Holiday Traditions

It's beginning to look a like Christmas...

And I love every single minute of the lights, the music, and the hustle-bustle. I'm the annoying person singing Christmas carols in November. Hate on me now, but you won't stop me from going straight from Halloween to Christmas play-lists.

Give me a break. I have eleven solid hours of Holiday music to listen to, what else am I supposed to do? (And yes, I do actually have a Halloween play-list. It is about three hours long.)

There is so much to do in this area, I sometimes find it hard to fit everything in.  From driving to see the lights on the houses to concerts to Santa, my calendar app fills up faster than you can sing, "Frosty the Snowman".

Last weekend Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania both kicked off the season with their annual parades. I love a good parade and miss my old color guard days, marching with the band. The arrival of jolly old Saint Nicholas is the highlight, for me, and guaranteed to bring a tear to my eye.

I'm an overgrown kid, what can I say.

This weekend is the 41st Annual Candlelight Tour. Sadly, I've got other obligations and cannot attend this year, but I remember performing various portions of "The Nutcracker". To those bundling up to go experience this Fredericksburg tradition, please enjoy it for me!

Former dancer that I am, I cannot live without “The Nutcracker”. I love this ballet and miss performing in it for anyone but the nosy neighbours spying on me through my windows. (They get what they deserve!) With so many dance studios in the area, you can surely find a performance to enjoy. As for me, I’ve already set out my nutcracker soldiers to protect me from the evil Rat King.

Next week I plan to embark on Cookie-Palooza, our family event that spans two days of nonstop cookie baking. Last year I made ten different types of cookies, everything from standard chocolate chip cookies to some of my gourmet recipes. Last year my neighbours avoided me and I ended up eating way too many cookies which is sadly evident on my hips.

My family drives around looking for lights. (Yes, that was me in your yard taking photographs of your amazing display.) We typically begin at Union Station, where we can grab a bite to eat. From there we visit the Candlelighter’s tree in the Old Post Office Pavilion where every gold ribbon represents a child that battled cancer. We shiver our way to the Ellipse for the National Christmas Tree. We end our night at the Washington DC Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where there are half a million lights. (And you thought your 400 twinkle lights were bad enough to hang!)

After all of this, we enjoy our annual Caroling (yes people still do that!) and movie blitz. At some point we'll end up in a board game version of the Olympics and possibly some heated video game smack-downs.

December - it is crazy busy and crazy fun.

What are your favorite holiday traditions?