What is your favorite part of this holiday season?

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

Answers

My favorite part is night time, when everyone's lights are all lit up around their houses. I love looking at the Christmas tree after spending two hours decorating it and my most favorite is watching people open their gifts and seeing the thankfulness and appreciation of their faces - especially my 12 yr old niece. Christmas through the eyes of a child is the most wonderful thing about the season.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

Although I'm pretty good at making you think that you're spending Christmas with a twelve-year old. I'm all clapping my hands and shouting, "Yea!"

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

You know, I used to love EVERYTHING about the holiday season. I used to make my mother drive me around at night just so I could soak in all the decorations in my neighborhood. I loved making a Christmas list, shopping - and hoping that I had picked out the perfect gifts for everyone on my list, Rudolph, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, and all the other Christmas specials that populated the television dial beginning right after Thanksgiving, Christmas music on the radio...in all the stores...piped onto the streets...at home...pretty much anywhere really, the anticipation of a Christmas Eve snowfall (a fairly rare occurence in my part of the country, but something I have witnessed at least twice in my lifetime), practicing Christmas carols in choir,the Christmas Eve church service, and of course that magical moment between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning when it was almost impossible to sleep but when I had to get a few hours in before my mother would let my brother and me get out of bed, and finally - the moment when I would finally come downstairs and see the tree all lit up and the presents arranged beneath it. It was amazing.

The problem is, I grew up. Gradually, all the magic that was Christmas began to slip away, and I had no control over it. Real life got in the way, and one day a few years ago I began to realize that the Holidays no longer held the same magic that they once had. Like a bad movie on Lifetime, I have completely lost the Christmas spirit. Every year I try to recapture the feelings I had when I was younger, but the truth is, those days are long gone. My family has long since disintegrated into the final stages of what some would call "dysfunctional". There is no "home" to go to for the holidays, and it sucks. It especially sucks because I am CONSTANTLY bombarded with images of happy families and the "joy" of the holiday season. And around Halloween I begin to dread the coming months with the same passion that I once anticipated them. I have alot of friends, and they are very supportive, but the truth is that until you have experienced the sheer loneliness of a holiday without family it is impossible to imagine just how horrible this time of year can be. Thank God it's almost over.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

So far, my favourite part has been watching our bunnies hopping around under the Xmas tree, stretching up to the lower branches to eat the needles. It is Hallmark Cute. Also, there is an ornament with a Santa on it, and it has "Our First Christmas" and "1999" written on it that I like. Oh, and I like that we decorated our tree with about 80 CD's of AOL trial discs, and Microsoft Beta builds of Win95. They really light the tree up. And I love it when I get someone a present that they really connect with. That feeling rules.

This is the first time I have ever gotten into the Xmas thing. I kind of like it.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

My favourite thing about this season, pre-1996, was going to Gramma and Grampa Danicki's for a big feast of Polish food, chocolate bells and cashews. After Gramma died, it started to suck, but the past couple of years the best bit has been watching my nieces open their Christmas presents. And I don't even have to go home with them and suffer through their enjoyment of the xylophone, Play-Doh and other gifts I'm sure their parents hate us for buying.

Also, I miss the Christmas tree we always had at home. Somehow, a tree just doesn't look right without all of the ornaments and the under-the-tree village I'm used to, not to mention all of the shitty stuff I made in second grade hanging off of every other branch.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1999

This will be the second Christmas that I don't go home for the holidays, and it feels pretty damn good. I don't know about you, Humbug, but I would much rather hang out with friends or have my own movie marathon (the ones they have on cable are guaranteed to suck) than to spend hours traveling to go back to dysfunctional family hell.

See, after I made the trip back home, I would spend Christmas Eve with either my mom & stepdad or dad & stepmom, then Christmas day with the other pair (though both parents live in the same city, for some reason it always entails 3 hours of driving to go to someone else's house). Either way, someone would be pissed and I'd have to listen to my mom rant about how it's all a plot of my father's to weaken our relationship and to steal me away for Christmas and to drive her bipolar husband over the edge and back to drinking. After hearing hours of that, my brother would usually begin to yell, and would eventually storm out. One year I actually tracked him down and brought him back where we talked everything out- the year I saved Christmas. But now I realize that it's been forgotten and the same old shit happens again and again.

So last year I decided I wouldn't go home, despite protests from both sides of the family. Oh sweet relief! The lack of stress was like a present to myself. I did go home a month or so later, and was still able to spend time with my family, but without the "We all have to get along because it is Christmas!" edict looming over our heads.

What I suggest, Mr. or Ms. Humbug and anyone else with this problem, is that you check with your friends to see who else won't be going home this season and celebrate with them. You can pig out on Chinese food and swap horrible holiday stories and remind yourselves why you chose to stay away from your relatives. Or just stay by yourself, rent a bunch of non-holiday movies and make some really strong egg nog. Maybe take the money you would have spent on presents and treat yourself to a trip or an especially decadent gift. Of course, if you're in the spirit, you can always go to a shelter or soup kitchen and volunteer to remind yourself that the holidays can be meaningful and special if you give of yourself... Nahh, just go to a nudie bar.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

On the beach, paddling in the sea, lazing under the poutakawa trees.

Snow? Bah. I can't imagine Christmas not being in the summer.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

pamie: Pretty much all you said sums it up. I mean, my mom never got all crazy into numbering or anything, but we have done the same thing EVERY year.

My brother and I wake up at the BUTT-CRACK of dawn, we go to the fireplace and check out our stockings. We have an early breakfast of chocolate and then proceed to the family room to sort out all the gifts. We put each family members' into their own pile in their own "spot" in the room. Then, around 7 or 8 or so, depending on how antsy I am that year, we wake up my mom and dad (after starting the coffee for them) and I bug them, just like a little kid, to get out there so we can OPEN PRESENTS!

It's been the same, every year, since I can remember. I'm 26, and even though I'm married now (and with child!) I'll still be waking up in my parents' house this year at the buttcrack of dawn. There was only one year that I had to separate the gifts myself, and that was when my brother was in the Marines and stationed overseas. That year sucked.

I love Christmas time, because it's the only time of year that, as pamie said, the whole family is there. NO TV. NO stereo. NO games. NO *gasp* COMPUTER. Just us all sitting around, drinking coffee and hot chocolate, opening gifts and being a graet family.

It's awesome, and I can't wait to give my child the same gift of love and family for christmas.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

this entire month is my favorite time of year - the smells, the colors, the lights. being a christmas eve baby (and NO, i never get jipped) *i think* contributes to my feelings during this time.

my favorite times? bundling up and piling into the car, late at night, and admiring all the decorated homes - in all their gaud! hot cocoa by the fireplace. ice skating. ok, i must confess, as a child, my favorite christmas album was kenny rogers. yup, i'm a dork. the smell of a housed christmas tree. white lights. baking cookies. as a child, seeing my poppie dressed as santa. new york city. giving gifts. wrapping gifts. guessing what people are giving me. snow crunching under my feet. tree-trimming parties. seeing my kitty sleeping under the tree - after she has pushed all the gifts aside to make room for her 14 lb. body. CANDY CANES. gold glitter. stocking stuffers. being with my family.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

I think that pretty much all of Christmas is great. I mean, yeah, it WAS different as a child, but it's still fun. I still have trouble falling asleep the night before and even though I try to act cool in the morning, there is still a part of me that wants to run to my parent's room and ask if it is okay to go open presents yet(this usually had to wait until 6 a.m.) But, there are different things that I look forward to now. Like, all my friends from high school come home and I plan a big chill kind of reunion thingummy for us, I get to sing at an alumni choir concert with my old voice teacher and friends. It's so beautiful to see people who you haven't even thought of since graduation standing across from you in a big chapel, everyone holding candles and singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You". I even make it up to Pittsburgh to see some of my college pals. We all go out to lunch and giggle. It's wonderful. We still open the presents and yeah, it's still exciting. I still try to catch Rudolph, Frosty and Peanuts. Hey, I even saw Olive the Other Reindeer and CinderElmo this year. They were great! And, my all-time favorite---Emmett Otter's Jugband Xmas---had to buy that one. My friend Liz and I used to watch that together every year. We've grown apart, but I always think of her when I watch it. Christmas is about love and kindness and togetherness. That's something that should be celebrated year-round. Merry Christmas, Pamie and Everyone!!!!

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

I love Christmas trees. I love'em. i love'em. i love'em. Especially the mid size fake ones that come out every year and have all the sentimental ornaments made in the kitchen or in second grade or was sent by a relative who put your cousins name on yours instead of your name. I love the multicolored lights and the way a dark room is suddenly filled with magic when you plug it in. As a kid I used to sit for hours in my dark living room (when i should have been sleeping) and just stare and stare. I'd hug my favorite stuffed chicken (don't ask) and think of all my favorite fairy tales and just be convinced that in this light, this magic x-mas tree light anything was possible.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1999

I moved to Australia from the US three years ago and Christmas here SUCKS! First of all, it's hot. Hothothot - like 90 degree hot. And humid. Ever cooked a christmas turkey in the middle of summer? Let me tell you, it's no fun. And the live Christmas trees here are pathetic - they only have the long needle kind (no firs) and every single tree in Sydney seems to have been on an overcrowded tree truck for too long because the branches stick straight up. Looking for massive, gaudy Christmas displays? Ain't gonna find them. No one puts lights on their house, the decorations in downtown Sydney are practically nonexistant (except for the horrid old giant toys they bring out every year and throw all over Town Hall) and I've yet to see one Santa Clause lawn display. Not even a Baby Jesus/Manger thingy.

Ho ho ho. It's very hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you don't have Thanksgiving to kick things off.

Man, when did I turn into the Grinch? (which, by the way, they never ever show on TV here! And a Charlie Brown Christmas? Forgettaboutit)

This is the only time of year I get homesick.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1999

You know, Christmas has been very disappointing since I turned eighteen and my mother formally announced in front of my entire extended family that since I'm now an adult, I'm not entitled to presents (except for the single present we get in the family drawing.) I mean, she still gets me a present every year, but A present, and no stocking. I don't know about you, but I'm all about stockings. I'm thinking of striking a deal with my mother- I stop tormenting her at family gatherings with lewd commentary and she makes sure I'm provided with a stocking every year compliments of Santa. (when I was nine, I told her that I hadn't believed in Santa Claus since I was about three. I was only mentioning it in passing, but it broke her heart. The next year, none of the presents under the tree were from Santa, and I threw a fit like you wouldn't believe. Until I was seventeen, she never did it again. Christmas when I was eleven was complete with not only milk and cookies, but 70% of the presents were from Santa AND my mother apologised that so few of them had come from her. She said she didn't have enough time to do all the shopping, so she farmed out most of my list to Santa in order to make it easier. "That's better," I thought.

I mean, Christmas is all about tradition, and having a Christmas without Santa Claus felt flat and disappointing. I mean, half the fun of Christmas is the anticipation- not only of what you'll get, but IF you'll get anything. Will the tree be bare when I wake up? Will my stocking be full? Will the cookies I left for Santa be eaten?

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1999

Ahem. Well I'll be opposite here... I love xmas in Australia.

It's very easy to feel that way when you've grown up with it though. I do understand however... I work with a Pomm and a Swedish girl, and they tell me about everything that we don't have over here. But one of the nice things about xmas here, I believe, is the ability to go the beach for Christmas. I love meeting up with my friends after a Chrissy breaky of prawns and berries, and mucking around in the surf for the rest of the day... I couldn't imagine being confined to a house - I would probably suffer from relatives over-exposure and start walking into walls.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 1999