Finally, finally, it's almost Thanksgiving – it feels like the "holiday season" started a month ago! The Christmas musak and red ribbons seem to come too early every year, and it leaves many (most?) of us with a sour attitude. What happened to "the most wonderful time of the year?"
In an effort to keep your inner Scrooge at bay, spend a few minutes forgetting about all the things that you're tired of enduring during the holidays. Make a list of your favorite things about the last month of the year and all its tidings. If you're having a hard time, think back to what you loved about Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever solstice celebration your family observed. Mine's below; feel free to share yours with us in the spirit of attitude improvement!
1. Stuffing. It's one of my favorite foods, and I ciuld make it from a box anytime, but I only really eat it at Thanksgiving time. Then I go all-out. My dad makes one with chorizo (or vegetarian chorizo); I also adore it on Così's thanksgiving sandwich.
2. Family. Family seems to be a sore point for many at during the holiday season, but I LOVE to spend this time with my extended family. It doesn't hurt that this almost always involves going to New Mexico, where both my parents were born and raised. If you want to see a poignant yet comic exploration of a family NOT coping well with the holidays, go see High Holidays at the the Goodman (like how I threw a theater review in there, Chicago?).
3. Picking out gifts. I won't be modest here: I am a fabulous gift picker. It helps to be super observant and have a great memory. If picking out gifts is tougher for you, don't just ask loved ones what they want; spend a little time with them and listen for clues or put yourself in their shoes during a shopping spree.
4. Home Alone. Some people watch It's a Wonderful Life. Some people watch A Christmas Story. My holiday movie is Home Alone. For me, no December would be complete without it.
5. Christmas carols. This final list item requires a caveat: I'm not talking about "holiday songs," or "Christmas music" here. Honest-to-God carols, however, are a joy to me. Especially if I'm singing them. My favorites are "In the Bleak Midwinter," "Lo How a Rose Eer Blooming," "I Wonder as I wander," and "The Holly and the Ivy."
So, ladies…what've you got?
Marissa Flaxbart
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (1)
I definitely needed to read this today because I feel somewhat like a scrooge. I heard a holiday song on the radio and said out loud :it's too early for xmas music!".
What do I like about this time of year:
The most important thing for me is that during this time of the year is when I get to see most of my family. See, most of them live in Mexico so I usually save up my vacation time and take the last two weeks of the year off. So by the time November comes around, i am pretty burned out hence the scrooge like attitude. But thinking of seeing all my cousins, aunts & uncles and everyone else makes me happy for this time of the year.
Also, eggnog lattes... hello delish!