20 Questions: Christmas traditions
From Shelley’s Talk blog, comes this fun quiz…
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog is just for Christmas, Cocoa is all year long
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Always wrapped and set under the tree
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Both, but more white than not. It the darkness of December in Minnesota, white lights on things are essential.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Does a plastic mistletoe ball from Menard’s count?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
In October, my hubbie starts stringing the lights on the house and trees, pounding in the candy cane fence and star garden, and putting the huge sign and snowflakes on the roof, since we can’t predict when the cold weather will arrive. The inflatables, lighted trees and plastic figures come out of the shed right before Thanksgiving. Yeah, we’re one of “those” people…
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
I have no favorite Christmas foods outside of the cookies. My favorite dishes would be Thanksgiving-type foods.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.
Santa - visiting Santa and taking pictures, and then waiting for him to bring our presents. My parents really did a nice job with the Santa aspect of Christmas - not overdone or artificial, but very magical and sweet.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I really don’t remember any big revelations, other than secretly finding presents in the hall closet of our apartment one December that were later from Santa. I was the oldest of four kids, so I was expected to keep Santa alive for my siblings. I do remember once being told, around age 10 or 11, that if you don’t believe Santa is real, then don’t expect any Santa presents.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes! We get to choose one present. Lately, my parents have been having present opening on Christmas Eve, so family gifts get opened then.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
In a non-Kirby year, we have a beautiful tree up the weekend following Thanksgiving. Lights first, then garlands and then ornaments. Sometimes, we’ve had two trees; one more fun and kid-oriented in the basement and one in the living room with the more special ornaments. With an 8 month old 85 pound black lab, we don’t have our tree up and it is less than ten days before Christmas. For sure, my special ornaments won’t make it out of the Christmas box this year.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Snow is the most wonderful part of winter. I can’t imagine living without snow. There’s a song I love by Taylor Hicks that starts out, “It’s funny how my life changes with the snow…” My life, my world, revolves around the season, since each season in Minnesota is so distinct.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes! I love to skate. I prefer indoors and I love the smell of whatever chemical makes the ice frozen. Is that bad?
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I think it would have to be the huge castle my father assembled for my brother and I when we were around 4 or 5.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Christ is the center of Christmas, of course, and the season wouldn’t be the same without the Advent Services and Christmas Eve service. So, I guess that family, friends and community are the most important aspect of Christmas.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Cookies and candies, the homemade ones. Yeah, I have a big sweet tooth!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I love Christmas, but I know I love it most for the secular traditions that were born of a once-Christian culture: lights, trees, presents, songs, foods, etc.
17. What tops your tree?
A star or an angel…we have both and it just depends on how I decorated that year.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Well, I love to receive, but I also love to give. I like to think that most people put as much time into the presents they choose for me and as I do for them.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Caroling, Caroling by Natalie Cole
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
In a perfect world, I would live on candy canes.
Please copy this to your own blog, answer the questions and let me know! Thanks again to Shelley for creating this quiz!
TK!
Good post. May I borrow it if I have time to do this?
Absolutely! I meant to add that and, in fact, I just did. I would love to hear everyone’s answers. Answer below and on your own blog. That would be great fun…besides cleaning the house today and getting those last minute items for Christms.
They are really good traditions!
I found this from John Halton’s post. Love the details about how Kirby changed the holiday. Ha! Well, a dog is more interesting than any ornament could be.
I did my own post of answers, though I have to warn pious readers that it is at least PG-13 due to language and subject matter.
I took it., Got a sleeping babe in arms ATM…