This season is a big mixed bag of emotions for me.

I have come to enjoy it more as I figured out what rituals or traditions work for my family but in the past I have experienced both joy and despair, felt both connected and lonely, been both resistant and embracing of the holiday. Pretty much like everyone else I guess. 🙂

When I was in my twenties, I broke away from my family’s version of Christmas. Instead, I focused on my friends and on the Winter Solstice celebration. I still love my friends like family all the solstice rituals because they are celebrations of nature and the earth.

When I was in my thirties and having children I wanted it to be about them and we spent the holidays out on a ranch south of Calgary. We used to go out and harvest our own tree each year and we bought lots of toys for the kids from the fabulous Salvation Army thrift store in Claresholm.

When I got divorced in my forties, I found a beautiful white artificial tree in the dumpster (it was in good condition!) and it has been in the living room with white lights and silver balls every Christmas since.

What I’m a grinch about:

• All the buying of stuff we don’t really need
• The clutter and waste in packaging and wrapping paper and single use everything
• Feeling obliged to overindulge in food and drink

What I love about the season:

• The soft winter light and even the darkness.
• Hanging out with my kids and being able to let them sleep in.
• Quiet gatherings with people I know and like. For example, our annual tea and oranges class!
• Time for reflection and rest.

And here are three more things I love at this time of year.

The Original Grinch who Stole Christmas. 

I know there is a new movie out but this original cartoon is the one the kids and I watch every year. I mean it’s narrated by Boris Karloff! The animation is the best and Dr Seuss himself was involved in it’s making.

Holiday’s on Ice by David Sedaris

This book of humorous essays by David Sedaris is a family favorite although it’s a little edgy and not really for kids. Nevertheless (don’t judge me) I used to read some of these stories to my kids at Christmas time. It was when they were older and could read themselves but it was still fun to read together.

One of the essays called “The Santa Land Diaries” is about the time he got a job as an elf at Macy’s in New York at the age of 33. Another called “Dinah the Christmas Whore” is about a friend his sister brings home for a Christmas visit. Funny and heartwarming in a very offbeat way!

Shortbread.

What can I say about this one? I only eat it once a year and I try not to overindulge.

This year I tried a recipe with almond meal instead of flour and honey instead of sugar but it was a disaster. It fell apart and did not taste very good.  I like the shortbread fingers that Safeway makes. Yes they have hydrogenated oil in them but they are so good!

What is your favorite holiday thing? Let me know in the comments below. 

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