Next weekend, I hope! I can't wait.
So when do you put up your tree?
by restrangled 51 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
Cellist
Wow! It sounds like she really does need to cut back a bit. Symphony playing is high stress stuff. Sheherezade is quite an energetic piece. I'm not that good of a player. I took up the cello as an adult, for a hobby. We played for quite a few years in our local orchestra (my husband plays violin), but we dropped out this year. We're only going to play with a small group of people that we've been playing with for years now. We have a lot of fun, it's not nearly as serious. No, I'm not familiar with that gathering that your MIL attends. But then, we're just amateurs. That's wonderful that she plays for you at Christmas. I think that music really adds to Christmas. Those carols with the wonderful harmonies! I never get tired of them. The first time we played backup to a choir, we almost forgot to play when they started singing Silent Night. It was soooo beautiful that we just wanted to stop and listen!
Blondie, No. We've never put up an advent tree. It's not a custom that my family has ever practised. At least, not in my time. Is it connected to an ethnic group, religion or area? We do have the custom of the children opening one small gift every day leading up to Christmas day. But that's just to keep the anticipation from building to a fever pitch.
Cellist -
rwagoner
Part of our tradition with my wife and kids is that we put up and decorate our tree on Thanksgiving day while the turkey cooks. We all have special ornaments of our own that we get to put on the tree we either watch the Macy's T-Day parade or play the original DVD's of Rudolph or Frosty or Santa Clause is coming to town.
So our tree is up and glowing brightly in the window and our little village of Christmas Houses is in place and the Stockings are ready to hang.
WE ARE CHRISTMA-HOLICS !!! My 2 year old loves the tree and her brother is teaching her some of the more simple songs...
I'll take a few pictures and maybe start a thread for this years trees/decorations if there isn't one already.
RandyW
-
restrangled
Cellist,
I think taking up the Cello is a pretty big deal no matter what level you play. I love the violen also. How fun that you and your husband have that in common. There is nothing better than music. Wish I could hear you!!
I play the piano, but have not done so on a regular basis for some time. It's in my sons room buried under books, but once in a while I go in and play for a couple of hours.
r.
-
My MILs worst nightmare, a nonJW
The first time we played backup to a choir, we almost forgot to play when they started singing Silent Night. It was soooo beautiful that we just wanted to stop and listen!
Cellist, for two years our oldest son sang in a choir (they even traveled to Japan)...what an experience....its hard to describe the beauty of the voices. Music adds so much to the holidays and to life, doesn't it?
married to r.
-
restrangled
RWagoner,
I can just picture what you described! Christmas is so fun with little children! I think it's a great idea to start a thread as you suggested.
r.
-
mrsjones5
Hopefully we'll have it up on Sunday. I'm thinking about making some homemade ornaments, something the kids can help with. We just have to decide where we're going to put the tree.
-
merfi
This is my first "free" Christmas, so it's been up for about two weeks already. lol My parents lent me their fiberoptic 6.5' one and it looks just beautiful in my foyer... It can be seen through the front door and side windows by all the JWs that do drive-bys of my house. hehe
Bugging the JWs aside, it's just so wonderful to be able to do Christmas 'officially' this year (my parents always brought us gifts anyway thru the years of cult exile). The kids and I are having lots of fun with it; they ask to turn on the 'pretties' at dusk and offer suggestions for yet MORE decorations. :) They've also wrapped presents for one another. I think I'm winning. Their JW dad has no clue [yet].
I agree that this holiday stuff is so totally NOT what we were told... it's not evil, it's not greed and commercialism (ok, maybe a little, but it's fun and pretty) and even if there's a bit of Pagan to it, so the hell what?? It's about family, friends, giving, showing love and being together.
~merfi
-
FreeChick
I'm so happy to read everyone's story and how much fun you are having! I've been celebrating xmas for many years, but I add to my collection every year. I usually start decorating right after the Thanksgiving dinner dishes are cleaned up. But, ate too much this year and couldn't move 'til today so my decorations will go up tomorrow. Yippie!
FreeChick
-
lisavegas420
Put the tree and lights up last week the grandchildren ooohhhh'd and awwww'd over it. This week, I'll add ornamants and have them over to ooohhh and awww again. Then I'll add presents and have them over to oooh and awww again, then over to open the presents.
lisa
