Christmas memories

[xp_wallflower]

When I was very little and my Grandparents were still alive, we would always take a trip at Christmas to somewhere new.

It wasn't always far away but I remember my Grandfather would always tell stories about wherever it was that we went.

He was a history teacher but his favourite was early Eqyptian. He was the one that gave me my love of biographies.

There's always something to learn from both what someone writes for themselves and what others write about them.

So, what are your Christmas memories? Beyond the presents and the lights, what does this time of year mean to you?

Comments

[x-cloak.livejournal.com]

Our Christmas was never on the actual day. Mom and dad rarely had a day off together, so we always grabbed whatever day that was. I remember one year they were so busy, we had Thanksgiving and Christmas on December 10th.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

They sound like good people. You going home for Christmas this year at all?

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

I used to spend it with my mom.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

What sort of things would you do?

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

She'd go all out for Christmas dinner, make it really special. And midnight mass.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

What religion? My Mom and I weren't that religious all in all but we'd always volunteer on Christmas. Sort of a family tradition. It's weird to think I won't be doing that this year.

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

Catholic. Not that I've been to church much this last year or two.

[xp_daytripper]

You know, I've always wondered about this midnight mass thing. Want to go with me?

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

That... could actually be good.

[xp_daytripper]

Just promise you'll put me out if I catch on fire. ;)

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

Hah. You can count on it.

...Thanks.

[xp_daytripper]

De nada. :)

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

My mother once made the entire family reindeer sweaters for us to wear one Christmas to take on photo day. This was before the ugly sweater craze so it wasn't ironic at all. My sister decided she wanted to be rebellious, so during the picture, she had on an inappropriate shirt on under the sweater and when the flash went off, pulled it up to reveal it.

My mother grounded her for a week.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious. What did the shirt say?

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

"99% Bitch."

She was going through a phase, lol.

Needless to say my mom doesn't display that one around the niece and nephew when they come over for Christmas.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

Hah! Brilliant. How old are the niece and nephew?

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

They're twins, so they're both eight. Gailyn and Joey, a girl and a boy. They're very creative, which is a problem when they start finding unique ways to destroy things.

[x-wallflower-.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a handful, but a fun one. I'm told eight is a good age. Mostly I remember my time at that age being full of mischief.

[xp_spectrum]

Growing up on Army bases and moving around a lot, Christmas was always about my immediate family; me, Mom and Dad. We'd have a tree - just a little one - and decorate it with all sorts of stuff we'd picked up on our travels. Every new place, we'd get something new for the tree. It was the one box Mom always made sure came with us personally, instead of going in cargo.

After Mom died, Dad stopped having the tree. Said it hurt too much to remember. He told me he threw the ornament box away, but I found it stashed away in a back closet one time when I was snooping for my presents. One day I'm going to ask him for it and have a tree of my own.