I was nearly going to skip posting this week because I’m not going to be at home the day this post publishes and it’s a busy week this week. I feel bad that I can’t reply to comments and read and comment on other posts on the day … but you guys know I always do eventually! So, I decided to write briefly about what I’m currently trying to muster …. Christmas Spirit! I don’t mean to alarm you but Christmas is but a mere 25 days away!
What is Christmas Spirit?
We all know that Christmas day is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus and has become a day for families to gather and celebrate together.
Christmas spirit can be a different thing to everyone, but it comes down to a ‘feeling’. It could be a feeling you get from the religious meaning and origins of the day, the preparations for Christmas day, the act of being kind and helping others, the joy of bringing family together, the traditions that are unique to each family, putting up and decorating the Christmas tree, Christmas carols, gift giving, the food, holidays, and most likely a combination of all or some.
Sometimes Christmas comes around so quickly that you haven’t really had a chance to get the magical ‘Christmas spirit’ yet. Sadly, the stress of the busyness of this time of year can be a hindrance to catching the Christmas Spirit. I’m hosting Christmas day for my family this year and this will actually be a first. My mother has always hosted Christmas and has always wanted to. She can’t now and so for the first time ever, I will be. I have hosted Christmas for The Tennis Player’s family but not for many years. Each side of the family do Christmas a little different though, you know? Regardless of the busyness of this time of year, I’m determined to get hold of my Christmas Spirit and to enjoy Christmas this year. As you get older you realise that the best things in life are the simple things and that moments make memories.
Christmas Acrostic
I thought it would be fun to do a little acrostic from the word Christmas using words that help to conjure up the ‘feeling’ of Christmas Spirit for me, and it might just help you with your Christmas Spirit too. I know there are many more words I could’ve put against each letter but I wanted to keep it to one line per letter. Feel free to add more words for each letter that you might think of in the comments.
Are you feeling the Christmas Spirit yet? Any words you’d like to add to my Christmas acrostic above? Want to jump on the bandwagon with me whereby we will not let the busyness of Christmas steel the joy of Christmas from us?! Remember, we are making memories so let’s make them good ones.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan’s ‘Wednesday’s Words and Pics‘
14 Comments
I absolutely love Christmas – the decorations, the food, the films – all of it! Our Christmas will look very different this year too as now we’re back in the UK, we’ll be spending it with the in-laws, a first for us! It feels a little strange because like you say everyone does Christmas differently so I think it will be an experience, hopefully a good one! I love your acrostic! I hope you have a special day with your loved ones and enjoy your Christmas dinner debut!
Hi Sammie – your Christmas most definitely will be different this year! It’ll be winter instead of summer for one thing! Will you get a white Christmas over there? That is something on my bucket list to experience. I’d love a white Christmas one year. Glad you like my Christmas acrostic! Thanks so much for your Christmas wishes and same back at you. I hope you have a fabulous time with your in-laws all rugged up while we swelter! lol xo
Hi Min – I love all those things you listed for Christmas spirit – it’s just a wonderful time of the year. I’m also learning to keep things simple and not get stressed because I’m trying to create a Christmas that’s not “real”. I’ve learnt to pick a day that suits my kids (this year it’s Boxing Day) then they’re happy to be there and not having to choose families, I keep the food do-able and have favourites each year that everyone likes, and the gift giving is pared right down – we really all have more than enough don’t we? I hope your spirit fires up soon – mine always gets a boost when I put the tree up.
Hi Leanne – yes I’m trying to ‘calm the farm’ and not let all the things I have to do get me frazzled and stressed. One day at a time and bit by bit all will be organised and on the day I intend to chill out, soak it all up and enjoy myself. We’re celebrating Christmas this Saturday with hubby’s family so we’re having two Christmas’s (the one this Saturday is not at my house though). Gift giving has pared down for us too and it’s much better. My Christmas spirit is coming along. It’ll be better when I get some decorations & the tree up. I’ve been at Mum’s – only just home so haven’t had a chance yet!
Min your acrostic poem is perfect! You will do well when the spirit gets you in the mood. We’re going away with two of our daughters and grandchildren this year (up your way) so won’t put the tree up at home. We have started putting a few things around to get into the mood and of course shopping!
Glad you like the acrostic – thanks Debbie! It sounds lovely that you’re getting away up to our sunny Qld with your daughters and grandchildren for Christmas. I hope the weather behaves itself for you and you have a fabulous time. I’ve been doing a lot of online shopping and parcels are starting to arrive thankfully. I need to do some ‘actual’ shopping next week. Nearly finished with buying gifts which will be good. Need to get the tree up and decorations too and start planning Christmas Day food!
I love your Christmas acrostic. I’m struggling with spirit this year but madly looking for it by reading plenty of Christmas themed novels and watching Netflix holiday movies. I think I’ll find it as soon as I begin baking.
Thanks Jo! It’s so nice to hear from you! I have no doubt you’ll get your chrissy spirit. Mine is starting to build. I’ve been watching heaps of soppy Netflix Christmas movies! lol Once I get the tree up and some decorations too – that will help a lot. Yes – you and your baking – fixes everything! 🙂
Merry Christmas Min and I love your Christmas acrostic. I’m always in the Christmas spirit especially because of my grandsons who still believe in all the magic of the Festive season. Take care and I hope you can find some time for yourself to relax and enjoy the season. xx #WWandP
Thanks Sue and Merry Christmas to you too! Glad you like my Christmas acrostic. You’re very lucky having some lovely grandchildren. Kids make Christmas so much fun so I can understand that Christmas spirit is never a problem for you. I will be relaxing on the days between Christmas and New Year. There will be lots of floating in the pool and reading books I suspect. I always give myself permission to indulge in a bit of a staycation during that time. xo
I applaud you for giving Christmas spirit a go and winning. I was asked to do Christmas for Mum once she had found it too much and that was in 1985. I did it over many years, with fewer people, and more people and I admit I preferred ‘being in charge’ even though I was often exhausted because school had only just finished for the year. But I loved making our traditions too. So much food, far too much and over time as our kids became parents then things shifted again and by the time we were ready to leave Sydney, Christmas Day at ours had stopped. I see it as a passing of the baton too. We have up present buying decades ago for adults. and when the grandkids were younger we did presents for them. Now we are very practical and send them some $$ for spending after Christmas. We are SO hoping to join our daughter and family in Sydney this Christmas after two years being up here alone because of Covid. I loved making things like find a words and acrostics too around the festive season. Thanks so much for joining in this week’s WWandPics link up where I got to celebrate being 73. Still getting used to the new number…Here we are, it’s December and there are 3 more weeks to link up till I take a short break. I always enjoy seeing your blog pop up on the website. Take care, Denyse.
Thanks Denyse! Christmas 1985 was my first Christmas after getting married. I was married in the January of that year. I know hosting is a lot of work but I’m looking forward to it and especially not having to go anywhere on Christmas Day for the first time in my adult life! My sister’s will bring some salads etc so there’s help with the food which is great. As far as presents go – on my side of the family we draw a sibling name out of hat and buy for the one sibling plus we all buy for Mum. We also have stopped giving gifts to the nieces and nephews and now give them a set amount of money in a card to go towards something they’d like to buy themselves. On the tennis player’s side of the family – we donate to charity instead of buying gifts for family and we only buy gifts for kids under 18. Christmas sure is getting close isn’t it? The years are going by too fast! xo
i can’t believe christmas is nearly here again. we are having a christmas-free zone this year. it’s been a tough year, so we are not feeling very festive. But that’s Okay!
It’s hard to believe isn’t it Sherry. I’m so sorry you’ve had a rough year. I do hope there is a little Christmas cheer in your home this year though! xo