11/16/2005 Entry: "Christmas candies & the dolphin dream."

Dream Diary: I have no idea where this one came from, but it feels like it had to have some special meaning that some dream dictionary will be able to explain to me. Apparently, I had purchased, or inherited, or otherwise obtained...a live dolphin. A huge motherfucking dolphin, more gregarious than Flipper, shinier than silver, who swam to and fro in this big manmade ditch in front of my old house. I loved this dolphin. Because of the nature of dreams and how the relativity of positions and whatnot didn't apply, whatever that means, I was able to chill out with my dolphin as he swam around, but never actually get wet myself. Then someone -- I don't know who, but someone official -- told me that the watery ditch wasn't proper for the dolphin, and that I'd either have to give him up or spend the cash needed for an adequate tank. Realizing that I didn't have that kind of money, I looked at the dolphin and realized that he had to go. Then I woke up. Whenever the fun gets spoiled in my dreams, I wake up. I guess that's okay.

I'm digging this. Christmas Christmas, everywhere, and I've managed to keep myself in check. I'm not blowing my wad with overexcitement before December, and for me, this is a major triumph. Phase 2 of the plan entails me making sure I spread out my remaining vacation days from work adequately enough to not lose the season in a sea of God damned Dora commercials. That said, it's been nice. The Christmas music's been nice. Going to Best Buy and seeing the little special area for holiday-related DVDs has been nice. Thinking about how the apartment we're moving into soon will enable us to have a real dining room for next Christmas is nice. As I write this, Nat's Chestnuts came on the Jukebox. That's nice, too.

I'm also digging all of the new candy, which in some cases isn't so much "new" as it is "back for another shot," but whatever, it's candy with snowflake-drenched packaging, and I'll never fall out of love with that. Shown above are just four of the many things I've picked up recently, including medallion-shaped Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger bars, marked with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town graphics, not just on the packaging, but also on the chocolate discs. York's Peppermint Snowflake just feels right, as nobody has ever eaten a Peppermint Patty in the history of Peppermint Patties and not thought of snow. Finally, Russell Stover's White Chocolate Peanut Butter Jingle Bell is good, but not good enough to warrant a name that takes 45 seconds to type. Click here to see the candies opened and mutilated.

Survey: What are some of your more personal holiday traditions? I know you eat dinner with your family, I know you get presents, I know you try to watch Charlie Brown and your local tree lighting ceremony. But what's some of the more personal ones? One of mine is the Christmas season Sunday newspaper scouring, a ritual that begins the first weekend of November. I just scour the circulars that come with the Sunday papers for anything Christmassy, from Target catalogues with a bunch of red ribbon graphics to one-page offers for ceramic angels with "HOLIDAY" etched over their asses. Your turn.

For more information about dung beetles, click here.

Chestnuts roasted by Laughingboy69 @ 11/16/2005 08:27 PM EST

I still play with my toys as if I was still 6, except I have better plotlines now. Well every christmas eve I get to open one gift. Then I turn on A Christmas Story on tbs or whatever channel that it's on. I play with my toys and watch the best Christmas movie ever! Yeah!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/16/2005 08:29 PM EST

The day after thanksgiving, I eat all remaining halloween candy, look at christmas ads, and watch some of those Rankin-Bass animated specials that I have taped.
I try to jump start myself into the season.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 11/16/2005 08:33 PM EST

Every year, my family busts out a terribly embarassing video of all of us dressed in tie-dyed red longjohns dancing and singing to a cassette we had just gotten: The Simpsons Sing the Blues. I was 7 or so, so my little sister and I can be forgiven, but my brother playing guitar on a dog bone, and my dad's ass coming into the shot every so often cannot. However, I did the lamest white boy dance ever (somewhere between the running man, and the accidentally-stumbled-into-Soul-Train shimmy). Not many people have seen that video, but it's always been a tradition in my house.

This year, I'm going to make the drinking of the Jones sodas a tradition. Wish me luck!

Chestnuts roasted by Quartalchondriac @ 11/16/2005 08:34 PM EST

Don't worry Matt, I've got some FUBAR'd dreams m'self.

Being in Radio and loving Christmas, I started a tradition a couple years ago of reading "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" on, you guessed it, Christmas Eve. Since I do the night show, I usually run it about 9pm. I always pre-record it so I don't screw up, then I'll just turn up the studio monitors real, real loud and stand at the big picture windows and look out over northwest Oklahoma City whilst drinking hot cocoa. We usually play a couple Christmas songs afterwards, one of which is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas since it's one of my favorite Christmas songs. It's actually really nice and I'm lucky to have a boss that allowed me to start that tradition.

The only other thing would be that my fiance and I always make a much bigger deal out of our stockings than other presents. We stuff those things so full they usually have to sit on the ground because the nails in the apartment walls won't sustain any longer.

Chestnuts roasted by Frito @ 11/16/2005 08:38 PM EST

Putting the ceramic ornament featuring Snoopy's pal Woodstock driving a firetruck while donning a Santa cap on the Christmas tree...I used to get so pissed when my brothers or my parents would try to put it on the tree...

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 11/16/2005 08:40 PM EST

Usually a week before Halloween I start scouring the Home Shopping Network to see if they've started to sell their cheap mini-light encrusted wreaths and topiaries. I also keep a lookout for those Time Life Christmas album commercials that seem to have become increasingly scarce in the last couple of years. Every night up until Christmas Eve I watch every one the Christmas specials I've accumulated over the years...A Very Brady Christmas, the Saved by the Bell Christmas special, Flintstones Christmas(the one from the origianl series), Christmas Eve on Sesame St., an X-men Christmas, the Grinch and Charlie Brown, and my personal all time favorite A Muppet Family Christmas. Oh... I also absolutly cannot miss the yearly broadcast of Toronto's Santa Claus Parade (Canada's equivalent to Macy's Thanksgiving Parade). Something about that constant barage of marching bads playing Frosty the Snowman while people dressed up as upside-down clowns dancing around the Mother Goose float always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's on this weekend!

Chestnuts roasted by dysalizar @ 11/16/2005 08:51 PM EST

When the Christmas season begins...the real Christmas season, when it's actually cold and people put up their lights, not the "season" that begins on June 15th with everybody in the world trying to sell you Christmas crap...
Yeah, screw it, that set of ellipses just got completely out of hand. Start over.
When the Christmas season begins, I like to go to the park over by the mall. There, they have a massive set of Christmas decorations, huge sculptures made of wire and tiny flashing lights. It's beautiful, and where else are you going to find a four-block-square Christmas display called "Festival of Lights" without even a hint of irony or shame? Anyhow, I've done it every year since I came to college here. The day before I go home for the holidays, I go to the Festival of Lights *snicker* without any of my friends, about an hour before it closes, when hardly anyone is there. Then I just walk around and look at the lights. It sounds trite, but at this point it is quite possibly my favorite part of Christmas, above and beyond all the family and fellowship and crap.
That probably says something rather unattractive about me as a person.
Anyway, I think this year I'm gonna go quite a bit earlier, when the place is still full of families and people. Then I'm gonna whip snowballs at all the kids till the cops drag me away. "You little peckers! I'm still eating three packets of candy corn a day because none of you bothered to knock on my door for Halloween! Eat slush and die!"
Ahh. Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/16/2005 08:51 PM EST

Well, last Christmas I had the flu so there was a lot of "not leaving my bed" and "carrying a bucket" around. I think those're some good traditions to keep.

Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 11/16/2005 08:53 PM EST

Since my parents are English (though I was raised here in the U.S.)we always have Christmas crackers with dinner on Christmas Eve. Our personal tradition is that everyone wears their Christmas cracker paper hat all evening, and if someone gets sick of wearing it and takes their hat off, you can punch them in the arm.

Another tradition we started is that on Christmas morning the youngest family member puts on a santa hat and picks a present from under the tree, eyes closed. If it's for them, they have to put it back; if not, they give it to the recipient, who opens it and everyone gets to see what they got. Then that person puts on the hat and goes to get another present, and so on. It's a great way to make gift time last longer.

Chestnuts roasted by HerronBird @ 11/16/2005 08:53 PM EST

I son't do anything out of the ordinary, but I have to watch every christmas special... EVER. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is reserved for Christmas Eve, along with anything else muppet related. Cartoon Network always has a crazy marathon, and I even dig into the untraditional christmas films like Edward Scissorhands and Gremlins. If it happened around Christmas time, it must be watched...

Chestnuts roasted by Mattman @ 11/16/2005 08:53 PM EST

One thing that I can always, always remember doing as a kid was getting up at like, oh, 3 a.m. and sneaking out to the living room with my trusty flashlight to check out the haul. If the Christmas tree wasn't on, I'd plug it in, because nothing is better than that moment where it's still dark out and the only light is the multicolored tree lights and all the glorious, glorious wonders are wrapped up under the tree.

I'd usually check out who, between me and my little brother, got the most presents, and who got the biggest present. I'd see how many presents I got from Santa vs. my parents. Plus, I'd take every everliving thing out of my stocking and try to figure out what they were. And then check on my parents every ten minutes until they FINALLY woke up (at like, 6-7 am) so we could open stuff.

My little brother is five years younger than me, so once he got to be old enough to not cry like a bitch if I woke him up, he'd join me and we'd whisper away, trying to figure out what we got and fake-fighting over who got the most/biggest presents.

Now that we're older (he's almost 18, I'm 23), he and I usually do the once-over real quick at some early hour and then go back to sleep till it's a more reasonable time to wake the parents up. It's not the same, but it's keeping up the tradition in some form.

Another thing we do that isn't exactly a tradition but happens every year just the same is the grand family fight that occurs whenever we put up the Christmas tree. Dad's already pissed off from having to untagle 900 million feet of lights, my brother's smart mouth is getting him into trouble, Mom's running around screaming that we CAN'T have two RED bulbs next to each other, and do we really need to put EVERY single ornament back on the tree, and I'm trying to stay out of it but getting dragged in anyway. It usually ends up with Dad getting royally pissed off and someone's feeling's getting hurt. Ah, good times. Good thing my family's dysfunctional like that and we don't stay mad at each other long.

I love Christmas and I love you, Matt, for reminding me time and again of that fact. I'm really, really looking forward to X-E's festivities this year.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/16/2005 08:56 PM EST

Herronbird - I like that way of giving out gifts on Christmas morning. Every year my brother and I always manage to bitch about who has to pass out presents (mostly because we're lazy and don't like to keep bending over and picking up packages). We might have to try that this year.

Chestnuts roasted by Frito @ 11/16/2005 08:58 PM EST

My parents still humor my little brothers and I by continuing the Santa business of filling stockings and leaving out unwrapped presents mysteriously in the night. I am now 24! My brothers and I religiously wake up at 4am and rendezvous in the back room for a "mission briefing". We wait for the right moment, then sneak into the living room using command tactics and liberate presents one by one, as though they were our buddies trapped behind enemy lines. The stockings are always first. The challenge is not waking the parents, as their room is adjacent to the living room. Also, working in pitch-blackness adds a great deal of excitement. Just what is this book-shaped thing I am holding anyhow!?

Chestnuts roasted by Snogurt @ 11/16/2005 08:58 PM EST

Hey Snogurt, how come we do just about the same thing but yours sounded more fun?

Oh, and Matt...I'm getting you something for Christmas this year. Don't worry, it can be sent through e-mail. You'll just have to wait till Dec. 25th to find out what it is.

(And apparently I can't spell untangle, if anyone's keeping score.)

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/16/2005 09:02 PM EST

Pittsburgh has an event in late November called Light-Up Night. Everyone within a fifty-mile radius goes downtown and to walk around and listen to bands play Christmas songs, hear choirs singing, look at the department store windows, see a nativity, and see the entries in the gingerbread house contest, among other things. The best part is they set up an ice-skating rink in the middle of PPG Place (a courtyard area) with a huge Christmas tree in the middle sponsored by the local electric company, and some kid gets to plug it in. I. love. it.

I also invite my friends over to my house to watch the old Christmas specials with commercials - there's nothing quite like nostalgia to add to the warm, comforting feeling of Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/16/2005 09:05 PM EST

Oh, and P.S. - we just moved into our first apartment with a dining room and it's awesome. Have fun with that, Matt.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/16/2005 09:09 PM EST

Right. So I just spent some time wading through some truly atrocious web design, and I think I have your dream more or less pinned down. For the main part of your dream, I found this:

"These amusing, intelligent mammals are a sign of advancement through your own mental vigor, but other details of your dream should also be considered, such as the condition of the water, the location and/or action of the dolphin, etc."

Alternatively:

"To dream of a dolphin, indicates your liability to come under a new government. It is not a very good dream."

Also, dreaming of somebody diving into water apparently denotes the consumation of happy dreams and passionate love. A ditch indicates degradation and wrong-doing. Unless you jumped over the ditch, in which case you will live down any suspicion of wrong-doing. Seeing official figures in your mind (the ones who wanted to take flipper) is a sure and certain sign that the government is trying to hack into your brain. Don't bother with the tinfoil hat, they're bullcrap.
So obviously, based on the elements of your dream, you want to have sex with a dolphin. And yet you know it's terribly, terribly wrong. Unless you jumped over the ditch, in which case you're golden. And the government wants you to stop, I guess. But wait! Since the secondary super bonus meaning of the dolphin is "liability to come under a new government," it's not your current government who is trying to hack into your brain. Obviously, you're well within range of the CN Tower, so it's the Canadians who are trying to break in. And, as we all know, all Canadians are 100% bang alongside bestiality. So they were there to convince you to move to Canada and pursue your deviant lifestyle, free of legal entanglements.
See? Dreams are perfectly simple and straghtforward, if you have the right tools. Along those lines, it's really amazing how often the right tools are found on free webhosting.
Incidentally, I didn't make any of those interpretations up. They're all from various "dream dictionaries" scattered around the net. Well, except the part about the government trying to hack into your mind. That's just common sense.

Now, if I got the gist of most of those sites, I'm pretty sure you owe me ten bucks now. Mon.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/16/2005 09:10 PM EST

I hate threadjacking my own thread because this is a great one so far, but Jedoc, to continue with your detective skills, I've narrowed down my dream to three buzzwords: dolphin, money and loss.

Dolphin: "To see a dolphin in your dream, symbolizes spiritual guidance, your intellect, mental attributes and emotional trust. Utilize your mind to its capacity and you will move upward in life. Alternatively, it suggests that a line of communication has been established between the conscious and unconscious aspects of yourself. Dolphins represent your willingness and ability to explore and navigate through your emotions."

Money: "To dream that you lose money, signifies temporary unhappiness in the home and a few setbacks in your affairs. You may be feeling weak, vulnerable, and out of control in your waking life. Additionally, you may be lacking ambition, power and self-esteem. "

Loss: "To dream that you lose something may mean that you really have misplaced something that you had not realized yet. It may also be a signal for you to clean out and reorganize your life. You have become overwhelmed and distracted with the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life."

Holy friggin' accurate. Especially for a dream that happened after the day I had yesterday.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/16/2005 09:22 PM EST

I love coming up with fun holiday traditions. I like to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" every Christmas Eve. I wasn't able to secure a room in my parents' house to do that last year, but I might see if I can try again this year.

I go shopping with a girlfriend from college around the middle of the month. We meet at one of the local malls, exchange gifts, and get our presents for our families together. We were roommates in college, but we live in different parts of the state now and don't see each other nearly as much as we'd like.

We used to open one present each on Christmas Eve when we were younger. I wouldn't be surprised if we revived that tradition when my nephew gets old enough to be really excited about the holidays. Dad always makes this huge, artery-blocking breakfast after all seven of us open gifts. Later, after everyone's rested and played with their new stuff (including the adults), Mom and Dad take us all out to one of the fancier places in Cape May for Christmas Dinner.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 11/16/2005 09:23 PM EST

My family has a tendency to end up eating McD's for breakfast.

Also, I got a regional Jones Soda Holiday Pack. woot!

Chestnuts roasted by marioshoku @ 11/16/2005 09:32 PM EST

Before I participate with the survey, I have 2 things to say. 1st-Thanks for another jukebox.
2nd-On one of the other blogs people were discussing Matt being apart of the I LOVE THE 80's shows. Fair enough but NOW VH1 HAS GONE TOO FAR AND ARE RIPPING OFF X-E DIRECTLY WITH:I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS. I know Matt doesn't have the market cornered on the holidays (yet...) but c'mon!! Anyone else feel my rage?

Christmas traditions: Used to go to Hardee's before we got our tree when I was a kid. Lately though, Mrs. Manimal are trying to get our own feel. E.Claire will probably help out a lot. VERY EXCITIED!!

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 11/16/2005 09:39 PM EST

Oh, I see. So given two equally viable interpretations of the same dream, you just automatically gravitate towards the one that suggests that you're not sexually attracted to aquatic mammals? Awfully convenient, if you ask me.

Getting back on topic, reading some of these entries reminded me that some people actually open all their presents on Christmas day. In my family, starting when I was about eight years old, we always open one present apiece every Sunday of Advent. Then on Christmas, we open our "Santa" presents, as well as whatever's left in our stockings. Like chocolate oranges. Because, you know, our parents are brats who can't wait for Christmas any more than we can. Heh.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/16/2005 09:41 PM EST

I always watch the He-Man She-Ra Christmas special.I recorded it off of USA in 1989 and I've been watching it since I was 3.That special is terrible,yet hilarious at the same time.How can Skeletor being filled with Christmas spirit get any less funny? I liked the review you did too.I seriously thought I was the only one on Earth who remembered it other than maybe the animators and voice actors(doubt it).It's got a lot of commercials you've reviewed too,like the Santa's helper hotline.It also has a commercial for The Wizard,an annoying Fruity Pebbles commercial where Barney raps,Bouncy Babies,My First Sony,and an old school Honey Combs commercial.But yeah,the He-Man She-Ra Christmas Special is beyond horrible,but that's what makes it so great.I wonder,was Hord-Prime ever in the He-Man or She-Ra series?Luckily those annoying kids weren't!

Chestnuts roasted by Suren @ 11/16/2005 09:46 PM EST

Manimal - We used to have the Hardee's tradition...until the evil Carl's Jr. took over. I remember eating fried chicken from Hardee's every Christmas Eve.

No more, though. Boo.

Chestnuts roasted by Frito @ 11/16/2005 09:50 PM EST

My mother puts the tree up within 1 week after Thanksgiving and starts putting presents underneath for WEEKS just to torture me until Xmas morning. When I was younger I'd grab a scissors, gently undo the scotch tape on my presents, peek in to see what it was, then tape them back up.

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 11/16/2005 09:52 PM EST

Not complaining for one second for your tireless efforts but no CHRISTMAS IN THE STARS or JOHN DENVER AND THE MUPPETS? Seems like they would be right up their on your list.

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 11/16/2005 09:52 PM EST

My brother and I wake up early on Christmas morning, but the "rule" in our house was that we could not wake up my parents before 5:00am. So we would stay in my room and watch the clock, counting down the minutes (sometimes one of us would sleep while the other kept watch...only 1 hour and 22 minutes left...) etc. Then at 4:59am, one of us would stand at the door ready to run, and the other would sit on the bed and watch the clock, and yell when it turned 5:00am "go!" and then we would both run across the house yelling "Merry Christmas" After waking my parents up, we open our stockings, eat hominy and sausage for breakfast, and then open the presents under the tree. We still do this pretty much every year (sometimes we wake up a bit later now, but we still do the running across the house thing), I am almost 23, and my brother is 21.

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 11/16/2005 09:52 PM EST

These post are long and scary. I don't have any unique personal traditions because everyone in my family hates each other so we just meet up, eat and then leave before someone shoots someone else. That's kind of a personal tradition right? The tradition of not shooting each other despite all temptation?

I had a dream last night about Crystal Pepsi. It was about me finding the last of the Crystal Pepsi in the world. I had a can, 1-liter, 2-liter and one of those long thin cans that they don't even sell Pepsi in. The dream was about me getting angry because I couldn't take a single picture and get all of the items in it at once while focused. After about 5 hours of me moving the can behind the other can then back around a monkey bit my cousin in the front room and started throwing antiques around. Finally the monkey killed me.

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 11/16/2005 09:56 PM EST

Oooh, let me, I'm good at this now! dohopoki, you had that dream because you are obviously a crazy person. Like, holy crap, look at that dream. Go take some pills so that you're not so crazy anymore.
Okay, fine, there's a slim chance that my interpretation may be a little off. But probably not.
Oh, and, uh...it also signifies that you should give me ten dollars.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/16/2005 10:04 PM EST

I'll be back with my debit card!

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 11/16/2005 10:07 PM EST

Talking about the circulars and looking at all the holiday sales made me think about the Sears Christmas Wish book. The thing was bigger than the telephone book and all the toys inside were set up in elaborate displays GI Joes driving around in jungle terrain shooting up Cobra, Optimus Prime looking too cool for words and ready to blast Starscream to ash, Star Wars, glorious Star Wars at least 3 to 4 pages worth of Star Wars toys and pictures. I remember getting the wish book in the mail and sitting on the couch all afternoon with a pen or magic marker and circling everything I wanted for Christmas... the whole book was circled by the time I was done (except the dolls section of course, that was ripped out and given to my sisters. They couldn't have the book, but they could have the 9 pages of pink) and then after I finished going through it cover to cover, I'd start all over again. It was one of the best things to do around Christmas. Now I look at the Target "Toy Book" and it's 20 pages of bland small pictures and a few coupons. Toy's R Us' is worse.... I miss the Sears Wish Book.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/16/2005 10:08 PM EST

Here's another. Every year me and my mom put up the christmas tree together. The Star Wars ornaments go up first and then all of the others are put on. Now here's where I'm breaking tradition. Before this year the ornaments were all in their own areas. Star Wars, Star Trek (they're my moms ornaments I swear!), national monuments and so forth. But this year I've decided to spread the ornaments around. Equality for all ornaments! Me and my mom finished decorating the tree sunday!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/16/2005 10:10 PM EST

Am I going nuts, or is Manimal confused? I don't see any differences between this jukebox and the one from last year, yet I get the impression from Manimal that it is different? I thought Matt was just linking again to the old one...*scratches head*

(Hahaha, South Park is totally busting on Scientology right now...sweet.)

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/16/2005 10:10 PM EST

Nicole- Look closer at the juke box. There are a few more songs this year.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/16/2005 10:13 PM EST

The jukebox has not been edited yet!

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/16/2005 10:14 PM EST

Didn't mean to start anything with the jukebox.
I thought the I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS debacle would be more provocative than arguing about the jukebox...

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 11/16/2005 10:25 PM EST

We have "Beary Merry Christmas" which is an advent calendar made of soft fabric. The thing itself depicts a huge house with things going in each room. Every day until Christmas there's instructions, such as "Today Bear looked for Christmas under the kitchen table..." I love that thing so much that it's well worth drawing blood from its bent pin every day.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 11/16/2005 10:40 PM EST

Suren et. al., did you know that the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special is coming out on DVD? Not till Dec. 6th, though. And I'm sure it wouldn't be the same without the classic commercials, but then, nothing is.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/16/2005 10:45 PM EST

I wish it was the classic commercials that were coming out on DVD.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/16/2005 10:51 PM EST

My family always gets a REAL tree; we go to the farms and cut one ourselves. It helps to live in Oregon, where all the christmas trees are grown and shipped. No middleman fee involved.

Our house is stuffed with traditions, from the stick-on window decorations to the holiday-themed cassettes we've played every year since 1993 to the impossibly delicious sugar cookies with the giant Hershey Kiss in the middle. (You can't buy those cookies, unless you want to buy them from my mom.)

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 11/16/2005 10:53 PM EST

At some point before the holiday, my family watches Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas and A Muppet Family Christmas. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street usually gets in there too, among others (we still have original tapes of The Smurfs Christmas, Glo-Worms Christmas, ALF Christmas...all kinds of goodness).

I started my own tradition of watching Gremlins every Christmas Eve.

My family goes to our church's candlelight service on Christmas Eve evening. Then we go out driving and looking at Christmas lights. Then we come back and get first crack at the Christmas cookies my mom made. My dad makes cocoa. We hang our stockings. My dad dons a Santa hat and reads us The Night Before Christmas from the same book he used when we were little. Then, it's bed.

We get up around 7 for presents. Usually we went to my grandma's for Christmas, but she died a few days after Christmas last year. New traditions to be forged, I suppose.

I can't wait.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 11/16/2005 10:53 PM EST

don't trust those dream dictionaries. Different people have different dream language. At least according to Jung .

Anywayyy, my grandma always makes this strange egg bread concoction.. and I think we usually decorate the tree while "it's a wonderful life" is on. I've never actually seen the majority of that movie, however.

Chestnuts roasted by lindsay @ 11/16/2005 11:17 PM EST

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, my sister and I always have to get together and watch a set of Christmas movies. Every year we find our tapes of Santa Claus: The Movie, The Christmas Toy, and The Ref.

The Christmas Toy is a bit special because our parents recorded it way back in the 80's before they had cable. So the tape is full of snow and static, but we don't care. As far as I know it was only shown on TV that one and only time. What I wouldn't give to get a fresh copy of that movie.

My mom loves to go "Christmas lightlooking" with anyone she can fool into getting into the car.

On Christmas morning my family and I always make blueberry muffins for breakfast. I have no clue how this tradition was started but every year of my life we've done it. Come hell or high water we'll have blueberry muffins in the house for that day.

After breakfast we would go to see my grandparents and get gifts from them. But sadly most of them have passed on and it's been reduced to seeing my grandma on Christmas Eve.

Chestnuts roasted by Punisher Bass @ 11/16/2005 11:29 PM EST

Haven't read this whole thread, but here are my personal traditions:

No decorations, etc until after Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving, out come the decorations and in goes the Christmas playlist. I listen to Mostly Mannheim Steamroller. Over and OVER. Until Jan. 6th.

I always make it a habit to play old school video games more around Christmas, especially as I grow older and have less time to play games.

But perhaps the greatest tradition has to be watching "Scrooge" (The musical) and "A Tuna Christmas"

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 11/16/2005 11:37 PM EST

Double G

I also miss the Sears wish book. I remember poring over that thing for HOURS. The TRU "Big Toy Books" used to be a lot better, too.

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 11/16/2005 11:52 PM EST

Well, I try to wait as long as possible till I can't stand not doing insane amounts of Christmasy stuff. Then, halfway into November (because Halloween rocks and Thanksgiving is a fake/lame holiday), I bust out my Santa hat, crank up the Nutcracker and decorate the apartment with EVERY SINGLE christmasy item I own. After doing so tonight, had THE BEST evening for cool holiday stuff:

Went to Target, snagged a tree table and Playmobil Nativity Set! Last one, and on sale! Couldn't get one for love or money within December last year.

Then, on to my local Hy-Vee (a grocery store). What did they have? OH YEAH! Christmas Crunch!! Two boxes go into my cart. Then, after giving up all hope, I hit the frozen dessert aisle.

JELLO PUDDING POPS!!!! Life is SOOO Good! This year, it's back to the 80's in style as I watch He-Man's Christmas Special, eating Christmas Crunch and getting diabetes from finishing off all the "Swirl" pudding pops afterwards.

In the words of Kool-Aid Man, OH YEAH!

Chestnuts roasted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/17/2005 12:17 AM EST

Just a response to Terror Claws Cole:

I forgot. I saw Christmas Crunch too. Could it be more widespread this year?

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 11/17/2005 12:20 AM EST

As a tradition, Thanksgiving night, after everyone has sufficiently gorged themselves, we all sit down in the living room to watch "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

A lot of what takes place in the movie reminds us of our family, which I think is why it's so popular in our household. I think it's one of my favourite Christmas traditions.

Oh, Sparky.

Chestnuts roasted by David @ 11/17/2005 12:39 AM EST

1. I take a million walks through the drug-store to look at all the decorations for sale.

2. My Aunts, my Mother, and Myself all get together to bake a massive amount of cookies.

3. I watch EVERY X-Mas Special I possibly can.

4. I read at least one X-Mas AAML Pokémon Fanfic and at least one X-Mas Gundam-Wing fanfic

5. I buy my Dad a Gag-gift!

6. I go Christmas Shopping Early in the month with my Mother and Aunt, and late in the month with my Dad.

7. I always watch "A Christmas Story" with my parents and quote our favourite scenes daily until New Years!

I hope that's enough for the survey.

BTW will X-E be getting a Christmas makeover this year? (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist). ^_^

Chestnuts roasted by Tetsu Deinonychus @ 11/17/2005 12:41 AM EST

My all time favorite Christmas tradition is fighting over who gets to put the Captain Crunch ornament on the tree. We have this random 1988 cardboard Captain Crunch ornament that someone saved from a cereal box and my sister and I always bicker over it.

Scratch that, my favorite tradition is beating my sister's ass and getting to put up said ornament.

Chestnuts roasted by Karen @ 11/17/2005 12:52 AM EST

Did anyone else have the tradition of St. Nick's day or whatever? It was like December 6th and your parents were supposed to put some little gifts in your shoes while you were sleeping? My parents did it for a few years and then gave up. I remember getting a really shity gift one time like a single Lego person, and I wrote St. Nick a note telling him that I was really dissapointed.

Also, parents are usually divided into those who wrap presents that are supposed to be from Santa, and those who leave them unwrapped. My parents were smart and left all the gifts that were supposed to be from the big man unwrapped. I knew Santa was too busy for that shit anyway.

Chestnuts roasted by Foodtouchdown @ 11/17/2005 01:47 AM EST

Mine would be having trouble sleeping the night before. Even if I wear myself out and have no real reason to look forward to Christmas day. Then again, I don't think it counts if I don't do it on purpose...

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 11/17/2005 02:52 AM EST

1. Every year we watch Scrooged at least once. It's our personal It's A Wonderful Life.

2. In Fresno we have Christmas Tree Lane, a street with some of the most beautiful (and expensive) houses in town, all of which go out of control funky on the lights and the decorations and NOELs and stuff. Most of the month, it's crowded with cars, but there are two 'walking days' a year where people get to take their time and walk down the street with cocoa and eggnog and stuff. It's excellent. We try to attend both walking days.

3. After last year's tree shortage, the new tradition is to go to Cobb Ranch and cut one down ourselves. I hope this year we don't get one of those ones that leaves your arms all itchy.

4. For decorating the tree, there's always a box of See's candy at hand, and if possible, chocolate-covered popcorn. Candy generally ends up being the night's meal, but if people are still hungry, we get Chinese.

5. Our actual Christmas strongly resembles the one from "A Christmas Story, in that each gift is opened one at a time, and whoever opened the last present gets to pick the next present. The first round of gifts is given in ascending order of age (I think this is a Danish tradition?), but after that it becomes a jagged path from person to person. Christmas morning generally lasts from three to five hours, woo.

6. I've never made a gingerbread house before, but I spent this year taking a Baking and Pastry class in a trade school, so new tradition starts this year. When the house itself is complete, I plan to top myself by reproducing the original worldmap of Hyrule in gingerbread. I have no idea how long this will take. Probably be done looong after Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 11/17/2005 06:01 AM EST

Someone told me that there is a newer version of a Charlie Brown Christmas special, has anyone seen this little piece of blasphemy? Is it any good?

Chestnuts roasted by bloodybrilliantme @ 11/17/2005 07:05 AM EST

Ok, a little wierd, but not too bad. We have dinner on Christmas Eve, but it's always Clam Chowder. My mom (and us kids before we all abandoned ship) would spend most of the day making this huge pot of clam chowder, all the while fending of the invading forces (dad) untill it was ready.

We also unwrapped one gift (one of the "small ones" [read:socks]) a night for 3 nights before Christmas. I think it was the submission to four screaming kids about wanting to open presents that eventually lead to a tradition.

Oh, and a Life-Savers Story Book, every year, for as long as they've made them. Now all the spouses and grandkids get them too. I think the folks are blowing a Benjemin just on those, these days.

Chestnuts roasted by Mad Cow @ 11/17/2005 07:16 AM EST

Last night, I dreamt I was playing Civilization 4. As soon as I woke up, I looked that up in the dream dictionary, and it said: "This dream indicates that you want to play Civilization 4." So, you know, I'ma go play Civilization 4.

Thanks again, subconscious wisdom!

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/17/2005 07:24 AM EST

My family also does the cruising around and looking at Christmas lights thing.
My personal tradition is waiting until the night before I have to catch my train home to wrap all my presents and I do so while watching It's A Wonderful Life and spiking my own hot chocolate. Then I bawl like crazy at the ending.
And then on Christmas Eve, after my sister and I get in our yearly bitchfight, we settle down to watch The Muppet Family Christmas and pee ourselves laughing over stupid Beaker and the stupid icy patch.
Really, THAT'S the true meaning of Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Lizzy @ 11/17/2005 07:39 AM EST

Hey Mtrox-

I'm in KC, Missouri. Never saw Christmas Crunch in Oklahoma last year...maybe it's bigger this year. Matt, you need a box mailed to you or is where you are at this year?

Chestnuts roasted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/17/2005 07:46 AM EST

Jedoc and dohopoki, that little exchange cracked me up.

Christmas traditions include driving out to the town I grew up in and going way off the beaten path to these two houses where you just know one neighbor is in a competition with the other neighbor for who can outdo who on the Christmas decorations. These two yards in the middle of nowhere have more decorations in each one than are in some towns. Amazing. It will be very sad if they ever stop.

Also, watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with my wife's family and A Christmas Story with my family.

And the latest one is just the wife and I going for a walk through the snow and catching snowflakes on our tongues until we get freezing cold and it's dark out, then going in the house. She makes the hot tea and I make a nice fire in the fireplace. Then we just hang out on the couch with the only light coming from the fire and the Christmas tree lights.

Chestnuts roasted by Jimbalaya @ 11/17/2005 08:11 AM EST

Not sure how it started, but every christmas I watch the entire Star Wars trilogy. Started doing it about 9-10 years ago, stopped briefly because my tapes were lost now I can start it again since I got the DVD set.

Chestnuts roasted by James @ 11/17/2005 08:24 AM EST

Warning: Minor rant below...

No Jones Soda yet, two weeks behind in my classes (due to my books not getting ordered properly), my Texans sucking, and Eddie dying...

I sure hope Thanksgiving is better.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by Erik Majorwitz is depressed...in Germany @ 11/17/2005 08:47 AM EST

Oh, totally forgot to divulge my Thanksgiving festivities.

Well, my wife plans on showing the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving DVD next week to her first graders and will be recreating the dinner that Snoopy prepared and Matt recreated.

I wonder if Matt would like photos of the event? If my Jones Soda comes in on time, I can gross out her kids by drinking that at the shindig.

I'm sure we will also be attending a teacher's potluck Thanksgiving this weekend, I pray we never host, because our house is always trashed. That is what happens when you have three children...

It is only the second year, but I guess it is a tradition: Going to my mother-in-law's house in England for Thanksgiving. Last year, my wife and I were both dragging ass, me because I'm fat, but she was pregnant and didn't know it. I have no excuse. lol

Well, I won't have watched the traditional football games for two years now. Sigh, that sucks...

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by Erik Majorwitz @ 11/17/2005 08:52 AM EST

Matt, this survey thing was a great idea. I'm enjoying reading about everyone's traditions, and it's giving me ideas for ones to start for Christmas 2006, as my boyfriend and I will be moving in together this January. I'm afraid I'm going to go overboard buying stuff this year that I won't get to use till next year. I'm going to try to confine myself to after-Christmas clearance. (It won't work.)

I miss the Sears Big Toy Book, too...I'd completely forgotten about that thing. Hours of my young life were spent, even way after Christmas, poring through its pages. Is my memory padding it, or did that thing used to be as thick as the regular catalog? Kids today don't know what they've missed. *sigh*

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 08:58 AM EST

Good survey Matt! I really like that you brought the same background back for this season, it's a good one.
Frito-Although I never went there on Christmas I am totally with you on the Hardee's thing. Down with Carl's Jr.
I have so many traditions concerning the Holidays. Mostly I just try and do something every day that is drenched in Christmassy fun. I am always the one to decorate early. At my old coffee shop in Seattle, I would put up a nativity and "winter" scene. We didn't have any regular figurines, so we used Homies. Now being in the Midwest we get snow, so looking at lights is alot prettier. There's also a Christmas parade called Hollidazzle downtown Minneapolis that begins the Friday after Thanksgiving and goes every day till Christmas. I go the opening night and then at least once more during the season.
I think my favorite part of the Holidays is the Mall. Putting on a warm sweater and going to the mall and smelling the leather, and perfume, and cinnabuns, and the frickin' huge trees and kid's school choirs singing in the common areas, and santa lines. Well I could add to that forever.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 11/17/2005 09:08 AM EST

Foodtouchdown:

We used to celebrate St. Nick's day as well and then one year it died out and it wasn't for like another 3 years where we were like "hey! what the hell happened to gifts on the 6th" One year I got King Zarkon and Prince Lotar action figures and I was kinda bummed but then come Christmas I got the 5 lions... man that was a good year.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/17/2005 09:14 AM EST

There are quite a few traditions that my family has... most of which I won't be able to do this year!

Christmas last year was really sucky. My husband had been 'detained' by the US Immigration service (looooong, frustrating story), and so Christmas morning I went to visit him in prison. Christmas sucks when the only contact you get with your husband is through a pane of glass for half an hour.

This year, because the government won't let him back in the US for another ten years, I have to choose between going home for Christmas to be with my family... or being with my husband. It's a tough choice, but I just don't think that after last year I want to miss another Christmas with him!

So I'm going to be in England now, which requires the abandonment of many old traditions. I won't be able to cower in shame at the old paper ornaments my brother and I made when we were kids (that Santa's face looks psychotic!), won't be able to sit through three unending hours of gag gifts at my grandmom's, won't be able to go to the midnight service at the church I grew up in. I won't be there to see the look on my cat's face when my parents dish out her traditional huge tub of yogurt and tin of tuna. I won't be there when the immense amounts of wrapping paper are burnt in the fireplace, or when we take the tree out into the back yard and torch it.

On the plus side, this means I get to start up new traditions, right? One of the things I did last christmas that I hope to make a tradition is going to a Handel's Messiah sing-in...

They don't show A Christmas Story over here. It's too quintessentially American to translate well, I guess... but last Christmas my dad bought me a DVD, so I'll be able to watch it with my husband and in-laws. It won't be quite the same, but some things must be maintained.

I'm starting to depress myself. I'll stop now.

Chestnuts roasted by Silkenray @ 11/17/2005 09:16 AM EST

My mother lives for Christmas and greatly misses the Christmases that my brother and I were small children dancing to Smurf Christmas records around the Christmas tree. My brother and I are now in our twenties, but we still love us some Smurfs and our mom. So, every year, just once, we pull out our old Smurf Christmas record and we dance around the Christmas tree with our mother.

Chestnuts roasted by r @ 11/17/2005 09:22 AM EST

I just want to know, WHERE THE HECK ARE ALL YOU PEOPLE!!?? It always seems as though I am the only one who gets all jacked up for the holidays, but apparently there's others of you out there. You can all be in my special secret club.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 11/17/2005 09:22 AM EST

I miss the huge Sears Wish Book of Christmasses long ago!!! These leaflets they are printing out now just are not doing it for me. I remember countless hours spent circling item after item that I wished for Santa to bring to me. I was quite the greedy child, so this led to hours of fun. Now, it's just a quick flip through the pages and it becomes a coaster for my coffee mug.

Chestnuts roasted by earthwormgoddess @ 11/17/2005 09:26 AM EST

kb
S.I.,N.Y. and been getting jazzed for Christmas every single year.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/17/2005 09:29 AM EST

For the month of December I take my dog walking around the neighborhood in search of "LOUD XMAS DISPLAYS!". Im hoping that we wont be disappointed this year.

I also try to cram in my old Taped of TV xmas specials. I have an episode of Doogie Howser in the mix somewhere!

Glad to see that there are still people to take the time to indulge in their childhood obsessions during the holidays!

Chestnuts roasted by Greg @ 11/17/2005 09:30 AM EST

Double G: Wow, I'm always so surprised to find other Islanders that read this site.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/17/2005 09:31 AM EST

Christmas eve my brother and I get to open one gift. It is always a new pair of PJ's. Then before we go to bed we watch A Christmas Story, we also might throw in the first simpsons episode/first christmas episode. Upon waking up, we have to wait until all the lights are on and the candles are lit and all the music is playing before we open up our presents. In more recent years (I am now 24 and my bro is 18) our mom has woken us up at 6am with every all set, so we didn't have to wait.

Also, on christmas eve I go to my girlfriend's house to exchange presents.

This christmas will be extra special this year because it will be the last one that I will be living at home.

Chestnuts roasted by Geoff @ 11/17/2005 09:37 AM EST

kb, I would be honored to be in your special secret club! What shall we call it?

(Hey, have any Jem fans noticed that the little red star thingie that replaced Boo looks like Jerrica's Jemstar earrings? Heehee.)

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 09:39 AM EST

Matt

Heh, born and raised. I always an a feeling you were an Islander, nice to see I was right.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/17/2005 09:45 AM EST

I didn't realize it until this thread, but i apparently have holiday traditions. i wait until the week of Christmas to wrap all of my presents. i wrap them on my livingroom floor while watching "christmas vacation" and drinking some sort of alcoholic beverage. and my best friend and i usually spend at least one entire day at the mall shopping for gifts. no boyfriends or anyone else allowed. that might be the one i like the most since it's a whole day with just us girls. then, she and i will go to a local bar and come home and decorate her mom's christmas tree. you haven't lived until you've decorated a chrsitmas tree while you're drunk! i also go to another friend's family party every year. good food and yes, more drinking. hmm... i may have to cinsider the fact that i drink too much. nah, it's the holidays, bring on the rum!

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 11/17/2005 09:48 AM EST

Every Christmas after dinner and dessert, and after Grandma goes home, we play a board game. Me, Mom, Dad, Brother and Sister in Law all gather 'round the dining room table and have a good 'ol time. Most of the time we get a brand new one that day, but if not, we have quite the plethora of choices.

I really hope I don't have to go in to work Christmas night. That will suck...

Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 11/17/2005 10:01 AM EST

Christmas used to start for us the day after Thanksgiving. We'd all pile into the wood panelled station wagon and go pick out our tree. Afterwards we'd get food and hot chocolate. Nowadays the tree farm we always go to doesn't tag, they open for two weekends and you have to cut your own tree down.

On Christmas eve we always have a huge family dinner. Since half my family is Italian it includes some nice seafood and all. We start the food at like 3 and go all the way into the evening. Then we go to our church's candle light service. The service was always fun because you could hold flames in your hand without getting into trouble. Well one year someone complained to the fire department or something so now they have these stupid battery powered candle-ish things. After the service we'd cap the night with a family egg nog toast.

Christmas morning we used to start at 6, but it's slacked off to 8 or 9 now that we're older. We'd go through gifts by going around in a circle. When it's your turn you pick out a gift with your name on it. Always kept everything agonizingly slow, especially when my dad faked excitement over the ties or the wallets.

Does anyone else here have the pickle tradition? I think it comes from Germany or something. There's a green glass pickle ornament that gets put on the tree sometime between us going to bed and waking up. The first one to find the pickle ornament gets a special present. Well, it's supposed to be special but my dad cheaps out on it. Last year was a paint by numbers of an eagle or something.

After all that we have a great big family breakfast. We're talking pounds of bacon, mulitple dozens of eggs, gallons of orange juice and egg nog, loaves of bread to make Jesus and the multitudes jealous. Everything gets consumed and then its off to my aunts for all the extended family for the rest of the day.

Every kid was assigned an aunt and we'd get an extra gift from them. We'd run around screaming and terrorizing the dog and the girls. There's a pond in their back yard that never ceased to provide winter-time amusement. Starting around 1 we'd have another great big Italian meal. The meal usually runs all the way until 5 when the fathers sit down to watch football and fall asleep.

Good times.

Chestnuts roasted by axgop @ 11/17/2005 10:03 AM EST

axgop

We did the pickle tradition at my Oma's but never at home. I think my mom tried to do it once and then forgot about it and it kinda fell to the wayside, but when we were kids we'd go over my Oma's house for Christmas eve and that's when we'd all look for the pickle ornament.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/17/2005 10:08 AM EST

We used to do St. Nicholas day in grade school. Everyone would bring in a shoe, and then next morning they would be filled with some crappy little gift.

My favorite Christmas tradition is watching the Christmas Story for 24-hours staight on TNT. I wait until about 10 pm on Christmas Eve, and wrap all of my presents while I watch it. Then I get to bed around 3 or 4, get up at 8 and watch it all day until dinner. I look forward to that movie by far the most. I'm watching it and think "hey, didn't I just see that part". And I realize 2 hours has gone by.

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 11/17/2005 10:20 AM EST

Greetings all, Seasons and otherwise.

Hokay, it all starts on Thanksgiving. The Parade winds down and Big Red cruises up Turkey Canyon. CHRISTMAS!!! The CD's go on. (My personal fave song is "A Christmas Long Ago" by the Echelons.) Then it's outside. We begin the decorating blitz with me climbing the 50+ ft. Blue Spruce in the front yard to check on the star and connect and string the lights encircling it.
Fast Fwd to Christmas Eve.
My sis and I decorate our real tree whilst the parents are doing last-minute shopping. For dinner we go to McDonalds for dinner so our tree doesn't fall over. (I KNOW it sounds stupid but I swear that every year we have skipped McD the tree falls.) We go sing in our parish choir at Midnight Mass. Then we sleep a few hours and wake up at an ungodly hour for presents. Truly it is the most wonderful time of the year.

'Course, this summer I married a fish-eating Italian, so I'm pretty much screwed for tradition. Le

Chestnuts roasted by Rhino @ 11/17/2005 10:24 AM EST

axgop: Holy crap, it all makes sense now. When I was maybe six years old, one of my uncles got married to an antiques dealer from Albany, New York. She moved to New Mexico to become part of our giant agrarian German Catholic clan, and for her first Christmas she got every family an antique glass pickle ornament. Now I know what she was trying to go for, and I feel pretty bad that all of us were confused, and not one of us recognized what was apparently a pretty cool gesture. That had to have been the most depressing Christmas ever. Damn.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/17/2005 10:33 AM EST

bloodybrilliantme
Someone told me that there is a newer version of a Charlie Brown Christmas special, has anyone seen this little piece of blasphemy? Is it any good?

There are actually 2 of them, one is a collection of short cartoons starring the peanuts gang, whose title escapes me right now. THIS one is pure blasphemy due to the voice cast alone. Especially the one for Sally, she sounded like she inhaled some air from the Snoopy ballon from the Macy's Parade. The other one I can actually remember: "I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown," and it mainly stars Rerun, the little brother of Linus & Lucy. A bit better than that previous one, and the voice cast is much better, but still not that great.

And I, too miss the Sears Wish Book and the Toys R Us "Big Toy Book" no longer lives up to its name.

And as most of you probably know, I'm an Islander too and I have a new X-E Mission: to find the Jones Regional Pack. If you have any information, or if scott or Mr. X are out there, please give me an e-mail at Norbert5ca@aol.com . I would totally appreciate your help. And at the very least, name something after you.

I'll hold off on listing my traditions at the moment because I'm at school right now and I need to get some work done.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/17/2005 11:56 AM EST

As Jessica Marie mentioned, we here in Pittsburgh have "Light Up Night" tomorrow. I have to admit, it's pretty cool to see the city busy with activity when i'm heading home from work, but you probably couldn't pay me to stay in town late after work on a friday. i can see the giant tree lit up on any given night after that, when the city is a ghost town after 5 pm.

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 11/17/2005 12:25 PM EST

Every year, the season doesn't start until certain requirements are fulfilled.
1. We haul the artificial tree out from storage and put the blasted thing together.
2. We haul out the smaller tree at work and set it up.
3. It gets cold enough for me to scream "Brass Monkeys, Frank! Brass Monkeys!" at the top of my lungs every time I step out the door.
4. Lawton (The city south of us) starts their "Boulevard of Lights"
5. My town, Anadarko, lights up the park with its' "Holiday Celebration."
6. Chickasha (The city east of us) kicks off its own "Festival of Lights."
7. Radio stations play the good Christmas novelty songs. (Chipmunk Song, Christmas Rapping, Cartman singing "O Holy Night."
8. Radio stations play the bad Christmas novelty songs. (I Shot Santa in My Underwear, Twelve Pains of Christmas, Stevie Nicks singing "Silent Night."
9. And finally, we listen for the B. C. Clark jingle to play on the radio. (Frito knows what I mean.)
There's plenty others, but these are the highlights.

This year, Army Sister has been making up for the holidays she missed while in Iraq last year. So, we're probably going to hit as many light displays as gas prices will allow.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/17/2005 12:32 PM EST

Every year I get in a fight with a Christmas tree and lose!!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 12:36 PM EST

About a week before the big day, my sister, my mom and I pile into a car and drive to the rich areas of town to check out their rediculously huge Christmas displays. It takes about two hours and we hit about five neighborhoods.

What makes this a specifically family tradition is the fact that when my sister was a kid, she had a speech impediment where she pronounced "l" like "y", so she'd lean out of the window and squeal "Yook atta yights!" the whole time. Of course she's grown out of that now, but to this day we refer to the drive as going to "Yook at the yights."

Chestnuts roasted by Ru @ 11/17/2005 12:42 PM EST

on a serious note we would go to granparents house where we all exchange gifts-then every body could confront each other for the lame ones. My grandpa would always the sweater we got him was too big and for a fat person. Then we got to go home and open one present-I remember I almost sht my pants when i got Super Tecmo Bowl. After my Granparents passed recently its been hard to get everyone together-everyones too busy. I know that would piss my granpa off so we're gunna do something about that this year-probably force everybody in one spot. Oh yeah and of course Christmas Story marathon!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 12:45 PM EST

I think every single time me or my siblings have seen the word "Fragile" we say "Fragil-ay, it's Italian!" Every single time for the last 7 years at least!

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/17/2005 12:52 PM EST

Ok. I need help from you guys. My girfriend is sick at home today and she was wanting some good comedy to read. Is there anyway you guys can help me find a couple of the adventure posts that Matt has made?

http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/649.html

that's an example of what I'm talking about. I love those old posts where he would have toys go wacky. Help a brother out.

Chestnuts roasted by bdsghost @ 11/17/2005 12:53 PM EST

I've read on previous posted stuff that you take the bus home. When I use to take the bus home from collge downtown it was the best, because of all the christmas stuff decorations and lights and shopping for someone at Vicotia's Secret!even the homeless dudes that asked me for money would say Merry christmas-even when I didn't have money.-(any other time of the year when I said I didn't have money they would get mad and tell me I did have money because I have a backpack and books) You also get to avoid some crazy guy in a Honda Accord rear ending you-So if you still on the bus MATT enjoy!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 01:04 PM EST

Instead of catching a cab in front of my office to go home at night, I walk to Fifth Avenue to steal one from some annoying ass tourist. As I get in, I turn to look at their exasperated faces and cheerfully remark, "welcome to New York!"

Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 11/17/2005 01:20 PM EST

bdsghost

I suggest checking out Matt's review on Atlantic City's Crappiest Game Room. You could always have her look at last year's Jones Hlliday Pack Review and the review on The Worst Witch, not to mention the Advent Calendars, those are some of my all time favorite articles whenever I need a laugh.

And Matt finally got rid of Boo and the Frankenstein. Now there's ornaments and that tree branch.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/17/2005 01:22 PM EST

For me, it's not Christmas unless I watch The Muppet Family Christmas. I had to tape it off TV because every other year it seems to dip below the programming radar and the one year I remember not seeing it was not a good Christmas for anyone. I'd have bought the DVD, but I hear that it has a few of the musical numbers edited out due to rights issues. Also, whenever possible I try to catch Ernest Saves Christmas on TV. It's best on TV because you can channel surf during the boring parts with the girl and watch all the good parts with Chuck & Bobby.

Chestnuts roasted by Quammy @ 11/17/2005 01:35 PM EST

Well, when my whole family used to speak to each other, we used to have a nice little tradition where on Christmas Eve, just before bed, my mom would let us open our Christmas presents from our Gramma. (They were actually presents bought by Mom, in rememberance of Gramma, since she died when I was 2). When I was really little, and Gramma presents were really from Gramma, I got some pretty cool stuff. The last thing I remember getting from Gramma was a Care Bears bank (Tenderheart Bear, more specifically), where you pulled the heart on his tummy aside to find the cleverly hidden coin slot. After Gramma died, though, we got stuff like pajamas or stuffed animals. Now that my whole family hates each other (mostly), I won't be getting a Gramma present this year... which sucks. I needed a new flannel nightgown.

Chestnuts roasted by Beth @ 11/17/2005 01:38 PM EST

Jeez Beth that sounds kind of depressing, Im sorry- I've learned it gets worse as you get older so now We have to make Christmas fun -Suggestion: Next time your at Wal-Mart and see the 3 or 4 foot dancing santa-put a pair of underwear or panies(whatever is funnier) on the end of his hand. As he wiggles hips and dances he dangles them. Puts the entire store in holiday cheer!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 01:47 PM EST

Hey Quammy-I s that the old Muppet family christmas where they all have to sleep in one house? I have to find that again!!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 01:49 PM EST

bdsghost

I forgot to add one great read that would be perfect for your girlfriend to look at:

The 3 Part arc where Spiderman reviewed all 96 Crayola crayons. I just finished reading part 1 and I saw that there were nearly 300 comments for that article alone.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/17/2005 01:54 PM EST

I totally posted this already but I guess I had some technical ish cause I don't see it? About the only "unique" tradition we've got is going to one of those kiddie places where you paint cheap ceramic stuff...I think there's a national chain called Color Me Mine but we've got a mom and pop we've been going to for years as we've amassed a giant collection of tacky painted Santa cookie jars and angel ornaments. Unfortunately the stash got left in the attic when we moved so we had to start all over last year.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 11/17/2005 02:08 PM EST

bdsghost, may I suggest

http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0726/ http://www.x-entertainment.com/archive/quickies/26/index.shtml http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/451.html
http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/575.html http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/267.html http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/312.html http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/522.html http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/365.html http://www.x-entertainment.com/venusaur/trip.html

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 11/17/2005 02:25 PM EST

Matt,

Which Advent calendars (model numbers) are you using so that we can buy them and play along at home? Also, what kind of stuff do you have planned for the site this year?

King Chachi

Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 11/17/2005 02:38 PM EST

I have one that nobody has mentioned yet...every year at our Wal-Mart there is an "Angel Tree." It is full of paper ornaments listing the name, age, and clothing sizes of a needy child in the area, along with a few of the toys they would like. I pick an ornament and go nuts on some kid I don't know. It's fun for someone without nieces or nephews to buy for, and it makes sure at least one kid in the area doesnt get cheapskated.

Maybe while Im there, I'll put some panties on the dancing Santa too.

Chestnuts roasted by schroeder @ 11/17/2005 02:38 PM EST

To: bdsghost's girlfiend
http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/threeyearparty/

This has a whole catagory of "adventure" articles. message 312 is one of my favorites. 'Cause of Fat Daddy.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 11/17/2005 02:39 PM EST

I've never seen that threeyearparty section. How is that possible?

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 11/17/2005 02:52 PM EST

I'm thinking of buying Little Brother a CD of Calliope tunes. He finds the sound of the steam pipes disturbing. Nothing drives home his point than the end of "Freaks," when Frida consoles Hans. "Don't cry, Hans, don't cry. I love you. Don't cry." Cue the happy circus music!
I'm thinking of making a viewing of Freaks a X-Mas tradition for me and Little Brother. Gooble-gobba!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/17/2005 03:09 PM EST

Our traditions are pretty much the same as everyone elses. On Christmas Eve, we gather with the family around us, and get inundated with snacks (read: cheese, crackers...so on) then order a pizza. A recent addition to this tradition would be the imbibing of shots of whatever liquor was on-hand. Then, we head to my mom's for a present or two. Christmas day starts early, opening presents at my mom's with my nephews, my sister and mom. We have a HUGE breakfast of apple-walnut pancakes, sausage and pierogies (started by my mom's boyfriend). Then we lug everything home (my sis and I live together, so there is a lot to lug) and await Christmas dinner. I usually attend in my pajamas. Ahhh the virtues of laziness...

Chestnuts roasted by saddestwookiee @ 11/17/2005 03:19 PM EST

Schroeder- I remember our mom taking us to do that too. I think all kids should to that-makes you appreciate the Holiday alot more. Plus we had to rite a letter to the kid.

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 03:21 PM EST

Christmas as a kid was the best because we had to fit in 4 Christmases in one day. We'd wake up and do Christmas at our house, then drive the two hours to visit the maternal grandparents, then a mile or two to Great Grandmas, then a block or two over to paternal grandparents. Christmas went non-stop from about 7AM (6 if my mother couldn't stand it. She was worse than we were. More than once she'd come banging on our door, "Don't you want to open presents?" to about midnight. It was awesome as a kid. Unfortunately, I married a guy who gets really (really) agitated if I suggest leaving the house on Christmas day, so I've missed out on every family Christmas since we've been married. This will be my fourth, and he said it's only fair that I get my way this year, so I finally get Christmas with Grandma again. As for my current traditions:

1) I have to buy at least one gift by the end of September in order to feel like I've started my shopping on time (I try to spread it out over a few credit card statements.)
2)Decorations go up Thanksgiving weekend (while the 3-disc changer holds the CB Christmas soundtrack, Andy Williams, and one of the discs from the Time-Life Holiday Collection.)
3)Christmas Eve candlelight service at church
4)When my husband was a kid, their stockings would sit empty until Christmas Eve. After they were asleep, their parents would fill them, sneak into the kids' rooms and lay their full stockings on the ends of their beds (honestly, to buy the parents a little extra time to sleep.) So, I always try to sneak his stocking onto the bed on Christmas morning (which is hard when you share the same bed. I don't think I've done it yet without waking him.) It must always include, among other things, chocolate coins, a toothbrush, and lip balm (that's what his mom always put in them.)
5) As my family did when I was a kid, we read the Christmas story from the Bible before we open presents (and try to resist the temptation to do it in Linus voice. I usually cave.)
6)Christmas decorations come down New Years day after the Rose Parade.
7)At some point in between, hubby and I take a picture of us in front of the tree. It started when we were dating as kind of a fluke (we just realized we had taken them a couple of years in a row), but now it's a tradition.

Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 11/17/2005 03:23 PM EST

Jeez and I speel now the way I did back then apparently!

Chestnuts roasted by Q @ 11/17/2005 03:23 PM EST

Oh! I forgot! On Christmas Eve, we always open one present at midnight. OK, I think that's all of them.

Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 11/17/2005 03:25 PM EST

Every year I tell myslef I'm going to write my own Christmas song and every year I get too busy learning Christmas songs and eating and watching Muppet Christmas Carol that I fail miserably! Well this year I'm doing it. I think I'll write a song called Christmas with Dracula.

Chestnuts roasted by Foodtouchdown @ 11/17/2005 03:40 PM EST

Mostly the typical stuff, but on Christmas Day evending (Christmas Night?) we go to my grandmothers where there are roughly 4 trillion people gathered and make a huge bonfire down by the river.

We then proceed to find various ways to blow things up with hundreds of dollars worth of fireworks.

Chestnuts roasted by The Wukong Effect @ 11/17/2005 03:42 PM EST

Whoo, thanks for the link to the Three Year Party thing. that will keep me busy at my desk for the next couple of weeks for sure.

The Jesus Store! That's beautiful. Reminds me of my mom. Last year for Christmas she got my sisters and me each a bear that prays when you squeeze it. In our 20's. "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

Chestnuts roasted by schroeder @ 11/17/2005 03:57 PM EST

schroeder, you just made my day. We have those angel-type gift tree things too, though I think ours are at a local mall, and they're candles. But same idea.

I don't want to have children, and about the only time I think maybe I should reconsider is around the holidays...because they're always more fun with kids around, whether they're your siblings, nieces/nephews, friends' brats, whatever. Thanks to you reminding me of those things, now I can lavish that holiday-inspired maternal urge on some kid who really needs it. Awesome. New tradition added to the list, definitely.

Keep 'em coming, guys...I'm seriously going to start a list for my new apartment, here.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 04:19 PM EST

Ok, here are some of mine:

-when I was younger, I'd attend an Xmas part in early december at my friend's special school (he's deaf and it was a School for the Deaf). They were usually these elaborate parties with Santa, movie showings, games, food, and raffles. I stopped going when 1) the parties started to suck and none of the above were either not there or not that good and 2) he graduated
-Listen to my "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" cd
-I work at KB Toys, so Xmas stuff is happening already, like the music @_@
-watch the variopus Xmas specials marathons on Cartoon Network and the like
-watch "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown" on ABC. Last year I was lucky enough that ABC showed all 3 Peanuts Xmas specials at once. I've mentioned them earlier so I won't tell the story twice
-when I was younger up till a few years ago, I would go over to my aunt & uncle's house to meet the rest of the family for an Xmas party. My 5 cousins and I would watch the Beavis & Butt-Head Xmas Special until 1) it got cancelled and 2) we grew older and stopped going
-reading When Binky The Clown Saved Christmas
-Xmas day, the grandparents would come over my house and we'd exhange gifts
-my grandma giving me the latest HESS Truck. I've had all of them since at least 1988/89
-the Virgin Sacrifice
-I plan on drinking my Jones holiday pack this year (and still searching for the Regional pack)
-coming here to X-E for the Advent Calendar

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/17/2005 04:56 PM EST

Invader Norbert:

Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics is such an underrated CD! Even my mom loves that thing.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 11/17/2005 05:13 PM EST

Christmas traditions -- ah, many of my own are listed here.

Some variations, though -- I used to write final papers to The Nutcracker Suite. It was great writing music -- so great that anytime now that I need to work intently on a project, I cue up "Coffee, Tea, and Spice" and I'm all set to go.

Also, for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, my mom makes what we call nachos -- which really is just a very crazy queso, including the requisitite cheese product (Velveeta. Don't try it with that Nice 'n' Cheesy crap!), rotel, cream of three different kinds of soup, cheddar soup, nacho soup, and breakfast sausage. Wow. Served over Doritos for the kids and Fritos for the adults. Polish off the meal with some homemade chocolate chip cookies.

When I lived in Oklahoma City, it was never Christmas until you heard the B.C. Clarke Jewelers Anniversary Sale song on the radio. "Most sales are after Christmas, but Clarke's is just before. Most everything is marked way down! Savings you can't ignore...at Oklahoma's oldest jeweler, since 1892. So give the gift you know can't fail -- from B.C. Clarke's Anniversary Sale!" It's such a great song, it even made the local radio station's "Top Ten" list one season.

(For my peeps back in No Man's Land -- if you have a copy of this song, I would LOVE to have it for me and my sister!)

Also -- daylight savings time has always made me think that the regular street lights, stop lights, and car brake lights are Christmas-y. So many lights! At 5:30! Oooh! Shiny!

I need to go home.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/17/2005 05:20 PM EST

Every year, my dad tries to think of new ways to wrap our presents. Last year he took tissue boxes and closed the top with duct tape. I love my dad.

Chestnuts roasted by C.V.V.T. @ 11/17/2005 05:40 PM EST

Here you go, Lisa Marie! One B C Clark link all ready to rock, sort of.

http://www.bcclark.com/bccjingle.html

This is something only expatriate Okies can understand. But, I'm sure there are equivilent regional ads and such that have the same effect on X-E poster kids across this great land of ours. Times were, I knew to get all crazy-go-nuts when both B C Clark and the old NOEL-co ads hit the airwaves, back before Cable, Satellite, and Internet were all widespread. Yeah, I'm old! Don't make me hit you with my walker!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash is not a Quinn Martin Production @ 11/17/2005 05:50 PM EST

Thanks, Kingklash. I found it. I was just getting ready to post the link myself.

I've listened to it ten times already. I'm giddy as a schoolgirl wearing her first velvet dress to the Christmas Pageant.

And GOD I miss the Norelco ads. Surfing on an electric razor. That's my idea of fun.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/17/2005 06:01 PM EST

I spent the first years of my life in California, but Ma used to sing the jingle 'round Chistms time. Us kids knew it by the time we resettled in OK in '81. Anyone else have tales of regional sing-alongs? I dig that kind of stuff.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/17/2005 06:22 PM EST

ARGH, I just had a whole post in here and it disappeared. RAWR.

I'll summarize: I heard on the radio tonight that the rocket carrying James Doohan's ashes didn't have the power to launch itself into space as there was an engine problem, the launch has been pushed back to at least February, and this is strange because I just today read Matt's blog entry about his death; Billy Fuccillo is about the only memorable (and most annoying) regional admaster around these parts; and we're getting the first lake effect snowstorm of the season which I am both giddy about and disgusted with.

God I HATE losing posts. Just read this and pretend it was longer and funny. grr.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 06:41 PM EST

Nicole: Best post ever. I laughed. I cried. I was transformed as a human being.
I had something to add here, but now I've got to go take seventeen hours to reevaluate my life. Wow.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/17/2005 06:51 PM EST

Kingklash,
Not sure what to make of your watching FREAKS as part of your Christmas tradition but apparently you are one of us, one of us.

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 11/17/2005 07:02 PM EST

Well, Jedoc, I've no idea how to take that...either you're being sarcastic-funny and did enjoy what I had to say, or sarcastic-asshole and you're telling me my posts suck. That distinction is a little hard to figure out over the Internet, so help would be appreciated.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 07:05 PM EST

Just following orders. Pretending it was longer. Admittedly, some might say that I was assuming rather a lot of the material that was missing, but what can I say? I'm an optimist.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/17/2005 07:16 PM EST

Ah, okay...I gotcha now. Forgive me for being a little slow on the uptake, there. And being defensive. And ruining the joke.

Do I owe you ten bucks?

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 07:20 PM EST

Ok this has nothing to do with Christmas, but I just realized this. Was there EVER teenage mutant ninja turtle happy meal toys? I had pretty much everything TMNT and a ton of happy meal toys and I never remember seeing any. How could there not have been? Its a match made in heaven.

Chestnuts roasted by Foodtouchdown @ 11/17/2005 08:13 PM EST

I usually put up my tabletop Christmas tree, beanies, and other assorted decorations on Black Friday, or Saturday.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 11/17/2005 08:18 PM EST

The local tree-lighting ceremony (in Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County, New Jersey) involves a big wire Christmas tree that gets put on Lake Pohatcong (I think that's the name) at Tip Seaman Park. It's usually thrown on the unsuable beach during the off-season, but in November, they put it out on the lake. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the tree gets lit at 9 pm. I've never actually gone to this lighting ceremony, but it gets crowded, but not the same kind of crowds that the tree @ Rockefeller Center gets--but its enough to cause gridlock along Route 9 North/Main Street.

And, its not like its a real tree...its made of WIRE!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 11/17/2005 08:22 PM EST

The Brady Bunch Christmas special was so cheesy, yet I have this obsessive need to watch it EVERY...SINGLE...YEAR...and I mean it. EVERY...SINGLE...YEAR.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 11/17/2005 08:26 PM EST

Has anyone ever seen the John Denver movie "The Christmas Gift"?? I love this movie--its really a nice Christmas movie. I taped it off of Lifetime 2 years ago. John Denver can't act, but the movie is sweet and nice.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 11/17/2005 08:28 PM EST

Wonderful thread, everyone.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/17/2005 08:37 PM EST

Foodtouchdown,Burger King had TMNT toys but the were these crappy bicycle accessories(horn, stickers,things you'd put in your spokes,etc.)

Chestnuts roasted by Sonny @ 11/17/2005 08:38 PM EST

Nicole: I'm only licensed to accept money for dream interpretations. You know how it goes. I let somebody pay you for pumping up their imaginary post, it turns up later in an audit, bam. I'm out of a pseudo-job.

Note that as of this posting, there are no official agencies which keep track of Jones Soda, Christmas Crunch, or any other forms of novelty comestibles as barter in exchange for services rendered. So, you know, if you feel the need...

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/17/2005 09:22 PM EST

I've always read Rip Van Winkle every Christmas Eve since I was 8. Its cause I got it as a present from my teacher in 2nd grade and somehow read it on Christmas Eve. I'm so sick of reading it but if I stop Christmas will be ruined. Every year we put up decorations on Thanksgiving or the day before or after depending on schedules, this year I'm doing it Wednesday cause I can wait no longer and want to come home from dinner on T-day and enjoy my decorum and rum and egg nog and herb and christmas cookies and music and specials.....gotta watch every single one in existence to my wife's dismay. Rankin and Bass especially rules!

Chestnuts roasted by Funky Boo Berry the Ghost of 70's Christmas @ 11/17/2005 10:02 PM EST

Well, Jedoc, I will be hitting the stores this weekend for the first time since holiday season began, so if I come across any turkey wax or anything else interesting, I'll be sure to see if you're interested.

In other news, I just saw a commercial for the new Hess Truck, and it's a fire truck this year. I'm not surprised, what with the whole "rescue hero" thing the country has these days. It looks pretty damn awesome, and now I want one. Are old ones really worth what we've always been told they would be?

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/17/2005 10:06 PM EST

I just thought of something. When I was about three (this would be 92) my parents got me this neat little lego castle for christmas. It was grey and it was pretty small, maybe 8 by 8 inches but it looked big to me. It came with a bunch of lego knight/ men at arms mini figs and a princess. I remember laying eyes on that thing underneath the tree and I knew that I was in love. My mom, I mean santa, had already put it together. The next x-mas or maybe the x-mas after they got me an even bigger lego castle that was black, had more features such as a little dungeon, and more mini figures but I always liked that little grey castle better. I still have the boxes, directions, peaces, figures, every thing. Ever since then I have compared every christmas gift to that castle. Anyone else have any great memorys of a specific gift?

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/17/2005 10:33 PM EST

This thread has been absolutely great. I had a really terrible day today, and it perked me right up. I haven’t posted here before, but this thread got me thinking about some great memories, and got me looking forward to making the trek home for Christmas.

My own family’s traditions may not seem all that great to others, but they sure bring back a lot of memories for me. The short list follows.

The church candle lighting service was pretty lame when I was little, but it got a lot cooler once I got to be old enough to enjoy dressing up. I know I’m probably going to hell for it, but once I got to be a teenager I liked checking out the chicks. Heck, I had my first kiss out back of the church at one of these.

Every year Dad makes chocolate chip cookies for the neighbors and work friends. I know they’re probably not anything REALLY special, but they always tasted like the best cookies ever to me. Plus, I liked hanging out in the kitchen with Dad for an afternoon, taking in the good smells and gobbling cookies fresh out of the oven. Some of the best times I shared with my father from the time I was little all the way until I finally moved out of my parents’ house for good were spent in the kitchen watching a tiny TV playing Christmas movies or The History Channel. I think he treasured those times too. He even brought me a batch when he and Mom came to visit for Thanksgiving last year. He hung onto them through terrible flight delays at an airport where the restaurants were closed, turning down exorbitant offers to purchase the cookies from people who were getting desperate for food.

For the last few years, we have watched “A Christmas Story” on Christmas Eve, after visitors have gone home or we get home from church. Both my parents love that movie because it reflects many of the memories they have from their own childhoods. Last year, I remarked that I’d love to find a copy of the leg lamp. Both Mom and Dad looked at me like I was insane, but said nothing. Unbelievably, the next morning I unwrapped a box and laughed and said “Fra-gee-lay. Must be from Italy.” I opened the box to find my very own leg lamp. I don’t know how they knew- I’d never mentioned that I’d like to have a leg lamp before. It now sits proudly in my living room, visible through the front window.

Every Christmas morning Mom includes a Sara Lee coffee cake with breakfast. I’m not sure why- she did it for a few years in a row, and it just became a tradition. We never have Sara Lee coffee cake at any other time throughout the year. The smell on Christmas morning just screams home and happiness.

When I was little, I would usually restrict my list of desires to mainly small things. We weren’t poor, but I knew we weren’t exactly rich either, and I knew Mom and Dad couldn’t afford to give me lots of extravagant presents. However, every year I would ask for one big present or a group of several mid-level presents, hoping against hope that maybe Santa would come through or Mom and Dad would find a way. Every year, Mom and Dad would convince me that they couldn’t afford it or that I wouldn’t be allowed to have it or that Santa couldn’t fit it on his sleigh or that elves couldn’t make it, etc. Every year I would find that one special present under the tree. Some of the best examples include the year I got a bunch of Transformers (Optimus Prime, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, and others), the year I got my Nintendo, the year I got Fortress Maximus, and the year I got my Super Nintendo. I hate to think of what they sacrificed to do that year after year, just because they loved me and wanted me to have the best of everything. (cue sappy music)

Chestnuts roasted by spaz307 @ 11/17/2005 10:36 PM EST

When I was a kid,I used to play with my G.I. Joes in the Christmas tree, and pretend the lights were lasers. I'd always hide the halo jumper "Ripcord" in the tree, and no one would ever know. Twenty years later, I still do it. I've never missed a year. Same Joe every year. And a few years back, my son started to do the same thing. I find it funny, I never intended on it becoming a tradition, and now it's on it's second generation. And no matter how old my son gets, we'll always share this. And no matter how old I get, it always makes Christmas feel the way it did when I was young.

Chestnuts roasted by TOMARS_DUMBASS@YAHOO.COM @ 11/17/2005 10:48 PM EST

1984...before some of you were born, apparently.

That was when every little girl wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid, because every other little girl they new wanted or already had one. My parents had my sisters and me convinced that there was just no way...they were still hard to come by if you werent in the store when they arrived.

On Christmas morning we were pretty satisfied with the whole My Little Pony land (castle, stable, AND beauty parlor), and everything else we got. I did get a garfield alarm clock that I used forever till it broke. I still have the picture of me sitting on the couch with my dog,wearing my candy cane nightgown, surrounded by my loot.

And then...my parents came through. Magically, my dad realized there were a few presents upstairs that they "forgot" to bring down for us. We didn't pay much attention, till we saw the wrapped packages with the distinctly slanted fronts. There's gotta be another girl out there who knows what I'm talking about.

I still have Paige Nessie, my boyfriend tried to throw her away last summer and I ripped up all his movie posters. Don't F with my CPK!

Chestnuts roasted by schroeder @ 11/17/2005 11:00 PM EST

I remember one year going with my mom and sister to search and search for a Teddy Ruxpin (for me, but I was really young, somehow I remember though) and every store was out of them. Then, when we got home that night, there was a package on the door, and my mom had won a Teddy Ruxpin in some contest and totally forgot about it. So I did end up getting the gift that kept on giving, and by giving I mean creeping out.

Chestnuts roasted by Foodtouchdown @ 11/17/2005 11:37 PM EST

Oh my sweet, marshmallowy Lord, schroeder --

I'm laughing and crying right now. Your post is the best thing ever!

In 1984, my mother purchased two handmade CPK-alikes from a craft show. We were poor, and she couldn't see forking over that kind of money for stupid plastic dolls. So she bought these off of her boss's wife, who made them. My sister and I dressed our Kids up in old baby clothes that we had worn (fer real), and though we weren't *quite* as pleased ('cause we couldn't really claim CPK status, even though these dolls came with adoption papers and the whole thing), we still have them and treasure them. I know even as we speak where I can lay my hands on little Caprice Renee right now. She's at my Mom's. I don't know where my sister's doll is...nor do I remember her name.

A few years later, my mother bought us even better knock-offs. Better in the fact that they were uglier/cuter and more life like, but they were still hand sewn dolls. I'm not sure what I named that one, but yep, we've still got her.

In 5th grade, when I got my first pair of glasses (first test I ever failed was an eye exam; it was great preparation for the heartbreak of trigonometry a few years later!), my best friend at the time told me I looked like a Cabbage Patch Kid.

Emily White, if you're out there -- even though you said you meant it as a compliment, I still cried all afternoon. Bitch.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/17/2005 11:45 PM EST

I totally forgot--I did have a cloth one too! My mom hid in the basement after we went to bed at night and made us each one. Christy Ann was ghetto, with smeary eyes, a flat face, and scratchy yarn hair. She got me through the bad times till her more perfect sister came along.

Chestnuts roasted by schroeder @ 11/18/2005 12:00 AM EST

Rub it in.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/18/2005 12:04 AM EST

When I was a kid, my parents used to drive my brother and I around, looking for the houses with the best Christmas decorations and lights. I remember one year specifically, where I couldn't quite concentrate on the trip, as I knew I was getting a Game Genie for my NES in a couple days for the holiday, and was obsessing. Now, as a young adult, I plan on doing my own christmas light treks every year.

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 11/18/2005 12:08 AM EST

Last year, my family started the tradition of "get drunk and watch Bad Santa."

The tradition I've been taking part in for the past seven years is "sleeping on my parents' uncomfortable couch on Xmas eve, watching Police Academy because I can't POSSIBLY fall asleep when my spine feels like it's being raped."

Chestnuts roasted by Jen @ 11/18/2005 03:30 AM EST

Lisa Marie - your holiday commercial memory made me think of a traditional Pittsburgh commercial. i'm sure many of you don't have any Eat 'n Park's near you (or know what they are) but they have this great holiday commercial thats been around for as long as I can remember. it's an animated tree and star and the star keeps trying to jump to the top of the tree and can't quite make it. after a few jumps, the little guy is about to give up. then, the tree bends down and scoops him up. the whole tree lights up and the sappy music starts. i cry every time i see it. many conversations around the holidays here start with "have you seen the eat 'n park commercial yet?"

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 11/18/2005 08:43 AM EST

I just remembered another tradition I started back in junior high...for the entire month of December, I wear Christmas-themed socks. I started out with maybe a couple of pairs, now I have at least enough to go from the 1st to the 25th without repeating a pair. Even my feet are festive.

There were a lot of times in my childhood where I got awesome presents, and I don't know how my parents did it, either. There was the year that my poor father stayed up almost all night to put together my My Little Pony mansion, so it would be ready when I got up...he still says every year when we're done opening presents, "At least you didn't get another pony mansion." Heehee. God, remember when you used to have to apply all the stickers yourself? I always had my dad do it because he was way more precise than me or my mom, and waiting for the toys to get put together drove me nuts. Then there was the time they surprised me with the keyboard I'd wanted desperately...they hid the box on me because they knew I was up early to snoop. And when I got my own TV, they put a tag on the huge box saying it was for my grandparents, so I wouldn't know it was for me and guess what it was. Tricky tricky.

I had a CPK, too, girls...Diana Sally. Don't remember how I got her, but I dragged her around everywhere for a long while. She's still somewhere in the giant crypt that is my grandparents' barn, the great storage house for all my old toys. I also had another one that I got as a gift from someone or other, but I never liked her as much because she had the Cornsilk hair and consequently, I don't remember her name.

Ah, memories...now that CPK are back, I've been searching for just the perfect one to bring home with me. Haven't found her yet, though, but I will. Like I don't have enough crap.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 09:00 AM EST

here's a link to that eat 'n park commercial, if anyone's interested:
http://www.eatnpark.com/newsVideo.asp

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 11/18/2005 09:02 AM EST

Darth - I'll answer your question, but be forewarned, this is a chick story if ever there was one.

When I was 6 or 7 (I think it was '86, so probably 7) I saw one of those "real" babies in the Best Catalog. I think this was pretty much when they first came out with them. As the name implies, they were baby dolls that looked like real infants as opposed to having a typical, cartoonish, doll-like face. I had never seen anything like it and, being a baby doll lover, I had to have it. I asked for her for Christmas and even gave her a name, just hoping she'd be under the tree. Lucky for me, Santa brought her, so when I walked in the living room, she was laying on top of her box waiting. I called her by name, ran over to her, and gave her a big hug. I then promptly took her pretty much everywhere for the next two years. She's currently in the top of my closet (in some of MY old baby clothes, Lisa Marie.) I don't think any present could give me as much genuine, pure-hearted joy as she did.

"I still have Paige Nessie, my boyfriend tried to throw her away last summer and I ripped up all his movie posters. Don't F with my CPK!"
This made me laugh out loud. Being married to a man who can't see any value in my old stuff because it doesn't mean anything to HIM, the laugh was especially sweet. And I know EXACTLY what you mean by the slanted box.

Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 11/18/2005 09:03 AM EST

Are the girlies taking over? Somebody better come up with another GI Joe story soon, or this is gonna turn into x-e-pink!

Chestnuts roasted by schroeder @ 11/18/2005 09:09 AM EST

Reading the X-E advent calendar is definitely a new tradition. And definitely noteworthy

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 11/18/2005 09:12 AM EST

That EatnPark commercial was the best - we didn't have any in DuBois and EatnPark seemed like such a mystery (like Toys R Us). But I felt so sorry for that little star trying to get to the top of the tree...
Light Up Night is tonight!

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/18/2005 10:00 AM EST

Oh, man. Hearing some of these stories has just brought up a severely repressed memory. When I was seven, my parents got me a train set for Christmas. It was one of those ones with a little town on one side, all sorts of fiddly little telephone poles and stuff, the track itself held down by what had to be one-penny nails every two inches. Looking back, I can't imagine how late my dad had to stay up to put it all together in time for it to be sitting there at 4 AM the next morning.
Anyway, it lasted about two weeks. That was when my cousin and I (being little boys and, therefore, destructive bastards) staged a massive air raid with a helicopter I'd gotten the year before. Snapped all the telephone poles, destroyed most of the little down, took down the bridges, styrofoam scenery everywhere. The entire set had to be thrown out, and of course I cried and cried. But what amazes me is how, fourteen years later, I'm still so guilt-ridden over the entire thing. That stupid train set is going to keep my parents out of a cheap nursing home someday, mark my words.

Although to be perfectly fair, if they hadn't got me that sweet helicopter the year before (most of you know the one I'm talking about...had a squeeze handle at the back to make the rotors spin, came packaged with that tank and all those green army men?) Dr. Mindbender would have had no way to carry out his devious plot. Stupid Dr. Mindbender. One of these days, I'm seriously going to stop listening to that prick.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 11/18/2005 10:22 AM EST

Don't have too many traditions these days, since each year we kind of rotate whether we spend each holiday with my family or my wife's, but as a kid one tradition was to have 2 Christmas dinners: my moms, at home, and my grandmothers, at her house. No wonder I was a fat kid, it was the same on Thanksgiving!

Chestnuts roasted by ZiZak @ 11/18/2005 10:39 AM EST

I hear you, ZiZak! I started a campaign two years ago to forego Christmas dinner (i.e., lunch around 1:30 in the afternoon) in favour of a simple breakfast. My sister has five kids, so while they're all opening up tiny trucks and hair ribbons and dolls with way too many pieces and mega-pieced monsters, I make apple cinnamon and pumpkin pancakes, sausage links, and tons of hot coffee for the adults and her middle (5-year-old) child who's been addicted to caffeine since he was a toddler.

Trying to prepare a large meal immediately after the rush of opening up presents almost always led to a huge fight. So, we're beginning to skip it.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/18/2005 11:16 AM EST

I'm the person in my family who loves the tree. I think without me, they wouldn't even bother with it. I threw a huge hissy fit the year mom's (then) boyfriend went out and got us one. It was all wrong, totally lopsided and the branches weren't spaced right. Idiot. I usually decorate tree by myself while people trickle in and out to put a few ornaments on.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 11/18/2005 11:54 AM EST

Any one who's been around these parts for the last couple of years knows my Super Happy Number One Good Luck You Love Gold Star Smiley Face King Boss All Time High Five X-Mas Present:
SHOGUN WARRIORS GREAT MAZINGA!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/18/2005 11:55 AM EST

Oh yeah, The Eat N' Park commercial was cool.
Nicole should put up a Advent Calendar based on her socks.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/18/2005 11:58 AM EST

As a child of divorce (and the grandson of an on-call nurse), my family's Christmas tradition goes as such:

On Christmas Eve, my mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and I hole up in my apartment. My mom makes dinner and we open our presents after we eat. We started doing this because my grandmother almost always had to work Christmas morning, so she couldn't see any of us open our gifts. She's retired now, but the tradition has stuck.

On Christmas day, I make the two hour trek up to my dad's house in New Hampshire. We eat a TON of homecooked food and open presents afterwards. Then my dad and I usually watch movies and get tipsy off of spiked eggnog. I spend three or four days up there before returning home.

Other traditions include the inevitable bitter argument between my mother and grandmother as we decorate three. Each of the past three years (at least) we've stopped halfway through and almost NOT put the tree up.

Chestnuts roasted by greeneyedzeke @ 11/18/2005 12:00 PM EST

We wrap our presents in plain paper. Then on Christmas Eve, after we're all drunk, we cut out silly pictures from magazines, glue them to the presents and write stupid captions.

It's a big competition to write the funniest caption. We're top secret about what we do and we can't look at eachother's results until Christmas morning when we unwrap the presents.

Chestnuts roasted by Carri @ 11/18/2005 12:00 PM EST

Mara, it's the same story at my house...every year my parents say they're going to have a fake one, and I throw the absolute queen of all fits, claiming they'll never see me again once I move out, they'll never see any grandchildren (crap, that won't work now that I've decided not to have kids, will it), that I'll shove them in a crappy nursing home...and I always win. I still don't know if they do it just to tease me because they know how much I love a real tree, or if they're seriously switching to the fake kind as soon as I'm gone in January. Those bastards.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 12:01 PM EST

And I realized I just said "Decorate three". That should be "the three", but I felt like being efficient and combining the two words... Riiiight.

Chestnuts roasted by greeneyedzeke @ 11/18/2005 12:01 PM EST

Carri -- I love this decorating idea! One of the best Christmas work parties I ever went to had a Secret Santa based on similar guidelines. Instead of giving gifts to the person whose name we drew, we cut out pictures from magazines of what we would give if we had the time/money/effort. It was really amusing, because the bosses were rich oil-tycoon-cum-bed-and-breakfast owners, whose garage was larger than my family's house. The boss-lady drew my name, and I landed a trip to Paris. Cut from a magazine, of course.

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/18/2005 12:25 PM EST

Nicole - Ick, fake tree. I never understood those. Isn't the point to get needles all over the house to make vacuuming more entertaining during the first few months of the year?

I think in the last two years or so, my family has settled on the idea that they'll go along with me to the tree lot, but it's really my thing to pick the tree. Same with the decorating, they'll play along but would probably be too lazy to do it without me. I don't know what they'll do once I stop coming home every year...well, we'll see if that day ever comes.

I'm also the only person who appreciates Christmas music, so for several years I would regale my family with the N Sync Christmas album. Later, I moved a mix CD I made with such things as Adam Sandler's Hannukah song(s) and Bad Religion singing Silent Night...and a lot of N Sync. Shut up, I'm not ashamed of it anymore.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 11/18/2005 12:46 PM EST

When Matt first posted this question I couldn't think of anything off the top of my head than I actually thought of two: one we were always allowed to open a gift Christmas Eve (as we got older and stopped believing in Santa) and when we were younger and DID believe in Santa, my father had to go downstairs first to check "if Santa left us anything" and we werent' allowed to come down until he said so my sister and I would be sitting at the top of the stairs with anxiety pangs WAITING and DYING to see what we got!!

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y @ 11/18/2005 01:04 PM EST

kingklash, that cracks me the hell up. An advent calendar of socks. I'd do it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids! Er, I mean, if I had any knowledge of such things or a digital camera that wasn't on my phone. I'd hate to see the type of fan base I'd get from something like that.

Mara, if my family ever does get an artifical tree, I think I'll just explode. I don't have anything against them per se, but they're just not for my house, dammit. My cat loves drinking the tree water; maybe after I move out I can convince my parents that an artifical tree will make her dehydrated or something.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 01:18 PM EST

Wow, this thread got huge. I have to say that I've enjoyed reading all of your traditions. Luckily, the heart break was kept to a minimum. I just can't deal with sad Christmas stories.

Up until this year, my parents always had dial-up. So even though it took a while, on Christmas Eve I always made sure to check X-E's last update before the big day. Then I help my dad start hauling in the stuff that Santa brings (we still do Santa because of my little brother).

Actually, if we didn't do Santa, I'd be pissed. We've done it every year since my first christmas in 1982. I'll be damned if we stop now.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 11/18/2005 01:36 PM EST

Pretty off topic, but as the caretaker of a recently returned-to-health puppy I can't let it slide. Don't let your pets drink nasty water! It can make them very sick

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 11/18/2005 01:59 PM EST

Melissa Y -
We had to wait at the top of the stairs too! Of course, all the adults get to go down and sit around and get their cameras ready. I hated having the adults watching me open my presents, I just wanted them to go away. It was so embarassing.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/18/2005 02:00 PM EST

for Nicole, to the tune of "Jingle Bells"
Christmas feet,
Christmas feet,
Stinkin' up the tree.
Stick those toeses
'Neath their noses,
A holiday treat that's free!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/18/2005 02:02 PM EST

During the Christmas, I usually bitch about the lack of the word "Christmas" on products and in stores. It seems every candy package now have the generic "Holiday" description. I remember last year a bag of M&M's had the characters on the front in Santa Clause outfits, all the M&M's inside were red and green and the name of the bag was "Holiday" M&M's. WTF? Everything about it was Christmas but they couldn't bring themselves to put Christmas on the package.

See Matt talk about this too refering to the "Pine Tree" in the "Winter" Lucky Charms http://x-entertainment.com/adventcalendar/2003/december21/

Now, I don't mind if the stores refer to all the holidays, just don't do the generic "Happy Holidays". Stores like to get all the $$$$$ from people during the Christmas season but are afraid to say the "C" word.

Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 11/18/2005 02:19 PM EST

Yea. I hate that whole political correct thing. When I was in 2nd grade, my class was banned from doing the christmas pagent becuase it was denominational.
Even though there were only 5 jewish kids in the whole school.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 11/18/2005 03:08 PM EST

Squee, don't worry. There's nothing in the tree thingie but water. She drinks right after we fill it, unless we can chase her away, and then she doesn't care until we fill it again. She just has a fascination with water. Plus, if she hasn't died drinking our rusty well water for the past, oh, ten years or so, she'll be fine. I've actually read that cats prefer drinking out of, say, a puddle than a fresh water dish, because their noses are very sensitive and the chemicals in tap water as well as any soap you've used to clean the dish tend to turn them off.

And that was the Animal Planet portion of the blog...now back to your regularly scheduled posting.

Oh, and kingklash: that's just too funny. You're killing me here. I gotta stop reading X-E at work, people are going to start wondering why I'm constantly giggling over here.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 03:13 PM EST

Squee, don't worry. There's nothing in the tree thingie but water.

And a huge flurking TREE. Christ, Nicole. I think we should call the ASPCA.

*grin*

Chestnuts roasted by Lisa Marie @ 11/18/2005 04:59 PM EST

I dreamt I was in a Hollywood movie.
And I was the star of the movie.
Which really blew my mind.
The fact that me, an over-fed, long-haired leaping gnome
would be the star of a Hollywood movie.
Then Matt's Dolphin showed up and had me fired!
Grrr!
I'll get you, my aquatic nemesis, and your little blowhole too!

Chestnuts roasted by can kingklash spill the diet coke intead? @ 11/18/2005 05:19 PM EST

This is a great thread. I love X-E and Matt for doing it but I also love everyone that contributes to these threads. There's always a great bunch of comments on the blog. Good work everyone!

Ok, that's my one moment of Thanksgiving week sappiness.

Chestnuts roasted by Carri @ 11/18/2005 05:33 PM EST

I guess you can't really call this a tradition but I did this enough times for it to stay engrained in my mind. While in the Marines my buddies and I used to pitch a tent and decorate it with our flashlights using diffrent light covers making them look like ornaments. We also used one of our socks as a stocking and suprise one another with whatever goodies we had available...pack of smokes, chewing tobbaco or whatever cool stuff we could find. Even though I was away from home I have to admit that those were the best times in my life. I'll never forget them.

To all my buddies serving in Iraq.
HOORAH, and SEMPER FI. Come back safely.

Chestnuts roasted by Texican @ 11/18/2005 05:39 PM EST

I have a CPK blanket that my parents got me when I was almost 3 (in 1985). I still have it, and use it as my 2nd blanket during the winter. It's in decent shape too--I had to cut off the satin-y thing on it because it was tearing off on one end. My ex-boyfriend (you'll understand why he's my ex, but there's more personal reasons for it) told me that if we got married, the blanket couldn't come w/me. No one, and I mean NO ONE, messes with my Cabbage Patch Kids blanket!! My current boyfriend (1 year, 3 months, and 4 days strong) appreciates my nostalgic blanket. And if he doesn't...tough shit! MY BLANKET.

I feel much better now.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 11/18/2005 06:42 PM EST

Never let animals drink the xmas tree water!!!!! Christmas tree farms use a lot of pesticides on their trees to keep them looking nice...the pesticides can easily contaminate the water in your xmas tree stand and poison your pets. I am always extra-careful keeping my pets away from the tree, broken ornaments and tinsel can also be deadly when swallowed.

Er...ok, back to your regularly scheduled christmas cheer....

Chestnuts roasted by Beth the animal shelter worker @ 11/18/2005 07:03 PM EST

Holy Cow! 180+ comments? Good gravy Matt, post something new so we can obsess anew! Actually this one has been really cool...

Chestnuts roasted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/18/2005 07:38 PM EST

Texican busted out one that's not really a tradition, but memorable, so I'm going to do the same.

When I was in college, I was in a fraternity. (Please keep the frat boy jokes to a minimum.) One of my roommates had a small plastic tree, about three feet high. We "decorated" the tree by playing the Transformers drinking game. We hung empty cans from their pull tabs on the tree as ornaments. Once the tree was decorated, we went and found the largest condom we could steal from one of the other guys in the house. We put the condom on top of the tree instead of a star. I was pretty hung over the next day, but my friend and I had a blast!

Chestnuts roasted by spaz307 @ 11/18/2005 07:38 PM EST

Right now on the Food Network they're doing a special on "Turkey related" products. They're featuring Jones Sodas, just thought I'd throw that out there for anybody who'd like to watch it.

Chestnuts roasted by Jackie @ 11/18/2005 07:42 PM EST

Well, for Christmas, I drag out the Beta and watch this old tape. It's a double feature- Christmas Eve on Sesame St. and Santa Claus: the Movie. It's very nostalgic for me because Santa Claus: The Movie has the old 80's-style HBO rating screen before it (This film is rated PG...) and the Tri-Star Horse thing- both of which used to scare the crap out of me when I was very little. I was a very strange little kid.

Chestnuts roasted by nuzzles @ 11/18/2005 08:05 PM EST

My family is from Holland so we do some things a bit differently than in the US.

Christmas is two days here. The first day we spend with the immediate family, parents, brothers and sisters. Then the second day the whole freakin' group (grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents, cousins, etc..)gets together at one house to party and drink till we make such asses of ourselves that we dare not mention it till Easter

Chestnuts roasted by Lex @ 11/18/2005 08:33 PM EST

Matt: I was at Wal-Mart tonight and saw a couple things of interest. First was a Wonka Gingerbread Cottage kit for about $10 that featured Nerds, Runts, Sweet Tarts and Tart-N-Tiny candy as the decorations. I almost bought it, but the thought of eating tart candy and gingerbread together made me decide against it.

Also, speaking of flavored wax, they had a set of Kool-Aid Lipsmackers for around $5. No flavors of real interest, but hey, they've got the Kool-Aid man on them. OH YEAH!

P.S.: My cat is fine. She sneaks maybe 2 slurps a year. We do try to keep her away from it. She's now 11-ish, been doing it since she was a kitten and has never even gotten sick. Nobody needs to call Bob Barker on me, here.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 08:36 PM EST

I just went to the grocery and saw the 2005 coke chritsmas bottles. They had that stupid bear, not SANTA! AND they were not even painted on the glass, it was just a plastic wrapper. UGH. However, there are not one but two radio stations here that have dedicated their time to all cristmas music. Which means come commercial time I just have to hit the other button. YAY!

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 11/18/2005 08:52 PM EST

What a weird coincidence, kb, my mom just came home with a 6 pack of that o_0;;;

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/18/2005 08:57 PM EST

The He-Man She-Ra Christmas Special on DVD?! I must have it!!Thanks for telling me,Nicole(sorry it took me 2 days to come back,read your post,and respond!)

Chestnuts roasted by Suren @ 11/18/2005 09:18 PM EST

It's okay, Suren -- not everyone is obessive like me and refreshes the blog sixteen times a second...I kid, I kid. It's more like once or twice a second. And you're welcome!

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 11/18/2005 09:40 PM EST

As a kid I would decorate the tree with my grandma, til she couldn't live with us anymore - I got a musical Santa in a balloon thing that played jingle bells and this cool sparkly advent calander from her - my mother threw out the advent years ago but the ornament is still around, is one of the first things I'll put up.
As far as tv goes - A Mom for Christmas, Yogi's First Christmas, A Muppets Christmas Carol and Home Alone are always high on the list to watch.
On Christmas eve we'd all go to my other grandma's house with all the extended family and stay there til 11 or so - between family fights and my grandma's death years ago that tradition fell apart.
Always have to go and see the Myer Christmas Windows in the Bourke Street Mall (in Melbourne, Australia) at some point in december, and always watch Carols by Candlelight on tv on Christmas eve.
Last year I was living with my adopted family (I'm 21 and have known them for years online) in Canada - my mom and I decorated and went and looked at all the different Christmas things in stores around the city - got to see some of the santa claus parade on tv and all - always wanted a white Christmas, now that I'm back in Australia for at least this year I don't know what I'm going to do :-P wow I ramble..

Chestnuts roasted by SeptemberJoy @ 11/18/2005 09:41 PM EST

Nuzzles - Logos always scared the crap out of me as well. Some still do.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/18/2005 10:01 PM EST

Jessica Marie,
Glad to see someone else had to suffer the same Christmas morning anticipation. I didn't like the corny pictures my mom had to take of me and my sister in our pajamas. I remember one year we had pink matching ALF PJ's...photos should be burned. LOL Nowadays though I enjoy opening presents because my cats love to play with the wrapping paper and bows, etc.

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y @ 11/18/2005 10:23 PM EST

Oh my god...looking for old Christmas specials, I hit the jackpot. Click on my name to see all of the old tapes I found (complete with old commercials, of course). I need a few hours to pick my jaw off the floor.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 11/19/2005 02:01 AM EST

Unrelated, but you put domenick the donkey on your jukebox! you're a good little Italian boy. thanks
-L

Chestnuts roasted by Linda @ 11/19/2005 03:43 AM EST

I'm viciously disappointed that there's no Pepsi Holiday Spice this year. I liked it cold, my girlfriend liked it hot, but we both liked it!

Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 11/19/2005 04:58 AM EST

I went down to my local grocery store and instantly found two things that I will lust over untill I have them, and both are made by Kinder:

1. Kinder Christmas Kugel: Basically a GIANT (about the size of a large softball) Kinder Egg, filled with random Sponge Bob or Christmas toys.

2. Kinder Advents Calender!: Filled with 6 Kinder Eggs, 6 Happy Hippos, and random other Kinder chocolate. That almost makes up for the fact that it's butt cold, and people think I'm crazy (not like, "Gee, your silly and foolish" crazy, but "Gudrun, call the police, there's an escape mental patient" crazy) when I ware shorts and a t-shirt. Sucks, but at least there's chocolate!

Chestnuts roasted by Mad Cow @ 11/19/2005 08:27 AM EST

Melissa Y -
We totally had matching pajamas as well, though never Alf. I broke away the year I got my New Kids on the Block nightgown.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/19/2005 09:21 AM EST

I wrap presents while watching wrestling tapes

Chestnuts roasted by thejyav @ 11/19/2005 10:43 AM EST

My mom drank pina coladas while putting up the christmas tree in the seventies and eighties.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/19/2005 01:35 PM EST

Wow, when was the last time a blog got over 200 comments?

I was readiong the Spiderman Reviews Crayons part 1 again earlier this week and that had almost 300, but it was spanning over from august to at least october or so before Matt finally closed it. This one got over 200 in just 4 days.

Thank goodness its Saturday and the Night Thread will be up soon...I hope.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 11/19/2005 02:18 PM EST

Jessica Marie,
GASP! We had New Kids nightgowns too!!! We got them for Easter one year though! I also had regular New Kids pajamas too...I was an obsessed fan...still love them!!

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y @ 11/19/2005 02:31 PM EST

Melissa - that's awesome. You and your sister must be closer in age than we were. I was born in 81 and she was in 85, so when New Kids came around she was still too young.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/19/2005 02:56 PM EST

Of course the big-Big-BIG tradition is that last-minute shopping trip. Rushing the stores, sword blazing, gun slinging, teeth bared, fur flying, wreaking havoc and bloody knees as I square off against other late shoppers and old ladies.
"No! I claim the GI Joe commemerative Wild Night in Bangkok set! Your Geriatric Biddy style is excellent, but let's see if you can withstand my BUFFALO-BLINDSIDE!!!"

(that was my most humiliating x-mas defeat ever.)

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/19/2005 03:20 PM EST

I wish more people would be sympathetic towards those who have to have artificial trees. They are a lifesaver for those of us that like to decorate and have them glowing in our homes but cannot tolerate the real live thing. Unfortunately a "real live tree" in someones home is like the death knell for me. I am terribly allergic and cannot be in the same room with them. Tho I love them so. O Christmas Tree.

Ah my family had many traditions, thinking back. Five years ago I skipped from the no snow ever south to the snow drenched north...leaving my family behind for a fiancee. We haven't really formed many traditions because for three years in a row I was either sick or extremely preggers. This year I'm again, not too well but am determined to atleast have a tree, bake Christmas cookies and go holiday shopping in atleast one mall. Those are my goals.

Back in the day though... it started before Thanksgiving... our tiny village community would have a town lighting ceremony. All the businesses would buy lights and dress up their stores for this big lighting extravaganza. There would be live music in the square and my father would usually be the one to MC the celebration and air it over his radio station. This happens usually the Friday after Thanksgiving but preparations start way before.

Then there was the Ducks Unlimited Banquet, with tons of food. The station Christmas party, with tons of food. The Bass Club banquet: with tons of food. The list goes on and on. It was like a neverending parade of eating and nights out on the town, primping up in your Xmas-y best.

The putting up of the tree was a big affair. My father put the tree together and then my mother and I would spend the night decorating it with zillions of ornaments ranging from Hallmark ones to shiatty homemade ones I made in Bible School when I was like four, to even more treasured items like my baby booties or a My Little Pony with Christmas ribbons. Xmas music would play and we'd take breaks to eat Chocolate chip muffins with frozen glasses of milk.

The decorating of the yard was a big deal, we had all these wood cutout ornaments including Santa, his sleigh and five reindeer, candy canes and more. I would paint the windows with Xmas scenes and the whole house and all the foliage would get draped in their lighted Xmas best. Our house freakin' glowed once the lightup Frosties and candles were set out. It was a gorgeous display of Christmas, especially the years my father laid out a tree design on the roof with the Chrissy lights.

Christmas itself was a three day affair. Xmas Eve we would go to my Grandmas for what was basically a holiday themed family reunion. Relatives I never saw the rest of the year would be there and the kids that lived there would open their presents, making you feel a little lame because they were getting tons of loot and I was lucky to get maybe a gift from my grandma. Some years we would have a name exchange program, others it was a free for all. There was so much food involved - it was ridiculous. Everything from traditional red velvet cakes to an assortment of fresh killed game... Us kids would hole up in one of the kids bedrooms and play Nintendo or Sega Genesis or whatever was hot that year. They usually had some crappy games but we'd make-do. Lots of talk and catching up with cousins you haven't seen in forever was nice. When we got older the adults would lure us out to mingle with them for awhile but anyone under the age of 25 would end up crammed into that back room. This tradition ended when my Grandma died when I was about 16.

Oh and of course the Great Last Minute (literally) shopping trip. The Walmart employees would joke that it wasnt officially the end of the holiday rush til my father closed the store down. We always had to run for last minute items to finish the holiday dinner or wrapping... great memories there.

Christmas Eve night/Xmas Morning: are you kidding? Who could sleep? My mom would be up wrapping presents til 4 in the morning and I would be up at 5 just sitting in front of the tree, waiting... we didnt open gifts until my father came back from work around 8:30am, so my cousin Steve would usually come down around 6ish and we would play video games and ponder about what we would get that year until my father would arrive.

Then he would play Santa and hand out the gifts, torn into with glee. The best present was never under the tree, it was always hidden behind the curtain or "forgotten" in the car. It was always something special too, like a Nintendo or a rainbow unicorn bicycle (when I was 6), a CD changer, one year I recieved a 19" TV and thought I was "teh hot".

Christmas breakfast was next, and it was always either orange or cinnamon rolls and lots of milk. The perfect starter to get you going before the "big meal" later on. One year my father burned them and we ended up having like cereal or something instead. LOL

then VH-1 would have Christmas videos on all day. We'd switch between that and CMT and help prepare the XMas dinner. Another batch of relatives would show up which meant another round of present opening and then a GIGANTIC Christmas lunch that had so much food it took us a week to finish it. Christmas night we would watch a holiday movie, like Home Alone or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and I would have to see either the Peanuts Christmas special, Frosty or Rudolph. Rudolph is a classic!

The day after was a day of soaking in all the goodies we got and visiting even more relatives that we didn't see the first two days. That's what happens when most of your family either lives in town or on the outskirts or shows up just for the special occasion.

Now that I am no longer near any of these people, things are different. There's still presents handed out at my fiancee's mother's house but it was never treated as such a big ritualistic deal that my family gave Christmas. Their house would look like something from Martha Stewart's Xmas dreams, while my B/F's family has like...a tree. No giant 5 foot tall stuffed reindeer or a dining table decked out with a Christmas village. I loved setting up the Xmas village....

Now that I have a daughter, Xmas is going to be a bigger deal as time goes on. I want her to have fond memories of Xmas like I do. With Christmas baking and early shopping and trying to find the right presents for everyone... lots of Christmas carols and good food with friends and family. Light-looking and blaring Trans Siberian Orchestra's "First Snow" when we recieve "the first snow"...

Ahh sorry for the excessive nature of the post here. Reading all 200+ comments and your memories of Christmases come and gone kind of made me pine for those olden days and rekindled my fire for wanting to start new traditions and reinstant those of old.

Chestnuts roasted by Kittycatgirl @ 11/19/2005 04:08 PM EST

Not a fan, but I also had the NKOTB jammies. And I feel your "allergic to da pinies" pain, Kittycat.
As a kid I had a series of similar aquatic mammal dreams, involving an orca living in my family's pool, but I always just chalked it up to too much Free Willy.
Any time there's a great survey the comments hit 100+ quick but this one's really been afire.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 11/19/2005 04:14 PM EST

Kittycatgirl, that was epic! Still, interesting stuff.

I need to find a way to get off of work on Saturday nights. Judging by the responses on the last two threads, this SNT is going to be gi-normous. Unfortunately, I'll be selling popcorn and tickets to little kids wearing stupid wizard-hats, big dumb glasses, and probably some sort of enchanted smocks.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 11/19/2005 04:20 PM EST

Wow, mtrox, sounds like those Platoon fan club parties get really wild.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 11/19/2005 05:47 PM EST

I'll be one of those little kids...oKay, I won't be dressed up, but I'm going and I'm geeked for Harry Potter.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 11/19/2005 05:54 PM EST

mtrox has found the holy grail.......

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 11/19/2005 06:02 PM EST

I've never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies. I must stay loyal to the Lord of the Rings. I'm going to miss tonights thread because I'm going to a party! Whoo!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 11/19/2005 06:05 PM EST

I found the teenage girls a bigger annoyance than the kiddies when I went, but I think that's just true for me at movies in general. As far as the movie itself (Goblet of Fire), it was okay. I'd call it the second best of the four so far (Chamber being first, Sorceror's Stone the last).

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 11/19/2005 06:31 PM EST

I'm with Darth on this one. I can't stand Harry Potter (LOTR all the way!). For some reason it just seems too childish. The only thing more ridiculous than Harry Potter in my mind are the people who dress up like wizards. (cosplay weirdos)

Chestnuts roasted by D-Roc @ 11/19/2005 06:39 PM EST

I don't like Harry Potter nor LOTR. I'm also the one on here who said I hated Halloween and Christmas. I fit right in!

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 11/19/2005 06:56 PM EST

I just hate movies in general, at least current movies...

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 11/19/2005 07:11 PM EST

SNT where art thou????

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 11/19/2005 07:28 PM EST

Well, for years in my family, we went down to New Castle, PA to have christmas at my grandma's house, going to the house of my grandad on my father's side for the night before festivities.

Before we'd go down there, we'd have our own little christmas up here in NY, to get all of our presents out of the way so we wouldn't have to pack them. On the night before out christmas, we'd enjoy a great meal, consisting of shrimp, brie, champagne, and other goodies, while watching a movie, and then the day after, when the presents were opened, we'd order take out.

On the night before the actual christmas, we'd head over to Grandad's place, and enjoy another nice meal, made of sandwiches, shrimp, beef stick, and chips, with margaritas and other drinks, while one of my dad's relatives would drop by with a wide assortment of amazing christmas cookies made by my Aunt Sandy.

Then on christmas day, we'd head over to Grandad's house again, to begin the opening of the presents, as well as have some pastries and hot cocoa for breakfast. Then we'd go back to grandma's house on my mother's side, and open all our presents there, before having both turkey and ham for dinner.

We'd then spend the day after over in Boardman Ohio, where you can see movies in great theaters at reasonable to ubelievably low prices.

We only skipped this in 1991, when my mother was 9 months pregnant with my sister. It was also the year i got my Sega Genesis, so it was good anyway.

But, we'll have to start a new tradition this year...my grandmother has moved up here to an apartment near us, her health now in a slow decline, needing constant visits to the doctor. I've inherited her car, took over the payments, since she's too weak to use it now.

But she's holding firm, and I'm hopeful this christmas will be another good one that we can enjoy with her around. As for Grandad, we're going to drive down and see him sometime in January.

Chestnuts roasted by Number5 @ 11/20/2005 10:31 PM EST

It's just not X-mas without my Nana getting a tin of Quality Street to share, and eating Ferero Rocher. Yep X-mas isall about the food XD

Chestnuts roasted by Blue @ 11/21/2005 11:51 AM EST

Any adults in the house get absolutely wasted while wrapping presents from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, after the kiddos go to bed, of course.
It makes for a wonderful Christmas morning, hangover and all!

Chestnuts roasted by curvy @ 11/21/2005 01:55 PM EST

our family has an actual festivus. Like the costanza holiday on seinfeld but we were doing it long before the series stole our brainiac idea. The airing of the greivances takes place immediately after the present opening when my mother starts complaining about all the hard work she put into the breakfast. which is an egg casserole and some of those orange frosted rolls from pillsbury. After we laugh and make fun of her martyrdom we commence to the feats of strength. Since we live on the side of a mountain it can get pretty creative. The first year i brought my fiance to visit he sledded into the foundation of a house and broke his uh, coccyx, and spent the rest of the holiday sitting on a donut while we all laughed at him. "put some snow on it" was the general remark. Most recently there wasn't any snow on the ground, so we piled up all the christmas wrapping paper and carboard and lit a big bonfire and rode a red rider wagon through it at top speed. It was truly the best festivus ever. This year we are planning something with a "ring of fire" and "blazing snow fort" i'll keep you posted

Chestnuts roasted by Alikatz @ 11/21/2005 03:22 PM EST

Every year for the last four or five years, I would throw a Toys for Tots party. All my friends would gather at my apartment and everyone would bring one (or more often than not much more) toy or book for charity. Had to bring a toy or you couldn't hang.

We would then proceed to exchange gifts amongst ourselves, watch bad movies, play bad video games and get royally drunk.

Later, I would take all the gifts to a local Toys For Tots, or some such charity.

Good times

Chestnuts roasted by gantbobo @ 11/21/2005 06:44 PM EST

When we still lived in Topeka, my family would drive through a holiday lights display at the lake, benefitting retarded citizens. The retarded citizens didn't design the light displays, but they were quite... creative, and some inappropriate for Christmas. For instance - a cannon that fires an explosive, a manger scene surrounded by palm trees, and a lake monster. So anytime I had a girlfriend during the holidays, had to take her through it. Anytime we had visitors from out of town, had to take em through it. All for a good Christmas chuckle. The tunnel of lights was awesome to drive through, though. Oh, tradition #2, when my grandfather was still alive, we decided to go out to eat because my mom didn't make a Christmas dinner (not that she's lazy, she usually does, and I'm expecting great food Thursday.) Well, only place open on Christmas day that we found was a Chinese restaurant, and that was the last Christmas spent with my last surviving grandparent. So my favorite holiday tradition, period, which I SHALL pass down to my children, is eating at a Chinese restaurant. Yeah this was a long first comment.

Chestnuts roasted by Anonymous Source @ 11/21/2005 09:51 PM EST

Let's see...

Christmas Eve at my aunt's house. Lots of junk food to eat; "nutrition" consists of pizza bagels, mini corn dogs, and rolls of lunch meat. Other than that, it's all sugar, crackers, and cheese ball. Started so that my paternal grandparents could see everyone; continued so that us cousins could see each other. They used to make us kids sing until we rebelled (some of us didn't want to sing, others shouldn't have been allowed to.) Now that the next generation is starting to be old enough, though, that might get inflicted on them. Presents for the little kids. Usually one item a piece for everyone else.

Every year my mother buys a set of four Christmas ornaments that are all thematically tied. One goes to each of us kids, and one for my parents. Before any of us were moved out, the tree got VERY crowded. But this way, when we did get moved out, we each had some ornaments already for our individual "first Christmas in our own place".

Every year I'd get up first, and turn on the Christmas tree lights. My brother would usually be last, and I'd try to find some obnoxious way to wake him (glass of water to the face, getting the dogs to jump on his stomach, etc.) I try to continue this by calling him on the phone at 6 am, but sometimes he's actually up that early now.

Chestnuts roasted by MRL @ 11/22/2005 02:59 AM EST

we always get a real Christmas tree. my mother has a catalogue of all the ornaments so we can remember who we got them from and reminisce about old friends.

my family would always have a celebration on Christmas Eve with my Mom's side of the family for Oma and Opa for their anniversary, Oma picked that day so her husband wouldn't forget. as corny as it sounds, we'd eat good food and get around a piano and sing Christmas carols. last year, when Opa was too ill to come to my aunt's house for the celebration, we made a tape of us singing. this summer he passed away, so i don't know what's going to happen to that tradition. anyway, that lasts until early evening, then we have to dress up nice to go to church. my parents stopped making me go regularly but if i don't go to the Christmas sermons, Santa's not going to come. yes, i'm 21 and we still keep up the pretense of Santa.

on Christmas Day we all get up and my father takes a picture of everyone looking sleepy / cranky in our pajamas in front of the tree. then we open presents, clean up, and get the house ready for my Mom's relatives to come over. we then exchange those presents, eat German meats with bread, drink mimosas, and eat hot chicken salad.

in the afternoon as kids we'd spend time with our toys, now we usually nap. come evening, my parents have a fight over whether or not my Mom is going to my Dad's relatives get-together, because one of his sister's husbands hates her for telling his wife she should leave his cheating ass (he was listening in on a phone convo) like 15 years ago.

we go to that gathering, filled with relatives pretending they give a damn about each other, and usually overcooked prime rib or something. we exchange meaningless and sometimes amusing gifts (my uncle once gave me a second-hand set of a block puzzle that depicted a duck... when i was 14.) and usually the kids go downstairs and play video games. then we get the hell out as soon as we can after dessert, but it never feels like soon enough.

Chestnuts roasted by angsty cola @ 11/22/2005 08:15 PM EST

I'm late to the party!

Several traditions around our parts. First, there's the tree. We drag out the artificial and the paint gun and color the tree. It used to be white. It has since been blue, purple, red, red, and we're considering black this year. Decorating does not commence until the skeleton-in-the-ball is found and hanged up.

The extended family gathers on Christmas Eve for supper (but we eat supper together every night so it's not that big a deal). During supper, we put our vote in for Best Wrapped Gift and Best Ornament (the B.W.G. title has stayed in my family for three consecutive years). Then comes Chinese Christmas at sunset ($5 gift). Then a counting game (how many jingle bells/M&M's/tree lights are in the jar?). We then hand out gifts while commenting on unacceptable wrapping (you WILL go rewrap this gift before opening can commence!)

The next day, my mom, sister, and I open the gifts at home. If we're feeling spirited, sister and I go see the Father for a few hours.

Personal tradition: drinking eggnog nonstop from the day it is released (1 week so far) and watching Endless Waltz and the entire LOTR trilogy.

Chestnuts roasted by Margaret @ 11/23/2005 05:41 AM EST

I'm later than you Margaret!

Our traditions include:

The same one Lori said her husband's family has - to put the filled stockings @ the end of the beds. My brother and sister and I all sleep upstairs (my room is in the basement) and then get together early in the AM to look @ stockings.

Christmas eve, we have a 'snacky' dinner, rather than real food. We have smoked oysters, crackers, cheese, salami, pickles, and other little finger foods. We eat in our rec room together and just hang out.

When my mom still lived with us, we always opened one gift on Christmas eve -- 99% of the time it was pajamas we would never wear.

Since I've been able to cook, I've made breakfast Christmas morning - French Toast Raphael, tonnes of bacon, juice and coffee. My arteries are screaming just thinking about it

Chestnuts roasted by Meagan @ 11/23/2005 04:05 PM EST

Remember when BC Clark did the contest on KJ103 for people to remake the jingle??? Probably not...anywho, here's a chance to hear a version of the jingle that was the runner-up...

Go to:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=51254 - Scroll down to where it says "BC Clark - Remix for Contest" and either select MP3 or HIFI (select LOFI for 56K connections)

Chestnuts roasted by Brian @ 11/30/2005 10:44 AM EST

When I was about 7 my parents bought a coal stove. The next Christmas I started the tradition of putting coal in the bottom of my Dad's stocking. It changes who gets it every year. Twenty years later still going. Now who ever gets coal in thier stocking? You hear of it but even the brattiest of bratty kids don't get coal. I like that we are probably the only people who celebrate coal in a stocking. We also have the coolest stockings. My mom crocheted them 25 years ago & they are huge & stretch. Got a question does anyone else get health & beauty stuff in thier stocking? We always got shaving cream, chapstick, deoderant, shampoo ect. Candy & mints. I do the same at my home & my hubby must do the same when he fills mine. I think its better to get stuff you'll really use.

Chestnuts roasted by pittsy776 @ 11/30/2005 05:03 PM EST

That's hilarious. One of my friend used to do the same thing in his childhood.

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Chestnuts roasted by Mortgage Calculator @ 12/07/2005 06:46 PM EST