1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Please don’t make me choose, since I love both of them. I’ve been known to ask for a mocha latte in the middle of a heat wave, and to make eggnog from scratch (using pasteurized eggs) in the middle of summer.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa leaves them sit under the tree. Relatives and family wrap gifts. It was the same when I was a little girl, so why bother to change it.
3. Colored lights or white on tree/house? Colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually around the 21st. When I was a kid, we didn’t put up decorations until our public school was over. One time when our sons were in grade school, we all put up the tree on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. They stay up until Epiphany, January 6, which is when the Wise Men finally did their visit.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? French Toast with real maple syrup and sausage links. It has been Christmas breakfast for at least 18 years.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The second time I got Kristine, my baby doll. I’m pretty sure that was the same year I had the mumps over Christmas vacation.
There were 4 daughters in our family, and money was tight. Getting new dolls for each of us would cost too much. Kristine was maybe 2 years old. My mother says the doll had been a Christmas present before, but I remember her being in Dad’s suitcase when he got home from a trip.
Anyway, it wasn’t my turn to get a doll. Knowing that I loved baby dolls, my mom felt a bit bad. She sneaked Kristine out of my bed, washed and set her hair, cleaned her up real good (even getting the ink off her cheek from where my little sister had marked her).
My Aunt Sylvia had sewed all new clothes, and Grandma crocheted a new hat and booties.
When I woke up, and Kristine wasn’t in bed with me, I got so upset. My sister and I went downstairs, and there was Kristine looking beautiful on top of the pile that was mine.
I was so glad to have her again that I forgot to open my gifts until my sisters had already done all of theirs.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth? Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the hard-working elves live at the North Pole and use a sleigh and reindeer to deliver gifts to all the good boys and girls of the world. I hear that Polar Express sleigh bell ring all the time.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually. When I was young…NEVER!!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? We haven’t had a big tree for at least 5 years. We had a nice artificial tree about 6’ high for several years. It was a mess of colored lights and sentimental ornaments. The cats loved it. I have a picture of Oscar’s face peeking out from the branches.
11. Snow, love it or dread it? As long as I’m not responsible for shoveling anywhere other than the home place, I’m fine with snow. The years I was custodian at the church, well that responsibility and those long sidewalks got dreadful.
12. Do you know how to ice skate? I used to. Haven’t been on skates since I was 4 months pregnant with firstborn.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? It is a Christmas ornament. The second Christmas after we were married, my husband went over to a little church and took a beautiful picture of the stained glass window featuring the Holy Family. He then printed the pictures as wallet size, glued them to a high quality cardboard, then punched holes around the edges. He also typed up labels for explanation for the whereabouts of the window and glued it to the back.
I crocheted through the holes in pretty colors of yarn to make a nice border. We sent them out in Christmas cards, and passed them out all over the place. My spouse took so much effort and talent and thoughtfulness, and we both worked to make the ornaments happen.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Getting cards and letters from friends and family who don’t communicate much the rest of the year.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I could eat pumpkin squares anytime
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Taking the day off
17. What tops your tree? Has always been an angel, even when I was young. Ours is in a box, but I still have it if we ever decide to do a big tree again. It came from my mother when she was an AVON Lady. I think she is so pretty that I bought one to send to my sister-in-law in the state of Washington and got a nice card back.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving. When I give, I can forget about it. If I receive, I have to write a carefully worded note of Thanks, then think about what to do with the item.
19. Favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night, on my Donny Osmond album
20. Favorite flavor of Candy Canes? Peppermint. Although one time I did receive a cherry flavored from a local candy shoppe and it was quite tasty. They make their stuff in small batches, with somebody right there doing prep. I’ve never tasted anything awful if it comes from The Chocolatier.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Others who have written about Christmas
Laura’s is a bit different but is a part of the season
Susie is having a recipe exchange
Owlhaven has invited everybody to her Christmas Carnival
Platypus lives in Great Britain and is following Susie’s Cookie Exchange
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