12 Things I Love About CHRISTMAS!

Holy Red Ryder BB guns, it's officially the Christmas season.

I effing love Christmas. I can't really explain why this is my favorite holiday. I think it has to do with having awesome Christmases as a kid and how I find the season to be uplifting and romantic (though it's easy to make it materialistic). Here are my 12 things that I love about Christmas.

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra

I love this Christmas Carol and ol' blue eyes' version is probably the one Christmas carol that could bring a tear to my eye. His voice is perfect for this song and it reminds me of Christmas at my house in Colorado. I truly love it!

Poinsettias

For some reason, I just find something romantic about flowers that only bloom in December. I love the rich red color of the plant and how they decorate homes and churches during the holiday season. I also am, of course, a sucker for the story of the poinsetta's origin, though it may not be the most factual story of all time. Legend has it that a little girl in Mexico didn't have money for a birthday gift for Jesus. An angel came to her and told her to gather weeds and they grew into beautiful poinsettia blossoms once layed on the floor of the girl's tiny local church.

A Muppet Christmas Carol


The Muppets crack me up. They totally appeal to my sense of humor. This scene ("we are Marley and Marley...wooooahaaahahah!) cracks me up every time I see it. In this movie, which I make a point to watch every Christmas, the Muppets are funny, but also touching. It's a great adaptation of a story that has been adapted many, many times.

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry

Ever remember your first intial reaction to reading a classic story? When I picked up this tiny book, having no idea what the story was, I didn't expect my reaction to be so raw. Well, to say the least, I was moved. I remember crying very silent tears when I read the ending. It seems that this is really what romantic love and Christmas are really all about.

A Christmas Story

This goes without explanation, I think.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I think this image, of Charlie Brown and his tree, is one of the most iconic Christmas pop-culture images ever. But it's what happens after this that makes this little Christmas special watchable again and again.

My house in Colorado

For the years we do spend Christmas in Colorado, my parents home (which used to be mine, I guess) is so beautifully decorated. My mom puts up a little village that spreads thoughout the house. Our Christmas tree, as you can see, is heavily decorated, but beautiful nonetheless. Garland and lights hang from our stair banisters and throughout the house there are classic Christmas trinkets and humorous and touching Christmas books. We even have a giant nutcracker!

"The Polar Express"

When I was little, I made my Dad read me this story over and over again every Christmas season. Now when I see the book at school I marvel over the beautiful illustrations and the sense of imagination it evokes in all the students at my school.

"Love Actually"

This best part of this movie is A) Hugh Grant singing and dancing B) the "to me, you are perfect...." signs C) the closing monologue D) Bill Nighy's ridiculousness

The answer is: E) All of the above!

"Noel" by Josh Groban

This is a fantastic Christmas album. It is a mix of super traditional, timeless, and modern and Groban's voice is perfect for such carols as 'O Come All Ye Faithful' and 'What Child Is This?'. But the tracks that are truly standouts are "The Little Drummer Boy" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", the later being one that is rarely done and rarely done well. It's not Christmas if I haven't listened to this album over and over again.

Christmas cookies

To be honest, I've never met a cookie I didn't like.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas

Lots of traditional holiday programming, a few new things that I can stomach just because it's Christmas, and, of course, Harry Potter weekend!