HOLLY-DAYS WITH THE ADVOCATE: a few anecdotes to get you into the spirit

Christmas is always a special time for me, as it is for most everyone else. Maybe more so, even.

My birthday is the day after Christmas, my sister’s birthday is Dec. 30; and my little brother’s birthday is Dec. 17. That means we all get the pleasure of celebrating our birthdays on the same day…  not the most fun thing for a kid growing up, but Christmas time was always a time of celebration. 

I’m glad that I’ve actually learned that Christmas isn’t about the presents, but about the people you spend it with. I love my family, whether it is the family I have at home, or the family that I have here at The Advocate. I can’t wait to celebrate it again with you all next year!
-Corwin Benedict

For me, the holidays mean a lot of things, but if I had to pick one defining aspect of every Christmas, it would probably be the decorating.

In our household, we spend about a week each year picking out our tree, putting lights on our house, taking down the previous season’s decorations, and putting up boxes and boxes of Christmas ornaments all over our home.

It’s usually a little frustrating, but when all is said and done, the atmosphere of every nostalgic Christmas movie emanates throughout the house and fills me with that warm, cozy feeling that you always get around the holidays. -Kurt Larson

Christmas is absolutely one of my favorite times of year.

I love most things about the season, be it snow, Christmas lights and decorations, or even presents.

When it comes to decorations, my philosophy is to go big. It’s great fun trying to use all the items I have in the fabled bin of Christmas fun.

Besides all of that, being with family is great and who doesn’t love a break from school or work?

One of my most cherished traditions would have to be attending my church’s Christmas Eve service. While I love most things Christmas, celebrating the true reason for the season is the best. -Chris Barney

The Christmas season is absolutely my favorite time of year!

It’s the one season when my house is filled with yule-time scents, relaxing music, and chocolate/peppermint candies galore.

My mom makes sure that the first decorations to make their way out of the Christmas boxes are her nativity collection, and my dad loves playing his CDs of homey, acoustic versions of lesser-known Christmas songs throughout the house. My two favorite traditions are decorating the Christmas tree to Bing Crosby and eating at a German/Bavarian restaurant after going to one of the concerts performed at The Grotto in Portland.

For Christmas Day, we get up at the crack of dawn to open presents and eat a satisfying breakfast of egg-and-sausage bake afterwards. Growing up, I remember the rest of many Christmas days being spent building the LEGO sets and playing the video games that our grandparents spoiled us with.

For me, Christmas is a time of warmth, family,

 good tidings, cheesy music, and relaxation. -Eli Rankin

Creeping down the stairs at 5:30 a.m. to see our beautiful tree on Christmas was a yearly routine for my brother and I. The other seven children would follow shortly. New bicycles or a train set, and presents galore, and the tree decked out with beautiful lights, ornaments and tinsel, was a sight to behold.

We’d race back upstairs to wake up the others, then our parents, who would get up with smiles. They had stayed up all night wrapping our gifts and arranging perfection.

After breakfast, we’d dress up and go to church to behold the magnificent creche outside. Inside were the stained glass, angelic statues, and flowers. We sang in the choir, in the rear balcony. One year, my brother sang solo in front, on the altar. Later, he told us, “At first, no words would come out.” Then, all of a sudden, he sang like an angel!

“Oh, Holy Night”!!! -Laura J. Clement

Christmas and the holidays are one of my favorite times of the year.
I love it because of the traditions and Christmas music especially, and I usually see family and friends more often in November and December.

In our house, we usually buy rolls, bake a turkey in the oven, and make mashed potatoes and sometimes, macaroni and cheese or a casserole for Christmas dinner.

We usually open gifts on Christmas morning. In past years, I would open one present on Christmas Eve, but now I usually enjoy waiting for the excitement of Christmas Day.

I love Christmas, and I think it’s a really special holiday. It’s probably my favorite one – it’s really nice to speak to friends that sometimes I don’t talk to as often, and to share the spirit of the holidays.

I also really enjoy picking out presents for my family and friends. The thrill and excitement of sharing this special day with them is probably the best part about Christmas.

I also love the holidays because of the amazing decorations in stores and the beautiful festivals and events.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! -Daniella Young

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been one to love the holiday season.

Proudly, I was brought home on Christmas Day, two days after I was born early in the morning on Dec. 23. I still have the big, red stocking that the hospital placed me inside years ago.

Growing up, my birthdays usually had to be celebrated a couple weeks ahead of time, because my friends were busy with their own holiday plans. It kind of sucked to have a birthday so close to the holidays, but it never really bothered me much.

Thankfully, Christmas has most often been spent with family and or friends, sometimes by traveling to visit family that are spread everywhere around the country. I have been lucky enough to spend Christmas in four different states visiting loved ones.

The last four years I have spent the holidays with my wonderful boyfriend, up around Mount Hood. Even though we are usually pretty financially strapped during the holiday season, we always find wonderful ways to enjoy ourselves on a tight budget.

Not having much in our pockets, for one of our first dates we decided to go see the Portland “Christmas Ships,” which put on several free appearances every year on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Members decorate their private boats with elaborate light displays, then parade up and down the river. They would circle at the waterfront in Milwaukie, conveniently not far from where I used to live. We walked from my place with both my dogs and enjoyed the lighted ships so much we have continued to go every year, except for one. since we started attending exactly four years ago.

We hope to go again in the next couple weeks. Our tradition has been to hit up one of my favorite burger joints, Mike’s Drive-In, before or after for some great burgers, and watch the boats come up the river. I think it’s really spectacular to watch and fun to witness.

Lastly, as we drive from Milwaukie back to our home in the Villages of Mount Hood, the lights on all the houses and trees through the small towns warm my holiday heart. I am reminded of how lucky I am to have the things I have been given and am grateful to be able to spend time with those I love. I wish that for everyone.

Happy Holidays! -Bethy Fallgren

Every Christmas, I have two special traditions: I always decorate the Christmas tree and make special, homemade sugar cookies at home.

Unfortunately, when I was 5 years old, my parents got a divorce. Since then, I’ve grown up decorating not just one… but actually, two Christmas trees. The trees symbolize so much to me, as they are both so different and unique. 

At my dad’s house, he has a green Christmas tree. The house has a lighter tone and so with his green Christmas tree and colorful lights and garland, it makes it feel very Christmassy, warm, and inviting. 

At my mom’s house, she has a white Christmas tree, as her house is a little bit of a darker tone. So, with her white Christmas tree and the white lights on her tree as well, this helps make the tree glisten beautifully. I mean, I love taking Christmas photoshoots at my mom’s, because it is so beautiful.

As for the sugar cookies, my mom and I make those together and we use handmade dough with cookie cutters of Santa, a snowman, Christmas trees, and lots more, with lots of colors such as red (that turns into pink usually), green, blue, and yellow. 

I really do enjoy the Christmas season because it brings me so much closer to my family than I typically am because of my busy schedule. Unfortunately, the only time I feel close with my parents is during the holiday season because that is when we come together to just enjoy life and each other’s presence. 

This holiday season, I am going to be visiting my family on the East Coast on Dec. 26, due to some family members who aren’t doing too well. Besides that negative note, I am very excited and happy to visit because I’ve always wanted to see my family during the holidays and just spend some quality time with them – and it will be snowing out there, as well, probably. 

I most definitely feel it is important to try and make time to visit your family. You never know what can happen to your loved ones and if you are there for them, they truly appreciate the love and support. 

Stay in the present, and enjoy as much time as you can with family. That’s what I do, because you never know when you can’t or won’t have time for it anymore.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year’s, and Happy Holidays, everyone! See you in 2020! -Melanie Roberts