Every christmas I remember was spent in Park City Utah, gathering in front of a twelve foot tree with my cousins, tearing open colorful wrapping paper. Christmas means family, snow, skiing, and hot chocolate. My Grandmother, Grammy, built a house in Park City with the intention of it becoming the “Christmas House.” For me and six of my closest cousins, that house represents Christmas and family. My memories of the house start when I am about six years old. I can still remember the original furniture and configuration of the house. Grammy, being an interior decorator, was always changing the order of things. It became a tradition, every time we came to the house, the furniture would be unrecognizable, but it still maintained its homey qualities. The exterior of the house was covered with Christmas lights in all possible locations that could be reached by our parents. Grammy was tried to outdo herself every year. Although she could not hang the lights to her satisfaction, she had a very specific vision for us to follow. The house emanated warmth. The color scheme was a cool pine green, combined with a faded red that appeared as if it had endured a storm too many. The inside was almost exclusively wood-finished. Large beams stretched across the cozy living area and connected with the stone fireplace that housed a sizzling fire. I worried about the well-being of Santa, and questioned how he managed to avoid the fire while delivering his gifts. Christmas Day was the most
A Review of Penne Restad’s Christmas in America: A History Penne Restad’s Christmas in America is a demonstration of the change in American acceptance of Christmas and the understanding of what the holiday is. The book shows that the evolution from the humble European origins coming together in the United States through the 18th and 19th centuries cumulating in an amalgamation of different traditions to create a more unified American holiday. Events that propelled the solidification of the holiday are specific to the geographic separation creating pockets of cultural tradition to emerge without relative interference. The bedrock of Christmas history in America paved the way to ritualistic materialism in the 1800s that continues today, accessible
Dear family for Illinois,remember when it was snowing that a fell in the snow and came out cold and wet and the sleds that we would go to MC Henry in Woodstock and grama would make us hot cocoa it was the best day of my life.well it started in December when we spended all the time sleeping there well all my family can to come over and say hi and had a nice time . well you think that all no no no when Christmas can everybody came to celebrate and was so cool but the best gift was the family that was there was like you will never get cold because you know they will always be on your back.
My grandma’s living room, particularly at Christmas time, is one of my favorite places to be. Ever since I was young, I can remember going to my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve and having the time of my life. Every aspect of Christmas Eve at my grandma’s house gives me so much warmth and joy to think about. All the traditions, memories, and laughs that are exchanged on that one night, in that one room, every year, will always remain priceless to me.
Christmas, the pinnacle of every holiday and the one day in the year where families gather around, exchange gifts, and honor the birth God's son. This would be the meaning of Christmas for most families but... my family's another story. You see, my cousins make a trip from Texas to North Dakota to visit us for Christmas every year. I know what you're
Waking up early on Christmas was always a thing my brothers and I did when we were younger. What made those moments so special was all the decorating we did in the week before. Decorating the Christmas tree was always one of my favorites. Seeing the same ornaments year after year never got old for me. I remember stringing out the tangled lights we used for the outside of the house all throughout the yard. I would hand my brothers a string of lights as he stood on the ladder supported by the house. I always enjoyed putting up the little snowman and gingerbread houses throughout my living room. As you get older all the decorating and family time seems to decline, so spending time with family on holidays were always
Every year I celebrate Christmas with both my mom and my dad's side of the family. This year I got a new pair of Nike tennis shoes. My aunt always prepares this wild game of scavenger hunt. There are two teams the one that I was on lost. Christmas is always full of laughing
Decorating was a family affair, each ornament hung with care. Wreaths, bells, and tinsel filled the shelves while toys were being built by Santa’s elves. Holiday sales at every store dolls, toys, and games galore! People strolled through the walk of lights while extended family planned their flights. Hot cocoa sipping and warm coats, sniffly noses and sore throats.
Probably the biggest tradition I have along with the rest of the family, is Kris – for the last 30 years – her Christmas Eve party is over-the-top spectacular. She does such a beautiful job with decorating the house. We've had the same Santa Claus for 25 years. It's a great time for our family, a great time for all our close friends. It just really kicks off our holiday season perfectly, and it certainly is a lot of
What would you say if you had to explain Christmas to someone who knew nothing about it? You might begin with the shepherds in the fields by night or Santa at the North Pole or even the druidic appeal of a winter festival that comes just when the sun seems most meager. Redemption and rejoicing, feasting and singing, humility and awe — these would all be parts of your answer, as would the perennial cast of characters who people this turning time of year. The personal explanations would come easiest: the rituals of Christmas Eve, the smell of fresh balsam, the stillness of a world cloaked in snow. You would probably have something to say about the importance of family and the force of a holiday whose strongest emotions center upon children, and
I was very drawn to your practice and or custom of celebrating Christmas. July of this year I will be fifty-three years old, its fair to say I have seen my share of Christmas come and go. I certainly feel that in today’s hustle and bustle during the Christmas season of who can buy the most or biggest or best present is not the sprit of the holiday. Many have forget or got lost in the bright lights of the holiday and lost the true meaning of the holiday, that is something I make a great effort to bestow upon my children every Christmas so as they will not loose the true meaning.
I remember waking up on Christmas day with a huge smile on my face, heart full of joy, and my stomach barking. I can smell all the spices cooking down stairs. As soon as I got out of bed I will rushed down the steps into the kitchen to see what my mom had prepare for us on this special day. We had different variety of food turkey, stuffing, ham, bake beans, mac and
What is Christmas to you? We know it as a time to spread joy and cheer. To wake up on christmas morning hoping santa came to bring all your gifts and see if he ate the cookies and drank the milk you left out. A moment to remember with family you might not see a lot. The one cheerful time of year that always comes out a beautiful memory.
Twas the night before Christmas, pale and yellow moonlight illuminated a house deep in the woods. Tall pine trees surrounded the house, like giants pointing at the inky black sky. Flurries of snowflakes swirled in a hurry around the house. The house stood alone and abandoned, adorned with Christmas lights, but not the ones you would see on any ordinary house. Some lights were fading, once bright and colorful but now a former shell of what they once been. Others burned out in a spark while the ones left were shattered. The front door was decorated with a rug that could be mistaken as an animal. The tree inside the house was not in the most pristine condition, either. The tree slumped in a dark corner. The top of the tree stretched out like bony fingers grasping at the air. The shiny, glinting ornaments that once fashioned the tree were now shattered. The wallpaper plastered to the wall was now peeling off, like it was rotting. The paint on anything on the house was now faded and chipping away. Stale air filled with dust occupied the house. The house was indeed creepy and not in the most pristine condition. Even more mysterious, the house would only ever appear on the night of Christmas Eve. Despite this, many local teenagers and explorers were drawn to the house. Anyone who was brave enough or dumb enough would enter and see the house in its deteriorated state. One Christmas Eve night many years ago, an explorer had stumbled across the house. He had been in the snow for what
It was Christmas Eve so as usual my parents who were the last minute kind of people were hanging up the rest of our Christmas decorations and lights. Here in Riverbend Estates, everyone went all out with the Christmas decorations. Walking down our street was the most magical feeling.
My grandmother’s house has a very special place in my heart. As the family has gotten older and we have all had our own children we do not visit as we should. I visited with my grandmother many times when I was little. Her house always seemed to have something about it that set it apart from all the rest. As you walk into the back door of her house you would notice a long, narrow kitchen that led into the main living and dining room of her house. The smell of food home cooked food was quite evident. Grandmother cooked every day and always cooked big meals on holidays for the family.