This year, for reasons unfathomable to me, I found that the holidays snuck up on me. (Then again, I think I’ve been a bit off since April…) I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with something witty, or interesting, or sentimental, or just plain fun, and I’m coming up short. It’s not that I don’t have any memories to share, it’s just that I lack faith in my ability to adequately share them. (At least to my satisfaction.)
So, to add one more list to what has become a year of lists, I’m sharing my top ten things I love about Christmastime. Since — even though they were sneaky this year — I do love the holiday season. It really is, as that song says, the most wonderful time of the year!
10. Shopping. Okay, so I’m crazy, but I love Christmas shopping. In December. Sure, the crowds are nuts, and the stores are crowded, but it’s so much fun choosing gifts and being part of all the excitement.
9. The advent calendar. Not just this book blogger one (which I do look forward to), but our own family one. When I was little, my mom had a calendar and every day there was a note with what we were going to do that day. Sometimes is was simple like “get out the pine cone wreath”, others more adventuresome, like “Tonight we will go to the Nutcracker.” I’ve kept this tradition with my girls. It’s a lot of fun for them, and (honestly) it keeps me organized!
8. The Nutcracker. It’s the first ballet I remember seeing. It’s the ballet that I share with my girls every holiday season: when they turn four, they get to go and see all the wonders that the Nutcracker has for them. We’re blessed to have a halfway decent one in town (I’ve been to some pretty lame ones), but the best, if you’re ever in Salt Lake City at Christmas time, is Ballet West‘s. I know I’m biased, because it’s the one I remember best from my childhood, but, really, it’s perfect.
7. Christmas lights. I love driving around, as the world slowly turns to the darkest time (at least here in the U.S.) and seeing all the light displays in the neighborhoods. Bonus points if they’re glowing in the snow. There really is nothing prettier than Christmas lights on the snow.
6. The music. I whine and moan and complain about Christmas songs being played before Thanksgiving, but honestly, I love the stuff. Whether it’s carols, or classic songs, or the poppy songs, I love it. And I love singing along. Which brings me to…
5. Caroling. Love it. Yeah, it’s cold. But, really, the most fun I’ve had at Christmas time is going around with a group singing carols at random (or not so random) houses.
4. The goodies. I’ve mentioned I love to cook, haven’t I? Well, Christmas brings out the best in my cooking. I’m pretty sure that when my friends see me coming with my plates of cookies, they groan and moan… but you want to know a secret? I give away the food because I want to make it for myself, and I don’t want to eat it all. And what’s on the plates? Sugar cookies (lovingly cut and decorated by the girls), fudge, Christmas Bark, mint bars, Divinity, toffee, Lizner cookies, lemon bars, and whatever else I can think of. (What do you want a recipe of?)
3. The decorations. I go all out at Christmas time: the house gets a makeover. On November 30th we get out the boxes (all dozen or so of them) and unpack all the Christmas decorations (except the tree). Perhaps the best part is being surprised at what is in the boxes (“Oh, I bought that last year?!”) and telling the stories about the items and how they ended up in the boxes. We film the tradition for the grandparents, so they can share in with the chaos and the silliness of it all. Then, on December 6th, we put up our 9 foot, artificial (M has allergies) tree. Again, there’s silliness and chaos, but the end result — of it all — is wonderful. One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is sit in the living room with the lights off, except for the tree, and the candles lit. It’s peaceful.
2. Christmas Eve. When I was in high school, I had several friends who were Catholic, and they went to Midnight Mass. This idea intrigued me — my church doesn’t have any Christmas Eve services at all — and so when I got married, I told Hubby that was what I wanted to do on Christmas. We don’t always go to a mass (though we have been to a couple over the years), but we do drag the girls to a service. We have a small, simple, candlelit dinner beforehand, and we always watch It’s A Wonderful Life after. It really is a perfect way — for us — to celebrate the holiday.
1. My girls faces on Christmas morning. There really is nothing more special than seeing the wonder and excitement in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning. It really is the best part. š
What’s your favorite part of the season?
I’m not the only stop on the calendar today. Be sure to check out the others:
Chris @ Stuff As Dreams Are…
Stephanie @ Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-a-holic
Lilly @ Reading Extravaganza
The Book Nut 
What a fantastic list. It's very clear how much you love Christmas, and it's great to read about all your favourite things.
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thank you for the list
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Great list! I also love Christmas shopping. I also really like all the Christmas specials. Some favorites are The Christmas Story and Elf.But my favorite thing about Christmas is the music. I love singing Christmas songs!
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I did the bulk of my christmas shopping either online, or throughout the year. Anything to avoid the December crowds!
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Loved your list!
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Outside of the shopping scenario, which the claustrophobe in me avoids as much as is possible, we share many of the same holiday adorations. As a child my parents would pile us in the car and we'd just drive around neighborhoods looking at all the lights. It was one of my favorite things!
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A very nice list indeed! But don't forget sledding! š
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You know, one thing I've never done is caroling. I think it's an awesome tradition and really does add cheer to the season but I have too many inhibitions to ever want to do it myself. But it's fun.
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It's funny that the one thing everyone's latched on to is the shopping! š Meryl — I'd love to remember sledding, but here in Kansas we 1) don't have many hills and 2) don't get much snow. So, alas, one of the things I loved as a kid, my children don't get to share in. š¦
Oh, Lilly, shed your inhibitions! It's not how well you sing: get in a group and go out and enjoy belting out the tunes. There's nothing like it to get one in the holiday spirit.
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What a great list! The advent calendar sounds like a wonderful idea. We have the one with candy in it -my mom fills the pockets each year, but your idea sounds so great. Most of my favorite parts have to do with the food I eat.
I agree about the shopping. Just being a bit organized and starting early enough, and then I quite enjoy walking around and picking out the perfect gift.
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Advent calendars are so wonderful! We have a lot of Christmas traditions in my house and I love this time of year. Thank you for your list.
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Great list! I can relate to most of them myself. Thanks for joining in with the Advent Calendar and Happy Holidays!
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Excellent choices! My favorite is seeing delight on people's faces, too.
Stop by my blog if you get a chance and take a look at my list of favorite children's Christmas picture books.
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I love this post! It could be my own list of favorite things about Christmas, including the Ballet West version of the Nutcracker, which I dearly loved growing up and as a grown up!
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I loved everything on your list. I also like to sit by myself and look at the tree lit up in the darkened room. And The Nutcracker – I can't have Christmas without it!
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Aw – this post made me happy. I love it all: the lights, the music, the decorations, and yes, even the shopping.
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Great list! My partner grew up in SLC and he agrees that Ballet West's production is amazing.
And I love your mom's version of the advent calendar. How great you've continued the tradition with your girls!
-sprite
spritewrites.net
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What a great list! It really puts me in the holiday spirit:-)
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I love your list! I too love lights glowing in the snow.
Would it be possible to send/post the recipe to your lemon bars? I am totally in love with all things lemon lately (have no idea why) and would love to try it.
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I love all the stuff on your list – even the shopping. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Sounds like it's snowing at your end of the state.
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I have to pretty much agree with all you listed… except the shopping of course. I don't get it. But sitting by the tree and just looking… I for sure get that!
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I love your list!! It is so rewarding to see some traditional things endure and some new traditions emerge. How well I remember Grandma M taking me to the BW Nutcracker when I was little (It was the Utah Civic Ballet back then). We would sit on the very last row of the balcony because that's all we could afford, but it was worth it!
Love, Dad
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Oh, that's a great Advent Calendar tradition!! I should mention it to my sister as she might like to do something similar with her 3 year old. They have a homemade Advent Calendar now.
I love a lot of those things too – except the shopping! I can't stand shopping any time of the year but even more so in December! š
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Very fun. Ballet West truly IS the best. That was the first time dancing made me cry. Beautiful.
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