A few years later I was captivated by the Christmas lights that everyone would put up in December. There is just something magical about fairy lights. I don't quite know what it is, but I am always drawn to them. You can't help but feel happy when you see them, right? In the later years of primary school I convinced my mum that we should put up Christmas lights on our house too. Each year more and more neighbours would join in and our light displays got bigger and better. I got a bit obsessed with it, to the point of drawing out a picture of our house in November so I could plan the light display (and so mum knew exactly where they all had to go). Our Christmas paraphernalia grew and grew each year (as mum discovered boxing day sales) and we then used to set up our whole front lounge room with lights, decorations and our tree (so you could see it from the street). I would play Christmas cds with the window open so passers by could hear carols as they marvelled at our lights. I was always super excited to go walking around the estate and look at all the other houses that had lights up. One of the neighbours would dress up as Santa and give out lollies. It was pure heaven for a child like me who was addicted to the joy of Christmas.
The last few years I lost my love of Christmas. Working in retail for 13 years straight, being bombarded with Christmas carols, trees, decorations and Santa from September onwards kind of diminishes the specialness excitement of Christmas. Apparently you can have too much of a good thing. I found myself wishing for Christmas to be over so I didn't have to be tortured with carols relentlessly playing on repeat for eight hours each day. It numbs your brain, so much so that I couldn't sleep at night because my mind kept singing "silent night, silent night, all is calm, all is bright......" etc etc. Ironically a silent night is exactly what I was wishing for! I wouldn't put up my tree until the last week of December in some kind of defiant protest against the shops. Although, seeing the perfectly merchandised trees at work each day did make me increasignly ocd about where the tree decorations must go. Putting up the tree became a 1-2hr event because I had to carefully place each baubble in the correct spot or the whole thing would be ruined. The joy had slowly left Christmas. It lost its sparkle and shine, but still inside I desperately hoped that one day I would rekindle my love for it.

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Special bauble for her birth year :) |
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Her special Santa stocking |
Do you have any special christmas time traditions?
Toni xx
Linking up with Tegan for The Lounge
And Kirsty for I Must Confess
Linking up with Tegan for The Lounge
And Kirsty for I Must Confess
It's a very funny thing we do, the decorating of the tree ritual. We get a live one in a pot that seems to die every few years, after having grown in a crazy fashion so that visitors feel comfortable enough to comment "Man, that's a weird tree".
ReplyDeleteI put on carols to decorate the tree and most of the kids vanish with a 'I'll leave you to it" after humouring me for a few decorations. Still, the youngest is perstering me to go and get the tree, so I've a few years yet - hopefully!
I've never had a real tree. I would be terrified that some wild animal would jump out of it haha (because I'm a scaredy cat).
DeleteAww bless how cute, I can imagine I'd get jack of Xmas if I was in retail too! How cool that you had a great lights set up as kids! We have a house down the street of ours and we take the kids to see it every night before Xmas, it enters the council competition so you can imagine how amazing it is. Also an entire bedroom with a train and miniatures set up it's amazing! Our trees are up and I can't wait to get into the Elf on a shelf bandwagon, he arrived today :)
ReplyDeleteOh god yes I was a christmas light nazi! I totally want an elf on the shelf when shes old enough to understand it. They look so cool.
DeleteThis IS the year mate!
ReplyDeleteI think it's really wonderful how having our children reignites our love of Christmas. In between being a child and having my own Christmas was just something to be endured, to get through until normal time again. I worked in hospitality for years so Christmas meant working Christmas day and watching other people make total pigs of themselves and get drunk, no wonder I was turned off it.
ReplyDeleteHaving kids brought back all the magic, Christmas carols at the school tonight and the oldest is singing in the boys' choir. I can't wait.x
It doesn't seem to be quite as magical and exciting as an adult. For so many years it was my only day off for the week and the next day was always the busiest day of the year so I totally resented the fact that I had to be out all day - would've preferred to sleep the whole day. It's going to be so weird (but awesome) not working boxing day this year.
DeleteI'm so glad that I'm looking forward to christmas again.
I love all the Christmas traditions we have - putting up the tree and our advent calendar. Going to Christmas carols and Christmas baking. It's a wonderful time of the year and I'm glad you've recaptured the excitement of it all this year
ReplyDeleteMe too and its only going to get better next year once shes old enough to understand it all better.
DeleteLove your fresh perspective on Christmas. I'm excited about Christmas this year too because of kids. Hope it is a super special year for you and your family x
ReplyDeleteYou too Kate!
DeleteKids just make Christmas all that more exciting! I was eager for Dyllan's first Christmas too and I may have gone overboard in the presents department lol. He was only 5 month as well so it was all a bit lost on him.
ReplyDeleteOMG Tegan I have gone severely overboard in the present department. I'm going to have to keep some for her birthday its ridiculous. I think I have a problem!
Deletep.s thanks for linking up with us at The Lounge!
ReplyDeleteI remember waiting up for Santa too, I used to always imagine I could hear his footsteps in the hall and I'd lie ultra still in case he realised I was awake!
ReplyDeleteMe too Emma!
DeleteSo special - your first Christmas as a Mum! Having also worked in retail - as a Christmas casual in a jewellery store - for 5 years, I soooo get where you are coming from about the overdose of Christmas carols!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely Toni. We were the same when it came to Christmas - we lost the love as adults until we have kids of our own. Now there is wonder again on Christmas morning and we have a reason to decorate and put up lights and enjoy the Christmas cheer. I hope you have a simply lovely Christmas with your little girl this year!
ReplyDeleteLove Christmas. It definitely does take on a whole new level of meaning and excitement when you have kids. Of course it also means having to control yourself when the kids are old enough to decorate the tree and you have to sit and smile while your brain screams "WHY ARE YOU PUTTING THAT GREEN BAUBLE RIGHT NEXT TO ANOTHER GREEN BAUBLE? WHERE IS THE SYMMETRY!?!?"
ReplyDelete