I need to get in the Christmas spirit. I started my shopping this past weekend, but that certainly didn't help (crowds of cranky people with no respect for the concept of personal space--joy to the world!). I've heard enough Christmas carols to last a lifetime, and all that did was give me a new and more annoying bunch of earworms (and right on queue, my brain strikes up a chorus of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"). I tried to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" last night but it seemed there were more commercial breaks than television program.
Maybe this weekend will mark the tipping point. I plan to decorate the house and get a tree, and I'm getting together with some of my relatives for dinner and an ornament exchange. I'll also have an opportunity to help out a bit at our local food pantry. If all those holiday activities don't do it, I may need professional assistance!
How do you get into the spirit of the season?
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Little, Big
3 months ago
6 comments:
Ah! I had that same song in my head yesterday!!
We splurged and bought Charlie Brown on DVD - no commercials. But the one that does it for me every year - Christmas Vacation. I also can't get through It's a Wonderful Life without sniffling. I'm such a dork. LOL
Boy, do I know what you mean. We are not decorating for Christmas because of our trip to Ohio (23-28 of Dec). It has been difficult for me to get into the spirit lately. I AM excited to go to Ohio because we go every other year (my husband's grandparents live there). But this is also my grandbaby's 1st Christmas and I won't be here! Okay...he is only 8 months old and will remember next year even more...but just the thought of not sharing his very 1st Christmas is depressing. And then, you hit the nail on the head, those rude shoppers. We've been doing most of our shopping online. Hey, if you find a great professional for help...send me the 411 on the pro...I may need to borrow some help.
Sorry, I have no suggestions because I haven't been able to get into the holiday spirit myself for several years now. It feels too much like an obligation. I don't like to decorate since I end up doing most of it and having to clean it all up, so it's just more work for me. I don't like shopping for gifts because I'm buying stuff for people who don't really need more stuff. Christmas carols aren't special because radio stations and stores start playing them the day after Halloween and play them 24/7 until Christmas. Maybe I'll be able to rediscover the Christmas spirit. I've been hoping to find it for the last few years, but so far, no luck.
I do several of the things you do to get a spirit injection. Sometimes, just packing a thermos of hot chocolate (or whatever your favorite is), putting in a mellow CD, and riding around looking at Christmas lights can be a lifter. :)
The Christmas spirit here in Hong Kong has been and gone. They started putting up decorations in November, carols have been playing in malls and public transport for four weeks, the sales are over...
To get into the spirit of the season I plan to go somewhere where they don't celebrate Western holidays, hopefully that will make me miss Christmas. :)
What IS an ornament exchange?
SJ.
I guess it's comforting to know I'm in good company . . . thanks for the suggestions and commiseration.
LittleJ, an ornament exchange is just a type of gift exchange--everyone brings a wrapped ornament, and you put them in a pile. Then you draw a number to determine the order in which you get to choose an ornament from the pile. Often times there is "stealing" of ornaments, where instead of opening a new one you can take one that has already been opened. I'm not sure if my family is going that route or not.
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