Generally, I have discovered that I tend to compartmentalize in my life...finishing one thing before moving on to something else...and I tend to do this naturally and sometimes it works and sometimes it completely backfires and I am left unprepared for something because I have been so busy tending to other tasks....{like that run-on sentence?}....
As for the holidays, my crazy compartmentalizing habit serves me well.
Our Christmas tree does not go up until December {sometimes even the - gasp! - second week of December}. I happen to love Thanksgiving and I think it deserves our attention - pausing and giving thanks for our many blessings, enjoying a meal with family and friends gathered together and just being, at home.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but not for the reasons that our insane retail driven society wants me to. I love it for:
- baking with my girls
- advent calendars
- advent candles at church
- Sunday school Christmas programs
- Visiting Santa
- Watching A Christmas Story as a family {also Elf, The Grinch and The Peanuts}
- Getting Christmas cards from friends and family near and far
- Christmas music
- Spending time with family
- Reading Twas the Night Before Christmas to my girls before bedtime
- Candy canes in our hot chocolate
How about you? Is your tree or trees up already? Am I missing something?
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Hi Jill...my tree is NOT up and I guess it makes me feel kind of behind, but I'm an "after Thanksgiving" kinda girl :)
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian, our Thanksgiving was early in October. I love all the special moments about Christmas and getting ready for Christmas. Except Christmas shopping. I don't like shopping at the best of times, and even less at Christmas. The decorating for Christmas is something I do love though. My trees are always up by the first week of December.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I love Christmas, but we don't start celebrating until the day after Thanksgiving. As far as house decor, we hang stockings, get a tree, put a wreath on the front door and greenery/ball ornaments on the front porch and I hang a Christmas apron on my apron hook in the kitchen and that's it. I like to go minimal, because then I can really see/appreciate the things I do put out. And it's easier to store/clean. And I just don't like clutter.
ReplyDeleteAs far as celebrating during the month - I love doing an advent book every evening w/ the kids, making gifts, baking for the neighbors, advent at church, seeing all the houses w/ lights, Christmas cards (sending out & receiving), corny Lifetime channel romantic comedy Christmas movies, Christmas music & books. And I love our Christmas Eve tradition w/ my side of the family - watching football, playing games, church service, eating sub sandwiches, fruit & chips for dinner, reading the Christmas story from the Bible, exchanging gifts and watching a movie. And Christmas Day w/ my inlaws - stockings, brunch, games, walks, dinner, lighting the last advent candle, reading books and watching the kids play w/ their new toys.
I even like the day after - traveling home, taking down the tree, packing up decorations, using my new gifts, making New Year's Resolutions and hoping for snow! :)
Nope - you're not missing anything, Jill! lol! My tree will not go up til the 2nd Saturday in December. In fact we've stopped cutting or buying cut trees in favor of real ones that we can plant in the yard afterwards. Trying to wean ourselves away from all the commercialism and go more 'green'. Our inside decor will be very natural - no glitz or bling. Guess it's just the boho-chic in me! lol!
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
I don't have any tress up yet either. I have a strict rule about Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving - it's a no-no!
ReplyDeleteI do however start the next day and try to get the bulk of it done the first weekend. I find this helps take the stress out of the Holidays for me. I have the time for Holiday activities with the girls and plenty of time to enjoy the time together.
I can't even start to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my husband's favorite holiday. It is relaxing, great food and friends/family. I love Christmas for all the reasons you stated too. It definitely doesn't have to be as stressful as people make it. I have to admit that my kids have been begging to listen to Christmas music on Pandora and we have been loving it:-)
ReplyDeleteI can't even start to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my husband's favorite holiday. It is relaxing, great food and friends/family. I love Christmas for all the reasons you stated too. It definitely doesn't have to be as stressful as people make it. I have to admit that my kids have been begging to listen to Christmas music on Pandora and we have been loving it:-)
ReplyDeleteHello Jill....!!!
ReplyDeleteHeavens....I've been living under a ROCK this past month otherwise, what other excuse would I have for not KNOWING what the heck is going on with my blog mates....Yarrrrrr....I'm SO SORRY to read you've come asunder Lovey & hurt your ankle....I hope it isn't aching terribly as ankles tend to do when they've been manipulated the WRONG way....!!
I hope you're up & about SOONER rather than later....!!
Cheers from Oz,
Tamarah :o)
My kids started playing
ReplyDeleteX-mas music as soon as
the snow began falling.
I'm so happy that they
still find it all magic.
I find the shopping to
be stressful. In an ideal
world, I'd make everything,
but don't have enough of
that precious commodity
called time to make it happen!
I DO love the wrapping and
everything else, though!
Hope your ankle is on the
mend : )
xx Suzanne
I can totally relate. I resent the over commercialization of Christmas! I can't believe some people have already started decorating for Christmas and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Don't they get tired of it by Christmas time? I am going to decorate less this year because it has become such a chore. It shouldn't feel that way, so I'm going to change it up this year. I'd rather spend time doing relaxing things with my family than trying to "perfect" my home only to take it down weeks later! Thanks for sharing your opinion about it too. It's refreshing!
ReplyDeleteWe did much of the outdoor decorating before the big snowfall, but not indoors... Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteditto to everything you said. Gonna try something new with the tree this year. Hope to get all the family involved by doing it TG evening. We'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteMargo
I love Christmas too. I honestly with the season lasted longer. I try not to skip over Thanksgiving but it can be a struggle! No tree up for us until after we've had turkey though. that seems to be the hard and fast rule. I will admit that I listen to Christmas music for months before December and often for months after. I just love the music! I love your list of what you love about Christmas. Mine looks very similar!
ReplyDelete