Christmasposting

It's the holiday season and Christmas is approaching fast! I wanted to make this post to share my personal Christmas traditions and favorites. Funnily enough though, I wouldn't really consider myself an extremely festive person, but Christmas still has a place in my heart.

Traditions

So, I feel like I should start with Advent calendars. For those who don't know, Advent calendars count up to Christmas Eve. Each day has a door you open to find some sort of treat inside. Some of these calendars can be expensive, so my parents always bought my sister and me chocolate ones. Although I'm slightly out of the age range, Advent Calendars are still something I enjoy. Every year we also put up a tree, which my sister and I decorate each year. Next, Christmas lights! During December (when I'm home), I put up these colorful Christmas lights in my room. They give my room a colorful, rosy, glow. My father also likes to drive the family around to see Christmas lights and decorations in other neighborhoods. We are not affluent ourselves, but we live near some affluent neighborhoods that always go all out! This tradition is quite recent, and another one that is also relatively new in my family is baking sugar cookies. Before Christmas Eve, my family makes sugar cookies of varying holiday shapes with a simple icing. We got some new cookie cutters, one of which is star-shaped that I'm super excited to try out! On Christmas Eve I usually attend mass with my family. Naturally, it's special, as the service we go to has children reenact the Nativity scene. On Christmas day we open presents! Considering the state of the economy, I don't expect much in terms of gifts, but I asked for a portable keyboard, They Might Be Giants' Apollo 18 album, and a 2024 calendar. My parents always get some gifts we didn't ask for and we almost always get clothes. I wonder what else is waiting for me in those boxes?

My family keeps our decorations up until the end of the month. I put my Christmas lights up on the 31st and usually clean up for the new year. However, I'll go into more detail about New Year's when we get closer to that holiday.

Christmas Favorites

Movie: Elf. Although it can be quite juvenile, there is something to be said about Will Ferrell's performance as Buddy. This movie played seemingly endlessly during the end of my fall semester senior year. I think that may be why it has a place in my heart.

Tradition: Baking sugar cookies! It's super fun and I can get super creative with the icing.

Song: Star of Bethlehem. Surprise! A traditional Christmas song? Yeah...but it's from Home Alone. I like poppy Christmas songs, but I really like the traditional ones, even if I'm not that religious. This song is unbelievably beautiful, and I play it many times each season. Although it's a song for a movie, it was written quite well, and I'm surprised I haven't heard a church choir perform it.

Food: There are so many foods to choose from! Though I will say I like peppermint-flavored things. I think my favorite Christmas candy is peppermint bark chocolate.

Beverage: Hot cocoa, duh. It's super sweet, simple, and warm.