Christmas Get-to-know-you

NAME: Darlene

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate. I’ve occasionally enjoyed eggnog, but it is a straaange drink

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Oh, he wraps ‘em!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White lights on the house, and the tree outside, white lights on the Christmas tree, coloured lights hanging from….well, I haven’t decided yet. Maybe wrapped around the banister. But I always find they look very Bollywood, not Christmas-ey

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I’m a wreaths and garland gal

5. When do you put your decorations up? I would like to say we’re all deco’ed up over here, but not yet. I’m hoping to get it all done this week.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mum’s always made great turkey. I don’t even eat meat any more, but I’ll be cheating with a little piece Christmas day!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Has to be either the annual tree party or Christmas Eve.
My aunt and uncle bought farm land outside of Ottawa about 15 years ago, and live in the old stone farmhouse (which they had to rebuild, it had no roof or floors). Previous land owners had planted firs and pines to cut for Christmas trees, so for years they had an annual party, and everyone would trudge out through acres and acres of snow to the lot and choose a tree. They pastured cattle on their land (a few were their own, and they rented the space to another farmer) so we’d have to walk past a herd of cattle, hanging out in the snow. It was always fun.
Christmas Eve we always went to church (still do) and on the way there, we’d listen to one of the local radio stations that did “reports” on Santa’s progress. They’d always get a “phone call” from on of the people at “NORAD” detailing when they had seen Santa’s sleigh, and which way he had been heading. Church was at 7:30, so this was like 6:30, 6:45, so Santa was always on his way to Russia, not to Canada yet. And the service at church was just lessons and carols, the same ones every year, with candles lit around the sanctuary, and every congregant would get a little candle and they would start lighting them during the last carol (Silent Night, always) and slowly turn off the lights…Wow, I’m all teary thinking about it. It was so beautiful.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Well, that whole NORAD thing kept me believing long after I had doubts. I mean, the people from NORAD wouldn’t make this stuff up!
Santa always had the same wrapping paper we had, and he wrote just like my mum. But it wasn’t until I saw the box from the dollhouse we had gotten for Christmas in my dad’s workshop that I knew (the house was set up in front of the tree, so it hadn’t been wrapped or in a box. That clinched it for me.


9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Did when I was younger, living at home. Now, Hubs and I are pretty broke (yes, I know, despite my hankering for shoes) so we’ll save whatever we’re giving each other until the morning. Someday, though!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Some glass balls and icicle drop things, and random things I’ve inherited from my mum/Hubs’ family.


11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Looooooove it!!! Hello, I got married in February to have pictures taken in the snow!

12. Can you ice skate? Dad taught me to skate on little bobskates when I was about 2 or 3, and on real skates the next year. I skate better than Hubs (he would contest that).

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Bunny. My first Christmas, I was 6 months old. Parents (I think) gave me Bunny. He had a small round blanket body, and a little velour head that you could use as a puppet. I still have him, and when I can’t get to sleep (which is most of the time) I hold him in my hand and I drift right off. The blanket body is gone – dissolved, I guess – as are patches of his head. He’s more hold than not-hole. And I love him!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Honestly, church. I’m very churchy. Plus, so much beautiful music at church at this time of year. Do I have to mention Magnificat again?!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I like homemade – not super-deluxe expensive special bakery – cookies. And pie. Mmmm…pie…

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Big Christmas dinner! Lots and lots of family!! And the annual no-longer-tree-just-lots-of-guitars-and-fiddles-and-me-dancing-on-a-board kitchen party at my aunt and uncle’s farm. Oh, did I not mention mum’s family is from Cape Breton? Yeah, that clarifies things, a bit, now doesn’t it?

17. What tops your tree? A star. Wise men followed a star and brought gifts, shepherds talked to some angels and got scared half to death. I like the logic of it. Star. Ours is a glittery wire thing I thread lights through. Maybe this year I’ll bead it.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love giving when I feel confident it’s the right gift. And I love receiving something that has obviously been thought about, even if it’s like a $2 nothing little thing in my stocking. I like seeing the intention behind gifts. Warm fuzzies!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Aspenglow, John Denver. Hands-freaking-down. LOVE IT. And the rest of Rocky Mountain Christmas: Christmas for Cowboys and Please, Daddy, being my second and third favourites.

20. Candy Canes... In white chocolate bark form, yes please. Laura Secord carries it, or you can just go to Bulk Barn, buy a bag of white chocolate, smash some candy canes, and BARK’s your uncle!