Fill in the blank, It's not Christmas without__________________________. Mine is a Christmas tree. what is yours?

[debm55]

[riversedge]

1. snow--for x country sking and a campfire

[debm55]

3. Thank you very much. riversedge. In my younger day we lived across the stree from a golf coarse and go X country skiing

there .

[LuckyCharms]

2. Oplatek...a Polish tradition.

My spouse is Polish, and when we congregated with her family at Christmas, you would take the Oplatek wafer, hold it out to the person sitting next to you, and they would break off a piece, eat it, and then you would say something complimentary and well-wishing to them. The wafer would then be passed around the table, where the process would repeat.

https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/foodways-holidays-polish-oplatek

[debm55]

5. Thank you very much, LuckyCharms. I remember them. They tasted like the host at communion. Thank you for a beautiful

tradition that makes Christmas special for you and yours.

[LuckyCharms]

8. Yes, it was like taking communion, and the whole process

would usually become emotional, depending on what happened during the year, and the people who were suddenly no longer with us that Christmas.

[debm55]

14. Thank you , LuckyCharms.

[MiHale]

18. We did that as kids...

Turned into a competition trying to break off a bigger piece of theirs than the piece they broke off yours. Mom and Dad would get so mad at us. Good times.

[anciano]

4. A Christmas tree 🎄 ....

and hot cocoa.

[debm55]

7. Thank you very much, anciano. Yes, the Christmas tree and hot cocoa.

[oberle]

6. Music!

As an organist, I have worked every Christmas Eve since I was 14. This year the choir I direct is doing a Lessons and Carols on Dec. 21. I have loved every moment of preparation. That and the music for Christmas Eve is what I look forward to every year.

[Sanity Claws]

11. That was going to be my answer

[debm55]

20. Thank you very much oberle. I sang in the children's Mass at Chrismas Eve. Loved it.Thank you very much for sharing a

Beautiful Christmas tradition with us.

[Ocelot II]

9. Music, some of it very good; a lot of it really, really bad.

I'm a member of three choirs and the concerts are piling up. When Christmas is finally over I'm just glad not to be hearing horrible arrangements of The Little Drummer Boy at the grocery store.

[debm55]

21. Thank you very much for sharing with us. I did't know you are in three choirs. You must have a beautiful voice.

[we can do it]

10. Eggnog

[debm55]

22. My husband loves eggnog too. He only gets it Christmas. That you for sharing , we can do it.

[BOSSHOG]

12. A nice solo walk

And chat with My Mom who died in 1966. We get caught up on family and happenings. I’m pretty sure it’s good for her. I know it’s a wonderful short time for me. It’s the only Christmas Present I give myself and every year it’s the best.

[debm55]

23. Thank you, my dear friend BOSSHOG for your beautiful post. May the memories of your mother be a blessing to you

[Grim Chieftain]

71. This is what Christmas is all about

Bless you, dear BOSSHOG. And Merry Christmas.

[BOSSHOG]

72. Thank You My Friend

Mom and I did not have a lot of time together but we got the best out of every minute.

[pandr32]

13. Family.

At least one of my kids needs to be home.

[debm55]

15. New Christmas pj in Christmas designs or colors.

[debm55]

24. Thank you for sharing pandr32. My Christmas wish for you it that they do.

[pandr32]

33. Yes. I will have two out of three this year!

[debm55]

53. Great.

[applegrove]

16. Pound cake. Mom mom used to make it. Then me. Then my Dad.

Now my brother.

[debm55]

27. Thank you very much for that holiday tradition, applegrove. It sounds wonderful.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

17. ___Chinese Food___

At last holiday with 7 courses cooking at once!

[debm55]

28. Thank you very much, discntnt_irny_srcsm. for sharing with us.

[MiHale]

19. My dear sweet wife....

Going insane trying to balance the gifts to the kids…same size…same overall price…same amount of gifts…
Thought it ended when the kids got older but it continues to this day because of grandkids.

[debm55]

30. Thank you very much, MiHale. Now go give Mrs. MiHale a hug and a kiss for all that she has done and is doing.

[MiHale]

31. Done and done again...

[Bobstandard]

25. Anxiety.

Plenty of folks here will understand without me saying more.

[debm55]

32. Thank you my dear friend BobStandard for sharing. I suffer for depression and anxiety. Take meds for it. Came from a

terribly abusive home. Sexual abused by grandmother. Mother told me last week that she never loved me, I take all kinds of meds to calm my nerves. You my friend are loved, You my friend are strong..

[Grim Chieftain]

63. Hugs to you dear Deb.

Be strong. Know you are loved by all of us here at DU.

[debm55]

66. Thank you Grim Chieftain. Love, debbie.

[mwmisses4289]

26. Homemade cinnamon bread.

I would add eggnog and homemade rum balls, but due to allergies and other issues, I can no longer have either.

[debm55]

54. Sounds wonderful, mwmisses4289 Love the smell of homemade cinnamon bread.

[Mark.b2]

29. Attending Christmas Eve church service with my family...

and my wife’s Minnesota wild rice soup for dinner afterward!

[debm55]

55. Thank you very much, Mark.b2.Love Christmas Eve services Enjoy your soup with your family gathered around you.

[Maninacan]

34. CBC The Shepherd

listening to Al Maitland read The Shepherd by Frederic Forsyth Christmas Eve on CBC. It is schedule at 6:30pm this year.

[debm55]

57. thank you very much for sharing with us, Maninacan.

[Cirsium]

35. Music

[debm55]

47. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you very much, Cirsium. I listened to the whole Messiah and loved it.

[NNadir]

36. Lots of emails from our family on how to manage gift giving among the cousins, the aunts, and the uncles.

It actually gets confusing with all the changes and opinions, but I think my wife has it figured out.

(My wife is the organizer of gift buying and delivery.)

[debm55]

45. Well, NNadir, You need to give Mrs.NNadir a big hug and kiss for all the work she does.

[NNadir]

46. Believe me, I definitely appreciate her. After 40 years, she's less inclined for hugs and kisses than she used to be.

This said, as old folks, and empty nesters, we do have our time together, intimate and otherwise.

I go to bed at night thinking of our years together, and wake up in the morning thinking of our years together, lately more than ever, perhaps because of the 40 year milestone.

How lucky I've been to have her is always on my mind.

I've lived a life full of love, and thus can die happy.

[debm55]

51. You are a very lucky man and Mrs.NNadir is a very lucky woman. My husband and myself have been married since 1978. This

June will be our 48th wedding anniversary. We can't think of anyone we would rather be with.

[NNadir]

65. Well, with the hard life of your youth having given away to such warmth as we see here, we all must concede that Rich...

...must be a wonderful man, to bring you such peace, and warmth. Many of us, I'm sure, love your wonderful and fun threads in the lounge, this one included.

As for your 48 years, on which I congratulate you:

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, as wonderful as a strong marriage.

That's what I think, anyway, having lived in one.

It doesn't come to everyone, and I know how lucky we are to be in ours.

[debm55]

68. Thank you very much, NNadir. for your wonderful post.

[3catwoman3]

37. Spritz cookies. I make hundreds of them...

...in a variety of shapes, and decorated with different colors of sugar crystals and sprinkles. I have at least a dozen different colors.

The recipe is very simple - butter, sugar, eggs, a bit of salt, and vanilla. I use a salad shooter, which pops them out really fast with minimal effort, and because they're small, a large cookie sheet can hold 2 dozen. I prefer them slightly underbaked.

Before getting the salad shooter, I had a hand-cranked cookie press. By the time I'd be done with pans and pans of cookies, my right wrist would be really sore.

Spritz cookies remind me of my maternal grandmother. She would always bake them in the summer, when the extended family would get together in my mother's small hometown in Minnesota. My mom was the oldest of 4 - 3 girls, then a boy. None of my grandparents 4 kids stayed in the hometown. My uncle, the youngest of the 4, and only one still living, ended up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. My family, after several moves, settled in Rochester NY. The second daughter married an Army officer and they were all over the place until retiring in Virginia. The third sister lived in Wisconsin for many years, and then my uncle got a job in the Wash DC area, and they moved to Chevy Chase.

So, we saw each other usually only once a year, in Minnesota. There were always Spritz cookies, in a large glass apothecary jar that had been in my grandfather's dental office. My grandmother frosted the cookies, as well as sprinkled them, and they were very pretty. I'm not ambitious enough to frost mine - too much work.

I was the cousin fortunate enough to inherit the apothecary jar, and it is one of my most treasured possessions.

[debm55]

40. Thank you very much for sharing about the Spritz cookies. 3catwoman3. I bet the smell is wonderful. What a wonderful

post you have shared with us and the history behind it.

[justaprogressive]

38. The Song Says

It's Not Christmas Without You!

[debm55]

39. Thank you very much for sharing . That is sweet of you justaprogressive..

[Chipper Chat]

41. Midnight Mass

[debm55]

44. Agree, always beautiful.

[LoisB]

42. Happy children.

[debm55]

43. Thank you very much, LoisB

[Niagara]

48. It's not Christmas without the rituals and ceremonial origins of pagan traditions

Evergreen Decorating: Pagans used fir trees, holly, ivy, and mistletoe to bring greenery indoors, symbolizing life and fertility during winter.

Christmas Trees: Derived from Germanic/Norse traditions of bringing evergreen trees inside as a good omen, decorated with fruit or candles.

Yule Log: Burning a large log (or its modern decorative form) was a Scandinavian ritual to welcome the returning sun and bring good fortune.

Feasting & Gifts: Roman Saturnalia, a mid-December festival for the god Saturn, featured feasting, merriment, and gift exchanges.

Mistletoe: Sacred to Druids, it symbolized peace and fertility, leading to the kissing tradition.

Holly & Wreaths: Red berries (holly) and evergreen wreaths were used to ward off evil spirits and celebrate the life-giving sun.

Caroling & Bells: Ancient practices included singing and ringing bells to drive away evil spirits or celebrate the solstice.

Stockings: Related to hanging items out for benevolent spirits or as part of gift-giving customs.


🎄🕯️´◡`🎁🎍

[LuckyCharms]

49. Nice rundown, Niagara. Very interesting.

You taught me a few things!

[Niagara]

56. I find all interesting as well, Lucky

[debm55]

50. Thank you very much for sharing with us, Niagara. Some of them I was aware of , others not. Santa himself was a Nordic

spirit. I always wondered about the shepherds keeping watch over the lambs. Ewes don't drop their lambs until the spring. So why isnt Christmas celebrated in the Spring?

[Niagara]

58. Absolutely, Debbie

There's this animated movie (remade in 2000) called The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus and I just adore this movie.

🎅

[OldBaldy1701E]

69. I know.

We are in an apartment for the first time in thirty years. It will be the first time I will not have a Yule log to burn nor a place to burn it.

It royally sucks.

[debm55]

76. I am so sorry OldBaldy1701E.

[True Dough]

52. deb, I'm pleased to tell you that it's not Christmas

without Bad Santa!

[debm55]

60. Thank you True Dough. Whatever floats your boat is fine with me.

[True Dough]

61. I don't know about floats my boat

but it puts the hooray in my sleigh!

[Phoenix61]

59. My homemade fruit cake, gingerbread cookies,

peppermint pinwheel cookies, and cranberry-orange bread. The yard fully decked out and lit up Thanksgiving night. The inside of the house decorated and all my Christmas animated stuffies up and running. I LOVE Christmas!!!!

[debm55]

62. Thank you very much, Phoenix61 for sharing you Christmas spirit with us.

Love you

[ZDU]

64. Christians

Right?

[debm55]

73. Thank you.

[nuxvomica]

67. some drunk Florida man getting stuck in a chimney

Or something similar.

[debm55]

75. Thank you.

[OldBaldy1701E]

70. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio. (n/t)

[debm55]

74. I agree, Thank you very much OldBaldy1701E. Love the program and the music.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

80. Yes!

And I also love the old Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim, as well as Scrooged with Bill Murray.

[wendyb-NC]

77. Spending time with my sons and their families

Preferably in person, but if they are staying where they live, opposite end of the state, then chatting on the phone.

[debm55]

84. Thank you very much, wendyb-NC.

[The Madcap]

78. Bad Hallmark movies

Enjoyed with lots of booze to numb the pain of watching.

[debm55]

85. HAHAHAHAHHA, Thank you very much The Madcap. so true.

[retread]

89. Even with the mediocre writing and wooden acting, I stick with them for the inevitable "happy ending".

[Ilsa]

79. I used to answer this with

...watching Love Actually." But I don't anymore. Now it just makes me sad.

I love the season's music. My favorite is Night of Silence/Silent Night:

?si=J3_NZvM4X_6MhL1A

I usually watch some Atlanta PBS programs with choirs from Spelman and Morehouse HBCUs. I listen to contemporary Christmas music, and a few upbeat Chanukkah songs by the Maccabeats.

[debm55]

86. Thank you very much my dear llsa

[madamesilverspurs]

81. Caroling.

Lots of caroling. Midnight church service by candlelight. Breakfast of Danish aebleskivers with hot cocoa. Grandmother's presents always wrapped in green tissue paper with red crinkle-tie ribbon and bows.

These days the caroling comes from my vinyl collection, midnight church is streamed live from the cathedral, my sister makes the aebleskivers. But I still wrap gifts in green tissue paper with crinkle-tie ribbon and bows.


.

[debm55]

87. Thank you my dear madamesilverspurs.

[underpants]

82. 3...2..

They dropped Alan Rickman on 2 to get the surprised look on his face.

[debm55]

83. Thank you , underpants.

[yellowdogintexas]

88. Baking. Lots of baking

My mom and I made cakes together every Christmas whenever we could.
I still bake cakes during the holidays.

This has been particularly busy.
Thanksgiving: chocolate pound cake
Auction: chocolate pound cake and rum cake
Purchased at the 2024 Christmas auction: Italian Cream cake x 2 and another as yet unselected
For the Ballot Draw/Christmas party at Democratic Headquarters: Rum cake and possible a second non boozy cake
Family Christmas Dinner: Chocolate pound cake.

Back when we did not have much extra money, I came up with the idea to offer cakes to order at my Sunday School Class Christmas Party. It is a live auction and the bidding stops when there are 6 bidders remaining; they can request a cake when they need it and they get to choose the kind of cake they want. This is still a part of our live auction after 30 years.
The money we raise is given to a number of very worthy entities. I think we raised about $11,,000 this year

[debm55]

92. Thank you very much, yellowdogintexas. Enjoy your baked goods and the good work you do with them

[catbyte]

90. ...

Sorry

[debm55]

91. HAHAHAHAHAHAH. Thank you catbyte.