Countdown To Christmas!!

[flat-top]

The countdown has begun!
What are your plans? Traditions?

http://www.xmasclock.com/

 

[Edward]

My only plans for Christmas are to ignore it as much as possible until well into December. Plenty to be getting on with without that distraction for now. Otherwise, same old same old. Boycott the stores whose ads I hate (Marksies, I'm looking at you this year: not a penny of my money willyou see until you stop running that hateful rubbish with those kids off.... Pop Factor or whatever), shop, work, family tour of duty from 20th, home to London to recover on 31st.


When I rule the world it shall become a criminal offence to put up Christmas decorations or use such imagery in advertising prior to 1 December and after 6 January.

 

[Marshall]

Edward, I have to agree with you on all the early Christmas decorations. I really, really love Christmas, but some of the specialness is lost when decorations and music start in early November (I saw a few stores even start in October).

 

[Miss Golightly]

Can't wait for Christmas this year - I've already stockpiled lots of Christmas candles in various festive scents (cinnamon, apple cider, Christmas tree etc.), Christmas bunting and those reusable snowflake stickers (made the mistake last year of putting up non-reusable ones - took me hours/days to get them off our windows ) for windows. My daughter has started to notice Christmas trees and Santa (she saw a man with white hair and beard and assumed it was the man himself) so I imagine she will adore the tree this year.

Decorations will be put up after my birthday (6th December) and a tree maybe two weeks before Christmas Day - last year we got it a bit earlier and it was a husk by the 6th January and needles were everywhere (a real tree is a must).

I again agree with Edward - no decorations up before December and they must be down by the 6th January.

 

[Spitfire]

First of all I'll try to ignore it until AFTER my birthday (5th December) - then I'll still try to ignore it.
My wife and I have our 25 wedding anniversary the 26th of December, and we have booked a trip to Rome to celebrate.
So Christmas is cancelled this year.
Totally cancelled!!!!
No hectic shopping, no slaving in the kitchen, no race for gifts, no over expensive christmas tree, that gets thrown out after three days....just my son, my wife and I in Pantheon. Where we will exchange rings and drink champagne - we did not exchange rings when we got married, so I thought it was about time. That's our "christmas".

 

[Miss Golightly]

Spitfire - Christmas in Rome sounds wonderful - and so romantic too - enjoy!

 

[Edward]

Ah, that does sound good. One year I'm going to take myself to Prague over Christmas, I think.

I've seen manys a residential premise with the decorations go up early in November. In fact, there are, it appears, those who decorate fro Christmas as soon as Halloween is over. I'd be sick looking at the tinsel by the time November was out if I did that! It's been years since I decorated for Christmas at all. I have a little artificial tree and some bits somewhere, but as I spend from 20th or so until New Year away, it seems rather pointless to bother decorating the flat. The one temptation is to put up a tree to see how long it is before the cats coup it!

 

[m0nk]

This is the first year that I let my wife start stock-piling gifts before Thanksgiving has even hit. I'm not a fan of how early things get going, especially since it seems to get earlier and earlier every year. I think the season needs to start when Thanksgiving is over...

 

[Swing Motorman]

I always look forward to Christmas, and enjoy creatively decorating (when it's in season, of course. And I go by the common-sense Christmas calendar, not the artificially-lengthened Wal-Mart one.)

I have an artificial tree packed to go back to college. I started last year with decorating the tree in school colors, then adding only ornaments bought from community businesses, preferably ones with local landmarks or attractions on them. So, it becomes my "Community Tree," not only catching the community side of the holidays, but remaining relevant after all my other decorations are packed away. Maybe I'll clean the Community Tree up after Easter passes, though likely not before that.

That's my tradition. I'd love to hear some others!


-Steven

 

[kamikat]

This is the first year that I let my wife start stock-piling gifts before Thanksgiving has even hit. I'm not a fan of how early things get going, especially since it seems to get earlier and earlier every year. I think the season needs to start when Thanksgiving is over...

Doing the shopping early is actually a good financial move. I start my shopping in September, buy a couple gifts with each paycheck, none on credit. After Christmas is over, we have no big bills hitting us. If I had to wait until Thanksgiving to shop, it would have to all be on credit cards.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Since nowadays I'm fortunate that most of the people on my list more or less share my interests I'm able to spread out my Christmas shopping/stockpiling over the whole year picking up things little at a time, often in a serendipitous manner, when I go to the places I usually go.

 

[rue]

The decorations and lights will go up this weekend, which is what most Americans do right after Thanksgiving. Although, I have seen people with lights already up in October, which is very disturbing.

But I have already been listening to Christmas music every so often...... I'm kinda sick that way

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

The holiday season hasn't officially started yet and I'm already sick of hearing Jingle Bell Rock everywhere I go. It definitely belongs in the Holiday Edition of the Most Overplayed Songs.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Love the Christmas season! My favorite holiday,too! Plan to be with family for good eats..gift giving...with smiles and hugs all around..! So thankful for what I have been given and happily able to share.
HD

 

[AmateisGal]

We are staying home for Christmas this year, which is quite unusual. But it was requested by our daughter. Since both hubby and I have divorced parents, holidays are a hassle trying to go every place and spend equal time with everyone. Plus, it's a five hour drive home and by the time all is said and done, I'm exhausted and so is she.

So this year, no traveling for us. I hope to enjoy the season this year by going to some local Christmas concerts, reading Christmas stories, baking, decorating, watching some classic Christmas movies, relaxing, and really reflecting on the meaning of the season. My Christmas shopping is done except for a few gifts.

Also, since we moved into a house this year from an apartment, I can't wait to decorate our cute little Cape Cod!

 

[AmateisGal]

But I have already been listening to Christmas music every so often...... I'm kinda sick that way

Naw...not sick at all. I was having a bad day at work yesterday, so I decided to listen to the soundtrack from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (with Burl Ives). You cannot be in a bad mood and listen to that cheerful music. Perked me right up!

 

[Weston]

I may put out the lights today as we will be busy through the end of the week. I think I'm enjoying the music and decorating more than gifts. Economically I've not done real well as I had $1,000+ extra expenses last month.

I'm really not bothered at not giving presents. Since I'm a minister I don't have any worries of someone thinking I'm anti-Christmas or that I'm cheaping out. We just don't have it, and besides, everyone I know has whatever they need anyhow. It's actually difficult to find something for someone they want that they haven't bought already!

 

[Mario]

Although, I have seen people with lights already up in October, which is very disturbing.

What really annoys me is that many if not most shopping malls and big stores here in Berlin start their Christmas decoration by the end or even middle of October. It won't be long before we'll see Santa and the Easter Bunny punching it out big time.

When I was living in Amsterdam in the early 1990's I was shocked to find a shop that's selling Christmas stuff year-round. Back then most shops still had the decency to wait with their Christmas overkill untill mid-November. Them old times...

 

[LocktownDog]

Already annoyed by it all.

 

[DNO]

I saw houses fully decorated for Halloween...in September. I started seeing houses fully decorated for Christmas...last week. A local FM station, very popular with businesses for their phones and PA systems, started playing solely Christmas music last week. It starting to look like every holiday has become a 'season' and the commercialism...can't comment on that or I'll start frothing at the mouth.

Christmas is my favourite holiday/celebration but frankly I truly dislike the 'hullabaloo'. I may have to avoid this thread for another few weeks!