I have no illusions my children and future families will travel to us every year for Christmas and or Thanksgiving. One already lives on the west coast, the youngest is looking at the east after graduation, and the middle has lived in multiple states and countries in the last 8 years. While I will love and appreciate whenever we can be together, I refuse to put undue pressure on them. (I will invite them repeatedly though.) As long as DH's mom is with us, we'll anchor here for the holidays but some day we might also be the ones to no longer call Minnesota home for the holidays. I've already shared that I want to spend a portion of December in London at least once in my life. I also have loved via the internet and YouTube seeing other ways Christmas is celebrated and enjoyed. I can imagine attending a Christmas Eve service on a beach, or cozying up with a fire, then waking up and strapping snow shoes on for a morning walk in a winter cabin.
I ave Scandinavian roots, Norwegian and Danish (or is that European), but I'm always drawn to Swedish traditions and design as well. It's that inner minimalist trapped in a human body and mind of clutter and chaos, wanting to break free. This recently popped up in some news feed and I think this beautiful Scandinavian Greenhouse table setting is the most lovely way to dine on Christmas day. I think green houses are wonderful any time, but the ones I see converted partially to inside space, all the more.
My daughter timed her trip to New Zealand the end of January to early February 2020, right before the world seemed closed for business. I loved seeing her pictures and stories set on tranquil beaches and so much green while I was looking at bleak dirty snow piles with months more of winter. Yeah, yeah yeah, white Christmas and all that jazz, but wouldn't firing up a barbecue on a beach sipping morning mimosa's sound equally lovely as this article highlights on New Zealand Christmas traditions? I hope she starts blogging again, but I loved reading You can call me Sue, and the wonderful photos she shared from her home area in NZ-she's just good fun but haven't read her since April 2020. Does anyone know if she plans to restart? Jan in Australia, at Just Baggage Enough, with your retirement pending, do you think your traditions will change at all?
I'd also like to experience this time of year at least once in a country where it may not be celebrated by the masses. Sadly, I'm too geographically illiterate to know as much as I should, so that would take some research. T'Pol, a long time reader, friend :) , shares often in comments on how she celebrates different holidays and seasons in Turkey. She reminds me it's about time to pull up my e-book version of Notes from a Blue Bike, a simplicity memoir by Tsch Oxenreider, much written about her families time in Turkey.
Now that I have an appointment to get another dose of pain relief to my knee, I'm getting wander lust to get out and about the world again. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to watching YouTube this time of year and seeing what's going on where other people live. I know not everyone celebrates, and some try to avoid the whole season entirely (and I apologize for my over the top insistence at focusing on the holiday every December in this blog.) That's fine by me, and I'd love to hear what you do when avoiding the rest of us. My brother treats himself and friends to a nice meal, and then they go camping through New Year's. Wherever you live, share what your plans or non-plans are. Maybe you'll see me outside your door some year on the 25th of December.
Assorted Photos just for some color!
I love seeing all of the different traditions across the globe.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in SW Florida for 20 plus years. The two main things I miss about Christmas there versus here is the boat parade across the Caloosahatchee River with boats decked out in holiday lights and decorations. That was always so much fun. Another tradition was to visit the Thomas Edison estate for a tour of the holiday decorations inside and outside the house. SW Floridians take their Christmas lights and decorations to a whole new level.
Switzerland is also a beautiful place to be during the Holidays.
We traveled so much during our first 30 years together we're both actually at the point of just wanting to stay put. lol
Have a great Friday!!
I love that about the internet and all the possibilities we can see even if we can't travel. You sound like you had a very full travel life. My husband loves the decorations but is not very into the putting up or taking down. That's another benefit of travel- seeing others work.
DeleteI love the way different people, communities and families connect and celebrate during the holiday season. I think it's great to find new traditions too as situations change, etc. My husband and I now have a FaceTime tradition to connect with family abroad!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely new traditions can be formed as life changes. My sister says she'll always have an open house family gathering Christmas Eve. It's what she loves even when her own kids are with inlaws. I think if my kids weren't home, I'd see it as a perfect travel month.
DeleteThe best Xmases ever have been spent in Southern India, away from everything, no electric, no running water, ours being one of the few footprints on the beach. Heaven on earth! xxx
ReplyDeleteI love your India posts. I can imagine tuning out the masses and just a stack of books, good food and drink, and a beach.
DeletePS Sue emailed me this week, I shall pass on your regards!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful! She always had such a delightful post to read.
DeleteThe travel bug hasn’t hit me and I doubt that will change anytime soon. Those places you mentioned do sound lovely though. Especially the ones at the beach sipping mimosas.
ReplyDeleteMy bug comes and goes. Even our one night away felt like a treat.
DeleteMy dream has always been to spend Christmas in a chalet or hotel in the mountains but I'm not sure it would be much fun on my own! Still, now that we have the little one we can make new traditions - someone already bought him a sled - and I can't wait to see him on skis! I'm thinking new traditions might just make themselves!
ReplyDeleteOh you can have a ball with your grandchild. I think you'd probably find a soul or two to tag along to your mountain.
DeleteI, too, used to follow You can call me Sue and miss her posts of NZ. I use to think, living in Minnesota, if we didn't have a white Christmas, it would just be a sad day all around. I don't feel that way, at all, anymore. I've accepted the warmer, non-white Christmases and could see us "celebrating" in an entirely different environment. In fact, I look forward to that possibility. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteThat's how I am starting to feel. But of course, November and December with no snow is gray and dreary. Didn't you love how green sand bright Sue's posts were- for Christmas!
DeleteI hate that you are hindered by that knee. It must be so aggravating. But, cortisone works wonders.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see if it does. The last one was only a bit of relief. I think once I hit 62 and retire, they might entertain the knee replacement.
DeleteLast Christmas, when L and I stayed home with just our best friend Nick, was the best Christmas ever. We didn't have to deal with our families, or the stress of traveling. However, I remind myself that our family will not always be around (our moms are 76 and 80).
ReplyDeleteI am not much of a traveler, so I'd prefer to stay home, but that quiet time last year remains one of my best holidays.
There was something calming last year. Now, my MIL wants us at her house early and literally all day. Last year we slept in, had a nice meal, relaxed. I missed my son, and we saw his mom later-spread out, and masked.
DeleteWell, that was an enlightening tour of your Christmas aspirations. Christmas in London would be great. I just have different aspirations, but yours are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteA little day wishing. We all get to indulge ourselves. Costs nothing to have wishes, right?
DeleteIf I am not home, I spend Christmas with my daughter’s family in Utah, which is where I am now. We went last night to go to the Salt Lake LDS Temple at Temple Square, and look at the lights, listening to caroling groups, and get chocolate across the street. All the snow is sure different for me since I left 75 degree weather to fly here … lo. I generally spend Christmas out here about half the time. I tell my local kids I spend all year with them so I get to spend Christmas out here, and my sons are fine with it. I cook a Thanksgiving meal for them so it works out well. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really pretty and a nice way to spread your time. Who knows what we'll do in a few years, but I like thinking about possibilities.
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