Looking ahead to Christmas

I know it's barely September, that the weather is still very warm, that my life is a bit chaotic. But I'm still thinking about Christmas already.

For our Christmas celebration with my siblings and mom, we do things a little differently. We draw names (each person draws one name), and the person is responsible for making a gift for that person and getting a small stocking stuffer for that person. The rest of the stocking stuffers are bought by people who are willing to contribute candy or small toys or whatever else.

This year, I'm doing the contributing. I'm sure Sisi or Nanny will have candy to add to the bags, but I'm also going to take advantage of the fact that it'll be my first year back in Florida, and I plan on getting cheesy, touristy tchotchkes for everyone. (What better excuse for buying someone a Hawaiian shirt-clad Santa with sunglasses?) So I'm keeping an eye out for cheesy little cheap stuff I can get for everyone to put in their stockings. I think it's going to be fun shopping for everything.

Of course, in addition to planning for the stocking stuffers for everyone, I'm planning for the actual trip up north. There are a lot of people the kids will want to visit, so our calendar will likely be pretty busy for that week. (And, if I have the chance, I want to make a specific stop on the way up or down for a little side trip.)

It's going to be a fun trip with the kids. I'm looking forward to taking them to see family for the holiday, and I hope there will be snow for at least part of the trip. One of Wyatt's concerns about my move to Florida was that there wouldn't be snow in the winter anymore.

Still, even if there's no snow, there's lots to look forward to this December: a road trip, family, and cheesy Florida tourist gifts for everyone!

Are you thinking about the holidays yet? What are your plans?

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with light in the winter

Yesterday was the winter solstice. The longest night of the year. And today (which existed because the end of the Mayan calendar was not actually the end of anything except that particular calendar), marks the beginning of the return of light to the world. The days are starting to get longer again.

You know, that's something I love about winter holidays: the light.

In Christianity, Christmas marks the birth of Christ, bringing light and hope to the world. The Advent wreath (pictured to the right) is lit in preparation for the birth of Christ. The lights represent love, peace, joy and hope, which are brought by Christ's birth and ministry on Earth. Some Advent wreaths also have a white candle, which represents Christ, and is lit on Christmas Day.

According to the Bible, Christ's birth was marked by light in the form of a star guiding the shepherds and Magi to Bethlehem to welcome the little one.

In Judaism, Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrated with actual light in the form of the Menorah. In Jewish tradition, the story is told of the Maccabees who were to purify a Temple by burning ritual oil for eight days. There was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple, but the menorah miraculously burned for eight days.

During Hanukkah, candles on a menorah are lit each day for eight days, representing the menorah that burned in the Temple. Hanukkah is really a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, but has gained popularity because of how close to Christmas it falls.

And in Earth-based spiritual traditions, Yule (the winter solstice) is the celebration of the turn of the seasons, and light beginning to return to the days as spring approaches. It, too, is a festival of light. Many people burn a Yule log in their homes to bring light back into them, just as the solstice itself brings light back to the Earth.

I've seen adaptations of the Yule log in which it is a candle holder (similar to an Advent wreath) for homes that don't have a fireplace, but the intention is the same: to bring light into our homes and lives.

I need light in my life, especially with the transitions I've been going through over the last year. So even though Puck and Tink won't be home until closer to New Year's, I'm excited to celebrate winter with them, to bring light into our lives together, as a family.

Away on Vacation

Ladies and gentlemen, my family and I are off enjoying a family reunion Christmas cruise this week. See how excited Bean and I are?

Bean and the Coffee-Stained Writer on Bean's first cruise
October 2010

I do have a couple of posts scheduled for this week while I'm gone, and my tequila-stained heart sister may stop in to write something.

Happy Holidays, and please stay safe!

10 on Tuesday: coffee-stained Christmas traditions

Hubby and I are working on creating traditions for our family now that Bean is here.  There are things his family does and things my family does, and we're blending some of those and creating our own traditions.  Here are some of the traditions from our families:

1. Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as a family on Christmas Eve (Hubby)
2. Pizza for supper on Christmas Eve, saving a couple of pieces for Santa (NP)
3. "Stocking gifts," which consist of a paper grocery bag full of gifts all $1 or under (Hubby)
4. Including at least one enormous candy bar in the bottom of each stocking (NP)
5. When recording the festivities with the camcorder, including the year and location, which comes from moving so often (Hubby)
6. Opening gifts from the family on Christmas Eve, leaving the Santa gifts for Christmas Day (NP)
7. Opening all gifts on Christmas Day (Hubby)
8. A more recent tradition: steak rolls for Christmas dinner at my mom's house (NP)
9. Watching Christmas until Christmas Day beginning the day after Thanksgiving (Hubby)
10. A more recent tradition: finger-foods all day for Christmas Day at my paternal grandmother's house (NP)

**SHAMELESS BABY PICTURE**

My little elf!