Santa and his sleigh have made their appearance at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Christmas Season is upon us.
Now is the time that I must stop complaining that it! is! too! early! Christmas comes after Thanksgiving. Even us grumblers must admit this. But it was so! early! this! year! My first sighting of the green-red monster was in September, photo above. Below is screenshot of the message I sent to my husband upon witnessing Christmas-in-September.
Now is the time that I admit that this is what we, as a society, want. Stores would not be carrying the stock if customers weren’t buying. And, I guess, grumble grumble, early planning is required for a holiday parade or holiday party. Or if one needs to get ones gifts mailed. I still don’t have to like it. Grumble.
Now is the time for my annual repost of Scalzi’s nod to what is left of the month. A Bitter November. [Non-Illustrated] 2022 & [Helmet Watch 2023]
Now is the time for my annual rant about the Start of Advent. Wait. Not this year. In 2024, Advent does in fact start on December 1st. I will save my traditionalist tsking for next year, when December 1st is a Monday and Advent starts the day before, Sunday, November 30th. Yes, November. Advent starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas. But I digress. [Advent, A Prose Poem, Afterword]
Now is the time for me to decide how I will approach Christmas. I don’t mean the holiday itself. For me, traditional observation of Christmas-the-occasion is Christmas Eve Candlelit service, opening gifts with family, and travel. The fact that I don’t do any of it these days is due to logistics rather than philosophical opposition. More recently, we celebrated Jewish Christmas, i.e. going out for Chinese food. This year, we are considering an Icelandic Christmas, i.e. books and hot chocolate. They even have a word for it, Jólabókaflóðið (Jolabokaflod). Sign me up.
Now is the time for me to decide how I will approach Christmas-the-season. One year I was over it. “I am declaring it to be December. That’s it, just December.” [A Brief Check-In, intro]. The next year, I went the other way, “I’ve been leaning into Christmas this year.” [Fractal Christmas Tree] This year will probably fall somewhere in the middle.
Now is the time to think about the parts I enjoy. Music. December is the only time I play music. I might even sing. Occasionally. Where no one can hear me. I’m really bad. But I do enjoy belting out Adestes Fideles. Blog material, particularly photography. So many options. Television. I’ll watch the Grinch, the original cartoon with Boris Karloff. [Advent, A Prose Poem in 22 Memories]
Remember, at this point, I am talking about Christmas-the-month, not Christmas-the-2000-year-old religious-celebration.
Now is the time to think about the parts I would like to see. More variety. Same colors. Same songs. Same plots. Even Santa is the same. At least in the US, the man in the red suit always looks as if he just stepped off a can of Coca Cola. More about other Christmas traditions. Learn about Christmas around the world. More about other holiday celebrations. Learn about December around the world.
Now is the time to admit that I have one holiday tradition.
update. Attended, no post. 2024
[Up, Down, & In-Between, A Saddle Seat Miscellany] 2023
[A Grinch Attends A Christmas Party] 2022
Attended, I think? 2021
Don’t remember if we were doing outside stuff by then. I stayed home, from everything. 2020
[Tree Topper, Christmas Party 2019]
[Let The Festivities Begin, SSF Christmas Party 2018]
Attended, no post. 2017
[Foto Friday: Stall Decorating] 2016
[SSF Christmas Party 2015]
[Barn Christmas Party] 2014
[Barn Party] 2013
Probably attended. My first year at SSF. 2012
What do you do for December?
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
This is my first December as a widow. My husband’s absence after a long and difficult illness is a “sudden change in lifestyle”. After 35 years of partnership, I can now make decisions solely on my needs and wants.
Christmas, I have decided, is a fun time. Parties, dinners with friends and family. Music. Occasional gifts. My rule of thumb is: if I have to put work into it, I delete it from the month. If a party, I bring food or a gift but that’s it.
So far, it works. Thanksgiving was great.
Joan
I’m sorry you had to go without someone you loved so much, any “first without” has got to be the worst. But I am glad you have decided to have fun. Good for you.
Thank you. Joan
Joan,
As a single woman for many years now, I have made a similar decision. Congratulations on figuring it out so quickly.
The one thing I still do is write Christmas cards to people don’t see any more but cherish. We call them the “I’m not dead yet” cards. You might include a link to his obituary if they haven’t seen it yet.
Louise.
Katherine, I agree with you. Every holiday is pushed too far forward. My grocery store had Halloween candy out in August!
Compared to many, many others, who put up their Christmas trees and decorations the day after Thanksgiving., I’m a Grinch. For me, you don’t put up the tree until about Dec. 15. “It’ll dry out” said my very busy – but generous – parents, once upon a time.
Now, if you wait that long to buy a tree, pickin’s are slim, or sold out.
This meant that the tree and decorations still looked ok on New Year’s Eve, and we didn’t take anything down until a few days after NYE, or the weekend closest. I cannot relate to those who take their trees and decorations down on December 26. What about the rest of the holiday season?
Sooo, I avoid buying in stores that have Christmas decorations up in September? October? when I want to enjoy fall, pumpkins, and Thanksgiving.
‘Guess I’m a Grinch — MM
Oh boy, I’m with you. Christmas starts WAY too early. We don’t do much, which is fine with us. We don’t even do the midnight trip to the barn to hear the horses talk. Don’t know where that tradition came from or how it got started, but I actually played along for a decade or so. Now it’s more like a nine o’clock slog to the barn for a hay toss, then off to bed for us. We are such party-poopers in our old age.
🎄