Watching George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol."

older. The hypocrisy is overwhelming at Xmas time.

But, I guess that Xmas trees would be the big thing. I love the smell, even had my own Xmas tree operation, grant you, it wasn't very big, about 20,000 trees, and the number of trees that died off every year (In the Ozarks) was staggering. The hardest part? Mowing the lot w/o running over a few trees accidently and trimming them so they wouldn't grow up lopsided or the like.

Finally gave up after battling the deer, they love these things. There's probably maybe about 10 good sized trees now, out of 20,000 now.

The other thing is baking I love to bake and always bake a chocolate pound cake for our family get together. I use Mr YD's grandmother's recipe.

You would think he would only have to win it once.

occur at the same time this year,

I apologize if my post came across as selfish or insensitive. I will delete it.

2.) Listening to the Alison Krauss/Yo Yo Ma version of "The Wexford Carol" online.

I've watched it already this season. I'll watch it again.
There are others I'll watch again. Maybe the 24th & 25th.

The Yule log, the evergreen tree, the wreaths and mistletoe are all borrowed from pre-Christian celebrations. Even the date, December 25, was Saturnalia to the Romans, the Bacchanalia celebrating the birth of Dionysus to the Greeks, and the celebration of the birth of the god Mithra to the Persians. To the Norse, it was Yule, honoring the birth of their god Frey, to the German tribes, a celebration of their god Odin.

with the babies in April not December. I understand your post and have for a long time.

...September about Christmas.

It comes, I think, from my late mother-in-law, who was obsessive/compulsive, and who made Christmas into this bizarre intense ritual.

I recall, that when I showed up for my first Christmas with my (future) wife's family - I'd been living with my future wife just about 2 months, definitely a new boyfriend - I politely brought a bottle of wine, and it turned out I had about 20 gifts, which was embarrassing. This was in spite of the fact that I don't think they really liked me, particularly because I was older than my future wife and we were, as they say, "living in sin" in their minds. (They were decidedly not happy when their daughter married me; but eventually we all made peace, but still...)

Christmas got worse and worse, especially after we had kids. My brothers-in-law started to really resent Christmas, as the hour upon hour upon hour of gift giving left the kids, my sons, my nieces and my nephew bouncing off the walls near midnight and somewhat bored by "stuff." One Christmas we were faced with a choice: Bring home the gifts or bring home the Children, and we had a pretty big station wagon.

A residue of this upbringing remains with my wife's sisters. My wife was nearly in tears this evening after 50 or so texts from her sisters. We figured a way to stop the notifications on group chats. She was getting really upset. She couldn't think. She was threatening to skip the whole thing.

It's pretty unhealthy.

I actually don't know how my wife came out of that family. She's sane.

Or "It's a Wonderful Life." Watched on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 By The Trans Siberian Orchestra.

...at about the 3 minute mark, I feel it in every cell of my being. It's like I am a violin string with the bow being drawn across me. I LOVE it!!!

That little girl is a good actress.

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the original animated version) and "The Year Without a Santa Claus." Also, hearing Eartha Kitt sing "Santa Baby" (which I've already heard several times since Thanksgiving).

Personal in apt buildings, single houses, or public displays.

Andre Previn and the London Symphony!

My grandmother bought it for me when it came out. I play it every year.