Holiday Plans

[Michaelangelo]

The Holidays are coming up, and I was wondering what everyone's plans for them are?

Which Holiday do you take part in?  
Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?
Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
Who spends the Holidays with you?
What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?

Take part and have fun!   Let us know your plans for the Holidays!



HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

[Phoenix]

Well, I participate in X-Mas. Going to my parents then my grandparents. Thankfully they only live 10 minutes from each other =p
We never really do anything special that means anything to me. Just all gather around and try not to fight.
With Wendell in my life now, hopefully, his mom and himself will be joining us this year at my family's.
I really don't have anything favorite about this holiday. I do enjoy getting gifts for others. Don't really care if I get anything back, that's not a big deal to me. *shrugs*

That's all I feel like posting right now

[OnnaRaphael]

This year my boyfriend's parents are going to NY for Christmas so we're spending the weekend before Christmas with them, and then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my parents' house.  

I've always found Christmas with Ryan's parents fairly boring.  They're the kind of people who sit around and chat while nibbling on holiday treats, which can be nice but it's the TOTAL opposite of my family.  Christmas Eve at my parents' house generally involves the holiday treats with alcohol and karaoke.  Somewhere there's a video of me proudly belting out Britney Spears after one too many appletinis last year.  

Basically the way I compare our families is that he's from Leave it to Beaver and I'm from The Munsters.  

Oh and I don't have the plush TMNT stockings but I have the set of tiny little stockings with the oldschool turtles on them and I've hung those in my cubicle at work.  Hee!

[Danceingfae]

Give me a reason to celebrate and i'll take it! Of the current one, Christmas, we'll decorate, put lights up around the house and i'm also slowly moving my stuff over to a new apartment that i have gotten with Hubby! We're going to wait until after the holidays though to fully move out. Our family is really close so moving out during the holidays is not an option. It'd be rude.

My favorite parts of the holiday is singing with my chorus, doing Christmas carols. We already had our big performance but it looks like we just got invited to do another one too! YAY! Then i love getting presents for people and wrapping them. Getting presents of course is fun too but i've started to find more fun in giving the presents. But don't make that stop anyone from giving me presents

[moronqueen]

For the Solstice, I'd probably just do a small morning and evening ritual, as I'd likely be working that day...as for X-mas, probably going up to the in-laws, and this year, spending part of it with my own family as my sister in Alaska is coming down for the holidays. Haven't seen her in about 2 years, and all three of us sisters're gonna get our pics taken at Sears while she's here and give the best to our parents. I'd really like to do that with all four of us kids, but...it'd be way too hard to get our brother out here on such short notice...it'll hopefully happen eventually.

It would be kinda cool to light the Menora (I can never spell that word...) with my dad...we did it the year I lived there, but haven't since.

As for X-mas Eve, I'll be working...like I'll be working New Years Day (yay for time and a half New Years!!) 'Course, if I could afford it, I'd be starting Massage School New Years, but...eh...within the next year I'll be starting I hope.

[Aignatius]

Which Holiday do you take part in?  

Xmas, and also El Dia de los Reyes, on Jan. 6th 'cause I grew up in Spain, and I love how they celebrate it.

Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?

I prefer to spend Xmas morning at home with my children. Maybe go to a friend's for dinner, and some such like.

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?

Uhm... well, I like making ornaments out of Fimo, or salt dough, and putting TMNT action figures in the tree, as though they are climbing around in it. I have a set of weapons the kids and I made years ago out of salt dough and foam core board, that we like to hang in the tree, as well.
Growing up my family and I used to go up skiing in Andorra every year after Xmas to stay through New Year's, but that's a bit out of my price range to do that, now. A bit, more like a *lot*. Hehe...

Who spends the Holidays with you?

My children and me, which is nice. If any of my friends haven't left town for the holidays, they will come by later that day, or thereabouts.

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?

The food. Otherwise it's expensive to buy gifts and such. I try to ignore the hoopla around Xmas as much as possible, and just make it more fun than obligational. Even though I am a Christian, it certainly has no religious meaning to me, whatsoever. It's traditionally based, not scriptural. I like the Celtic aspect of Dec. 23-25th, because it goes along with my German-English-Celtic roots, as in Yule.

[OnnaRaphael]

Oops guess I didn't answer all the questions!  

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
I am BIG on decorating!  Yesterday I finished putting garland up in the kitchen, dining room and... well everything else downstairs.  *L*  Apparently I bought around 240 feet of garland this year but as much as that sounds it won't be enough!  I still have five more doors to do upstairs!  

Who spends the Holidays with you?
My boyfriend, my parents and my boyfriend's parents.  If they were going to be here we'd spend Christmas day with Ryan's parents and Eve with mine.  

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?
I try to be really creative with my gifts so I LOVE seeing the reaction when I give them!  I can easily say that my best friend gets my most creative gifts.  I won't even go into what I wanted to get him this year!  

[TurtleNinja]

Which holiday do you take part in?

Eh, Christmas for the most part, though due to *ahem* certain family politics that I shall politely refrain from mentioning here, that may change to a different holiday or something more secular.

Do you spend the holiday at your house or someone else's house?

It varies from year to year. My uncle's a minister, in a very large church, so it's very hard for him to get away over Christmas, so a lot of times, we make a four hour drive to their place. However, since the three of us kids(ie: myself and my two cousins) are grown(one is now a teacher in Dallas, the other is a missionary in Nicaragua, and I'm here close to the family still ) and on our own, it all depends.

This year, it sounds like it'll be my grandmother, parents, and Earl all of us here for Christmas since my aunt and uncle are getting a visit from a foreign exchange student they once hosted. He's coming up from I believe Brazil or Peru to visit, so they'll be there. My grandma wants to stay down here. She's getting to the point where a four hour drive in the snow is hard on her, so she prefers to stay if she can.

And since Earl and I recently moved from a crappy apartment to a nicer one, we're glad for the opportunity to host Christmas here. So glazed ham and all the goodies are here.

Far as my aunt and uncle, we'll see them likely closer to New Year's. I unfortunately don't know about my cousins this year. I know the one in Nicaragua, he came up just recently, so we won't see him this year.

Is there any certain thing you do for the holidays every year which means a lot to you?

Well, not really. We don't have any particular traditions. Christmas Eve/Day services(it depends, usually it's eve, but it sounds like the church is doing a day service this year. New minister I guess.). We trade gifts(usually on Christmas Eve, though if we do the dinner on Christmas Day, then it's then, it depends on if we're here or at my uncle's), eat, visit, nothing overly spectacular. It's a family thing for us.

Though me personally, one thing I've started doing on Thanksgiving and Christmas(when we're here anyways), is I make the meal. Ever since growing up, graduating, getting to college, and being on my own, I've learned that despite my meager grades in Home Ec class in high school, I have the talent and love of cooking. My grandma gets too worn out to do it any more, and my mother doesn't much care for the fuss, so I decided it was my turn. I love to cook, I love to set out a pretty spread on the table, I love to make a fuss 'cause I don't get to do it very often, so I love cooking to death on the holidays. It can be stressful and a mess, and I usually pass out sleepy afterwards, but it's so worth it, so making the meal, while a recent thing, means tons to me to do, and the family loves it.

Who spends the holidays with you?

It all depends on where we're at. Usually parents, grandparents, cousins and my aunt and uncle. When and where depends on the circumstances of the year. We're all grown, so, it depends on what we're doing with our own little families now. For this year, it's probably gonna be just my mom, my dad, grandma, and Earl with me this year. My aunt 'n uncle will come later. Not sure if my cousin and his wife will be here or not. It all depends.

What's your favorite thing about the holiday season?

Besides my obssession with cooking over the holidays? Probably getting gifts for everyone. Strange how that turns around from when you were a kid, eh? When you were a kid(I know I was this way), it was all about what presents you were getting. Now as a grownup, I enjoy getting the gifts for everyone. I totally avoid the rush. I start somewhat in the end of summer, then do a tiny bit before Thanksgiving, then right between Thanksgiving and the first week of December, I really get it all done. I only have one person left to get anything for right now, and that's Earl, and only because, well...it's hard to get anything for the person that you live with 24-7.

Even in avoiding the rush, I dunno, there's something about walking around, shopping, and finding gifts that I know people are gonna like that I love doing. Sure, I enjoy getting presents, but I love seeing how happy everyone is with the gifts I really thought hard on and got for them.

[AristaNiara]

Which Holiday do you take part in?
Christmas

Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?
We usually don't but this holiday, we will be going to my older sister's in-laws for Christmas Day.  This is the year we get to see my older sister, her husband, my neice (My God-daughter), and my four (soon to be 5) nephews.

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
Too much, like Thanksgiving, my father, sister and I usually prepare the turkey.  We also put up the Christmas Tree.  Probably my favorite activity around this time

Who spends the Holidays with you?
It's usually me, Ryoko, our parents, and my grandfather but not this year.  YAY!

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?
Gift giving.  I REALLY go over board with the gifts.  I have too much fun giving gifts to my friends and family.  Especially when I surprise them (note: Even if they know what they're getting, there's always some sort of twist that I throw in.  Hehe)

[Brinatello]

Which Holiday do you take part in?
Christmas.  We've put up our tree every year.  It's up now, but not decorated yet.  The cats are loving it.  They like to sit under it and pretend they're in the forest.  We call them Mountain Kitties.  

Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?
Over at my aunt's house.  We do Christmas Burke-style (my uncle's last name, btw) and open all of our presents on Christmas Eve.  When he and his siblings were growing up in South Dakota, they would do the same thing because Christmas morning was spent doing chores on the farm.

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
I enjoy taking night drives around town to see all of the Christmas lights.  There's one church down on Escondido Blvd. that puts the Griswold's decorations to shame.  The entire thing is lit up with the same or multi-colored Christmas lights.  It's a huge eye-catcher, or you may need sunglasses!  I've taken many pictures of it before.

Who spends the Holidays with you?
Just my mom, sister, and two cats.  Well, we visit the family, too, or sometimes my sister will go visit our friend, Wally, up in Studio City.  If I'm not working on Christmas Day, we were all thinking of going up to visit him.  He's made no plans and was going to spend Christmas alone, or with his dog and cat only.

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?
Well, that's kind of tough because I always felt this season was too commercial.  Eesh, starting to sound like Charlie Brown!  But, that's one of the favorite things, some of the movies they put on TV.  Another thing I enjoy is during the gift exchange when I see all the smiles on my family when they got stuff they really wanted.  That always makes me happy.

[Fugitoid]

What holiday do I take part in???? Heck, if there's fun people, fun things to do and alcohol, I'll take part in whatever holiday you want to celebrate!  

But seriously, it's traditionally been Christmas for me.

Christmas used to be a huge event for me when I lived in Toronto. So many friends, relatives and people I didn't know would all come over to our house for Christmas Eve. Something like 20+ people in the house. It was an annual event. There was always karaoke going on, kids running around, sometimes a majong game would happen or some sort of card game. I'd usually be in the basement playing Nintendo (NES or SNES). I remember one year I was handing everyone's butt in Tournament Fighters (SNES) with Michaelangelo. Then after midnight we'd open presents. Also, there was the food. Oh man... *drool*... I miss that type of Christmas every once and a while. Because now that I live in Florida, Christmas is a simple affair. Just dinner with my immediate family.

The only thing I can think of that I try to do every year is watch "Scrooged" and "A Muppet's Christmas Carol".

And I agree with Brinatello about the fact that Christmas is too commercial now. It's getting to the point that Thanksgiving is really just Pre-Christmas. In fact, I saw people have their Christmas trees up before Thanksgiving was even past. And the Christmas lights went up the day after Thanksgiving for the people who didn't go out on the killing fields that is Black Friday. Santa keeps poking his butt into other holidays. It's really getting out of control. I dunno, I guess Christmas isn't that special to me any more since it's not a big get together with friends and family like it was in the past. Also, I'm not very good at doing the Christmas cards and the presents thing.

Okay... just so I don't totally put a downer on this topic. I'm really glad that the rest of you enjoyment in the holidays. So that's my favourite thing about the holiday season... other people having fun during the holidays.

[OnnaRaphael]

Oh yes my holiday plans also include a lot of chocolate making!  It's funny, I used to make chocolates and think to myself that anyone can do this therefore it isn't really anything special.  Then after spending... probably an hour on one tray of three TMNT lollipops I've realized that yeah, it's definitely something special.  *L*  Out of a tray of three generally two turn out near perfect now.  Woot!  

But hopefully all my TMNT loving friends from the various places I hang out will get at least one turtle chocolate lollipop... assuming I can make enough, and I have the money to send them all, and they don't melt in shipping...  that's all.  

[Eclipse]

Which Holiday do you take part in?
Christmas! ^__^

Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?
That depends...Most of the time it's at my house. There are other times though where we spend it at other family members homes. Like this Christmas were going to my Sisters hosue and then my Moms! (Not to mention the 22nd with Mikey!)

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
Yeah decking the tree with my parents and  of course making the yummy holiday treats! Oh oh !! and You CAN'T forget putting up those Christmas lights!

Who spends the Holidays with you?
My Dad, Mom, Sister, Niece, Nephew, Brother, Other Nephew, 2 more brothers, Gradma, Jeanie aand Dick usually.

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?
Lot's of things! (All Meaningful) There's way too many to list, but I'll choose the lights because they're shiny.

[Donatello]

Hmm... what's Xmas?  Is that where you celebrate the birth of Malcom X?  *ducks bap*

Which Holiday do you take part in?
Christmas... the version that's heavy on the religious themes.  

Do you spend that Holiday at your house or someone else's house?
For now, hubby and I willl go to a candlelight service with my parents, then spend the night at their house.

Is there any certain thing you do for the Holidays every year which means a lot to you?
I try to be generous as possible, by donating to a toy drive and giving my change to the Salvation Army. Then for Christmas eve, we go to the midnight candlelight service at my parent's church.  And then we'll spend Christmas day with family, and have a big dinner with relatives later.      

Who spends the Holidays with you?
Hubby and my parents.

What is your favorite thing about this Holiday season?
I like listening to the music the most.  My favorites are the classic carols, especially the ones with religious influence.  I also like the jazz (like in the Charlie Brown Christmas special ST), classical (Bach and Handel's Messiah), and choir styles too.  

When I was growing up, setting up a tree and putting on all the decorations was my fav thing to do for the family.  I also would like to drive around at night, and see all the pretty lights people would have on their houses.  

Since I live in rather smallish apartments, I haven't had the space to put up a tree or lights of my own.  But that's okay, since we will get this while visiting with my parents and relatives.

It's most likely I also agree with others here (and with Charlie Brown), that Christmas has gotten waaaay too commercial! I still loathe it with a passion when they roll out the red during Halloween.  >    One really doesn't need all the decor and fixings, lots of gifts, and wealth, to have a good holiday season.  It's how how one percieves it in their 'heart'.

[Aignatius]

Hmm... what's Xmas?  Is that where you celebrate the birth of Malcom X?  *ducks bap*

It's most likely I also agree with others here (and with Charlie Brown), that Christmas has gotten waaaay too commercial! I still loathe it with a passion when they roll out the red during Halloween.  >    One really doesn't need all the decor and fixings, lots of gifts, and wealth, to have a good holiday season.  It's how how one percieves it in their 'heart'.

LOL!
I call it Xmas to avoid typing it all out. For me, it's a secular holiday, based on pagan traditions, but as recently as the beginning of the 20th century it's become what it is today.

I agree, one can make it what one wants it to be. I live near one of the old California missions, and they apparently have an impressive midnight mass there, every year. At midnight I wake up and hear the bells ringing. I enjoy that.

'Course this year, it lands on a Sunday, so my family has only enough time to eat breakfast and then we go off to regular morning services. Then when we come back, we open presents, so we don't have to rush or look at the clock.
The church I belong to doesn't celebrate holidays. That's an individual's choice.