Because of how notoriously "bad" this season usually is...we've cut down severely on celebrating much..
The only times we've allowed ourselves to go "all out" was when my nephew lived with us..
His first Christmas had me going nuts with decorating the Tree, I know I have pics I constantly took of him and the Tree...
Had a train set safely around the Tree with a decent "town"...
The second one, I learned not to leave Poinsettias within child and dogs reach[you'd be surprised what a determined child...and dog...will do for those plants]...
What we do nowadays, is cook a decently decadent traditional meal { rice with Gandules, relatives from puerto rico usually send Pasteles, Pernil, plus yumm desserts }
I'll ignore the grunts and grumbles and watch quite a variety of X-Mas {and secular } specials, I think it's almost traditional for me to hear "not this again" when I watch varieties of Christmas Carol...
They'll grudgingly sit through most..Specially Charlie Brown...
This year, despite no Tree, I put some stuff up..
Unfortunately, I wont be able to do much like the past years, but I make up for it in other ways....
I do agree with my immediate relatives in one Issue though...
The holiday's fun, has symbolism in a few religions yeah, amusing to watch and lovely with the Lights, and decorations...
But, getting together, appreciating what we have, celebrating family should be an Every day event....
Much like st. valentines..why wait for that day to be nice, romantic, or to give a gift...? do it every day or every other day...
[which is kewl now that most Holiday Specials are on dvd -grin-...christmas in july]
I also watch "Misa de Gallo" if Im not too sleepy...
And yeah, I'll worm in a few "Aguinaldos/Villansicos" for nostalgia sake...
One things for damn sure...
I look forward to showing my nephew, if he returns, how we used to celebrate...
Maybe take him to puerto rico for the season, to show how it is down there...
In the meantime, I treasure each Holiday with my family and loved ones, who knows if it's the last?....
