Do you have a favorite memory of Christmas past?

Mine is of being at my grandparents house with the aunts, uncles and cousins; they always had the most beautiful tree and it was decorated with those old bubble lights which I remember being fascinated with. =)

Another memory comes to mind not as a fave, but rather it is the only one I ever spent away from home; that's the year I was serving in Korea and woke up Christmas morning with both a cold and hangover. =(

Hi Ghostdancer:

I have a lot of good Christmas memories. I think the main one, is when I was about 4 and my sis was like 8. We used to get up in the wee hours to see if Santa had been there yet. I remember one Christmas Eve in particular, I woke my sis up, probably about 3 a.m. She and I proceeded to creep down the hall towards the living room where the tree was. There was a door which led in there from the hall, and then on the other end of the living room was the dining room and a door led out from there into the kitchen. Anyway, we stood in the hallway whispering, "You go first... no you go first." It was like Christmas was magical, and yet a lil creepy at the same time, wondering if we were going to open the door and surprise Santa. Finally, I slowly opened the door and stuck my head in there. The lights were on, on the tree and there were all our gifts which Santa had left. Only thing is, I heard the other from the dining room close as we went in and it scared the bejesus out of me. Of course, when I got older, I realized it had been my dad, and he had barely got done putting the stuff under the tree when I poked my head in the room. So, he exited really fast out the door from the dining room to the kitchen. That still makes me smile at Christmas, remembering how full of magic it is for children.

Pate

[ February 07, 2005, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: SavannahSilkie ]

Ghostdancer this is a wonderful idea, sharing Joy is what Christmas is all about.

Gosh so many joyous memories it is hard to pick just one. If I think back to when I was just a child I would have to say the little magic that my folks would put into Christmas made it so wonderful. From family traditions passed on to new ones made. Christmas Eve was and still is a special part of our celebration, it is when we all gather together. After dinner we gathered by the tree to sing carols (still do) and then we were permitted to open one small gift each. After we would hang our stockings with great anticipation for Santa's arrival (we all searched for one of Dad's biggest socks as we did not have real ones back then). My Dad would always make little hoof prints in the snow and when it was getting near our bed-time he would jingle bells (from a different room) and my sister's and I would race to the window thinking it must be Santa and his reindeer. When we would see the hoof prints our excitement exploded. Mom & Dad would tell us that Santa must have come but left because we were not yet asleep and if we quickly ran to our beds while we dream Santa would return. Well it worked for off we would dash, that is until we were old enough to realize Santa was really Mom & Dad.

Along with many family traditions we passed on the building of excitement with our kids. I have to add that my memories of watching my sons excitement each Christmas and the sharing of family traditions with them is as much a favorite to me as my own childhood memories. =)

[ December 09, 2004, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Cat ]

I remember Christmas 1971 and 1980 for one thing; the temperatures were warm in the 70's and 80's. That's uncommon even in Tucson's climate.

I can't remember one particular Christmas, just bits and pieces from childhood. Most years, it was a bit of a tradition to have Mexican food on Christmas Eve. We would travel across town to a little tamale stand where Mom would buy the tamales. Mom would spend the day making guacamole and all the other yummies for dinner that night. There would always be tons of decorated cookies, gingerbread men, etc...Lots of fun! It was also a big deal to drive and look at the Christmas lights around the neighborhood. I occasionally still do the Mexican feast on Christmas Eve, but this year, we'll be having another theme with Brianna's birthday being that day.

In some ways, my parents were very much opposites of one another. Mom was very meticulous, highly organized. Dad on the other hand, was very creative and exhuberant. As a very small child, I admit being a little confused over Santa's habits. It seems that some years (when Mom put the presents out), everything was in nice, neat little stacks, still in boxes. Now, when Dad played Santa, it was great -- everything was out of the box and set up. Tea sets looked like they were ready for a party, with a new doll sitting ready to invite me to share, train sets were up and running before I was, etc... It always looked like Santa had stayed awhile, enjoying my toys. The cookies I had left were crumbs, usually one left with a big bite taken out of it. Dad really used his imagination and got into it. This year will be Brianna's first year to really enjoy Christmas, although she still isn't too sure what's going on. I'm hoping to create the same kind of atmosphere for her that I had. Now, if it were left to James, everything would be left in boxes in orderly stacks under the tree.