My fondest memories of childhood have always been during Christmas time and the weeks leading to it.
I didn’t grow up in a Christian family and I probably didn’t care much about the real meaning of Christmas back then. However, since a young age, Christmas has always been a festive season for us in the Gozali household. Here are just some of the things we usually do (or at least we used to) leading up to Christmas:
- Put up the Christmas tree with pretty ornaments (re-used year after year but we do get creative!)
- Decorate the house (yes, the entire house) – sometimes even the exterior of the house!
- Light up everything that we can light up – we love our fairylights.
- Sing Christmas songs. Oh, yes, home-style karaoke of course. Remember LCD (Laser Discs)?
- Gifts underneath the tree! Sadly, this tradition died off after we got to a certain age! Boohoo.
- Create our own nativity scene. Yes, you heard me right! A full nativity scene, with little figurines of the three wise men, baby Jesus and his parents, some lambs and Gabriel the angel. But the cool bit is, we actually make our own manger using a box, scrunched newspaper to cover the box, bronze colour spray and sometimes even fake snow!
So yes, all that. For every Christmas that we spend in Indonesia. Now, it’s no wonder I’m totes adamant about having my own Christmas tree here in Melbourne! I guess a part of me want to recreate the festivity and the tradition that I’ve loved so much. I mean, I’ve lived in Melbourne for half of my life now and yet I still don’t have a proper Christmas tree?! Madness!
I know that when I get my first Christmas tree here in Melbourne, I will feel like this:
I am glad that now I know the real meaning of Christmas. But I think it is also a great thing to be able to recreate the Christmas memories from my childhood. It is about spending time together with my family and sharing gifts with each other. Just like God gave Jesus to us on Christmas day (yes, it doesn’t have to be exactly 25 December, whatever, but you know the symbolism.)
This year, I am hoping to fulfill that dream of mine of having a proper full-sized Christmas tree. And this is also the first year of me celebrating Christmas with my dearest hubby. I hope that we will create more memories that we can look back at one day and smile.
What are some of the Christmas traditions and customs that you used to or still do with your family or community? Would love to know what everyone does during Christmas time… And if you have great ideas for Jax and I to celebrate our first Christmas together, comment below also!
I have an idea Julie. How about not having a tree and instead donating money to charity, or people who really need a cheer this year?
Wow that’s a very hipster suggestion Andrew Juma zZz. Why not both? Anyway donations can be done any time of the year. So Julie, go forth and purchase thy tree! Rejoice! Haha
HA! Thank you BAILEY!! ;) And yes, I shall purchase… end of the year.
Or maybe just enjoy it for what it is – fun times!
I love this story. I discovered I was allergic to the tree. It was always such a big deal to go and cut down the biggest one, watch Dad swear trying to get it up and the lights on… Every year, I got sick when I was working and I always thought I worked so much that I was run down. Nope–i was allergic to the tree. Sadness.
Oh no! :( Sadness indeed… Hope you still get to enjoy Christmas! Do you put up a Christmas tree (not the real one) nowadays?
I’ve never even had a chance of having a real tree, just because growing up in Indonesia, that didn’t seem to be an option. And now in Melbourne, I live in an apartment that’s too small.
We have the fake tree. I miss the smell of pine and the spiders escaping across the floor. Well, the spiders I did not miss. But the whole spirit of Christmas, that never goes away. We’ll put the tree up this weekend and we have made a gingerbread house. I think Christmas is awesome in New England–the images of horses and sleighs and caroling:) I can’t complain about a plastic tree…
Oh definitely not! Here in Melbourne, we get hot Christmas. And that’s not as fun, especially when all the Christmas carols tell us we’re meant to have snow and winter. But I will also put up my little Christmas tree this weekend (if I can’t find a proper big one by then!) Very exciting.
PS: Glad you didn’t miss the spiders, I’m probably not suited for a real tree! LOL.
One year, save up and come up here during this season. It’ll be really fun!! I can’t imagine the summer holidays w a ski jacket:)
That would be awesome! I would love to, actually. One day… :)
And yes, no ski jackets here. More like Christmas BBQ and going to the beach! LOL.
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