Seeing as we're starting to get all Christmassy around here, I thought I'd jump in on the meme bandwagon. Plus, I've been away for work most of this week so haven't got much blog fodder for you.
Egg nog or hot chocolate?
At Christmas? If it has to be a hot beverage I'll have mulled wine thanks.
Does Father Christmas wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Father Christmas fills the children's stockings with treats and trinkets, plus the odd useful item like new socks and pants. Presents under the tree are from family and friends and are most definitely wrapped.
Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
White on the tree, after a concerted three year campaign by me. We don't put lights on the house but do put some coloured lights around the inside of the living room window.
Do you hang mistletoe? If I remember to get any.
When do you put up your decorations? As a child the Christmas tree and decorations went up on Christmas Eve and stayed up until 12th night. Now, we usually put them up the weekend before Christmas.
What's your favourite Christmas dish? Turkey and all the trimmings. I particularly love stuffing and we have to have some cold ham with the turkey too.
Favourite Christmas memory as a child? I can't think of any specific instances, just general Christmassy goodness.
When and how did you learn the truth about Father Christmas? When I was 7 - I saw my mother buying some miniature playing cards which turned up in my stocking on Christmas Day. I used this knowledge to great effect the following year when I waited until my sisters fell asleep, got up and filled their stockings with old socks and woke them up and told them Father Christmas had been. Initially both of them were quite excited that Father Christmas had bought them both socks, but they began to suspect when they reached the third or fourth pair of socks each. I was a mean older sister sometimes.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When I was a child we used to open one after midnight mass, which is technically Christmas Day anyway. Now they are all opened on Christmas Day. We don't put them under the tree until Christmas Eve evening anyway, so it's not too long for people to wait.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With a mish-mash of decorations collected over the years plus things the children have made. I usually buy a couple of new ornaments each year. Tinsel is essential.
Snow! Love it or dread it? I've never had a white Christmas. Growing up in New Zealand, Christmas was usually warmish and generally rainy - exotic huh? Nowadays it's usually cold but no snow. I wouldn't mind if it snowed, as long as it started after I'd got my shopping done.
Can you ice skate? Yes, not well but adequate enough to get round a rink. Toby, on the other hand, is pretty good - his obsession with roller hockey as a teenager has stood him well.
Do you remember your favourite gift? In my family, Christmas was usually about lots of small presents rather than big things - those came on birthdays. Nothing specific comes to mind.
What's the most important thing about Christmas for you? Relaxing and spending time with friends and family. There's nothing like sitting round a big table sharing good food.
What's your favourite Christmas dessert? Christmas pudding, with cream and brandy butter.
What's your favourite Christmas tradition? I like doing the stockings, hanging them up and the children leaving a mince pie and a whiskey for Father Christmas, plus a carrot for the reindeer. I like all the cooking as well - making mince pies with the children and that sort of thing.
What tops your tree? Currently an angel that Sam made when he was 5.
Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving is good, even more so when you know you'll receive as well.
What's your favourite Christmas song? Favourite Christmas song, as opposed to carol, would have to be The Pogues, Fairytale of New York. For carols, I'm not fussy really, they all sound good - and usually make me cry.
Candy canes? I'd prefer sugared almonds thanks.
