Counting Down to Christmas

 

 

Hello and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we hope that 4 questions help you to blog, meet people and think about things in general.     Sometimes the simplest questions can be a bit difficult to answer. 

I do hope you are enjoying these questions...but if you can think up better themes and questions, please let me know!   I want to keep this going and make it nice for you.

Let's talk about the countdown to Christmas or Chanukah or both!

1. What was the countdown to the holidays like for you as a child?  Special projects at school.. at home.. with friends?      Was a big deal made of the month in your family or town?  What does your countdown look like now?

The excitement of preparing and looking forward to friends and family is more than enough "special" for me.   As a child the tree went up on Christmas Eve and it was a surprise to me in the morning.  Chanukah lights were blazing, one additional each night but no presents for 8 days.  Just the lights.  Present came on Dec 25th.      School was busy with making paper chains, popcorn strings and drawings for the holidays.   We made menorahs, trees, and decorated the school halls with them.

2. As a kid did  your family stay home on the holidays or go visiting around ... what do you do now?

When I was very young holidays were at my fathers parents huge apartment upstairs from the store.  In those days the apartments above store fronts were house sized.   After my grandparents were gone, it was at our home as my Dad now was family patriarch\\

Now the holidays are at my home, though this year at my daughter's since her dog Hercules is in his final days and can't be left alone as walking is hard for him.  I think a little wheelchair is in his future. 

3. What foods did Mom and Grandma make for those  days?   What snacks were out?   What is the food situation in your home today?

Holidays were usually Roast Beef, Yorkshire pudding, Christmas pudding/fruit cakes, etc.   Food is much the same today.  Latkes or Potato pancakes, jelly donuts, all manner of goodies.

4.  Did you have a traditional way of spending the day with time to open gifts, visit,  special breakfasts, special dinner, guests?    What do you do now?

Everything is special during holidays. Presents, company, games, movies, meals, snacks, etc.

From October to New Years, its the most wonderful time of the year.