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Show me your Christmas decorations and talk about your family traditions 2020

MaisOuiMadame

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The frst Advent Sunday is just around the corner and I don't have all the little gifts for my advent calendar yet.... 6 x 24 packets = stress for mom!

We have lots and lots of Christmas traditions and it's a very festive and cosy season for the family.


For me the most important pre-Christmas decorations are sprigs of Holly and a mistletoe. It comes from my maternal great great (at least) grandparents.
The mistletoe is supposed to keep bad spirits away and to protect the house.

This being 2020 and all I got the biggest mistletoe that will still allow us to use our stairs!



IMG_20201124_125742.jpg


The mistletoe will be burned in the Easter fire (I guess to be sure anything evil is gone gone gone... I'm crossing my fingers this will work!


It's not considered bad luck to have Holly in one's home before Christmas where I am (an American friend commented it is in the US...).

So here it is:

IMG_20201124_130249.jpg

Our tree only goes up on the 24th. We're celebrating the German way: gifts on Christmas Eve late.


We've already started baking traditional cookies.. They're horribly addictive:

IMG_20201124_132823.jpg

What about you?
 

missy

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Forgot to say: my 11 y/o made the cookies all by herself!! From scratch! They're delicious and I am proud.

Yummmmm!!!! I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I am not surprised. I know you have a wonderful family and that is because you are a wonderful person. Big hugs and happy holidays @kipari to you and all your loved ones. XOXO.
 

seaurchin

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No decorations and gifts will be bought online and delivered direct. But after Covid-19, I plan to have a big Festivus celebration to make up for all the get togethers we missed. :)
 

missy

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Forgot to answer the question. We put our tree up around Thanksgiving so soon. Should be interesting this year as neither Oliver nor Gracie have experienced a Christmas tree. We’ll see how long we can keep it standing lol.

Missing Thanksgiving with our family. But there next year hopefully to look forward to. Christmas we’re usually on our own anyway and generally spend it cycling weather permitting and then a romantic dinner just the two of us. So not much different this year I hope. Last year greg had surgery Xmas eve and it’s not out of the question this year. Tho I’m hoping for a sooner date fir at least one of his surgeries. But I digress.

A few photos from happier times. Holidays past.


8FEFD250-8BEE-4DFF-9B06-208A07C7C607.jpeg 1B5480EA-174D-4083-8AFD-DBE32204C90C.jpeg
05CC355B-E258-4432-B513-5A4F2D137EB2.jpeg
EFB11235-5DC1-46F9-BF77-FF5D431CBF8E.jpeg

9BD8CA33-FE68-4745-88DB-6AF45BA76B8F.jpeg
 

dk168

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No decorations except for a small wooden decorate your own Christmas tree from Muji that I bought some years ago, and it stays up all the time!

ChristmasTree.jpg

Most of my traditions are food related, and I like to spend Christmas and Boxing Days, and New Year's Day on my own with the pets.

I cook dishes that are more time consuming and elaborate for the big days, like big roasts with all the trimmings, with starters and desserts, plus nibbles/canapé.

Not sending out handmade or personalised cards this year, and no edible goodies bags, as I am certain that there will be some form of restrictions in place for socialising in late December.

DK :))
 

Austina

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We’re having a Bah Humbug Christmas this year, as in, we’re not bothering to put the tree up or any decorations. We were meant to be spending it with DS and future DIL, but Covid put a stop to that, and in all likelihood, when we come out of lockdown, gatherings will be a maximum of 6, and the friends we have been seeing, will naturally be spending it with their families.

It just doesn’t seem worth the hassle of dragging everything out for the two of us.

We’ll still have a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and all the trimmings, but other than that, it’ll be a non event in our house.

Hopefully next Christmas we’ll be in a new home and enjoying a lovely time with our DS, DIL and her family.
 

lala646

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This will be only the second Christmas in my life not spent with my family. But on the up side, I will get to spend the holiday with my husband for the first time in our 5 years together. Being a first responder, he never has the holidays off, so I usually travel to see my family without him. I think we may even buy a tree, or at least a wreath this year! My family's traditions all revolve around baked goods, so it will be sad not to make our family's special cookies with my Dad. That's always been our bonding activity, just him & me. Hopefully we'll be able to pick back up again in 2021, once we're on the other side of this nightmare.

Peace and love to one and all!
 

MaisOuiMadame

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Yummmmm!!!! I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I am not surprised. I know you have a wonderful family and that is because you are a wonderful person. Big hugs and happy holidays @kipari to you and all your loved ones. XOXO.

Aww, thank you @missy! Right back atcha!! ❤
 

MaisOuiMadame

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No decorations and gifts will be bought online and delivered direct. But after Covid-19, I plan to have a big Festivus celebration to make up for all the get togethers we missed. :)

Sounds like a very sensible and solid plan!
It's good to have something to look forward to!!!
 

MaisOuiMadame

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Forgot to answer the question. We put our tree up around Thanksgiving so soon. Should be interesting this year as neither Oliver nor Gracie have experienced a Christmas tree. We’ll see how long we can keep it standing lol.

Missing Thanksgiving with our family. But there next year hopefully to look forward to. Christmas we’re usually on our own anyway and generally spend it cycling weather permitting and then a romantic dinner just the two of us. So not much different this year I hope. Last year greg had surgery Xmas eve and it’s not out of the question this year. Tho I’m hoping for a sooner date fir at least one of his surgeries. But I digress.

A few photos from happier times. Holidays past.


8FEFD250-8BEE-4DFF-9B06-208A07C7C607.jpeg 1B5480EA-174D-4083-8AFD-DBE32204C90C.jpeg
05CC355B-E258-4432-B513-5A4F2D137EB2.jpeg
EFB11235-5DC1-46F9-BF77-FF5D431CBF8E.jpeg

9BD8CA33-FE68-4745-88DB-6AF45BA76B8F.jpeg

Ohhh, I'm sorry for Greg, sending him containers full of healing dust!!!
Crossing fingers the fur babies will behave!

Your nieces are so sweet!! They'd be a perfect match for my girls!!!

Let them come over for an exchange program! Our school's one of the best in the country!!
 

MaisOuiMadame

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We’re having a Bah Humbug Christmas this year, as in, we’re not bothering to put the tree up or any decorations. We were meant to be spending it with DS and future DIL, but Covid put a stop to that, and in all likelihood, when we come out of lockdown, gatherings will be a maximum of 6, and the friends we have been seeing, will naturally be spending it with their families.

It just doesn’t seem worth the hassle of dragging everything out for the two of us.

We’ll still have a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and all the trimmings, but other than that, it’ll be a non event in our house.

Hopefully next Christmas we’ll be in a new home and enjoying a lovely time with our DS, DIL and her family.

Aw, sorry @Austina I understand you're feeling grinch-y this year!

You'll nebvlise to your son soon! I absolutely love how you have your priorities right and move into a big adventure to be close to your son!
 

MaisOuiMadame

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This will be only the second Christmas in my life not spent with my family. But on the up side, I will get to spend the holiday with my husband for the first time in our 5 years together. Being a first responder, he never has the holidays off, so I usually travel to see my family without him. I think we may even buy a tree, or at least a wreath this year! My family's traditions all revolve around baked goods, so it will be sad not to make our family's special cookies with my Dad. That's always been our bonding activity, just him & me. Hopefully we'll be able to pick back up again in 2021, once we're on the other side of this nightmare.

Peace and love to one and all!

Thank you and your husband for his service !

I'm confident I'll burn all this COVID-cr*p with my megalo-mistletoe!! COVID be gone!

Care to share your recipe? Or maybe that's top secret ...? So a pic of your cookies?
 

Austina

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Thanks @kipari, we’re finally feeling hopeful after this awful year. Our Govt has ordered 100,000,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and one of the advantages of being older, is we’ll get ours sooner than those under 60 :mrgreen:

We’re not feeling Grinchy, just don’t feel like making a big deal of Christmas for the 2 of us, we haven’t even got our lovely girl anymore to share the turkey, so we’ll enjoy the day, and then get on with decorating to get the house spruced up ready to sell next year.
 

ringbling17

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I haven’t put up my big tree yet but I did do a few smaller ones. Since it’s our first year in this house and I didn’t put up any decorations the past two years, I decided to do it up this year. I’m only doing trees though bc with the garlands on the bannisters it would just be too much going on.
I have a butterfly Rose gold tree, a few flocked trees, a white pencil tree and an ornament tree up already.
I purchased a 10 foot flocked king of Christmas tree but I have not put up yet. I’m excited about that one BC I’ve never had a flocked tree or one so tall before.
I am also waiting for some more stuff for my fireplace. image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg E0920E12-A623-4CC7-B656-437737534FDB.png 8492BC4E-E6A4-467A-833F-20C52AD3224F.jpeg
 

MaisOuiMadame

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Thanks @kipari, we’re finally feeling hopeful after this awful year. Our Govt has ordered 100,000,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and one of the advantages of being older, is we’ll get ours sooner than those under 60 :mrgreen:

Who'd have thought that a vaccine would be what everyone asks from Santa in 2020!!
 

MaisOuiMadame

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I haven’t put up my big tree yet but I did do a few smaller ones. Since it’s our first year in this house and I didn’t put up any decorations the past two years, I decided to do it up this year. I’m only doing trees though bc with the garlands on the bannisters it would just be too much going on.
I have a butterfly Rose gold tree, a few flocked trees, a white pencil tree and an ornament tree up already.
I purchased a 10 foot flocked king of Christmas tree but I have not put up yet. I’m excited about that one BC I’ve never had a flocked tree or one so tall before.
I am also waiting for some more stuff for my fireplace. image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg E0920E12-A623-4CC7-B656-437737534FDB.png 8492BC4E-E6A4-467A-833F-20C52AD3224F.jpeg

Beautiful, @kayla17 !

Please share your new tree as well when it's up! Your new home looks wonderful. Elegant yet cozy.
 

ringbling17

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As far as traditions, we don’t really have any. As a nurse I don’t always get Christmas off. This year I am working both the Eve and the night so when I get home in the morning I will open the gifts with the kids. Sometimes we drive to the city to see the Rockefeller Tree.
We usually spend the holidays at home with just my husband and the kids enjoying each other’s company.
 

lala646

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@kipari Believe it or not, I don't have a copy of the cookie recipe! :o But it's similar to this recipe, but without the lemon, and with lots and lots of confectioners sugar which makes for a wonderful crust on the cookie:

The recipe comes from my Dad's side of the family, which is Slovak.
 

Daisys and Diamonds

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My tree is stashed in the spair room not disassembled from last year, just needs decorated and lights and he's ready to go

on tv the other night they were encouraging people to put the tree up early to cheer people up
fingers crossed we will still be at alert level 1 still at Christmas so things will be pretty nornal
im not feeling overly festive plus im broke - so no new angel/ fairy this year
but I'll get my nativity sceens out
Most of my solar lights need new batteries
I wish i had a cherry picker so i could decorate the lilly pilly
I might do something with the wattle tree i named after @mrs-b
But its raining really heavy today
 

ItsMainelyYou

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We celebrate Yule and put some Krampus on our tree. We also have a book of Krampus stories and we watch the Krampus movie.
This will be the first year in 20 without having to travel to three/four separate houses on Christmas eve/day.
I usually to bake anywhere between 200-400 cookies for family, friends, teachers, bus driver, mail etc.
I would be starting them now...It was a major production to churn them out. Flinging tins in all directions:lol-2: People usually start making noises about it around Halloween. Not professional by any means but they taste divine.
I will only make enough for immediate family this year. It feels weird(secretly a little relieved). I've already promised the kids I'll still make 3 of their favorite types.
DSCF5127 (2).jpg
Does anybody else hide the pickle ornament on their tree?
 

Daisys and Diamonds

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We celebrate Yule and put some Krampus on our tree. We also have a book of Krampus stories and we watch the Krampus movie.
This will be the first year in 20 without having to travel to three/four separate houses on Christmas eve/day.
I usually to bake anywhere between 200-400 cookies for family, friends, teachers, bus driver, mail etc.
I would be starting them now...It was a major production to churn them out. Flinging tins in all directions:lol-2: People usually start making noises about it around Halloween. Not professional by any means but they taste divine.
I will only make enough for immediate family this year. It feels weird(secretly a little relieved). I've already promised the kids I'll still make 3 of their favorite types.
DSCF5127 (2).jpg
Does anybody else hide the pickle ornament on their tree?

What's a pickle orniment ?
Some kind of festive gerkin ? :lol-2:
 

kenny

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Nothing, Zero, Zip, Nada ... including none :dance::clap: of that holiday financial & family stress that zillions complain about, but have somehow :confused: been convinced they are powerless to avoid. :doh:

Thank you Jesus for my new SO, who shares my rare perspective!
 
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ItsMainelyYou

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What's a pickle orniment ?
Some kind of festive gerkin ? :lol-2:

Haha, YES! That's what DH calls it!
It's a German tradition of a little glass ornament you hide for the children to find, and whoever finds it gets a little prize.
 

canuk-gal

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HI:

I am feeling Christmas sooner than ever, because times SUCK, so I put up my tree last week. I only put on my most favorite decorations, so very minimal, but they are the ones I cherish the most--made by my DS was he was little and made in school. Oh and baby's first Christmas type decorations. That's all I need along with the pretty lights. And the poinsettia's--I could have a hundred of those.

@kipari gosh I love your mistletoe and Holly. Always so elegant and festive. I must admit to not know knowing of any superstitions regarding those plants.

In Dec I will decorate the house a bit. I've bought two new NEST candles--one of them "for the season" and it is really gorgeous. Not heavy handed pine, just a hint. Blue Cypress and Snow.

Like others have mentioned, things will be limited because of restrictions. We cannot travel to see our family. Even our DS is a challenge. Such times!!!!!!!!!!! I can cook and bake all I want but it doesn't improved my situation. Normally we go home, stay with my Mother, we go out for a lovely Christmas eve supper and celebrate the next few days with family at different houses. And drink a lot of champagne and eat stuff I never do (mince meat tarts, yanno) . Watch Scrooge. But nothing this year. And I always wonder if we willl have another Christmas with my aging Mother--but it isn't because of her age! Who knew?

We will make the best of it because we can do nothing else. But our cases are on the rise......

Sharon
 

Slickk

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I put up “a few of my favorite things” because they remind me of loved ones passed. I love candles in the windows and lighted garlands. I put them up on the fireplace and staircase railing. I am using a table top lighted tree. I am decorated earlier than usual because we’ll be together with the kiddos on Thanksgiving and I wanted to make it festive. They love Christmas even in their 20s.
@kayla17 so beautiful!!! Your home and decor is lovely and serene! Enjoy the holiday in your new home.
 

winnietucker

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Nothing, Zero, Zip, Nada ... including none :dance::clap: of that holiday financial & family stress that zillions complain about, but have somehow :confused: been convinced they are powerless to avoid. :doh:

Thank you Jesus for my new SO, who shares my rare perspective!

Not even stuff like hot chocolate by the fireplace? Or sleeping in til noon? Or even just a particular meal?
 

ringbling17

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This tree is AWESOME! Can you tell me what it is and where I might find something like it?????

Thank you! I’ve been collecting Hallmark Ornaments since we were married in 1993. I started off with two that first year and since then I’ve either purchased one if it was a big one or 8 if they were smaller. Through the years I’ve changed brands as well, sometimes I’ve purchased Carlton ornaments. I’ve also kept every single ornament I’ve been gifted with and that my kids have made. They are all on this tree, except for some reason I seem to have misplaced some ornaments with our move. I distinctly remember ones that I can’t find this year.
Some years I’ve been lazy and didn’t take them out but I’ve noticed they always get hidden in the branches of every tree, so this year I looked for a tree that I could only hang ornaments on. This one I found is by Hohiya and it’s 7 feet. I added a string of lights to it. It’s really inexpensive and does the work. The color is gold but it’s more of a coppery gold which I like anyway. It comes in black or gold and I purchased directly from the company bc it’s on sale and cheaper than purchasing from Amazon. I got it within four days of ordering it.


More pictures of my ornament tree-
The first one I purchased- 6A76D7F3-C8FE-4A3B-8883-134A475D2D0D.jpeg 4862F1BD-777E-45CA-B204-BAFE395A90A3.jpeg FA8BC3E1-6E49-4850-90D6-2843E000A1B3.jpeg 68B1D16C-EC69-49BA-B065-A9DBB18D2F1C.jpeg 8BB74205-6E1E-4BD0-98AF-D607ADEF7D75.jpeg 5ABC21D9-101F-4FAD-9D78-26636B064CF8.jpeg 8CD265CD-CA9F-4E05-85F1-F353F0AD6C04.jpeg
774C717D-34E8-435F-8FD8-0EAD0E03FF83.jpeg image.jpg
 
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