximum volume to hear about the news in Times Square. Obviously it's very chaotic. Actually come to think of it, last year the chaos was very close to not happening, but in my eyes the show must go on so I opened my mouth about the children being awake. It just wouldn't of been New Years with out the dissonance.
Continue these traditions with my own family one day? Burn and piss on these traditions one day is more like it. If I ever have a family I vehemently vow to succeed in all areas where my family failed during the holidays.I'm going to make sure my family has that warmth that I experienced and iota of and cut out all the drunkenness of both holidays. Actually I might leave the drunkenness just to add spice to my life. Besides that though I will strive to make Christmas the most enjoyable and anticipated holiday for my family.
Finally, in the wise words of Dey Dey from Friday After Next "All I want for Christmas is a bag of weed and two fat (females)." Now before anyone thinks I'm a drug addict or something let me explain. I don't really want either of those things, they are just a symbol for Dey Dey that can be connected to real life. They represent innate happiness and people to share their happiness and feelings with. In all seriousness I don't really know what I want for Christmas, but emotionally that is all I want. Materialistically though I want Rock Band and the Dark Knight movie :)
In response to Janiru
Bro, I'm sorry but the idea of you being five years old sticking a letter into a sock and placing it on a windowsill just made me laugh for about five minutes straight. That's probably the worst way to realize Santa doesn't exist; by finding your sock in the laundry basket! Dude, that's hilarious. On a more serious note though I understand what you mean about the "bitchfest" side of Christmas you hate. It's the worst. There is literally no need for people to get to the point where they are ready to trample someone to death over a present. Is that child going to die if they don't get their new PS3? Sure their spirit will die a little bit, but so what? Fighting to get a present just shows that America is so stuck on material positions they can push the true meaning of the holidays right out of the window. Its suppose to be about caring for each other and spreading goodwill, but I'm pretty sure the people who stomped on that guy at Walmart didn't spread anything but pain and sorrow.
The only reason that people really like the holidays is that they have the ability to bring people (family, friends, and other such relations) together. Oh, and presents, we all love the presents. And while it has still become sort of commercial, like Janiru said, it is still able to retain that cheer. The commerical items are all there to help instill christmas cheer. It just gives one more reason to make this one particular day, different from all of the rest. So what if people go around buying others presents without much heart. As long as they aren't some last-minute cheap ass piece of non-minded shit crap, and make the person truly happy, it is all worth it.
I too, don't celebrate Christmas, but I do celebrate a holiday pretty much just like, called New Years. Pretty much everything that is done for Christmas, I do on the 31st. The traditions are pretty basic. You have your table full of food, you have your music on, and of course, you have your TV set to watch the ball drop. For the most part, I celebrate this holiday with other people. This is mainly what makes this a great celebration, granted this year im gonna have to fly solo. I won't be in a big crowd of people I somewhat know, but Ill still have enough cheer to eat some food and watch the ball drop in time square. And then, right after the ball drops, that is when we open up the presents. This is definately my favorite part of the celebration and I think this applies to every major holiday. It is the one part of every celebration that is always different. You never know what you are going to get, but every year it is (or should) be something that you've wanted for the longsest time. Once again, this won't be happening to me because I went to get my New Year's present during Black Friday. I woke up early, caught a bus, crossed dangerous streets and stood in line, but I got my Wii. With a total of 5 games, I was pretty much set for this year's presents.
So yeah, there really isnt anything I could wish for this season. Doing so would really be selfish. So, nothing corporial is going to make my list this year, but then again neither are world peace and the other examples. Im sorry, but those are just too big for even every version of Santa put together to make real. I just don't see it happening. However, I do wish for this year that mine, as well as all those who took the time to read my entry, 2009 will be worth spent. I wish for not a single day to be wasted on absolutely nothing. For fun and excitement to come in satisfying bursts. And of course, for a peace of mind that comes with just being who you are. It might be a little late for some of you, considering the time, but have yourselves a good Christmas, Kwanza, Hanakah, New Years and/or Festivas (I love that Seinfeld episode).
Oh yeah Happy Holidays everyone. (Kwanzaa isn't a true holiday!!!!)
(I'm extremely sorry to offend anyone on here who celebrates Kwanzaa!!!!!"
(I don't think anyone does so I'm okay!!!!!!")
Why do people look forward to the holidays? Well why not? It’s a time of food, friends and family usually accompanied with gifts and the fresh start of a new year. The appeal of the holidays can be a variety of elements for a larger variety of people, but the core of the attraction can always be found with the family. During the holidays you’re usually at home with the family. This is where all the memories come from, family meals where you feast on the famous or infamous concoctions of your parents, family games from monopoly to twister and of course gift exchanges within the family. The holidays are a symbol for most people that represents the family and the huge part of their lives that it makes up.
I like most everyone else love the holidays. Although I have to admit over the years I’ve become disillusioned by the commercial aspect of them. I celebrate Christmas and as a “good Christian” I’m supposed to remember this as a time of rejoice over Jesus or some other nonsense. And of course I’ll be dragged to church Thursday morning to listen to the droning of some old man trying to give me salvation. Eh. I’ll have to catch myself before I go on a religious rant, but what I want to say is that I have a negative association with Christmas being that I feel forced to believe in something that goes against my ideals. Aside from that slight negative aspect I love the holidays for all the other reasons: no school, NO SWIMMING! (For two days), no homework (thanks Bunje), free time, family and FOOD!!!! Those things drown out the religious part and make me focus on the truly enjoyable parts of the holiday.
My family has never been really big on traditions. We just do the basic stuff i.e. my dad cooking dinner on Christmas eve, driving around on the 24th to see Christmas lights which was a poor show this year I might add, picking out the tree that for some insane reason we always have to get live so I can break my back dragging a 300lb tree into and out of the house to be planted in January, waking up the minute my parents finish putting out presents to go guess what we got, and Christmas breakfast which consists of waffles and bacon. I guess we do have quite a few traditions but they are not that out of the ordinary. As far as New Year’s goes the only tradition we have then is making sure my drunken dad and uncles don’t get into bar fights as we spend the night with the guys at Skelly’s High Point Pub.
The only tradition I’m dead set on continuing is going to Skelly’s every new years. That crappy bar on the side of the black horse pike has more memories for me than I can count. It’s not just a new year’s hangout; I frequent the place with my dad and PopPop once a week in the summer. We’re good friends with all the workers and owner who my dad grew up with. And they have the best soup in the world guaranteed, High Point Crab Bisque FTW!!!! Ever since I was little I’ve gone to this place and will not change that because the restaurant holds all the memories I’ve had with my PopPop.
The good better best BESTEST part of the holiday is the food. As good as thanksgiving is on Christmas the Capone’s go all out. Part of this is because my mom’s family is Irish and my dad’s Italian so it becomes a culinary war of the cultures. A constant duel to out cook the other race and reign supreme over the other. Now it has always been agreed that the meals are a tie but I feel the Italians take it. But either way the food born from this fight is superb. I would go on about the food but as it is we are 20 minutes from one of these amazing dinners and I have to get ready to go!
On my last note for the holiday’s I wish that everyone gets through the next few years. I know statisticians and teachers have gone on about the recession for months now but it’s really a terrible thing. I was unaware of it until I saw my friends and other people I knew fall before my very eyes. I can’t stand to see a close friend of mine struggle through the holiday as their parents are both out of work and the look of the owners of my favorite pizza place as they talk about their struggling to make payments. It’s a truly horrible time for these people and I wish them the best of luck through the rest of the year.
In response to Meg Song:
Your blog was hilarious. Knowing you parents and how you act around them I always imagine you finally snapping and telling them off. But that image fades back into reality and your silent acceptance of the abuse and it’s very apparent that you love the giving of the holidays because you’re the only person in school carrying around 2 fifty pound bags of gifts and cards. So your blog was great until the hot dogs, I don’t understand the hot dogs. I find them too be sacks of ground pig meat with oil covering the outside, but that’s just me. Happy Holidays!
The holidays. They sure are. For whatever reason, they bring out the best and worst in all of us. Half of us become joyful and mellow, disregarding our usual reservations in the interest of fun and niceness. The other half becomes crazy and spastic, worrying themselves sick over the 'perfect present' and guests coming to a house they haven't cleaned in a month and just began to care about. Type A: Huzzah! Type B: Umm... Stay away.
But for the former, who love the holidays, there's a simple reason why. People get fake now. We put all our enmity aside for a few weeks, and pretend that world is fine and dandy. It isn't real, and doesn't last, but it is fun, and as a species we hate fighting, so it works while it does. But, then there are the second type of people who act like tornadoes through a trailer park constructed entirely of playing cards.
I am a part of the former, and do enjoy this time of year. Christmas is my holiday of choice, and as for traditions, there aren't many. The only really unique tradition I have is me and my sister's shopping routine. We go once separately, with either my folks or our friends, and then once together. We get each other a present we choose, and then that one is the one that has to be the biggest surprised act. This is actually pretty tricky as it can involve up to a week of 'hiding' a 'secret' present. Other than that, a big dinner, a large tree in the living room, but that's about it. For New Years its back to the normal drill, only with less yelling when I stay up until one in the morning. All of this I want to continue for my family one day, though I'm not sure how I'd introduce them to my sister and my tradition... Ah well, I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.
And what do I wish for? Hmm... I'll have to say an end to the sniping and the secrets. We're all such slaves to our alliances and our past. I'm not much for wishing, the same as I'm not much for caring about things I can't affect. But, there's so much anger and resentment, there's so much hatred over things done in the past. Why not leave them there? My Christmas wish relies on everyone. A clean slate. For you, for everyone you know. We all start friends when we're kids, back in the days when you could meet someone and play like best friends five minutes later. Let's be friends again. Remove the hatred, the anger, the resentment, and treat everyone like you would if we were all five.
@ Serj: Nice wish. Not ridiculous, but to the point.
@ Janiru: Gotta say, you're a hippy, but I agree when it comes to black friday. *shudder* Getting killed for a deal is obscene. Good work, humanity.
Why do we feel happy during the holidays? No, a better question would be : why do people in general feel happy during the holidays. Students and teachers have the liberty of taking a long break, before and after the festivities. It is clear why we are happy. Yet, there are people who still have to toil with their jobs, yet balance the work that comes from the holidays. The preparations, the invitations, the celebrations, all eat up time. If you take a look at it this way, nobody should be happy.
Yet, just about everyone feels some joy, barring those who have had scarring memories, such as getting attacked by elves, or finding a phonebook instead of a PS3 in its box. It is the fact that we’re supposed to be happy. This air of happiness spreads because we believe we’re better off. It could be as simple as that. There is also the fact that we actually have something different to do. No matter how difficult the preparations are, it is a break from the monotony of everyday life. When January 24th, scientifically stated (no, I am not kidding) to be the worse day in the world, comes around, reality strikes. Everyone is groggy. There aren’t any holidays soon. Your paycheck has been spent on eggnog, which, despite how much you like it, you never buy during the other seasons. You begin questioning why everyone is happy during the holidays. The escape from reality is gone.
I do not truly celebrate any of these holidays. The most Christmassy thing we do is put up lights in the yard. My “present” is simply money, which I’ll likely spend on the After-Christmas sales. Dull, unremarkable, boring. Christmas was simply not in my parents’ culture. They never saw anything in it, and any involvement with is likely a direct result of me. This tradition, if you can even call it that, will not be passed on. I’ll likely go into a more traditional Christmas when the time comes. I want others to feel the joy of Christmas that appears to me only in my mind. Despite my irrational hate of children, even I feel happy when seeing the excitement of a kid prancing about thinking of Santa. There is a common misconception though. Santa does exist. It’s obvious that we’re all horrible people, so he doesn’t bother.
End child starvation? It’ll come eventually. Homes for everyone? Look at the financial crisis. World peace? An uninspired wish that’s likely to make the world worse. Then again, who cares? The person who wished that probably wouldn’t have an opinion anymore.
With the direction this post is going, I may as well say “Bah, humbug!” My wish on the other hand is not as negative. I simply want those in despair to have hope. Whether if it’s the death of others, a failed relationship, an attempt to turn their life around, a dream that seems impossible, or simply someone who has lost their way, I want them to see that there is a chance. It is up to them whether or not to take that chance. I have no say in what they choose.
Oh, screw that. I wish to take over the world. Happy holidays everyone, because at its end, there shall be a new world order. I shall be off, to practice my evil laugh.
This time of year comes along with a special feeling. The month or so between Thansgiving and New Year's feels completely different than the rest of the year. It is a period of time where spirits rise, loved ones unite, and enemies reconcile. There is a certain healing force of the holidays, making it a time when people worry less about themselves and more about others. Narcissism is tossed out the window, to be replaced with unfamiliar acts of selflessness. This is certainly among my favorite times of year. (If not for school, it would definitely be number one). People seem more willing to lend a hand to a struggling human being, something that is mostly missing in our society and taken advantage of far too often. I have noticed that around this time, we tend to give more freely of ourselves, not out of potential monetary gain or recognition, but for the satisfaction that accompanies putting a smile on someone's face. Whether it is something as trivial as helping someone carry their bags to the car, it's the little things that make this time of year so special.
As for the actual celebration of Christmas, there is no better feeling than waking up to the scent of pancakes and then sprinting down the stairs to a mountain of presents, including a pair of Barney slippers, a shiny new tricycle, a set of Power Rangers action figures, and, last but not least, Tickle-Me-Elmo. Yes, that is my actual Christmas list for this year. I love lunging around after all the gifts are open, laughing, talking, and eating without a care in the world. But Christmas still has got nothing on Festivus, the incomporably phenomenal holiday. A tree can't possibly be better than the Festivus pole, or a dinner of meatloaf and spaghetti? My only Christmas/Hannukah/ Kwanzaa/Festivus wish is that Andy Reid be banished from ever coaching any football team at any level. EVER. Please, God, I don't asked for much.
Sorry it was so short, but I procrastinated until Christmas Eve and this (surprisingly) isn't exactly what I'd like to be doing right. I hope everyone has a great break! Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Jolly Kwanzaa, and of course, Festive Festivus to everyone!
Any holiday, whether it’s Christmas, Hannuka, Easter, Mardi Gras, or even Columbus day is looked upon as a good thing for people. Some may think of them better than others, but holidays are usually looked forward to because of the reward they give. Whether it’s a gratuitous amount of presidents for some of Christmas or just a Day off for Columbus day, the holidays present some type of reward to everyone, and everyone likes rewards, so everyone likes the holidays. They are a hiccup in the monotonous game of life, shaking things up for a bit so we have something else to look forward to besides another five day week at the office. The whole Christmas/ Chanuukah season is an extended belch in everyone’s lives. Most people travel or take a week off with the family. Put this on top of presents and you have a grand holiday that everyone’s anxious to experience.
For most, this holiday season is a time with the family, and I am no exception. During the Christmas break I turn off my friend receptors, and focus on spending time with my family. Every Christmas both my mothers and father’s side of the family come over my house on Christmas eve to have one big family dinner. This dinner may not be the most exciting party to be at, but there’s a feeling that comes with being around my entire family that makes me feel better about myself. Having an extended family is something I take for granted, and seeing them all at the same time makes me realize how lucky I am (the presents help). There is no real tradition we have at these dinners, but we always manage to turn them into a good time. Tonight, for example, we has a big game of Texas hold’em going, while the rest of the family went through a Nok Hockey tournament. We do something different every year (Last year was Monopoly), and just playing a game in general has become somewhat of a tradition.
Family has always been a huge part of the Christmas break, and I want to continue that throughout my life. I hope I never have to spend a Christmas alone, because that will probably be the most depressing day of my life. Family is a big thing to me. I plan to live within a reasonable radius of my immediate family when I get a real job because I could not bare the thought of never seeing them. My family is stitched into my mind, and the thought of not seeing them during the holidays tears me apart. I plan to make it a tradition when I’m older to at least visit my parents and siblings every Christmas for the rest of my life.
A completely tradition-less holiday in my house is new years. It’s like Christmas’s hangover. I’ve already had my dosage of family and I’m holidayed out. I just stay home with my family, have a drink (or orange juice of course), watch the ball drop, and go to bed. I’ve never made a new year’s resolution because I don’t care enough about the holiday to carry one out for more than a few hours. If anything, I dread New Years because I know my Winter break is nearing its end and school reappears in my mind.
Besides snow, I really don’t want anything this Christmas. When my parents asked what I wanted, I couldn’t give an answer. My usual answer of video games doesn’t apply anymore, because I seldom play them, and have realized how much of a waste of time and money they really are. I just want all my family and friends to enjoy the holiday season and have fun. (A little Cliché, but who cares, It’s CHRISTMAS!!!)
Janiru -
Well two problems there. My house didn’t have a chimney, and I didn’t have stockings either. So using my brilliant 5 year old mind, I decided to substitute a chimney with the windowsill, and stockings with socks. So I scribbled down my list;
JANIRU'S WISHLIST
1. Bumblebee Transformer with Meca-Locking Joints
2. Power Rangers Bike Helmet
3. Power Rangers Dino-Sword
4. Kamen Rider (Japanese show) action figures
5. And some food (I was hungry).
Now, that's the spirit of Christmas! Making do with what you have! =P Plus, that is also the Asian way to do it. Good job for making us look even mre stereotypical. =) Love you! Merry Christmas!
To Ali
After reading your blog i noticed how eerily similar our holidays are. I know our Thanksgivings are the same because I usually go to your house for that breakfast thing you always have, and now that I know our winter breaks are similar I'm interested to know what you do for Easter. If you dye eggs the night before and eat a whole chocolate bunny the day of,that would be too weird.
"Every year, what I really want is for everyone to be happy. I know that may sounds a little vague, but since this is the season to be jolly, I don’t like seeing anyone alone or unhappy. And when I really look at my parents, I see how they work so hard. And even if it’s for a short period of time, I want to see them happy and relaxed. It would be great if this would be possible for everyone in the world. But right now, I’m just trying to make this possible for the people I care most about and even just for the people I see everyday."
-Kelly Nguyen
Kelly, I couldn't agree more. This is exactly what I hope for every year as well. You expanded on the idea of happiness and I think that you hit the nail on the head. There really isn't anything more important to me then seeing the people I love happy.
The current aroma of my house is one to die for. It is the combination of cookies, crazy amounts of sweets, and coffee. There is nothing better than a hot cookie right out of the oven melting in your mouth as you cool it down with a nice cold glass of milk. There is just something about this time of year that brings a smile to people’s faces more often than usual. It may be a college student looking forward to visiting their family for the first time in months, an uncle visiting from out of town, or a night with your sweet grandparents. The examples are endless but I feel as though it is a time for your family to reunite like a mini family reunion. You can feel the magic in the air and maybe I am just too optimistic but my hopes are always higher during Christmas. Some parents may find the joy in being able to see their children open their gifts on Christmas morning and seeing the happiness in their eyes thinking about how Santa remembered them. I do not know a lot about the other religions and how they celebrate the holidays, but I do know that people belong with their families.
Since I can remember things have always been the same for the holidays and I love my December family traditions. Every year the day after thanksgiving my mom takes down all of the fall decorations and puts up the Christmas decorations. Every inch of the house is covered creating the perfect holiday cheer. Even the outside decorations are beautiful and it brings a smile to my face every night. There is always the most important final touch to take care of as a family and that is the Christmas tree. For the past few years we have gone to a Christmas tree place that makes a donation to the boy scouts. While decorating the tree we watch Christmas Vacation and it is always a blast. Once the house is taken care of it is time to bake cookies :] which takes place about two weeks before Christmas. All of the mayhem occurs when it comes to choosing what to get each other even though we all say that we do not need a thing. We go to Christmas Eve mass as a family and then head back to my house where the Lee side of the family comes over. Ahhhhh Christmas morning…… my brother is always the first to awake and he comes running into my room as if we are still 5 years old (it is the cutest thing ever). Then we both go down stairs and stair at the gifts under the tree for an hour or so until my parents wake up. After we open gifts we prepare ourselves for the day. Everyone from both sides of the family comes over and since my family likes to gamble there is always a card game going on somewhere.
New Year’s Eve is always hilarious. A bunch of the neighbors, my brothers’ friends, and family come over and well you know what people do on New Year’s Eve. Other than the one thing that I shouldn’t mention we play charades and bingo. We all toast right when the clock strikes midnight and get out the pots and pans as well as the silly string.
Of course I want to be with my family every year during the holidays. I’m sure that I will continue most of the traditions that we already have and add some when I have a family of my own. My favorite part of the Christmas is sitting with my brother at 7:00 in the morning and just staring for hours at the presents in our pajamas guessing what each gift is. If I could wish for anything this year it would not just be something for Americans it would something that everyone could have. While there are millions of things to wish for I wish everyone in the world could have at least one thing that they need with all of their heart. If it is food because they are starving, heat so that their children can stay warm, or maybe their husband to come home from war to see his new born daughter for the first time. This may sound old but it is something that I can never do and something that no one should ever do and that is never ever go to bed angry at someone you love. If I could ask any of you for one thing it would be to cherish every moment that we have on this earth because you never know what the future holds.
Ashley-
“There is nothing more important to me in the world than forming new memories and new experiences.”
I wish that I could keep my memories forever and of course pictures are nice, but it is nothing compared to the memories. I feel like I can not remember enough as if my brain will not hold every moment that occurs. I cherish any time spent with my family I just wish that I could experience those great moments over and over again. My family is not really big on pictures or recording but sometimes I wish we were.
PS….I almost wore all black to church and then my mom made me change. (haha)
Let me start off by saying that I am writing this blog from the comfort of my home after surviving what seemed to be a never ending day of work. Not only was today merely a long day at KB Toys, today was the last day for people to go Christmas shopping. I do not hate Christmas; we simply have a love-hate relationship. I like Christmas for the simple fact that my extended family and I get to spend time together. Every Christmas my entire family goes to my aunt’s house for dinner and such. Good fun. However I can say from personal experience that Christmas time can bring out the worst in people. When working at a toy store, or any store, people expect that you are to have everything they desire in stock. People get mad when a toy store is sold out of something. Well to those people I sincerely apologize we are sold out of toys THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Not only should we be sold out because it’s Christmas, but the entire store is 40% off due to the unfortunate fact that we are going out of business. This past month has only further emphasized my misanthropist nature.
For example today as I was ringing customers up at the cash register I see a middle aged lady come up to the counter with a few toys. She looks at me and asks me what time we are closing today (keep in mind that it’s Christmas Eve). I nicely reply that we and the entire mall will be closing at 6:00 p.m. to which she proceeds to look at me with a puzzled look. I ask what the problem is and she states that she thought we were going to be open until midnight. I can feel myself trying my best not to laugh. I suppress the urge and tell her that the entire mall is closing at 6:00 p.m. Well apparently all people who work in retail are incompetent and she begins to explain to me as if I were half retarded that the mall is open until midnight. I figured what the hell; the customer is always right, right? So I agreed with her, I explained there was a miscommunication and that the mall was open until 6:00 p.m. on Christmas day (which it obviously isn’t) and I had gotten Christmas Eve and Christmas day confused. And obviously she felt as though her debt to society was paid and she had helped me see the light. As she was leaving I made sure to say good-bye and that I would see her when she came back tonight. God I hate people.
It may be extremely naïve and impossible but my Christmas wish is simply that I wish people, in general not all people ever, would simply use common sense. Common sense is such a seemingly rare quality in people you would think that it’s a super power. Again, dear god I hate people.
Recently I’ve been thinking about the same idea of this Christmas feeling. I will forever remember the extremely anxious feeling that I felt from December 1st to December 25th every year when I was younger. I absolutely lovedddd that feeling and can even remember me thinking to myself when I was about 10 or so how much I loved experiencing that awesome feeling. As those feeling have gradually faded throughout my high school years, I think that this year among all others has topped off my ‘scrooge’ mentality. You see, this December started off as any other December, but oddly someone came up to me in the beginning of the month and told me ‘it doesn’t feel like its Christmas time’, so as if this idea were contagious, I also gained the same view. But I guess its kind of understandable, because this Christmas feeling we long for revolves around other people’s Christmas feelings. So unfortunately down went mine, along with his. With my little bit of Christmas hope, I wonder if I’ll ever really get it back. I must add, though, that today was an exception since its Christmas Eve, and all day as well as right now I’m counting down the hours until Christmas morning: about 8. But it was also a good thing somewhat missing this Christmas feeling, it allowed me to see a difference in the celebration of this holiday time. Some people are only excited because they like to go along with the idea of Santa and Christmas songs and some celebrate in the meaning of Christmas, Jesus born in Bethlehem! Since this year officially grew out of choice #1, I was able to see deeper into choice #2. Both bring really good feelings!
Celebrating Christmas, my family does the traditional Christmas parties, tree, decorating, Pollyanna, service, ham, cookies, and presents. We’ve never done anything cool like go to Europe over break, even though we’ve declared that’s what we want next year. Overall, I’d have to say my favorite part of the holiday is not only going to the mall 24 times and seeing so many people you know, but also the cliché idea of giving people gifts that you know they will love. I guess that’s how you know when you’re all grown up, when you’d rather give gifts than receive them. Regardless, like said before it’s more about people during the holiday rather than the presents or traditions themselves. As far as New Years goes, my sister is a New Years baby, so we always end up doing nothing at home since were always together as a family for birthdays. You would think it would be vice versa, that you’d go crazy on your birthday if it was on New Years, but if you knew Ali, you’d know she’s luckily not one of those buck wild type of people. So as a family we usually do nothing besides watch the ball drop. When I am older I don’t plan on having any unique or special traditions, so hopefully my husband will have a few to add. Oh and I just changed my favorite part of Christmas, and it definitely has to be Christmas morning! The anxiousness leading up the Christmas morning always lives up to its expectations because even if you open the worst gifts, it’s the most fun thing simply opening gifts. I hope people #1: remember the true meaning of Christmas, and #2 don’t get down during the holidays.
‘It’s actually pretty chaotic that morning. We’re all throwing presents around, looking for our own, and throwing our purchased gifts to others.’
Kelly Nyge
-Merry Christmas Kelly! Just reading this part makes me so excited for Christmas morning tomorrow. As I sit here on Christmas Eve like 8 hours away from this morning that wont come for another year the simple words of ‘chaotic’, ‘throwing’, and ‘presents’ triggers so many happy memories. Haha have fun<333
I hate Christmas. Last year I got the worst present possible. Well, I guess dying could've been worse.....or maybe not. I'd have to think about it. They're probably about even.
So anyway, I'm not going to say what happenned, because anyone who should know already does. Long story short, Christmas sucks.
(Ok this is totally random, but The Wackness is probably the best movie to come out in the past 20 years. Check it out when you get the chance. Its soundtrack is even sicker than Garden State. Think 90s hip hop.)
"Do me a favor Steff?"
"What?"
"Don't say nuthin, ok? Just stand there until I leav. I wanna remember this. I've never done it before."
"Never done what?"
"Had my heart broken."
(Actually I forgot about The Matrix. Make that the past 9 years.)
Christmas doesn't suck just because of what happenned to me last year. It's deeper than that. It's deeper than the lies about Santa Claus, too. But I do have quite the biased opinion.
I'm an atheist. That's why I'm up at 3:24 a.m. on Christmas Day. I'm not wrapping presents or stuffing stockings, I'm trying to get myself tired so I can sleep through the depressing charade.
Christmas is a commercial holiday, created in order to help businesses. You think they celebrated it right when christianity was created? How about Easter? That's right, Easter's supoosed to be the all-important one, but instead people dwell on the holiday that brings their greed the most satisfaction.
Traditions? Well, my family has a few, but I only partake in one - buying gifts on the Eve. Then, they go to church. After church they stay up and decorate the tree if it's up yet. I really don't have a tradition for christmas. Ask me about my halloween traditions, but christmas is just.......meh.
This year for New Year's I have to work 12-7. (those are both A.M........fun)
But as far as the past goes: We always watch the ball drop on TV. We used to drink champagne when I was little, but then I guess they got it in their heads that I was some kind of adolescent alcoholic. I always have a resolution. Last year's was to go totally sober. This year's is probably going to be something girl-related.
I wish Hillary Clinton would stay out of the White House. She had her chance. We can't have a dangerous person like her as Secretary of State. I don't like it one bit.
Ok it's almost 4 in the morning.
"Sticks and stones break bones, but the gat'll kill you quicker
Especially when I'm drunk off the liquor
Smokin funk by the boxes, packin glocks is
natural to eat you niggaz like chocolates "
Gosh Darnit!!! To refrain from using innapropriate language!!! I forgot to post my blog. I feel both dumb and pissed because I just lost 50 points...well I did comment about others I just didnt post my own...but I am going to post anyway and hope you're really happy Bunje:)
Winter and fall are my favorite seasons. I love the cold, snow and cuddling up in my sweatpants with my fat dogs drinking hot chocolate. Love it! So, naturally the holidays and this time of the year are my favorite times. One reason why I love this season is because I enjoy seeing people happy. Although it may not seem like it for me, seeing people come together because of the act of giving and the warmth of a family is a really nice thing to witness. The only problem is that it takes wrapped boxes with plastic bows and a jolly man in a red suit to make it that way. Although I'm not speaking for everyone and deffinetly not the people in our AP classes, many people around the world just can't find happiness with the small things in life. Of course no one can say that they devote their lives to living every moment to the fullest because it's simply inhuman. Part of us being human and illustrating all of our complex emotions consist of the bad feelings too. This bog is now reminding me of the book we read at Mullica The Giver (shivers). Although I despised the book and it creeped me out, the message was very insightful. Living in a utopia is hypocritical. How can the world be perfect if you can't love, see animals in their natural habitat, or see the colors of the world? It can't be is the answer. That's why with all brilliant emotions of love and happiness must come to conflicting sides of hate and sadness. So, the holidays are a lovely time for me and my family because we can be together and share the warmth of our family with one another.
As far as traditions, we don't have many. We used to have a very strong tradition of every Christmas Eve going to the Nutcracker ballet in Philly with our family. We did it for about ten years, but getting older, we are to busy (sad). Still we have traditions of visiting our family. My dad's side of the family we enjoy a huge dinner at my grandparents house and I kick my younger cousins ass in combat (yes Wesley and Emery). On my mom's side, everyone come's to our house and we eat a huge exotic dinner, usually including awkward silences with my cousins cause I never see or talk to them anymore.
My favorite part of the holiday would have to be seeing the snow outline the trees and houses. Unfourtunatly because of global warming we are denied the lovely scene in south jersey, however, I was in the Poconos this Thanksgiving and seeing the snow and cute decorations, made my weekend. I can't imagine the holidays in California or Florida without a fire inside, and wearing shorts when eating Christmas dinner. Another favorite part of the holidays is how everyone celebrates different moments and traditions. When I was younger I though the only holiday was Christmas. Now I know and can learn of all the different holidays around the world and see how other people carry on generations of tradition.
My wish for the holiday is simply for everyone in the world to smile for something. Weather they are getting the new CD that the wanted, or simply getting food to make a Christmas dinner, I want everyone to be happy. Especially the people close to me, who I know are going through tough times. There's nothing I want more than for them to have a happy holiday withough sadness or regret. Happy Holidays <3
People enjoy the holidays because they give them something to distract themselves from what is happening in their daily lives. You don't have to worry about homework (generally), what you need to get done, or the things that you want to accomplish. You get to sit back and take in what seems to be a realaxing enviornment. Its kind of like a vacation without leaving your home. You get new things, see people that you haven't seen in a while, and get time to relax. I can't wait for the holidays to come, so I can just get a break from everything that is going on in my life.
When I think of Christmas, I think of obnoxiously bright lights, loud spanish Christmas dinners, and old people playing dominos until 3 in the morning. Every Christmas Eve we go to my grandparents house who are puerto rican. Most of the time I don't really know what is going on. There are a lot of old people that smell like cigars that attack you with a kiss on the cheek when you walk through the door ( most of these people, I have no clue who they are). I sit there only understanding bits and pieces of what they are saying. The next day, Christmas Day, I go to my dads side of the familys
party. They are on the complete other side of the spectrum. They are the loudest people I have ever known. They look like they are straight out of the Sopranos. I sit on the couch and watch football as I get attacked by my 7 cousins, who are all boys, ranging from the ages 15 to 25. My sister and I are the only girls there, and after a while it gets tiring.
I don't know if you could call it a tradition, but every holiday my family gets so bored that we practically always end up at some absurd, stupid, and uninteresting museum. Don't get me wrong, I really like looking at things in museums. Things that are interesting. I can't take three and a half hours of looking at the varying heartbeats of all the 'rare' animals in South Jersey. I really don't care what is the difference between what a squirrel and a rabbit's heartbeat is. But most of these excursions end at a Dave and Busters, so I willingly trudge along. I really doubt that I will continue this tradition in my family, because I know how much boredom it inflicted on me.
I'm not going to lie. I look forward to the gifts. I hate being supprised, and if you do happen to suprise me, then it is very well worth it, because I almost always find and figure out what all my gifts are. I can hold off until about a couple of days before Christmas, but as it gets closer, I start looking and searching and weighing all of the things that are hidden in my moms sloppy closet.
This holiday season, I wish that I can just sit in my room and play guitar hero, and have a moment to myself without being bothered.
Okay. To backtrack a little bit on my blog from earlier this week, allow me to apologize. I heard from a number of people that my blog was depressing and/or overly cynical (this means you Ali! =P) and I am sorry. I didn't take into acount that you would all be pretty pumped and that my blog might squelch that a little bit. However, since most of you probably didn't read my blog, I'm not too worried. Why I'm actually posting is to kind of revise the hate expressed continuously throughout my blog.
I really do hate the Christmas season. I'm not taking back any of the negativity I aimed at the time surrounding Christmas. And I do really hate the person my mother becomes over the holidays (which in turn means I hate the person my father becomes: AKA SUPER DOORMAT!!!). But Christmas itself wasn't totally awful. Okay, it was bad. But I really love my extended family (I'm actually closer in age to my aunts than I am to Burke and Aislinn. 0.o) and it was very nice to see them, even amongst the chaos and unhappiness. I also (good call Alice) spent from around 6 to around 12 at Tim's house, first handing out presents and talking to his very sweet grandparents, then partaking in a SupermegaultraextremeholidayWiiFunFest! Where I, playing for the very first time, kicked some major butt in bowling and did okay in tennis, earning further respect from Mrs. Jones, who is the funniest mom ever because she's 16 on the inside. It was a lot of fun, and I hope I'll be repeating the expirience next year.
So, in conclusion, bah humbug!
... and happy holidays. <3
Well, I hope this isn't late because right now I have no concept of time. What day is it? I have no idea.
People look forward to the holidays because the holidays means a break. No matter what you celebrate- whether it be Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa- it is a break from normal life. It isn't every day that you get to wake up to a decorated house or a room full of presents. It's a break from the boring sameness of dull coloring. The holidays bring joy and COLOR! And for the people who don't celebrate anything, the holidays at least bring discounts and bargains.
Personally, I love the holidays. I love the holidays because I love my family. I don't have any grandparents, and I don't have uncles or aunts or cousins who come to visit. It's just me, dad, mom, and Trev. Used to be Grady too, but he's gone. So I cling to the holidays with everything I have. Because my immediate family is all I do have. The holidays provide the precious time to spend with each other. Normally, Trevor isn't home because of college, I'm busy with some damn schedule or failing school or whatever, and my parents are both whooped from their stressful jobs. We're all zombies and don't really take the time to relax. Why? I don't know. We're so busy. However, the holidays come, and force us to relax with days off from school and work and whatnot. It's amazing.
As traditions go, we are an average family with the whole decorating-the-tree and stocking-hanging during the Christmas season. And watching A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve, which we have done way before it became popular. Anyway, we Rosenbergs have one quirky tradition. My mom has a special pickle ornament (not literally a pickle, a glass one)that she hides on the tree on Christmas Eve. When my brother and I wake up, we frantically search for the magic pickle because whoever finds the pickle first gets an extra present. My brother has kicked my ass the last five years. :( This year included. What the heck. Ha ha. Dumb pickle. We don't do anything on New Year's. We watch the dumb ball drop and yell Happy New Year. But seriously, who doesn't do that? Whoopdie do.
I'm definitely going to carry on the tradition of phenomenal food and pajama-wearing all day. And as long as I get to hide the pickle and not lose finding it, I would definitely do the pickle tradition too. :)
Hmm. If I could wish for anything for Christmas, I would wish that I wouldn't be a complete failure. Ha ha. Just kidding. I would wish for everyone to be happy. For people to stop killing each other. For people to stop starving. I would wish for no racism or discrimination. Those are a lot of wishes, but I think all of them could be lumped together under the category of "world peace." God. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.
Ahh.
"I wholeheartedly believe that the feeling you get during the holidays comes from your past experiences with it." -Jen P
I agree as well. People tie their emotions towards something with their passed experiences. And this doesn't necessarily apply to just the holidays, it could be anything.
P.s. sorry mine is short. I'm a little unfocused right now :/
P.p.s. This break sucks.
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