Growing up in Selkirk, there isn’t much to get excited about. We have no big events whatsoever, at least compared to other parts of the world. We don’t have anything like the Fringe festival, or a pride parade. The only things to get excited about in this town are Christmas, Birthdays, and our very own Common Riding.
In the past, I loved Christmas. The whole event was so colourful; from the presents piled as high as a mountain or the hours spent with loved ones, not a minute felt bland or boring. I fondly remember barely being able to get to sleep with excitement, then waking up and running around the house in a flurry of exhilaration. As we progressed to the living room I’d see the pile of presents, everything a child could wish for; games
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In the past I’d get up at 5, get on the best clothes that Mum had bought specifically for the day and we’d go up to Granny’s. We’d have some quick breakfast, usually Vanessa’s Lincoln sausages and bacon on a roll with lots of butter and tomato ketchup. After this we’d go down to the toll, I’d sit on someone’s shoulders and watch eagerly as the horses came in. Finally, we’d go back up to Granny’s and get into the real reason anyone celebrates the common riding anymore. We’d all socialize and have a brilliant time with each other and eat everything people had brought up; usually just the typical assortment of hors-d’oeuvres – cocktail sausages, pork pies, whatever. After a while the main courses and puddings would be brought out. A random variation of food and one of the best deserts of the year. We’d keep socializing through the night and finally go home around 11, very late for me. It always felt like a great event and an opportunity to see the …show more content…
I dearly remember staying the night at my dad’s house so that my mum could prepare the house for my birthday. Much like Christmas, I’d struggle to sleep the night before and wake up filled with excitement. I’d make my way home to find the house filled with decorations. Banners across the walls with “Happy Birthday!” written in coloured, bold, letters could be found in almost every room. And then, the highlight of the day; the presents. There was always a bit of everything; my first TV, some clothes, a games console, anything really. A party typically happened too. A bouncy castle might get rented, people would come ever and get goodie bags filled with trinkets. The day would go, family would come to visit, I’d play with my toys, and the whole day would be a
After my fruit and bread I get dressed and work in the fields. Because it is my birthday, I get to stop work early and so I get into my tublar dress and my kalasiris (my best one) and play with my friends. That day my parents told me I couldn’t go and see the wealthy but I did get a necklace and my own paint and I had a happy rest of the day.
We would get together to celebrate usually at my parent’s house for my mom’s side of the family. At Easter we always had a ham and many side dishes. Thanksgiving always brought a delicious turkey, sweet potatoes, scalloped corn and my favorite cranberry relish. For Christmas we had a ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, glazed carrots, and for desert pumpkin pie. We always had a Christmas tree of some sort with homemade decorations that us kids made. We also celebrated my brother’s birthday since he was born on Christmas Eve. A tradition of my own was to get my parents to let me open one gift on Christmas Eve, because my brother got his birthday presents and I thought it was not
My favorite holiday is Christmas because I feel joyful. Also, I can feel how warm the atmosphere is, almost like a fireplace. In an apartment with white walls, there is the living room with a tall, dark green Christmas tree decorated with colorful blue, pink and purple Christmas ornaments, and colorful red bright lights. In the meantime, my mom and my husband are cooking dinner, and there is the smell of a pumpkin candle burning on top of the table. While we wait for the food to be ready, we all sit down in the living room to watch some classic movies like “Rudolph”, “The Little Drummer Boy”, and even if it’s not classic “Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
Christmas has consumed itself. At its conception, it was a fine idea, and I imagine that at one point its execution worked very much as it was intended to. These days, however, its meaning has been perverted; its true purpose ignored and replaced with a purpose imagined by those who merely go through the motions, without actually knowing why they do so.
I had to have light-up toys, musical toys, stuffed animals, ride-on toys, dvds, books, balls, baby dolls, etc. I wanted her to have it all! I couldn't possibly have had 10 toys for her. What kind of mother would I be? My daughter is now 15 months old and has at least 100 toys.
Christmas is a special time of year that deserves to be remembered for its true meaning. Every year, Christmas becomes more and more commercialized and society forgets the origin of Christmas. It was not started with cookies, toys, and a fat man that delivers them, but instead it started with a humble inn where our Savior was born. The definition of Christmas is “a holiday on December 25 celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” Nowhere in that definition does it say anything about the outrageous pressure society has set on consumers to buy, buy, buy during the Christmas season. Christmas is about presence not presents.
Today it seems as though Christmas has fallen victim to materialism and commercialization. Rather than it being a time of loving and giving, it has become a stressful season of greed. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, it is important for us to recognize the true reason of the season, and celebrate in a fashion that exemplifies that reason.
In my head the night would go by perfectly, I would walk around the room like a typical socialite women and have small talks filled with laughs with my guests as they all complimented me for throwing such a nice party and maybe asking when the next one was going to be. As people started coming in, veruska and myself made our best efforts to make them feel welcome offering the variety of chips and pops that we had in the table, or we would mention the people that had already arrived which we knew were their friends. For the first hour, the night was going according to my plan.
Children place a high importance on the success of birthday parties. For children, a birthday is a special day, filled with friends, cake and presents. For parents, children's birthdays are seen as ideal social settings to converse with others and maintain family unity. However, a birthday party must be planned effectively to ensure its success. Lack of preparation will lead to a birthday party's downfall.
It is a well known fact that childhood memories and impressions stay with us for our entire life. Each year is an opportunity to create priceless memories by making your child’s birthday celebration one to remember. Whether they're turning 1 or 15, many parents love to mark their children's milestone with a party. Planning a successful get-together may be on the tricky side, but is not impossible. In fact, preparation for the event can be just as fun as the big day itself. These party planning secrets will guide you to creating a bash that will talked about for years to come.
Ever since I could remember, I have spent Christmas at my grandmother’s house, a house which is full of comfort, warmth, and happiness. At Christmas, I have always been able to escape the cold and dark real world allowing myself to truly enjoy just several moments in time. These moments have left impressionable memories from my childhood making Christmas a holiday that is special to me and my family. It is a time for my family to get together, share stories, laugh, and even cry.
As I look out my window I see tiny snowflakes slowly drifting down. I can hear the roar of laughter coming from the living room downstairs. Soon enough Saint Nick will be upon us. Christmas always brings everyone home for the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday because of the traditions my families and I celebrate that include our Christmas Eve routine, Christmas morning routine, and giving back to our community.
"Happy Birthday", my mom screamed out and scared me the morning of June 9. But it was surprising and nice of her since she wished me before anyone else. It was my eighteen birthday and it was my day. While looking out the big windows in my room, I thought to myself, I will do what satisfies me today, but wasn't quite sure what? I didn’t receive any calls from my friends, or other relatives. Nobody was home either besides my mom with whom I can’t make plans because she got her own work to do. It depressed me because it seemed like this was going to be one boring eighteen birthday.
A lot happens at these events other than just eating cake. People enjoy the company of others and get to know each other over conversation at these functions.
Make sure you see them off and thank them for their attendance, if you want, send them home with any leftover food you don’t think you will eat. After everyone leaves the cleanup begins. The most essential things to be put away are foods that need to be refrigerated or will go bad if left sitting out. Cleaning up decorations and tables and chairs is optional and depends on what you have to do the next day. Those things can stay for the night and be picked up the morning after.