xmas biscuits
Originally uploaded by Alison J. L.
Way back in November, Timber and I decided that since she doesn't really like the holidays, and I'm not really christian, we should probably celebrate some other holiday besides Christmas this year. We'd be away from all the Americanization of the holidays, all the shopping and carols and lights and anamatronic reindeer, but somehow we got sucked into it anyway. Working at an English School, we not only celebrated Christmas, but we skipped preschool for it. The kids went and made Christmas cakes one day (shaped like barbie and Louis Vuitton bags, apparently) and we did Christmas word jumble worksheets and sang "Jingle Bells" all week. By the time Christmas eve came around, it was truly maddening. All the same, we woke up on the 25th and had presents and ate too much and all around did Christmas, and I loved it. I guess I didn't realize how important it is to me, how the colonization of Christmas has made it a very non religious tradition in my family. (Not to dismiss the midnight mass I sometimes attend with my Mom.) I threw wrapping paper everywhere, the cat went nuts and I probably ate my weight in butter. We got the day off and spent it lounging around, downtown eating dinner and at another English teacher's house playing monopoly (I came in 2nd--go railroads!!!). Timber's biscuits and gravy were great, and I got the best earmuffs/headphones ever (see flickr page for pictures).
I think Timber liked her presents. (Ok, I just asked her and she said 'yes'). The cat, Fu Zi Miao loved her new toys and especially the wet food.
Though it was pretty good, I also missed my family and in realizing how important the tradition is, I also realized why it's so important. It's the only time of year I am pretty much guaranteed to be around at least most of them. My sister makes excellent cookies and my Dad usually has something up his sleeve. If I spend the Holidays with my Mom, we go to midnight service, and have the most elaborately ornamented tree of all time, as well as her birthday celebration, since it's on Christmas. I missed all of that this year, and though learning how to say "Merry Christmas" in Korean has the benefit of making me sound very worldly, I'd trade in saying "melle chhristemassee" for holidays at home anytime.
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