It was the heaviest storage tub I
pulled out of the garage as we began the Christmas chaos at our house. I almost needed Zac’s help carrying it
inside, but let’s not tell him that. He
thinks he is too macho as it is. I get
enough “Your getting old, Pops” jokes, now.
We have about a dozen storage tubs reserved strictly for the Christmas
season. Each one is a hodge podge
collection of indoor and outdoor decorations, trees, and ornaments. Not this one.
This gray tub is filled with nothing but Christmas themed coffee mugs of
every shape, size, and design. There’s
no way I’ll use them all between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and yet, I
know I’ll buy another one this year. I
can’t help it. It’s tradition.
The girls have their traditional
purchases, as well. Every year, Char
will buy a Santa Claus, Teri a snowman, and Sarah a nutcracker. The size doesn’t really matter or the style,
just the object. They wait for one to
catch their eye and then scoop it up.
Soon, I’ll have a storage tub for each Christmas character filled to
overflowing.
We also do the same thing for
Disney Christmas ornaments. It’s become
tradition to drive over to Downtown Disney, walk around the Marketplace, maybe
grab a bite to eat at Earl of Sandwich, and then take our time in the Christmas
Shoppe. With a selective eye, we will
pick over the choices and ornament sets until we have one or two that leap out
at us and then we’ll hurry home, eager to put them in place.
These purchases have become
tradition. I’ll bet you do the
same. There’s something you buy every
year simply because it’s part of the Christmas holiday. I asked some of my friends and followers on
the social media sites I’m a part of what they bought every year and received a
variety of answers. Shirley buys chocolate
covered cherries. So does Char. Just to see the box makes them think of the
Christmas season. For Wendy it is
icicles and for Alice peppermint ice cream is a must. Carol buys a new Christmas book every
year. None of these are major purchases,
just small traditions that mean the holiday is upon us and bring a smile upon
our face, like the eggnog that Coni buys to keep in the refrigerator, but never
drinks. They are pieces of holiday
comfort.
These purchases are as much a
part of the holiday ritual as Christmas caroling and mailing Santa a letter,
which I still do, by the way. He never
writes back, though. I may be on the
naughty list, not sure. Okay, I’m sure,
but it was worth it.
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| This Year's Disney Ornaments |
The holidays are full of small
traditions that sometimes go without much fanfare, because we’re just used to
doing them. We have certain foods we
buy, songs we listen to and movies we watch.
Perhaps there are even special places we visit, such as our trip to
Downtown Disney. A little way away from
us is a town called Christmas, Florida, and every year, people will travel
there to mail their holiday cards just so the envelope has the stamp of
Christmas on it.
The girls buy those Life Saver
boxes that resemble books for the kids stockings and I buy a bag of mixed nuts
to crack open while watching The Grinch who Stole Christmas. We only buy these things during December,
because that’s when they mean the most to us.
I have more Christmas ties and themed socks than I will ever wear, and
yet, I try to buy another cute one each year.
The same is true for T-shirts and sweat shirts. There is just something about picking up the
new ones, however, that says it’s Christmas.
I’d wager you have the same
story. It may not be a tie or chocolate
covered cherries, but there’s something you just have to purchase each December
merely because it’s Christmas and tradition.
You would just feel off if you didn’t do it. So, what is it? What’s your holiday purchase? If it’s good, I may have to start another
tradition.
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