A few Holiday questions ......???

[hrgillespie]

I have wondered about how we all might do things a little differently and why ........ especially coming from diferent regions and backgrounds and thought it might be fun to compare a few things and learn a little bit about eachother in the process.

When do you put up your tree? Take it down?

Real or Fake?

Do you wrap stocking gifts?

Do you wrap Santa gifts?

Favorite Holiday tradition?

Best gift you've ever received?

Best Gift you've ever given?

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else?

How do you spend Christmas Eve???

Are you done your shopping?

Whats your holiday meal look like?

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan?

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season?

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on???

[hrgillespie]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down? It goes up the day after Thanksgiving and comes down the day after New Years

Real or Fake? Fake and we have two

Do you wrap stocking gifts? Yes! My parents never did but I find it more fun to have it all wrapped

Do you wrap Santa gifts? Yes!

Favorite Holiday tradition? Checking the manger with the kids in the morning to make sure Baby Jesus made it safe and sound

Best gift you've ever received? This year I will have a new grandbaby girl maybe not right on Christmas day but still she is a wonderful gift!

Best Gift you've ever given? I think the most meaningful gift I have ever given was to my parent last year. I made them a book with a page from each of their 17 grandchildren. Each childs page was filled with pictures and information about them as well as a special message to Memaw and grampa directly from them. My parents bring it with them everywhere they goand share it with everyone.

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else? We celebrate Christmas but I have an Umcleand Aunt who are Jewish so we also share in their Celebration.

How do you spend Christmas Eve??? We attend a candlelight service and then home to open our waiting for Santa PJ's then after the kids go to bed we start wrapping and stay up half the night getting the stuff all set up and ready!

Are you done your shopping? All except stocking yes!

Whats your holiday meal look like? We have the same foods every year. Breakfast will be egg and ham sandwhiches and cinnamin rolls with OJ. Lunch will be baked ham scalloped potatoes and corn and rolls. Dinner will be ham potato chowder made with lunch leftovers ......

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan? Yes!!!!!!! Honestly untill yesterday I was wishy washy even before that planning to cheat .... but several things have changed that for me and I am sticking to plan for sure!

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season? Just grumpy rude people ........... mostly when shopping.

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on??? Hands down I would give my father a healthy heart.

[*Emma*]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down? I don't/ I don't

Real or Fake? I don't

Do you wrap stocking gifts? Yes

Do you wrap Santa gifts? we dont have santa gifts

Favorite Holiday tradition? Meeting all my friends at the bar on xmas day night

Best gift you've ever received? The only thing that comes to mind is my mountain bike

Best Gift you've ever given? I derno

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else? I celebrate christmas

How do you spend Christmas Eve??? this survey makes me out to be an alcoholic lol, i go to the pub!

Are you done your shopping? Nope! the rest will have to be done on saturday!

Whats your holiday meal look like? Turkey!

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan? depends what you call sticking, i imagine i'll overeat legal foods, take from that what you like!

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season? the commercialisation of it

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on??? I would give myself boobies!

[hrgillespie]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

Emma just curious do you not have santa gifts because it's just not something your family does or do you not culturally(sp)?

Also you don't look like and alcoholic! And I think I will overeat legal foods too but try my darndest to stay legal!

[*Emma*]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

Do you mean like a present that says From Santa? I dont remember ever seeing this anywhere??? maybe another Brit can confirm that!

[SandyL2002]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down? I put it up on Thanksgiving and Usually Take it down New Years Day

Real or Fake? Fake..allergic to the real

Do you wrap stocking gifts? Yes...so we have more to open

Do you wrap Santa gifts? I have...it really depends on what it is..If its a bike no...but something smaller...yes..but we don't do Santa gifts anymore

Favorite Holiday tradition? Nothing

Best gift you've ever received? Nothing

Best Gift you've ever given? Nothing that I can think of

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else? Christmas

How do you spend Christmas Eve??? Sometimes out to eat and ride around and look at lights.. Last year we went to a Christmas Eve church service (daughters ex boyfriends church) that was really nice

Are you done your shopping? NOPE

Whats your holiday meal look like? The usual...Ham, Turkey, Vegetables, Potatoes-Mashed and Sweet... Lots and Lots of desserts

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan? NO

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season? The stress of the money

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on??? I would want to be able to relax and enjoy the real reason for the season..and not be so stressed over the financial

[sadie147]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down? Beginning of Dec, take it down Boxing day (day after xmas) or the next day. we go away for new years so i like to get it over with.

Real or Fake? Fake.

Do you wrap stocking gifts? Nope.

Do you wrap Santa gifts? Yes, though as a child my mother never did. my husbands parents did, so we had to comprimise. of course he wanted them wrapped for his daughter...and I'm the one that has to wrap. some comrpomise.

Favorite Holiday tradition? I started throwing an annual family Christmas party every year..i had my third last weekend. 35 family came. it was great.

Best gift you've ever received? 5 years ago..when the offer for our cottage got accepted in early decmeber! Not really a gift, but a nice christmas memory!

Best Gift you've ever given? I helped 2 friends buy a house by giving them a downpayment, they would have never been able to own one without it.

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else? Christmas

How do you spend Christmas Eve??? I celebrate like Emma, only with friends at home .

Are you done your shopping? I have one gift left. then i'll go buy a bunch more stuff i wasn't planning on. do it every year.

Whats your holiday meal look like? Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, dried marrowfat peas (my fav), mashed potatoes, cranberry/gravy.

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan? I am in maintenance, so yes for dinner, it's fairly easy now. i may have a small desert after.

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season? i have 3: the cost, the parking lot at walmart, the fact that my work doesn't even acknowledge it.

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on??? i'd like financial security..maybe turn myself into a lottery winner? lol

[hrgillespie]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

Yes ............ here in the US Santa fills his sleigh with gifts for girls and boys .......... in our house the "Big gift" is always from SAnta and then he fills stockings too ...........??? WHat does Santa do there?

Do you mean like a present that says From Santa? I dont remember ever seeing this anywhere??? maybe another Brit can confirm that!

[julirama723]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down?
As a kid, we'd put it up about 3 weeks before Christmas, now we put it up Thanksgiving weekend. We take it down some time after New Year's.

Real or Fake?
I *WISH* it could be real, and as a kid, we only ever bought real trees. Real trees are soooooooo expensive here, that we bought a fake one.

Do you wrap stocking gifts?
Yes!

Do you wrap Santa gifts?
We never did "Santa" gifts, because as a kid, aren't ALL of your gifts supposed to be from Santa? My boyfriend's family does Santa gifts, but they also do "Houses" gifts. His dad owns rental properties, so each family member usually receives tools or something from "The Houses".

Favorite Holiday tradition?
My family would have a big party between Christmas and New Year's which was always fun.

Best gift you've ever received?
I got a brand new Professional Yamaha baritone saxophone when I was a junior in college (I was a music major).

Best Gift you've ever given?
I don't know...

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else?
I celebrate Christmas, though I'm not overly religious these days.

How do you spend Christmas Eve???
Christmas Eve with my family was the "big" holiday. We'd have our huge meal, go to church, and open our presents. On Christmas Day we'd sleep in, eat leftovers, and watch movies!

Are you done your shopping?
Almost! I just need to pick up some small things like stocking stuffers.

Whats your holiday meal look like?
I think we're going non-traditional this year. We're spending it with friends. I think we're having steak, shrimp cocktail, butternut puree, veggies and dip, homemade french bread (I won't be eating any), cookies, and some sort of fancy dessert that will be Atkins-legal.

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan?
YES! Why not? It's so easy! There are soooooo many legal foods you can eat it'd be silly not to.

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season?
People that harrass you to eat all their carby junk/people who go off diets because "It's Christmas"/people who make New Year's Resolutions to lose weight or exercise and then consequently flood the gym so that the "regulars" can't even get a machine

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on???
I would make my parents healthy again. My dad has diabetes and needs knee replacement surgery. My mom has thyroid problems and knee problems, too.

[rozigrl221]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down?
We put our tree up 1 week before X-mas. We take it down 1- week after X-mas

Real or Fake?
Real

Do you wrap stocking gifts?
Depends on what the gift is. Just hodge podge stuff- no, but if it is a ring or bracelt or something of value, then yes.

Do you wrap Santa gifts?
Don't the elves wrap those gift....Yes

Favorite Holiday tradition?
Driving around to see X-mas lights

Best gift you've ever received?
My son....X-mas in July

Best Gift you've ever given?
My DH Milwaukee drill...You'd have thought I jsut told him we won the lottery

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else?
Christmas
How do you spend Christmas Eve???
Wrapping last minute stuff

Are you done your shopping?
No..need some last minute stuff

Whats your holiday meal look like?
Ham, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, corn bread, green beans, asparagus, salad, cheesecake, red velvet cake, pecan pie

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan?
Yes...without a doubt. I've come to far to turn back now.

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season?
The fact that people tiptoe around the phrase "Merry Christmas". Most of us have gotten away from the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Also, the fact that a lot of people feel obligated to give presents.

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on???
I would only want to change myself. I would change myself by thinking and living in healthier way. I would have a PHD in science, and I would also want to be a homicide detective.
__________________

[Bluebelt2007]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

When do you put up your tree? Take it down? December 1st and January 1st.

Real or Fake? Real

Do you wrap stocking gifts? No

Do you wrap Santa gifts? Yes

Favorite Holiday tradition? Just hanging out with the family on Christmas day.

Best gift you've ever received? My first bike as a kid, didn't have much money growing up so it was a big deal.

Best Gift you've ever given? New Car

Do you celebrate Christmas or something else? Christmas

How do you spend Christmas Eve??? At my wife's Aunt house, big get together

Are you done your shopping? 99%, just small stuff for stocking.

Whats your holiday meal look like? Prime Rib, salad, Asparagus, cheese, nuts, berries and then loads of junk for everyone else.

Honestly will you stick to this WOE plan? Yes, why wouldn't I.

Whats your biggest pet peeve about the Holiday season? $$$$$$

If your only gift this year was the ability to change one thing about yourself or someone else who and what would you decide to use it on??? To be a better person.

[hrgillespie]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

I am realy enjoying reading everyone's answers!!!!!!


Sandy I'm praying that somehow the stress of money is over ridden by the love and joy you experience this holiday season!!!!!

Sadie wow 35 people all in your house?????? Fun fun!!!!!! Sounds like a great time!

julirama723 I think thats cool about the gifts from houses ...... a fun little twist thats all yours!!!!!

rozigrl221 we love to drive around and go "light looking" too! We also try very hard to keep Jesus the center of our celebration and teachings about Christmas!

[sadie147]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

Yes ............ here in the US Santa fills his sleigh with gifts for girls and boys .......... in our house the "Big gift" is always from SAnta and then he fills stockings too ...........??? WHat does Santa do there?

so only the big gift is from Santa? In my family, about 75% of the gifts we give my stepdaughter were Santa gifts, the rest from us.

Interesting to see how others do it ...i had no idea that people even wrapped Santa gifts until i spent my first christmas with my husband!

[SandyL2002]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

so only the big gift is from Santa? In my family, about 75% of the gifts we give my stepdaughter were Santa gifts, the rest from us.

Interesting to see how others do it ...i had no idea that people even wrapped Santa gifts until i spent my first christmas with my husband!

Santa only brought one gift for my kids also.. I wanted them to know that mom and dad paid for all there gifts...

[*Emma*]

Re: A few Holiday questions ......???

All gifts said on them the name of who they were from, but they were sent to santa for him to deliver.