Tell Us About Your Christmas Traditions And We'll Tell You What To Get Your Sweetheart
The Christmas season is coming up and that means you have to decide what to get your darling! But what sorts of things do they like? Should it be something you know they wanted or should you opt for a surprise? You don't get the luxury of secret santa or white elephant giving rounds with this person-- your gift is supposed to be emblematic of something.
But not to worry, we'll give you some ideas.
There's an entire culture built around this end of the year holiday and some very specific choices about how you celebrate you might not realize you've already made. Though it's a Christian holiday it is celebrated around the world, granted, in very different ways. Commercialization and marketing campaigns have targeted it such that even your local hardware store is filled with Christmas paraphernalia. With all of the decor and frills sometimes it's hard to remember what this holiday is even about. While this can all be very overwhelming just remember it's the time of year to spend with loved ones. Little matter of what Christmas markets, plays, or movies you might end up at along the way.
Tell us about your Christmas traditions and we'll help you choose a gift for your love!
What sort of meat are you having for Christmas dinner?
Christmas dinner is what we all look forward to once Thanksgiving is finished. It is a day of joy, grace, and typically feasting. The family invites friends, neighbours, and distant relatives to come eat together. Of course it's American tradition to have turkey, but have you ever tried anything else?What has your mouth watering when you think of December 25th?
What gifting tradition does your family have?
Christmas celebrations can be massive. If your extended family is invited it's like having seven strangers in your house. Gifting traditions ease this awkwardness because each person is assigned to bring only one thing. Either a gag gift or a present for someone you hopefully know. What
What sort of tree do you have?
Most North American and UK Christmases involve trees. Though not all trees are alike, we hesitate to say they're not all equal. Whichever tree you choose is the one most special to you. Even if you decide on a fake one to keep year round, at least you don't have to deal with all those pesky fir branches.
Do you put up Christmas lights?
Some houses, like the one adjacent, manage to look like a gingerbread version of Christmas. So quaint and perfect. Normally Christmas lights are gaudy by definition, but that doesn't mean we don't love them! Remember those neighbourhoods you'd go to just to appreciate the avenue's collective effort?
What's your favourite Christmas movie?
One thing that will never fail to get you in the Christmas spirit is a Christmas movie. This works way better than the Christmas songs that blast over the radio the day after Thanksgiving. And there are all sorts to choose from. The old classics, hilarious new ones, or romantic secular ones.
What do you call the guy making the list?
Over the years people have had many names for this mysterious grandpa who leaves gifts under our Christmas trees. Of course, as we saw in Elf, he only leaves gifts if he deems we deserve them, if we show up on his famous list. Who do you address your Christmas wish list to?
Your favourite ugly Christmas sweater features what?
Everyone has been gifted an ugly Christmas sweater at one point. Whether it's from your festive aunt or an estranged cousin depends on your family. At least you only have to get it out once a year when they come to visit. That is, if you haven't gotten rid of it.
What's your festive drink of choice?
Everyone needs a drink or two to get them through the Christmas season with all these relatives. But we didn't say this had to be an alcoholic one-- you can get eggnog drunk. Plus it's the season to treat yourself. You can worry about all the extra calories in the new year.
What's in your family's Christmas tradition?
Some families have their little or not so little ones counting down the days to Christmas with an Advent calendar. Those of you UK folk surely know about the Christmas cracker tradition where you wear paper hats all evening. What is a Christmas tradition you can count on every year?
What's your favourite Christmas carol?
There are hundreds of Christmas carols to correspond to all the Christian traditions of celebrating Jesus' birth. Even if some of these songs don't explicitly reference Christmas they put you in the mood for it. Some are more secular and focus on the coming of Santa instead of Jesus.
When does your family begin to decorate for Christmas?
Some households are seemingly made for this season. Whoever is behind the Christmas push in those deserves a round of applause. They're inviting and warm and really make the most of their decorations by having them out weeks before the date. Do you have a festive household?
What do you decorate your tree with?
Some elementary schools will even encourage little ones to make their own Christmas garlands or ornaments. Cute additions and mementos your mom will keep forever. When your family has gathered to decorate the tree to some Christmas tunes what sorts of things are you putting on there?
What's a typical Christmastime snack?
Once you get on holiday break all bets are off. You're around your family with nothing specific to do and all of this food is around. Obviously you'll be snacking all day when you aren't clearing the driveway of snow or helping someone in the kitchen. And yes, all of these treats do have to be sweet.
What sort of Christmas outing do your parents bring you to?
The Christmas season is filled with all sorts of holiday traditions young families enjoy together. And if you miss this tradition one year it inevitably feels like something is missing. What sorts of holiday traditions does your family enjoy together?
What charitable giving project are you involved in?
Christmas is a season to spread joy and remember how lucky you are to have a family and the provisions to have a wonderful holiday meal. It's the perfect time to give time or resources to the less fortunate around you. So what charities do you give to in the holiday season?
What's your favourite DIY decoration?
Bloggers and Pinterest lovers come out in this time of year to thrive. There are plenty of DIY decorative suggestions online. Use that extra time during your holiday break to make your household a little more festive! What sorts of cute decorations can you not wait to adorn your home with?
What's your favourite Christmas radio tune?
You're bound to hear at least two of these classics before the Christmas season ends. Musical artists of all genres look to the season to make festive hits that will stay in the Christmas culture for years to come. What's your favourite cultural Christmas tune?
When do you go to Christmas mass?
All the cafeteria Catholics and Christians flock to Christmas mass during this season. This is the second most appropriate time to go after Easter. Of course, even secular folk sometimes go just to see the origins of the celebration.
What's your favourite Christmas flower?
Yes, there are even specific flowers that go with this seasons. Surely you've heard of a few of them or seen them decorate your local bank. Which one do your parents put outside or on the kitchen table? Of course all are red and green.
What do you call the holiday itself?
People refer to this season in very different ways around the world. Of course, in most English speaking countries it's referred to as Christmas. Some very secular people (or advertisers) prefer to use Xmas so to not reference the Christian roots of the tradition.
When do you open presents?
As a child Christmas eve is the only night in the year that you want to go to bed early. That's because most households in North America have the present opening tradition the morning after. But when did you get to open presents?
What's your favourite Christmas dessert?
A lot of these Christmas desserts come from the UK and are still popular in Christian areas around the world. Christmas pudding is a typical English dessert filled with dried fruit and steeped in alcohol. On the other hand, spongey Yule logs are popular on the Continent.
How long do you keep your Christmas decorations up?
Some people wait until the Epiphany to take their Christmas decorations down. That is, if you know what the Epiphany is and are having a Christian Christmas. Others are just ready to get this spruce tree out of their house! When do you toss your Christmas decor?
What's your least favourite part of Christmas?
Yes, yes, everyone typically loves this holiday. But there are some things about Christmas that are bound to get on your nerves after celebrating fourteen days of it. This isn't intended to be malicious-- it's just who you are! What do you find the most irksome about Christmas?
What's another Christmas activity you love?
There are so many cultural Christmas activities to choose from! Good thing you'll have about ten days of free time to enjoy them with your family. What sorts of things did you go to in your home town?
What's the best present you've ever received?
It's hard to know what to get people around Christmas time (that's why you're taking this quiz!) and it's so unromantic to ask. Has anyone ever known you well enough to offer you a present you'll never forget? What was it?
What Christmas movie are you going to see in the cinema?
Hollywood knows we will all be at home for the last two weeks with nothing to do. So of course, they offer us some festive film options. Ok, we know one of those offered below isn't a Christmas film, but some people would like to escape the season for two hours over holiday break. Which would you see?
What's your favourite Christmas story?
There are hundreds of Christmas short stories to get you in the mood on Christmas eve. Some people read the same one each year as part of their traditions. What Christmas story do you prefer?
Who's your favourite cranky Christmas character?
There has to be an antagonist to Christmas. There's too much joy and generosity for evil spirits or cranky characters to leave it alone. Over the years many people have tried to ruin or "steal" Christmas. Who's your favourite?
Where's your favourite place to be at Christmas?
Some families travel at Christmastime. Whether that's to see the beautiful decorations around New York City or to escape the cold depends on your parents. If you make it to Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka! What Christmas most suits you?
How do you set the mood for Christmas?
Everybody sets the mood for Christmas differently. For some, decorating is enough. For others, even that seems like a bit much. Still others have cookies baking and carols going in the background at all time. What do you do?
What is the true meaning of Christmas to you?
There's so much Christmas paraphernalia it's easy to forget there's supposed to be a meaning behind all this celebration. Some families even go around the table on Christmas eve to ask everyone this question: what does Christmas mean to you?
What does your stocking look like?
You know you argued over the cutest or biggest stocking with your siblings. And now you're stuck with the one you got every year. Hopefully you have a fireplace or a mantle to hang it on. What does your stocking look like?
Who's your favourite reindeer?
If you don't know these names you're doing Christmas wrong. Some families even have cute stocking stuffers of chocolate covered almonds or coffee beans labeled "reindeer droppings." Who's your favourite of Santa's reindeer?
What's your favourite item in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" song?
This Christmas carol comes from the eighteenth century--something probably apparent considering the gifts being given. But some of them sound pretty entertaining. If your contemporary true love doesn't gift you half of the things listed you should probably find a new love.
