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Friday, December 17, 2010

Xmas thoughts and gifts for you

Xmas blogging and free books!

What a great time of year to blog!.So much wonderful atmosphere surrounding everything you see and do. No matter your faith or your beliefs, the carols and joyous aura of the season can’t help but lift your spirits. It’s the only time of the year I miss the snow we had when we lived in the east. But not enough to want to go back, but not enough to go back.

I’m interested in your Xmas traditions. Xmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate. Love’em all.I have one I follow without exception, and will continue as long as I can find the proper Xmas candles. I’ve blogged about my amazing grandmother before and I honor her in a small way at Xmas. As she always did, I burn a bayberry candle on Xmas eve. The saying she taught me was “A bayberry candle burned to the socket, brings health to the home and wealth to the pocket” Once you light it you must let it burn completely down to make the verse come true. Now it’s getting harder. Not only are bayberry candle difficult to find, at least in California, but we’ve gone for years to a friend’s house on Xmas eve. I scrounge around as much as I need to find a bayberry candle, and then light it and put it in the sink to burn to the socket You’ve gotta burn it clear down, so you’re left with nothing but a little wax in the saucer the next morning.

My children think it’s a charming custom, so I find candles for them too. Not easy, believe me, at least on the west coast. I imagine easterners don’t have this much trouble.

Here’s a little Xmas present for you, especially if you hate cooking the way I do. For a great appetizer, put a slab of cream cheese on a plate and pour cranberry relish over it. Wonderful with crackers or pita chips.

And for another present… I want to hear your traditions for the holidays. I’ll pick the two top ones and give them my choice of e-books, any of them. Druids, Mages, or historical. All are listed on my website or Amazon, and you can make your choice.

And to all of you, truly one and all, a happy holiday season.

11 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

I've never heard that verse before Jean, how neat! I'll have to find a bayberry candle and try it:)

The only tradition I can think of is our Christmas morning ritual.

We always start with the stockings, then attack the presents under the tree. And at my parent's house, there will always be a Ding-Dong in the stocking. Why? Because my sister and I LOVED Ding-Dongs, and it made a quick snack before Mom was awake enough to make breakfast.

We also started a tradition of having friends over on Christmas Eve. I put out several appetizers, and people bring whatever they want. Since we're going out of town this year, one of my friends is hosting this year. I put on the Christmas CD, and the hubby brings out his entire collection of Scrooge movies. Nice, relaxing evening with friends:)

Katalina Leon said...

Jean, I love your Grandmother's tradition. You keep her close to your heart when you honor her that way.
I get up early every Christmas morning and make pancakes and bacon for my family and sit under the tree to eat it while our dog begs. (Don't worry the dog gets plenty! lol)
XXOO Kat

Anonymous said...

Hi Jean,

Interesting post. I loved reading it.

Well, ours are a mix of English and German traditions.

Thankfully we have an English shop here so I can get mince pies and Christmas pud.

The hubby has to have his marzipan, stollen, real tree with real candles.

I want everyone to have a cracker at the dinner table to pull, which my hubby thinks is hilarious...hehe!!! Oh well.

Dinner is usually turkey with all the trimmings and we open presents on the night of the 24th...which is a German thing. The English open theirs on the morning of the 25th...I think this was our first marital argument...lol!!!

Oh, and the nativity story is always read from the Bible before we open our presents.

Valerie
in Germany

jean hart stewart said...

Molly, love that about the ding-dongs! Sounds like fun at your house.Jean

jean hart stewart said...

Kat..love the answers I'm getting to this. Pancakes sound great. My family wants baked eggs,and its the only time of the year I do them.Jean

jean hart stewart said...

Val, didn't know that about Xmas eve. My kids would have certainly preferred that when they were little. When is Santa supposed to bring his presents? The night before? Jean

Paris said...

I'm going looking for a bayberry candle!

One of our Christmas rituals is to search all year long for the absolute worst monster movie of all time. We have a competition all day long, Christmas day. We have a lot of laughs and then we crown a winner at the end of the day.

jean hart stewart said...

Paris, that's the most interesting tradition I've ever heard of. What fun. If you find bayberry candles let me know.. I have enough for this year but then.....Jean

Marie Rose Dufour said...

I love the verse and the candle. I am going out to find a candle. On Christmas mornings, we all meet at someone's house and have a dish that my mother makes with french bread french toast and baked apples. Also the mimosas running feely that morning.

jean hart stewart said...

farsiDear Marie, Thanks for you contribution....Mimosas sound great. who'd care about presents after a few of those? Jean

Elena Gray said...

My 7 yr old son had to write a paper about our Christmas traditions. The first one he came up with was that we have bacon, egg and cheese biscuits Christmas morning. I guess out of all of our traditions that's his favorite!!

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