I **********LOVE***********CHRISTMAS*******************
I have decided that now that Guy Fawkes's night is over that I will post some additional "countdown to Christmas" posts just celebrating this magical time. They will be my **days til... posts and I will post them completely separately to my normal weekly jewellery, gardening, outings, general rambling etc posts. Those of you who may already be despairing can just read those ones and not get whipped up with my mood. I promise I will return to normal in the new year! I would love to hear any comments on how you do things at Christmas. I know many of my readers are from abroad and I find it fascinating to learn of their different customs at this time of year.
In my countdown posts I will show some photos of my Christmas jewellery, my decorations, post some quotes or thoughts, humorous or otherwise, show my Christmas tree ( I have ornaments which go back to my dear grandparents, my oldest grandad who died many years ago was born on 1897) and any thing else which takes my fancy.
I am not going to get into politics or religion here, I respect every one's opinions, my Christmas posts are just for the sheer fun of it. Christmas for everyone can be an excuse for celebrating in the middle of the dreariness of mid winter, a wonderful time of fun, light, families, food, presents and more. I love to go to church to sing the carols I was taught at school and see the nativity but that is part of my Christmas. I also love buying presents, making crackers, going to parties all in the swirl and dizziness of the season. Yes there are member's of my dear family who are no longer with us and sitting at our dinner table but I remember them not with sadness but with the fun and laughter from Christmas times when they were here with us. It is a time to celebrate being alive. People will say that there is too much buildup to "the day" but the whole season is important to me, the day itself is just the icing on the cake.
My total joy of Christmas began as long ago as I can remember. There is a family story of me as a 3 year old not being able to get to sleep on Christmas Eve (I still have trouble even now!). My despairing parents gave up trying to put my sack of presents on my bed, left them outside my bedroom door and set the alarm for 5am for my poor Dad (Father Christmas) to get up then and "deliver "them. He duly got up on Christmas morning to find the sack had vanished. Apparently me as a 3 year old told them it got late into the early hours and I wondered where Father Christmas had got to. I got up and could not see his sleigh in the sky or hear the reindeer on the roof so decided to look outside my bedroom...I was delighted to see my presents outside and dragged them in myself!
We all know we do dream of a white Christmas, as long as the snow does not stop us getting to loved one's homes! This was my local church a few years ago, although this photo was taken in February 2009 it just looked so Christmassy it made me glow and I had to take a photo....
I am really excited that this year I can share my joy with everyone who reads my blog. To get you in the mood I rather like these Christmas quotes...
Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. ~Augusta E. Rundel
Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display-so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again."
-- Anonymous
So come for the ride and join me in my celebration of this wonderful season......
Bye for now,
Jane x
you romantic you :O) I love my christmas tree and all its ornaments. None are very old, but I had a passion for the wooden ones after living in Germany as a child. For our first Christmas together my husband brought me some on Christmas Eve in the half price sale, we didn't have much money and they were very expensive, but I love them, even more as over the years. My cats as kittens have bashed them around the room of the tree, Izzy as a puppy put puppy teeth marks in some of them, some have been glued back together, but I love them more each year. I no longer go to church, but I celebrate my spiritual Christmas in my heart. I also celebrate my children's birthdays (31st and 22nd, respectively). My favourite tradition is a private one. I always walk my dog(s) on Christmas day, alone, whilst hubby cooks lunch (he is a better cook than me) and remember all those I have lost and loved, its a very special time/walk for me as I don't have close family (on my side) outside my husband and kids. Lx
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous comment Laney, as I said it's SO good to hear what everyone does.My hubbie and I have been to Cologne and Nuremburg's Christmas markets and oh my I was just blown away.Germany does Christmas so well, just the smell of Gluwein!! I have bought lovely wooden decs from there, I will show all on my blog when our tree goes up..traditionally the 1st Saturday in December. I'm so glad you're with me for the ride..Love Jane XX
ReplyDeleteWell Jane......you're probably wondering what I'm going to say as I've just recently embraced the autumn! You know I'm a spring/summer girl at heart and that's when I'm happiest but...... guess what, I bought a new bauble for my tree today!! Imagine me buying something for 'C' on the 6th Nov, I must be going soft in my old age!! :)
ReplyDeleteVivienne x
Well that made me smile Vivienne - you buying a tree ornament in November- LOL! I too love spring and summer for the garden and outdoors and I think that my excitement for the Christmas season is possibly also fueled by the fact that my garden and the outdoors goes to sleep and I can't do much out there!
ReplyDeleteHave a peaceful Sunday, I'm off to do a precious metal day course, should be very interesting,
Love Jane x
I LOVED THIS POST, Jane, and you know why: an another Christmas-enthusiast here!!! I love everything in C and as you, am going to celebrate it in my blog too! I actually sent you a message via etsy some minutes ago about my blog-posts in December.
ReplyDeleteI am SO SO looking forward to seeing your C-posts to come!
Happy Sunday!
Yours,
Mia
I'm so glad you love this Mia, and you in Finland get the real white Christmas!I will also love to be a part of your advent calander, how exciting this will all be. I really will not be sleeping on Christmas eve at this rate...LOL!
ReplyDeleteLove Jane x
I just have to pop in to leave a comment here, as well. I love to celebrate Christmas as a season, too! Your winter pics are so beautiful- it would be hard not to get swept up into the holidays with such a magical winter landscape! Enjoy! :o)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are with me here Michele, enjoy the ride to Christmas!!! :0)
ReplyDeleteJane x
I loved this post, Jane, because I LOVE Christmas too. You have put into words the warmth and joy of the real Christmas spirit. I look forward very much to your Christmas countdown and all things festive!
ReplyDeleteHelen x
I am so glad I have found fellow Christmas lovers Helen, it is the greatest time to bring some light into the darkness of winter.I just LOVE it! Welcome to my countdown!
ReplyDeleteJane x