Christmas quiz (because it's time for an update, I guess)
Um. I guess it's been a while. Life is good; I'm living with Ellie in Columbia and working at Premier Rides, a roller coaster company (yes, it's pretty awesome). Law school is stressful for her but it's at least partially alleviated by our usual weekend routine involving happy hour, cycling, and grocery/farmer's market trips to keep the kitchen stocked for delicious slow cooker meals. I just pulled out the Christmas decorations to divvy up with my old roommate, so this seems like as good a time as any for this quiz.
This is from Baltimore Snacker by way of Chris at Tallfreak.com by way of the pigtown pigout blog. Take the quiz and pass it on.
1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Both. Egg nog for a more holiday-centric feel, hot chocolate for any old winter evening (occasionally with a little extra chocolate mint liquor or peppermint schnappes)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Usually wrapped. This year there might be more of a trend towards reused/reusable materials, once we've used up the paper we have in stock already.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored; white lights are okay for the house if they're icicles, but since our apartment doesn't have a particularly visible outside it's a moot point.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Haven't so far; maybe this year will be the first.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
About the second week of December. It also happens to coincide nicely with the end of law school finals.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
My mom's Christmas cake with marzipan and icing; that sounds kind of like dessert though, so I'm going to have to go with the prawn cocktail that we traditionally have as the starter for our otherwise variable Christmas Eve dinner.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Visiting family in Canada for Christmas; Christmas with friends in England (one of my few memories of living there)
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't know whether I ever did.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Nope.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Lights, tinsel, and ornaments that have accumulated over the years, most of which have some sort of meaning to them by now.
11. Snow: love it or hate it?
Love it. Even when I have to shovel it or dig my car out of it.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, although the scar on my forehead might argue otherwise.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Not really. I think the SuperNintendo was probably a Christmas gift way back when, and I still play it (significantly less so since we got the Wii), so I guess that's a pretty good run.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
The guarantee of spending a decent amount of time with my family and everybody being in a generally positive mood.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
My mom's Christmas cake.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
The routine we've established for Christmas Eve and day - one of the few real traditions we had in our household growing up (and even then, it was only established probably 8-10 years ago). Dinner Christmas Eve (see above), midnight service at our church, making breakfast casserole when we get home. Next morning, open stockings together, then breakfast, then shower and get dressed before we open gifts. Everybody gets to bum around and play with their new toys, and go visit significant others if they live nearby, then we have our big dinner mid-afternoon.
17. What tops your tree?
A star with lights.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving...does anybody really admit that they like getting stuff at Christmas? Shopping for my family is usually tough but I enjoy the challenge of finding the right gift for Ellie.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
20. Candy canes:
Old-school red and white, hung on the tree.
21. Favorite Christmas movie?
The Santa Claus; the mom's house is next door to where my mom's aunt lived once upon a time in Ontario.
22. What do you leave for Santa?
Wow, we haven't done that in a long time. Back in the day, chocolate chip cookies, milk, and some carrots for the reindeer.