#Christmas Questions And Bucket Lists

Danielle did these Thanksgiving questions and answers on her blog at the start of last month. I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I'm a sucker for these question posts, so I thought I'd play along with a Christmas version. So, here it is. Feel free to play along too, either using Danielle's original questions, or the Christmas version I'm posting today.

1. Do you celebrate at home or away?

It varies. We've had years where we've celebrated the holidays at home, but invited friends or family to celebrate with us. We've had years where we've gone to visit, or stay with, family to celebrate with them. We've also had years where we've celebrated by ourselves at home, and just spoken to family and friends online or on the phone. Mostly it's the latter.

Whatever we decide to do though, and wherever we spend Christmas Day, the furkids are always involved in our celebrations somehow, and the years we've gone visiting when we've had a dog, the dog has gone visiting with us, and even shared some of the holiday meal.

2. When do your festivities kick off?

My thoughts turn to Christmas as soon as Halloween is over, and I'll have most - if not all - of the holiday shopping done by the start of December. But we don't do anything particularly Christmasy until right before the Winter Solstice - which happens any time between December 20th and December 22nd usually, but which we celebrate on December 21st, for consistancy's sake - and will usually continue to celebrate through Boxing Day (December 26th). Not that we do loads of stuff, since we prefer to keep our celebrations low-key. But still.

Our Christmas decorations go up any time between the start of December, and the Winter Solstice. Depending on when I feel like putting them up. It's usually about mid December though.

Having said that, I will sometimes - OK, quite often - start watching holiday movies, reading holiday books, or listening to holiday music, before December. This year, for example, I've been listening to Christmas songs since my birthday, and watching Christmas movies on and off since early November. I blame Sky Cinema Christmas, since it's that channel's fault I've watched "The Muppets' Christmas Carol" half a dozen times this year, and "The Polar Express" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" a few times each too. But, either way, I always watch "Santa Clause - The Movie" and read "The Bear Father Christmas Forgot" on Christmas Eve, since it's sort of a tradition for me to watch and read those before I go to bed on Christmas Eve, regardless of what holiday books and movies I may or may not have enjoyed before that day, or might be planning to watch or read on Christmas Day itself.

In my opinion though, any time after Halloween is over is fine to start being Christmasy.

3. Any special diets to consider?

Yes. Even when it's just the two of us there are things to consider, since I'm a vegetarian, can only handle so much dairy, and won't eat chocolate cake (even dairy -free versions, since it's not because of my dairy issue). On the other hand, Kelly is a picky eater when it comes to vegetables, and won't touch anything with raisins in it. Plus, neither of us drinks alcahol, and we don't like to include it in our food either. I even leave it out of puddings and sweet mince pies when I make my own (though I believe the recipe for the sweet mince pie filling on my website includes it, and I will eat puddings and pies with it included if I buy them, or it's involved in something I have when we're eating out).

Also, if family or friends are around - which doesn't happen often these days, but can sometimes be the case - there are other things to consider, depending on the family member(s) or friend(s) in question, since there are family members and friends we have with diabetes, who have food allergies, are picky eaters, or are vegetarians. All of which needs to be considered when planning meals, and usually results in several different options being made available.

Actually, more often than not, if it's more than just the two of us, we just go with a buffet option, making sure there are plenty of choices to cater for everyone. That way people can pick and choose from what's available, depending on their preferences or dietary requirements. Buffets are the go to option for gatherings more often than not, because it's just easier, especially when a lot of us get together.

But, for our holiday meals, mostly it's just me and Kelly, so we usually only have to worry about our own preferences. Even so we end up making two different dinners, with only a few ingredients being the same for both of us. But that's what happens most days anyhow, so we're used to doing that.

4. What’s your favorite holiday recipe?

I can't say I really have one particular favourite holiday recipe. Although, I have a selection of holiday recipes among those on my website's recipe section, if you haven't seen those, and are looking for some new recipes to try.

5. What’s your family’s consensus pick recipe?

To be honest, I don't think there is one.

Everything we have there's one person who either can't or won't eat it. Even when it's just me and hubby, our different diets mean we don't completely agree on everything that needs to be included in a holiday meal. About the only thing everyone agrees on is the roast potatoes. At least, that's how it seems.

6. Will you be trying any new recipes this year?

Not this year. In past years I have, since it's only us to worry about if it doesn't work out. Well, just myself really, since the new recipes I try are usually my vegetarian Christmas dinners. I've made different versions of nut roasts, a pie involving chestnuts, and a few other things. But this year I'm not planning on experimenting with a new recipe.

Although, we are technically doing something new this year, since we aren't cooking our Christmas dinner ourselves. Usually we cook our own Christmas dinner. Sometimes on the Solstice, other times on Christmas Day, other times on Boxing Day - most often the latter. But this year we aren't bothering. This year we're letting someone else cook it for us. We're planning on going out for a Christmas dinner around the Winter Solstice.

7. What’s your holiday dessert preference?

Mince pies. I'm quite fond of gingerbread too, but there have to be sweet mince pies. Well, OK. I can cope without them. But I prefer not to have to do without those at Christmas. They just feel like they belong, you know? Although, Kelly disagrees, because he won't eat them. He prefers biscuits (cookies) or a chocolate log cake. We make sure to have all those things. Mince pies for me, chocolate log cake for him, and some biscuits or something we'll both eat.

One of the benifits of this way of doing things is, we also then automatically have a variety of options to offer any family or friends who visit around the holidays, even if we weren't expecting them.

Now it’s your turn.  Feel free to answer as many of mine or Danielle's questions as you'd like. I'd love to hear about your celebrations. You can post your answers in the comments, or on your own blog. Either works.

Also, Deanna posted a holiday bucket list, and I created one too. So, here it is:

Watch holiday movies.Read Christmasy themed books.Go out for Christmas dinner.Do Christmas crafts.
What's on your holiday bucket list this year?