"CHRISTMAS" Thread - 1500

[Noel+]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Just 12 months to go til next Christmas!

[Jolly O'Leary]

Gott Nytt År from Sweden! At Midnight Swedes do not sing 'Auld Lang Syne', instead, someone reads 'Ring Out Wild Bells', in Swedish, on the tv program from Skansen Outdoor Museum. Then on the radio, the church bells are heard from across the land. That goes on for about 20 minutes. We finished the new year with a viewing of Airport on tv, the outdoor program (with a blizzard going I might add) on tv, and then the bells on the radio with champagne in bed. Quite a nice ending to an unbelievable year!

We have so much food leftover, that I might not have to cook the rest of the weekend. Now that is a treat!

Here is a link to an English version of Ring Out Wild Bells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ngROj6 ... re=related

[kiwidogy_max]

Jennifer, that sounds like a great way to ring in the new year!

[kiwidogy_max]

What is going to be the Christmas chat goal for 2011?

[kiwidogy_max]

We are taking down our Christmas tree this week. It is sad.

[Jolly O'Leary]

I was wondering if anyone has any 'undecorating traditions'? Swedes leave their decorations up until January 13, St.Knut's Day because he declared that Christmas should lasts 20 days, so January 13 is called Tjugondedag Jul. (20th day of Christmas) Taking down the decorations is such a sad time after all the anticipation of waiting until Dec. 23 to put them up, I wondered how we could liven it up. This year, I'm going to leave the garland and wooden, 'Merry christmas' sign in a convenient cabinet to reach for Christmas in July. The tree we bought is small, easily stored, and easily put up. The ornaments are another matter. So, not sure if I will use that in July or not. Last year, it was too hot to move, so we just laid in bed and watched 'snow' movies.

For the undecorating, I was thinking of putting on christmas music, making snack mix (we can't have popcorn for dental reasons), and 'christmas' hot chocolate (with whipped cream, a candy cane stirrer, and candy sprinkes [ignoring the dental reasons stated before]). Trying to think of something festive and easy for dinner. By now, we are sick of 'christmas food'. The 'undecorating' party is scheduled for january 15.

[kiwidogy_max]

Jennifer, between the Christmas music, hot cocoa, and snack mix, it sounds like you have all of the bases covered. How about a nice warm meal of chili in bread bowls? That is a wintery meal.

[kiwidogy_max]

I would love to decorate a little for Christmas in July, but I am afraid my girlfriend wouldn't like that too much. I do plan on leaving out a set of figurines from one of my Nativity scenes and a very small Christmas tree (about 3 inches tall) that will be strategically placed in my office.

[kiwidogy_max]

Right now I am getting set to put away some Christmas decorations. I will fire up the music, grab a cup of hot cocoa and hope it starts snowing again.

[Jolly O'Leary]

Jennifer, between the Christmas music, hot cocoa, and snack mix, it sounds like you have all of the bases covered. How about a nice warm meal of chili in bread bowls? That is a wintery meal.

I can't do bread bowls, but chili does sound good!

[Jolly O'Leary]

I would love to decorate a little for Christmas in July, but I am afraid my girlfriend wouldn't like that too much. I do plan on leaving out a set of figurines from one of my Nativity scenes and a very small Christmas tree (about 3 inches tall) that will be strategically placed in my office.

You have to be clever, a little red and green could show up in the red white and blue 4th of July decorations. Red placemats with green napkins, red white an blue tiny balls on the tree. Red white and blue garland, with suddenly a bit of green in the office. www.live365.com has some Christmas channels all year round. I don't leave the nativity set out, but we do read the Christmas lessons that week. In a couple of years, the 3 inch tree, can 'grow' to 5 or 6 inches. If you are in Australia or New Zealand (guessing by your user name), take her to one of the hotels with a Christmas in July special. (some US hotels are starting to get into the sweing). She might change her mind.

[Jolly O'Leary]

It is 6:33 am and I have half a sleep. Please disregard the entire above post. It just occurred to me that if you are in Australia or New Zealand you don't HAVE American Independence Day or red and white and blue decorations during the summer.

too little sleep, too much work, please forgive me.

[Jolly O'Leary]

I read today that in the middle ages, Christmas used to last until Candlemas (Feb. 2), so we are not done yet!

[Noel+]

Just popping in to say "hi". I've had a virus all week.......not a great week after Christmas or to start the new year. So resting...........see ya next week.

[kiwidogy_max]

Jennifer, thank you for the suggestions for Christmas in a July decorating tips. I have found a few radio stations online that play Christmas songs all year. They are a great pick me up when I am having a crazy or unnerving day...putting me in a relaxed frame of mind.

[kiwidogy_max]

I will definitely take those tips to heart and employ them this July. Despite the name, I am from the US...Vermont to be exact. The KIWI comes from a childhood dog name and MAX is the name of my parents current cat.

Celebrating Christmas in July will be an exciting new thing for me. I am looking forward to it!

[kiwidogy_max]

I also like the idea of celebrating through February 2nd.

[kiwidogy_max]

I hope everyone had a great weekend! The website seems quiet this weekend. I hope that was because everyone was spending quality time with family.

[Jolly O'Leary]

http://thenullset.wordpress.com/2009/02 ... -february/

Cute blog I found about a family who has 'christmas in February'. I love the way the tradition started and grew. That is sort of what happened with our Christmas in July. I worked for Hallmark Cards from 1996-2002 and July is when they have their ornmanent premier. Our manager told us we could wear christmas clothes instead of uniforms that week. My first husband was the original grinch, he hated christmas, so as my own private joke, I would watch christmas movies and play christmas music when he wasn't around that week. Then after the divorce, I could go Christams 24/7 and then I discovered QVC Christmas in July, well, that made it 'official'. Second hubby comes along and is just as weird as I am, thankfully, and it has grown. Baltic sea cruises are actually very cheap if you live here, so we take a 'christmas in july' cruise and take advantage of the summer slump and take our own music and portable DVD player. The evening buffet is very similar to a standard Christmas smörgåsbord, so that is our 'christams dinner'. Many holiday favorites are also available year round. This year we made an effort to buy julmust concentrate (julmust is a carbonated holiday soft drink) and christmas coffee, so we can 'go wild' and have those in the summer. This year I had a job so I didn't get to watch nearly enough of my favorite holiday movies, so I am looking forward to doing that over the summer for some extra winter feeling. Much needed in a land without AC.

But alas, for us, christmas is not over yet. So, 'God Försättning' (good continuation). Christmas is officially over on thursday. Our family undecorating party will be saturday. We decided to have hot dogs as they are easy and a good transition back to 'budget food' after the richness of holiday food. So we will have homemade snack mix, hot chocolate, gourmet hot dogs, and maybe roasted marshmellows if you can do that with an electric stove.

[kiwidogy_max]

I love that idea for Christmas in February. All the fun...little stress. It's a win-win!