Christmas Traditions

[Teresa Edgerton]

Americans have been stringing Christmas lights outside their houses for as long as I can remember, which means more than fifty years. As things go here in the States, that's a venerable old tradition.

When handled with taste and artistry, the effect can be magical, but of course most of us don't have that much taste and artistry and many people carry it to extremes. I still think it's a nice idea, and the symbolism of a multitude of tiny lights suddenly appearing during the darkest part of the year is quite beautiful. (I understand that the practice doesn't carry quite the same weight in the Antipodes, where it's the middle of summer.)

Anyway, since the lights go up before Christmas, and people go to Church for Midnight services on Christmas Eve, or to morning services on the day itself, the two practices are not, of course, mutually exclusive.

[dwndrgn]

Loads of people still do Christmas services here, we just seem to commercialize the rest of it to death. I'll post up some neighborhood pictures as soon as I figure out how to do so since were using our second computer (which is definitely lacking in the graphics category).

We've spent the evening playing Trivial Pursuit (my fave) and losing (hopefully we'll have a rematch since we didn't finish - the pregnant lady had to get home). So now it's football (the American kind) for the rest of the evening.

[rune]

I like to see people decorate the outside of their house with christmas lights It's very pretty when you're walking dogs this time of year and xmas morning's a real treat as I tend to be up early and by then lots of homes are decorated up

[Mark Robson]

We have developed a few customs in our household. I'm not sure whether I could call them traditions, as they have not been established for enough years to qualify for that title, but they may amuse.

You may think we're a bit cruel with this first one, but in order to try to control our wayward 6 year old, we have been telling her that the motion sensors around the house (from the burglar alarm system) are actually Father Christmas's spy devices. This is how he knows whether she is naughty, or nice! She can always tell when he's watching because a little red light comes on (whenever something in the room moves, basically!).

Those who have read the Timothy Urpen diaries will also be aware of the other custom of what we leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. There's no milk or cookies in this household - it's a glass of whisky (single malt, naturally - only the best for Santa!) and some mince pies ... and, of course, a glass of special milk to keep Rudolf's nose red (baileys!). Sadly, we also have to leave out 8 carrots for the reindeer too, which all have to appear nibbled the next morning. You can guess who's job this is. The whisky does make up for it, though.

[dwndrgn]

Carrots are good for you...um...reindeer! Tell them they must clean their plates

I just wanted to post this article I found on the San Francisco Chronicle's website regarding the use of fake trees versus real trees for Christmas.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...NGADG8GN81.DTL

[Teresa Edgerton]

There was an article on artificial trees in the Chronicle yesterday, which I meant to share here. For a moment there, I thought you had beat me to it. But it's a different article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...OG78G71RQ1.DTL

I was surprised to learn that faux Christmas trees go back to the 1880s in Germany -- and that the small feather trees, currently in vogue, go back to that time and place as well.

[dwndrgn]

A 7 ft upside down tree?? Sounds like fun at the very least. Cool article (the Chronicle seems to be covering every angle). I also like the fact that both articles re-confirmed my dad's argument to me years ago. I feel so proud.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

A 7 ft upside down tree?? Sounds like fun at the very least. Cool article (the Chronicle seems to be covering every angle).

Yes, they are. Including 180 degrees.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Kelpie

Yes, they are. Including 180 degrees.

(this is where we need one of those smileys that shows ROFL)

[Teresa Edgerton]

One of these days, I may even take down those Christmas trees of mine. (One thing about the artificial trees, they don't remind you by shedding that it's past time for them to go.)

It used to be that everyone I knew took down their trees on New Year's Day, and I was the lone hold-out until Twelfth Night.

This year, when people drop in and I explain (somewhat embarrassed) that I haven't found the time to put the trees and ornaments away just yet, every single one of them has said, "My tree's still up, too."

I'm wondering how to explain this.

How about everyone here (those who even had trees this year)? When did you take yours down, or are you still thinking, "yes, I ought to get around to that one of these days"?

[dwndrgn]

Ours came down pretty quickly, here in Florida those needles come down quicker than I'm used to. Plus we're doing a lot of renovation work and all the decorations were in the way.

However, if you can do it, I don't see any problem with them staying up for as long as you want them.