There are so many things I love about the holiday season, but today I’m taking my cue from Julie Andrews and talking about just a few of my favorite things. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Men in sweaters
Call me strange, but I love a man in a sweater. Then take a really manly man like Daniel Craig, and put him in a cardigan? Or a Henley with a scarf? Swoon! And only a precious few can rock the turtleneck. (Oh yes, Michael Fassbender, you are one.)
2. A Muppet Christmas Carol
Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite Christmas tales, but the Muppets’ version of it is almost perfect in every way. I love that: a) Gonzo plays Charles Dickens; b) Statler and Waldorf play the Marley Brothers; c) Michael Caine seems born to play Scrooge; d) the screenplay uses some of the actual Dickens text; e) the movie is genuinely creepy at times, but it always keeps the classic Muppet sense of humor intact. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without this movie.
3. The smell of snow
My southern-born husband doesn’t believe me when I say I can smell snow, but the air gets this sharp chemical tang a few hours before a snowstorm, and every year I look forward to my first moment of snow detection. Call me Smilla.
4. Eggnog with nutmeg
Many people hate the stuff, but I readily admit to loving eggnog, especially spiked with a little rum and dusted with nutmeg. Try leaving that out for Santa this year!
5. Christmas wrapping
My husband and I have a tradition that makes wrapping the Christmas presents something to look forward to. We make ourselves a delicious holiday beverage (see above), crank up the Christmas tunes, and have our own personal wrap party. We spread out all the supplies on the dining room table and wrap and ribbon curl and Christmas label until not one naked present remains. Then we arrange all the gifts under our tree, turn down the lights, and admire our work.
6. The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping”
There are other Christmas songs I’d sooner classify as my favorites—Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” and pretty much any version of “Oh, Holy Night.” But nothing is more fun than hearing “Christmas Wrapping” while I’m driving to work, turning it up real loud, and rocking out like a Christmas fool. For your listening pleasure:
What are your favorite random joys of the season?
Here’s wishing you all a warm and wondrous holiday and a happy new year! See you in 2012!
8 comments:
You made my day with that photo of Daniel Craig, Eve! Yes to all of these things (except the eggnog. I draw the line.) And my favorite holiday things include Bing Crosby, ornaments handmade by children, real English fruitcake (without the scary, glowing green and red bits) and meeting loved ones at the airport a la Love, Actually.
Oh, Katy, these are excellent, esp. the handmade ornaments and meeting loved ones at the airport. That last scene of Love, Actually makes me tear up every time!
O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song ever.
I love that moment when I bring out the Christmas books to enjoy with the kids. (My mom always put them away with the Christmas decorations so I do too.)
Muppet Christmas Carol is the one movie that makes me feel like Christmas is really HERE. But I also have to watch the animated Grinch and Charlie Brown Christmas.
I'm also a fan of eggnog. Yummy stuff.
I also love that genuine, split second reaction of my kids when they see the presents under the tree. There's nothing like the surprise and excitement that they just can't hide.
There's something about a really good winter storm going on, when you can wall up in the house and not worry about having to go to work later or anything like that. Just that feeling of being safe and warm in your house while the snow flies.
Ah, Sarah, you're really getting me in the mood, especially talking about snow! I wish we got more white Christmases around here. And I don't have kids, but I love reading Christmas stories to my nieces and watching their eyes light up when they see their presents!
I like men in sweaters too ... only second to men in cravats!
Amy, I just checked out your blog and found we are kindred spirits, and not just about the men in sweaters and cravats. I love your taste in Victorian lit, Doctor Who, Jane Austen, and of course, the Brontes. Just added Ripper to be TBR list!
Loved reading this! I love a guy in a sweater too! My husband is from Colorado and regularly wore sweaters when I first met him. Now he says Texas is too hot, and I never see him in one anymore...
I have never seen A Muppet Christmas Carol or heard this song (I haven't listened yet because the dog is barking uncontrollably), but I'm now looking forward to them!
Hope you had a great holiday! And THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the review of AUSTENTATIOUS on GoodReads! I'm so glad you liked it!
Alyssa, if you like A Christmas Carol, you've got to try the Muppets version--so adorable and funny. And I was happy to write the review for AUSTENTATIOUS--I hope it gets all the attention it deserves!
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