Chestnut roasting...

Come every December, I seem to live in my own wonderland. Perhaps it's the cold, the grey skies.. Or the magic cast by Christmas carols playing everywhere. Or the soft orange glow of Christmas trees. Whatever it is, come every December, I'd bring out the 1.7m Christmas tree at set it up in my house. I would write a list of presents to buy for friends and family. Then I would go on to organise a little Christmas party and excitedly await the coming of 24th December, where we would tinkle the wine glasses, exchange beautifully wrapped gifts and stroll by the pool playing with fireworks or sitting by the TV watching Home Alone (again).
What's there not to like about Christmas?
I've loved Christmas since I was a child. The earliest memory was hanging a sock by my bed at age six and waking up to a bag of chocolates and candies. I spotted a price tag on the chocolates, bought from 7-11, and asked my dad if Santa bought his presents from convenient stores. I also commented that Santa was a cheapo, buying me cheap candies!
It did not really make sense because I thought Santa made his presents in North Pole and rode on the reindeers all the way here to deliver. And worse still, my sis and I got the same gifts. Just different colours.
When I was eight, I stayed up to catch Santa. It was 2am before I fell asleep and when I woke at in the morning, I found presents by my bed. I asked my parents how could Santa travel the entire world in a single night and give everyone a gift? You see, I was really intrigued by the Santa Claus concept. I wanna see him in person!
When I was ten, I held my first Christmas party - and invited my sister and cousins to it. I was a one-man girl-show then... donating my own toys and books as gifts, thinking of the games to play, wrapping presents to hand out to those who attended the party, and pestered my mom to cook a Christmas feast. THAT was how much I love Christmas.
As I got older, I became my baby sister's Santa. There was a year I did not buy her a present so from my SoftToy cupboard, I took out this ugly rabbit which I thought she had never seen before and gave it to her. In the morning when she woke up, she threw the toy away and asked me why Santa gave her the exact rabbit that I already had. This embarrassing story is still being told during our Christmas dinner every year. Thank you very much.
As you can see, there isn't a holiday I love more than Christmas. And it will not change this year. I'll still have a Christmas party. I'd still play the same carols album over dinner. I'd still go find the many versions of "Last Christmas" and "White Christmas" (both my favourite!) to compile into CDs. I'd still watch Love Actually (which to me, is the BEST Christmas show ever!) and I'll still be a Santarina. Just that now, I don't have to sneak into my sister's room to unload all the presents without fearing I'd wake her. We do it after the Christmas dinner.
So how are you spending your Christmas this year?
What's there not to like about Christmas?
I've loved Christmas since I was a child. The earliest memory was hanging a sock by my bed at age six and waking up to a bag of chocolates and candies. I spotted a price tag on the chocolates, bought from 7-11, and asked my dad if Santa bought his presents from convenient stores. I also commented that Santa was a cheapo, buying me cheap candies!
It did not really make sense because I thought Santa made his presents in North Pole and rode on the reindeers all the way here to deliver. And worse still, my sis and I got the same gifts. Just different colours.
When I was eight, I stayed up to catch Santa. It was 2am before I fell asleep and when I woke at in the morning, I found presents by my bed. I asked my parents how could Santa travel the entire world in a single night and give everyone a gift? You see, I was really intrigued by the Santa Claus concept. I wanna see him in person!
When I was ten, I held my first Christmas party - and invited my sister and cousins to it. I was a one-
As I got older, I became my baby sister's Santa. There was a year I did not buy her a present so from my SoftToy cupboard, I took out this ugly rabbit which I thought she had never seen before and gave it to her. In the morning when she woke up, she threw the toy away and asked me why Santa gave her the exact rabbit that I already had. This embarrassing story is still being told during our Christmas dinner every year. Thank you very much.
As you can see, there isn't a holiday I love more than Christmas. And it will not change this year. I'll still have a Christmas party. I'd still play the same carols album over dinner. I'd still go find the many versions of "Last Christmas" and "White Christmas" (both my favourite!) to compile into CDs. I'd still watch Love Actually (which to me, is the BEST Christmas show ever!) and I'll still be a Santarina. Just that now, I don't have to sneak into my sister's room to unload all the presents without fearing I'd wake her. We do it after the Christmas dinner.
So how are you spending your Christmas this year?

2 Comments:
as for myself, growing up in a non-christian family, my house was never decorated anyway christmas-y. i rem my first xmas party was at now-defunct youngbird hospital where my mom played santa. this prolly also explains why the whole santa-marketing never appealed to me, even when i was a kid. but i remember being envious of classmates who got presents from "santa".
so you see, i had never celebrated xmas in the traditional practice of having xmas feast - no turkey and log cakes :(, or the practice of decorating xmas trees. nonetheless, just to get into the festive mood, my parents would drive along orchard road to show me the lightings. also, despite me being a non-christian, somehow i would always end up in churches. there was even once i did carolling for a church!
as i grew older and started going out more with friends, my past recent xmas-es are always spent with friends.it started from countdowns in orchard roads to clubbing or home parties after we became L E G A L. during the sec school days, we would always squeeze our way into the crowd for the countdown where lecherous bangla workers would seize the opportunity to get fresh with some of my mates in the midst of the chaos. bummer! i remembered walking along orchard road, from centrepoint to wheelock and back to grand central hotel with a friend in the middle of the night. it was funny how 2 lil girls holding one drumstick on their hand and how we reply in unison to every "merry xmas" from passers-by. since that day, i totally bought the whole notion of how xmas could actually bring people together is still very heart-warming to me.
to me, xmas is the best time to get together with the people that really matter since most of us are usually tied down by work. and our lil game of gift exchange is always something to look forward to! (we would draw lots to decide who we are gg to play santa to and the receiver has to guess after collecting her pressie. if she gets it wrong, uh-oh, get ready for the forfeit!)
after spending countless xmas in clubs or home parties where i dont know most of the guests, im gonna have a pj-xmas party at my place with a small group of close mates this year. :) boy, you wont believe how excited i am!
but after hearing many complaints about how taxing preparations for home parties can get, im also fretting because it's my virgin home-party!
looking at the 2 girls share what xmas really means to them, i thought i would share my thoughts as well.
When i was younger, xmas was all about receiving presents and just for totally selfish reasons of having the next biggest thing! Be it the Ninja turtle airballoon or Silver Hawk Spacecraft (how many of you do remember silver hawk?).
It was an additional benefit that i had an uncle who being a staunch christian. There was always a xmas dinner on the eve, turkey, ham and pasta (boy does my uncle make good pasta!). We even throw in chicken, prawns and crabs (for the ever so oriental Grandma).
As i grew older, xmas had an additional burden of giving. Sec school frens will exchange presents, my sis will expect a present and sometimes the mom also nags alittle about the lack of gratitude.
but throughout these years, my schedule on xmas eve has never changed. Dinner at my uncles, followed by meeting my sec sch frens and finally ending up at my place just because we have no where else to go.
but since last year, my uncle shifted to the United States, so things have kinda quieten down. but the sec sch pals are still going strong, they even plan to have a bbq this year.
So for me, xmas was/is about the presents and the good food! And of cos, I wont forget my sec sch pals whom i spent at least the last 10 xmas-es with.
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