by Wendy
Jack and I love our families and we love to travel, so we’re often on the move during the holidays. Every once in awhile, we swap the driving or flights to celebrate at our house. We always look forward to family traditions, but I’ve learned it’s also important to cultivate a few of our own. Regardless of where we spend the season, the month of December is more fun when we make an effort to be festive.
Since we don’t have kids, and Jack in particular works in an industry that is busy this time of year, I admit that I’ve “phoned it in” in the past. Once we didn’t bother with a Christmas tree and put up hardly any decorations. I can’t remember why exactly, but we missed it so much.
A Beautiful Tree – Now we always get a tree – a real one – and while decorations vary we always enjoy a few basics. A simple Nativity scene, a desktop ceramic tree with blue lights that glow (and was handmade for my parents years ago by a family friend), stockings, and a real tree with blue lights, a glowing star and few other strands of beads and/or ornaments. Jack does a magnificent job decorating the tree. We try to set up the tree early in December so we can enjoy it for weeks. Yes I complain about pine needles all over the house but it is absolutely worth it. Just like it’s worth carting up boxes of holiday items from the basement and dusting things off and spending time making the house look special – even if we won’t be in town on Christmas. Evenings spent in our living room with all lamps off and the tree’s icy blue lights twinkling, drinking a cup of hot apple rum cider is the best.
Jingle Bells and other tunes – I worked retail in college, and hearing Mannheim Steamroller blaring nonstop while dealing with cranky customers can destroy holiday spirit faster than the Grinch ever could. Now that I’m not forced to listen to it in 8 hour doses, I’ve grown to like the seasonal music again. I love the carols at Christmas Eve Mass. I’ll seek out holiday channels on the radio hoping to hear modern renditions from Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Run DMC or George Michael. We play our favorite CDs at home, including A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, Christmas with The Rat Pack, and Wynton Marsalis’ Crescent City Christmas Card album.
Christmas Day feast – It rarely happens, but this year Jack and I spent Christmas in DC. Instead of hanging out in our pjs eating pizza and drinking cava (which frankly always sounds awesome to me) we decided to step it up and plan a fancier menu. I helped shop for ingredients and clean up but let’s be clear – Jack did all the work. After coffee in the AM, we indulged in bloody mary cocktails and a fresh seafood appetizer platter around the lunch hour. For dinner Jack made steak with béarnaise sauce, fries and spinach – delicious. We even sat at the dining room table with a candle and placemats.
For desert, I picked up a French style Buche de Noel from a local market. Just look at the photo. That’s festive.
Christmas Specials – I am often the cynic who rolls my eyes at cloying holiday shows but I will never get tired of A Christmas Carol (love the George C. Scott version), A Christmas Story (oh…fudge), Elf, and Charlie Brown Christmas. I’m not disappointed when The Sound of Music is on tv this time of year. Feeling a little less jolly? The Seinfeld episode introducing “Festivus for the Rest of Us” is an absolute comedy classic. The Office Christmas special starring Ricky Gervais has plenty of cringe-worthy moments but the ending is good as gold. Jack and I think the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special is one of the best ever – a little bawdy, a little ironic, and charmingly weird. I have to ask though – what is up with Love Actually? Everyone raves about this film but I have never been able to get through more than 20 minutes, no offense. To each her own.
Spread a bit of cheer – Jack and I trade presents, but try to keep things minimal. We do love participating in programs collecting gifts for children whose families may be struggling. I never want to sound preachy, but the holidays are a fine time to donate to a charity. Or try and cut annoying people some slack (easier said than done). Be the angel who over-tips the waitstaff, bartenders, taxi drivers, etc. working this time of year – it will likely cheer you up as well.
Whatever your holiday traditions or preferences, I wish you happiness, health, humor and peace. All the best in 2017!