We're probably a pretty weird family when it comes to Christmas decorations.
Both of our trees are aluminum, one silver, one purple. Our Elvis bust lamp gets a Santa beard. Our tikis and our Creature from the Black Lagoon mask get Santa hats. We have giant inflatable Christmas trees and snowmen dotting the yard.
Our mini Christmas village is always under attack. This year, it's a recreation of the battle on the ice planet Hoth from Empire Strikes Back. Last year, Mechagodzilla attacked and the year before that Ultraman had a Kaiju battle.
Okay. I know, I know. It's tacky. But so am I. I mean, who keeps the Creature from the Black Lagoon AND Elvis in their house year round. Yep. Me.
Overall, I just hope my kids learn to be creative and that holidays should be fun, no matter what form it takes! Here are some pics...
My weird Christmas decorations
December 1st, 2018 at 10:04 pm
December 1st, 2018 at 11:09 pm 1543705749
December 1st, 2018 at 11:53 pm 1543708430
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:07 am 1543709263
This will make you laugh as we are wierd as well. Catholic 8th graders have to write an essay about their potential patron saint that they will pick as their "spiritual role model". My dear son (A) recently wrote his essay and stated that he has chosen either Abraham or Ezekial because they remind him of his family's long-standing tradition on Sundays. And he then proceded to say that wherever we are, for the past nine years, we have watched The Walking Dead as a family. And those were the only characters that had Biblical names that he liked.
Its a small school and the teacher let the principal know who let me know that his intentions in name selection weren't correct. To which I rather chuckled and assured her that he'd be able to find a saint to accompany whatever name he picked.
Long live Elvis AND Zombies!
December 2nd, 2018 at 01:59 am 1543715985
December 2nd, 2018 at 02:34 am 1543718086
December 2nd, 2018 at 03:35 am 1543721755
December 2nd, 2018 at 03:42 am 1543722140
@ TOR, Lest we not forget St. Denis, patron saint of Paris who walked six miles carrying his talking head. Bwah Ha Ha
And I should add that nowhere in his saint essay did A mention anything about a family tradition of attending Mass.
December 2nd, 2018 at 05:30 am 1543728645
December 2nd, 2018 at 02:13 pm 1543760028
December 2nd, 2018 at 02:30 pm 1543761028
I did throw a monkey hat on top of my tree a few years back and is our tradition now. Someone asked me where I got the monkey "tree topper". *face palm*
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:27 pm 1543789673
We also have creepy Doctor Who "weeping angel" lights that are appropriate for both Halloween and Xmas (in our family's opinion anyway). So I'm with ya all!
December 6th, 2018 at 06:17 pm 1544120243
December 7th, 2018 at 12:08 am 1544141305
@ Annemarie. Lighten up. ‘‘Tis the season to be jolly! I’m sure Jesus had a sense of humor too.
December 7th, 2018 at 06:35 pm 1544207712
December 14th, 2018 at 11:55 pm 1544831744
I personally enjoyed all the decorations and chuckles from this post and comments. {hugs Thrift, so glad you are feeling better!)
December 17th, 2018 at 02:06 am 1545012363
@annemarie. Move on! If you don't appreciate someone's aesthetic, move on! The secular and the sacramental can co-exist. I am not one into Nativities that aren't realistic; a friend was over the moon to find one depicted by cats. Would I ever dream of commenting on her choices to decorate her home. Never. She can celebrate and decorate however she chooses. There's enough negativity in the world. Move on!
December 17th, 2018 at 09:42 pm 1545082968
PLEASE, move on!
December 17th, 2018 at 09:53 pm 1545083602
Thrift- again, love the empire strikes back theme and the attack on the village- how creative and fun. Happy Holidays to you and your family, dear friend.
December 17th, 2018 at 11:35 pm 1545089706
@Thrifty Ray, the trolls are angry elves. 😀.
I engaged twice. My bad. Twisty knickers and bunchy undie folks should move right on.
Agree that Thrift is off-limits. Hi ho go.
December 18th, 2018 at 03:45 am 1545104756
I know my thing isn't for everyone, but this is the way my family celebrates many holidays-- with joy, with creativity, with love, with a sense of humor, and with art.
We are kind and generous people, who go out of our way to care for people with less than us, and to help the downtrodden every opportunity we get. We've got it where it counts.
Ultimately, I never have and never will care what anyone else thinks. You do it your way, I do it mine. We are harming no one.
But just to put some facts out there, the reality is that Dec. 25 isn't Jesus' bday. Biblical scholars generally agree his real birthday was likely in summer or fall. People only celebrate it in December because Christians have a long history of co-opting pagan holidays, such as Saturnalia and Yule, when overtaking (or winning over, however you look at it) pagan populations. Aspects of those original December pagan holidays have been into "Christian" Christmas traditions.
Your Christmas tree? Sorry, that's Yule. Your Christmas lights? also yule, a form of Odin worship, a la bringing in 'evergreens' and fire into the home as a sign of renewed life during the darkest day of the year. Gift giving, fancy Christmas dinner and egg nog? Sorry, that's Saturnalia.
There is virtually nothing in modern society's celebration of Christmas that is actually Christian, apart from going to church.
And don't get me started on santa or Rudolph-- all inventions of the advertising industry, yet many Christians we know lie to their kids about santa without batting an eye.
You could MAYBE make the case that the tradition of gift giving would reflect the story of the three wise men, but if that were really true we'd be giving gifts on epiphany, not on Dec. 25.
So yes. You all are entitled to celebrate how you wish, but before anyone gets high and mighty, I recommend reading a history book.
December 19th, 2018 at 04:39 pm 1545237597
December 27th, 2018 at 01:20 pm 1545916810