What do you like most about Christmas?
I love how it reminds me of my childhood. Of my mother.
She always made sure we had a tree, lots of Christmas music, presents but also the belief that something magical like Santa Claus existed.
We had little traditions like putting the tree up together as a family and having our holiday dinner on Christmas Eve with her favorite Christmas chinaware.
My childhood cocker spaniel even had a seat on the dining room table on this special day.
There were many things that happened which made our family stop having those Christmas moments together, one of them being the onset of my mom's mental illness.
And so, I like to continue her love for Christmas - the decorating, music, watching classic movies, trimming the tree, traditions and the holding on to magical beliefs.
Our Dogvacay guest, Murray, left us on Sunday night and we were originally going to pick out our tree this coming weekend, but after seeing everyone on Instagram and Facebook share their trees, I just couldn't wait. Yangkyu went out and picked one up on Saturday and we decorated together. We normally trim the tree with the Lord of the Rings on, but this time it was some cheesy Hallmark Channel movie. But those can be pretty addicting, no?
I also made tiny rosemary wreaths leftover from Thanksgiving and tied some red ribbon around some thyme. They smell just as great as our tree.
Now it's on to figuring out what to do with our mantle and the outside space.
This really is the most wonderful time of the year.
PS - This Santa Claus post is probably one of my favorite blog posts, not only because it's one of my favorite childhood memories, but because of some of the wonderful Santa Clause stories people shared in the comments. I really had such a great time reading and re-reading them. Oh the things our parents did for us to believe. :)
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45 comments
So beautiful doll, I love putting the tree up and decorating, it's so much fun :)) xx
ReplyDeleteit is so much fun!
DeleteLove those wreaths, Jane:) And that Santa post from last year was just lovely. Your mom was so smart to do that:)
ReplyDeletethanks emmy!
DeleteEeep, merry Christmas! I love love love this time of year, everything just doubles in magicalness. Those wreaths are so sweet and your tree looks darling! I hope SW and I will get to decorate our tree and make a wreath for my bedroom door soon. ^-^
ReplyDeletei hope you'll share on your magical blog! :)
DeleteI love a simple wreath or two, or three.. I usually see the big, decked out ones hung on doors, but these small ones are more my style I think :) Looks very festive at your place!
ReplyDeletewww.lettersimpromptu.blogspot.com
thanks!
DeleteAwww, my favorite part of the season is no doubt how cheerful and bright the world seems to become because of the Christmas spirit. I love the way that you are keeping your mother's traditions alive. That's beautiful to me
ReplyDeleteso well said! thank you so much!!
DeleteYour house is looking mighty festive :) What I love most about Christmas is the usual gatherings of friends and families in a cozy space. xx
ReplyDeletecozy spaces definitely :)
DeleteI love that you carry on your Mom's Christmas traditions. My parents moved across the country so I don't get to spend many holidays with them, but I always drape loops of garland around our apartment, which is what my family did when I was growing up!
ReplyDeleteso sweet :) i miss my parents so much around this time. they moved back to korea and so i don't get to see them much so i am always nostalgic about my childhood with them. :)
DeleteYour tree is so pretty and festive looking. We'll be putting up our pink tinsel tree this weekend.
ReplyDeleteawesome! :)
DeleteLooking great over at your house, ah stirring so many feelings of Christmas magic in me haha the blogesphere is a buzz with Christmas tress and I am so jealous with my studying for finals self!
ReplyDeletegood luck on your finals!!
DeleteBeautiful photos as always Jane! I've been eager to make rosemary wreaths and definitely making it for Christmas this year. I admire you for wishing to continue on with your mother's love for Christmas despite her illness. Christmas definitely has changed over the years for me. My dad LOVED Christmas so he was the one who was always decorating the house and such. When he passed away, Christmas just wasn't the same anymore but I'm trying to change it this year starting with the rosemary wreaths! Looks like you had a great weekend!
ReplyDeletewishing you christmas joys!! xx
DeleteYour tree looks lovely!!!! We're gonna wait another week before getting our tree-- but I WANTS IT NOW!!!
ReplyDeleteohh hope time flies for you!!
DeleteDearest Jane; Marvelous wreaths and wonderful to the memories of love with family♡♡♡ I'm looking forward to reading more post, dear friend.
ReplyDelete(I remember Christmas is wonderful being able to have cake without any excuses when little p:-)
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
thank you!
DeleteIt's starting to look festive over here too! We have a skinny, little fake tree since we have a tiny living room.... but I can't wait to get a big, full tree one of these years!
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteI will have to jump over and read that post about Santa!! How wonderful that you have such beautiful memories of Christmas from your childhood! Your photos are stunning! So festive and bright! Happy December Jane! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteWhat a beautiful tree! We put up ours over the weekend, and the kids had a blast doing it.
ReplyDeleteoh they sure must've!! i remember trimming the tree as a kid and it was like christmas came early :)
DeleteYour tree is so beautiful! I love seeing people's Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeletethanks!
DeleteSo beautiful Jane! I love your tree! Decorated so beautifully. You guys did a great job. Like you, I love all the pieces to Christmas. It's the music, decorating, baking and such. Just being with the ones we love. This was a beautiful post.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.averysweetblog.com/
thank you! many jolly times to you this season kim!
DeleteI don't think I could envisage a more perfect christmas tree!!
ReplyDelete;) thanks yasumi!!
DeleteAfter I read this, I feel like singing Christmas carols at the top of my lungs (though I'm sure my boss would ask me to leave for the day LOL). LOVE the tree. Only 23 more days til Christmas!!
ReplyDeletehaha! if you and i were together we would bring the house down! :D
DeleteI love Christmas as well c; good that you continue
ReplyDeletecelebrate it! Love these pictures of buying the
tree to decorating it! I also love your rosemary
wreath as well c: Xx
thanks!
DeleteThese photos are so beautiful! I think the traditions of Christmas (little and big) definitely make Christmas a magical time and without sounding too cheesy - a time that's packed full of joy :)
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteHow cute cute cute the rosemary wreaths are! And I love your tree, I'm feeling Christmas from here; the Lord of the Rings on the background, hahhahaa, those delightful geek touches makes you guys so cute! totally cool to change it to a Hallmark movie though, I was checking one with Alexis Bledel just yesterday, I guess it's the something it comes to me with the season. Oh! and so fun that picture with Yangkyu bringing the tree inside home, it makes me feel there!
ReplyDeletethis is really wonderful, and I'm sure that honouring your mum in this way would make her so happy and proud. I can't think of a more beautiful way to celebrate. your decorations look gorgeous! x
ReplyDeletePutting the tree together with Lord of the Rings sounds like an amazing tradition haha. And that's so beyond adorable that your childhood dog had a seat at the table...Roxy is really jealous over here!
ReplyDelete