What I like about Christmas?

[slick]

You know, up until about 5 years ago Christmas used to be very depressing for me. I didn't enjoy "family", I had no friends to speak of, and I was very lonely. I really don't know how it got started or how that period ended but I love everything about Christmas now.

Even though I live alone, I still put up some outside lights, have a 6' artificial Christmas tree with about 600 lights and lots of decorations (takes me two days to complete... ) and put lots of Christmas decorations around the condo. My tree and outside lights go up at the end of November and come down the end January. Yeah, neighbours tease me all the time.

Christmas is the one time of year that everyone can become a child again and see the magic through their eyes. Yes, magic...that's what I love most about Christmas.

I believe!!

[jackmilliesmom]

What I love about Christmas is the anticipation and especially the child's anticipation of did I get what I wanted.

the smell of cloves stuck in oranges
the taste of the cake
the smiling faces when opening presents
the old movies
the new movies
the fire
the rug
a white christmas (had my first white christmas in years two years ago when we moved into our first house {Still there} woke up to snow on Christmas morning what a treat that was)
Christmas lights and decorations
My dogs tearing open their presents
going to gran's house for our yearly tradition........

[Barbara]

In addition to all that: Christmas markets where you stand with your friends and have mulled wine with spices-something you can have here quite a bit

[Pam]

First of all I like/love *The Reason for the Season.* The very idea that Christ came to earth to be born in human form as a baby to live among us and show us the way and bring us salvation.

Secondly I love the music and the decorations. I have been playing Christmas CD's in my car since Thanksgiving. Yesterday I visited my mom at the nursing home where she lives. Though the trees had gone up earlier, the staff was literally *decking the halls* with garland, etc. Even in a facility where people are sick and dying and it can be depressing, just seeing those decorations lifted my spirits.

Lastly I love being with family. Of course I love being with family any day of the year but there is something special about being with those you love on such a special day.