Yay it’s December, my favorite month of the year! Yesiree, I am that girl. The one who love Christmas so much, Ebenezer Scrooge would have avoided me like the plague. So Christmas, what do I love about thee, let me count the ways…
(1) Christmas Decors
There is something about Christmas decors that makes everything so festive and happy. In our office we have an annual Christmas decorating contest, and people always pull out the stops – check out what we did two years ago here. This year, though, there’s gonna be a twist – we will also compete with our other offices around the world. Some groups have already started to decorate. Check out what they’ve done so far, isn’t it amazing?
(2) Christmas Carols
Whenever I hear Christmas songs, I get a “peace on earth, goodwill to men” kind of feeling wash over me. Do you get what I mean? It just makes me feel warm inside, but sometimes it also makes me feel sad. I think the sad part is caused by missing the Christmases past, the people I can’t be with this Christmas? Not really sure.
I love classic Christmas songs, covers done by Glee, Taylor Swift and David Archuleta, the Love Actually version of “All I Want for Christmas,” Filipino Christmas songs, especially ones sung by Jose Mari Chan (a popular singer from my childhood years), and “This Gift” by 98 Degrees.
I am also a huge fan of Christmas carols. Back in the Philippines, it is tradition for children to go round to their neighbor’s houses and sing (usually off-key, wrongly worded) carols and get some coins in return. I used to do this as a child and it was the highlight of my holidays. The last time I sang carols was when I joined our office choir back in Makati (I’m alto, by the way). We sang carols in the office and in some big bosses’ houses to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. We raised enough money to build a house for a poor family. Best Christmas gift ever!
(3) Christmas movies
I love to watch movies especially around Christmas time because like listening to songs, it gives me the warm fuzzies. Some of my favorites: Love Actually, While You Were Sleeping, and It’s A Wonderful Life.
(4) Christmas Presents
I admit, there are moments when I feel stressed out at the thought of having to buy presents for everybody, but I do enjoy choosing gifts for my loved ones. And of course, I enjoy receiving them, too! It makes me feel treasured when I get particularly good ones, especially from people I didn’t expect.
I also like participating in Secret Santa or Kris Kringle or as we call them in my hometown, Manito-Manita. Here’s a tip if you’re organizing one – use SecretSanta.com! I’ve been using it for five years now to organize our gift exchanges for parties with my hometown friends. It’s every helpful if you can’t get people to come together to pick names out of a hat. I explain more about that here.
(5) Christmas Cards
I love writing notes! And what perfect time to do that than on this most wonderful time of the year? Back in college I used to painstakingly craft handmade cards for each of my block mates as well as my org mates. Burning the sides of the paper was my favorite style.
When I started to work, I just sent my messages digitally, but this year I decided to go back to snail mail, and asked my followers if anyone wanted to exchange Christmas cards with me. A dozen replied in the affirmative, yay! I wanted to make cards for them, but what with moving and work and stuff, I had no time, so I opted to get store-bought ones but added handwritten messages inside each of them as a personal touch.
(6) Christmas Food
Christmas ham, log cakes, humba (actually this isn’t really Christmas food but it has become tradition to have this in our hometown Christmas parties), Starbucks red cups (peppermint mocha & toffee nut latte, especially), everything, actually! My favorite Christmas treat, however, is candy canes. I like to nibble on them and they also make good accessories for gifts (see above) or as faux earrings.
(7) Christmas Parties
Do I need to explain why I love Christmas parties? Food! Fun! Camaraderie! Here’s a tip: it’s a good idea to go with a theme, as it looks better in group pics, see below. And as for activities, Christmas charades and other Christmas-themed games are always a good idea.
What about you, do you love Christmas? What are your favorite things about it?
I have to admit, I'm already a little over the Christmas music. But love everything else- especially picking out gifts for people!
I think my favourite thing about Christmas is for one day, everything is closed, no one has to work (unless you're really unlucky), and the whole family can just kick back and have a great day 🙂
Christmas decorations and cookies have to make the top of my list. Love this month and all the extra family time it brings, from helping hang the lights and decorating the tree to spending all weekend cooking yummy treats for friends and family. I love the idea of Sunday Seven! And I love it even more that is all about Christmastime!
I love christmas so much and agree with everything listed here! Although I would have added The Holiday to the christmas movies! I always make cards for everyone but have bought them this year since Japanese ones are quite amazing! Last year I did a lot of tea staining of luggage tags and then burning the edges!
Those Christmas office decorations are amazing! And we have the same Xmas movie list! X
love this post! I liked your picture of Christmas food, because it's different than what I consider Christmas food. have you ever had the pleasure of having "cheesy potatoes"?<br />Love Actually is my favorite, too! And Elf!
It's not Christmas without Love Actually! :). I've also already turned my car radio to non stop Christmas carols! <br /><br />Have you seen Little Women? It's another movie I watch every Christmas, too.
Another thing to add is the Christmas breeze, or the "simoy ng hangin" that brings with it a scent of Christmas (i can't exactly explain what kind of scent it is – it's more of a scent that reminds you of Christmas as a kid).
I love Christmas carols, but I hate the tacky ones you hear in department stores starting in November. Either too sexed up or too old. Have you listened to the Pentatonix covers? I love their Carol of the Bells and Little Drummer Boy, a cappella does it for me.
What don't I love about christmas?<br />As a kid, church. Haha. <br />To be honest…I really did even enjoy church on Christmas. O.O
Oh yes, cookies and family time are great reasons to love Christmas too! Thanks for liking Sunday Seven! I have no idea what to write for today though LOL.
Oh yeah, how could I forget The Holiday! I love that movie too! I love that line about unrequited love, and about how Kate was being the bestfriend in her own movie, and the one about the meet-cute.<br /><br /><br />Oh wow, good for you! But yes sometimes it's more practical to buy instead of make if they look amazing anyway.
Haha, too much, I guess? I hope we never cease loving that part.
Thanks! And yes I saw your list up on your blog! Time to watch Love Actually again this year soon!
Oh that is an awesome favourite thing about Christmas indeed! 😀
No, I don't think I've ever had cheesy potatoes but it sounds delicious! Yay for Love Actually! I don't think I've ever seen Elf. My bad, must rectify soon.
It was my favorite book as a kid, I think I've seen the movie once when I was a teen! Must watch it again coz I've forgotten it!
That is something that only happens in the Philippines! I miss that coz they don't have it here, I dunno why! It's just really rainy all the time but it's not cold the way it is there. Weird.
No I haven't heard them! Must check them out, I'm a huge fan of a cappella too!
Hahahaha yes! In the Philippines we have 9 dawn masses leading to Christmas. Kids never liked those.
love this post! I liked your picture of Christmas food, because it's different than what I consider Christmas food. have you ever had the pleasure of having "cheesy potatoes"?<br />Love Actually is my favorite, too! And Elf!
Oh yes, cookies and family time are great reasons to love Christmas too! Thanks for liking Sunday Seven! I have no idea what to write for today though LOL.
Those Christmas office decorations are amazing! And we have the same Xmas movie list! X
Oh yeah, how could I forget The Holiday! I love that movie too! I love that line about unrequited love, and about how Kate was being the bestfriend in her own movie, and the one about the meet-cute.<br /><br /><br />Oh wow, good for you! But yes sometimes it's more practical to buy instead of make if they look amazing anyway.
I love christmas so much and agree with everything listed here! Although I would have added The Holiday to the christmas movies! I always make cards for everyone but have bought them this year since Japanese ones are quite amazing! Last year I did a lot of tea staining of luggage tags and then burning the edges!
I have to admit, I'm already a little over the Christmas music. But love everything else- especially picking out gifts for people!
What don't I love about christmas?<br />As a kid, church. Haha. <br />To be honest…I really did even enjoy church on Christmas. O.O
It's not Christmas without Love Actually! :). I've also already turned my car radio to non stop Christmas carols! <br /><br />Have you seen Little Women? It's another movie I watch every Christmas, too.
I love Christmas carols, but I hate the tacky ones you hear in department stores starting in November. Either too sexed up or too old. Have you listened to the Pentatonix covers? I love their Carol of the Bells and Little Drummer Boy, a cappella does it for me.
No I haven't heard them! Must check them out, I'm a huge fan of a cappella too!
Christmas decorations and cookies have to make the top of my list. Love this month and all the extra family time it brings, from helping hang the lights and decorating the tree to spending all weekend cooking yummy treats for friends and family. I love the idea of Sunday Seven! And I love it even more that is all about Christmastime!
I think my favourite thing about Christmas is for one day, everything is closed, no one has to work (unless you're really unlucky), and the whole family can just kick back and have a great day 🙂
Thanks! And yes I saw your list up on your blog! Time to watch Love Actually again this year soon!
No, I don't think I've ever had cheesy potatoes but it sounds delicious! Yay for Love Actually! I don't think I've ever seen Elf. My bad, must rectify soon.
It was my favorite book as a kid, I think I've seen the movie once when I was a teen! Must watch it again coz I've forgotten it!
That is something that only happens in the Philippines! I miss that coz they don't have it here, I dunno why! It's just really rainy all the time but it's not cold the way it is there. Weird.
Hahahaha yes! In the Philippines we have 9 dawn masses leading to Christmas. Kids never liked those.
Another thing to add is the Christmas breeze, or the "simoy ng hangin" that brings with it a scent of Christmas (i can't exactly explain what kind of scent it is – it's more of a scent that reminds you of Christmas as a kid).
Oh that is an awesome favourite thing about Christmas indeed! 😀
Haha, too much, I guess? I hope we never cease loving that part.