Saturday, December 16, 2006 AD
Christmas questionnaire
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Mulled wine.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Presents from Father Christmas are wrapped and arrive in a sack in the living room (with small presents in a stocking at the end of the boys' beds). Presents under the tree are from non-magical donors.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
White, for the first year ever. I finally caved in to my wife's preference for white over coloured lights, and I have to admit she was dead right - they look a lot nicer.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
We don't.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Today! (I still haven't recovered; the boys got very bouncy...)
6. What is your favorite Christmas dish (excluding dessert)?
A surfeit of roast potatoes.
7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child.
My favourite Christmas experiences from childhood onwards have been visiting York Minster for their Christmas Eve service. It's a few years since last managed this, though.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I'm sorry, but what are you talking about? Is there something about him I need to know?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No! Wait till the day itself, I say.
Except (ahem) for this year, where my parents bought us a new flat-screen monitor for our PC. It was sent direct to our house, and I felt I ought to plug it in just to check it worked. The moment it came on, I realised there was no way I could now pack it away till Christmas - it is so much better than the old CRT monitor. Forgive me, Father Christmas, for I have jumped the gun!
And our boys got their main presents from their maternal grandparents today, as we're up with my parents for Christmas itself. For a cute overload, go see these videos of kids on quads (click "more from this user" if you want to see the full set).
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Change of direction this year as mentioned above. White lights, gold/copper baubles, gold tinsel. Most tasteful tree we've ever had. Previously, our Christmas decorations have made the place look a bit too much like a pub - my fault.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
What snow? This is south-east England - snow is something you get half an inch of some time in January, if you're lucky. (And then the entire country grinds to a halt. The traditional greeting in such circumstances is, "Tsk! It takes us by surprise every year, doesn't it?", with a rueful shake of the head.)
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, after a fashion. We normally make a trip to Leeds in the new year to go ice-skating in Civic Square*. (* Now renamed "Millennium Square". But as for me and my house...)
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
The one that stays in my mind most is the Action Man tank I got one year.
14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Christmas Eve has always been the real centre of things for me - mystery, wonder and anticipation. The fact that the 24th is now also our younger son's birthday only adds to the enjoyment of the day.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Christmas pudding. Though you can't beat a really good mince pie.
16. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Christmas carols.
17. What tops your tree?
This year, an angel and a snowflake. Our older son was bouncing around talking about "the angel and the snowflake", which sounded like a great title for a book about Christmas as a happy blend of religious and secular traditions.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving. By other people, to me. ;-)
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
"The Three Kings", by Peter Cornelius.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
No idea what these are, but I'm going to go with "yuck".
