Holiday Season

[-dlc-]

Christmas (and other celebrations) are fast approaching so I thought we could share some thoughts, feelings etc. Learn about other cultures and holidays that are celebrated.

 

Maybe tips on how to avoid overspending and/or some hot ticket items worth looking at (that may be a hit to the wallet).

Foods and favourite dishes.

 

Anything really

 

For those who find it a difficult time, maybe a place to share that and to find some support in here. We've built a nice little family/community so even those who are alone can find some company and conversation.

 

*****

 

For me, it's all about the feelings....the sounds, sights, smells and most of all, gathering of family and friends. Over the years, ours has really scaled down and it's a very small gathering of 6-8 people. I grew up with cousins, aunts, uncles and gatherings of 20 or more so it's a bit quiet. But nice...the people that matter are there. 

 

I love Christmas lights. Christmas music (NOT BEFORE DECEMBER), and the general build up and anticipation of the season. Again, I understand not everyone does...it can be a bit of a lonely time.  FTR, my Mom's brain cancer hit hard at Christmas time and it took me/us quite a while to move through that....Christmases were very low key and a little sad for awhile without her. We now honour her by playing poker after dinner (her favourite) and always make reference to times when she was still here with us. Keeps her here.

 

I'm out of work right now and am quickly depleting what little savings I'd built up. Home repairs, car, legal crap and am looking toward December. So will be scaling back a bit this year until I find a new job.

 

I always give my kids money (impersonal, but they live in very small apartments and scream DON'T BUY US ANYTHING). And that will be the case again this year ($$). But I also like to give some small, personal gifts and stocking stuffers. Something under the tree.

 

I have stored their ornaments from when they were little and will be creating a wall hanging sort of like this for each of them (a general reference below). Will put a few of their favourite ornaments on them. (They'll probably ask to store them at my house!!!)

I also made this recipe one year. I'm going to make a batch again this year...most of the family are vegetarians but for the few who still love bacon, this will be in the stocking. Nice little fancy jars of it. It was a HUGE hit.

https://johnstons.ca/rosemary-maple-bacon-jam/

 

 

.

 

So feel free to weigh in with...anything at all.

 

Gift suggestions, recipes, plans, sadness, happiness....whatever the season brings.

Do you get time off work? Are you planning on going anywhere?

[Snoop Hogg]

I despise Christmas music on any day before Christmas Eve. I also don’t like trees and lights etc. being put up much before Christmas. Maybe a week before at earliest. 

[runningback33]

I started listening to the Christmas Music Today, but  I don’t turn on outdoor lights til December 1st and the tree goes up for December 1 as well..

 

Also we go see the Lights at Van Dusen Gardens but haven’t done that since 2019..

Edited November 22 by runningback33

[RupertKBD]

Supposed to have decent weather this weekend, so I'll be putting up decorations. (when you live in PR, you take advantage when you have the weather)

 

I've already started on the Christmas Village. This is a photo from several years ago. I've expanded it quite a bit since then:

 

 

It's now close to twice this size. I'll post photos later, once I have it all set up.

[gwarrior]

Not going to lie, I'm not a big fan of Christmas. And it's more about the people at the mall, going mental over everything. Me working at Costco for 12 years never helps that, because everyone goes fucking nuts. 

And the fact I've had multiple family members pass in December makes I really hard to get into it. December 5th will mark 1 year since my grandma passed, and I can feel it weighing on me already.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

If you don't think Christmas decorations and music are appropriate before December, don't go to Japan. 

 

Some places had their decorations up November 1st. 

https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/event/christmas-market-in-hakata-2024/

 

Edited November 23 by 6of1_halfdozenofother

[Snoop Hogg]

I wish Mariah Carey would stay cryogenically frozen.

[-dlc-]

9 minutes ago, Snoop Hogg said:

I wish Mariah Carey would stay cryogenically frozen.

That song makes me cringe.

[Snoop Hogg]

Just now, -dlc- said:

That song makes me cringe.

Same here!

[smithers joe]

our christmases are winding down each year. when my wife was alive, she made christmas an event.

now i don't put up lights or a tree or decorations. we have a charlie brown christmas tree that serves the season.

now i only give my son and grandson gifts. a couple of months ago i bought my son a 4000.00 scooter. he's an old man too now.

that will be his xmas gift until i croak or the earth loses gravity and we all fly off into space.

pretty much my entire family are gone. i still enjoy some xmas music but not the over kill.

we had an only child and lavished him with multiple gifts when he was younger. later we thought that was crazy. we decided to just buy him 2 or 3 nice gifts instead. he opened those gifts and said, is that all there is. we were to blame for his idea of what christmas is all about.

i use to enjoy the closeness of family over the holidays, now it's just another day.

now for me just wishing health and happiness to everyone is my idea of christmas.

 

[Joe King]

Christmas I could take it or leave it. I do like a couple of Christmas songs. Rockin around the Christmas tree (hopefuly artificial or live tree not cut). Wonderful Christmastime and Takin care of Christmas.I can't help it I feel sad for all the cut trees. Many years ago I watched a show about being a cut Christmas tree through the eyes of the tree. Very sad.

[-dlc-]

1 hour ago, smithers joe said:

our christmases are winding down each year. when my wife was alive, she made christmas an event.

now i don't put up lights or a tree or decorations. we have a charlie brown christmas tree that serves the season.

now i only give my son and grandson gifts. a couple of months ago i bought my son a 4000.00 scooter. he's an old man too now.

that will be his xmas gift until i croak or the earth loses gravity and we all fly off into space.

pretty much my entire family are gone. i still enjoy some xmas music but not the over kill.

we had an only child and lavished him with multiple gifts when he was younger. later we thought that was crazy. we decided to just buy him 2 or 3 nice gifts instead. he opened those gifts and said, is that all there is. we were to blame for his idea of what christmas is all about.

i use to enjoy the closeness of family over the holidays, now it's just another day.

now for me just wishing health and happiness to everyone is my idea of christmas.

 

I overdid it with my kids, too, Joe. But I was trying to somehow compensate for them not really having a proper dad.

 

I scaled it back when I realized it was just "stuff" and they usually gravitated toward one or two 'special' toys/presents. My daughter's were a couple of little plastic Lion King figurines...played with them for hours! (I still have them). One time we bought my son a playhouse and...he didn't want to get out of the empty box! Could've saved $150!

 

You simply cannot "buy" happiness...you can give someone happiness by sharing time with them. 

 

Much of what you've said applies to us (mostly my Dad), Joe. I understand.

 

I don't buy a tree anymore...I buy a Christmas table top plant. I always had huge trees and the huge mess that came with them. Low maintenance now.

 

I do love my Bing and Frank music...in moderation. Not on an endless loop.

[Joe King]

4 minutes ago, -dlc- said:

I overdid it with my kids, too, Joe. But I was trying to somehow compensate for them not really having a proper dad.

 

I scaled it back when I realized it was just "stuff" and they usually gravitated toward one or two 'special' toys/presents. My daughter's were a couple of little plastic Lion King figurines...played with them for hours! (I still have them). One time we bought my son a playhouse and...he didn't want to get out of the empty box! Could've saved $150!

 

You simply cannot "buy" happiness...you can give someone happiness by sharing time with them. 

 

Much of what you've said applies to us (mostly my Dad), Joe. I understand.

 

I don't buy a tree anymore...I buy a Christmas table top plant. I always had huge trees and the huge mess that came with them. Low maintenance now.

 

I do love my Bing and Frank music...in moderation. Not on an endless loop.

Especially liked I don't buy a tree anymore. We have a artificial tree which we have had for several years.

[-dlc-]

6 minutes ago, Joe King said:

Especially liked I don't buy a tree anymore. We have a artificial tree which we have had for several years.

I felt the same way about trees, Joe.

 

Each year I'd feel sad as it was tossed away. I started buying potted ones and tried to keep them going outside but...no luck.

 

So now it's a plant the gets decorated year after year.

 

I've been looking into getting an artificial one...after the season I plan on getting one on clearance.