Category: Holidailies

Purple Christmas

I’m feeling a little wiped out today, so here’s a Christmas tree from down the hill from me.

A Christmas tree

I love that the star is purple. That’s my favorite color.

One time, years ago, I went holiday shopping with a relative and we came upon some Christmas decorations and ornaments. They were purple and silver, and loving purple like I do. I picked up a set ornaments and my relative barked at me, “NO,” like I was a toddler in need of correction.

I looked at her and she said, “NO. Christmas isn’t purple. NO.”

I was in my 40s, long past the age of being told what to buy, yet I put the ornaments down because I didn’t want to hear her commentary. I thought I could just go back and get them later.

I didn’t though, and really, I should have. Who is anyone to tell anyone else what color their holiday decor should be? But I also knew that seeing those particular ornaments on my tree would have reminded me of her obnoxiousness, which would have defeated the purpose. I haven’t put up a tree in 10 years, but when I did, my ornaments were all secular and either belonged to my parents, were gifts from people I cherished, or were amassed over my travels, celebrations with friends, or other people, events, or things I wanted to remember. I didn’t want to remember her barking at me like that.

And yet here I am, 11 years later, being reminded of it. Well, this tree has a purple star, so Christmas can SO be purple. NYAHH!

Where’s the Tylenol?

Tonight Holidailies asks: Your favorite — or least favorite — holiday scene in a movie.

There are a few that I cherish: Linus’s speech in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the leg lamp scene in A Christmas Story, or the kitchen scene in Gremlins. But this year, it’s the Clark Griswold Tylenol speech in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. He finds out that his Christmas bonus from his boss is a year’s subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club, and he tells his family he wishes his boss were there with them that night.

Side note: I had an outfit just like Juliette Lewis’s in that scene, minus the headband.

And that’s all for tonight. I think I’ll go stream the movie now.

What’s your favorite holiday movie scene?

Hyvää Vuodenvaihdetta!

One of my favorite things about Holidailies is the prompts. I’m a journalist, and usually by the end of the day the last thing I want to do think of something to write about, even if ultimately I enjoy it, so the random prompts are helpful in nudging me along.

Today Holidailies asked: Where do you fantasize spending your perfect December holiday time? It has to be somewhere you’ve never been before.

I would love to go to Finnish Lapland and stay in one of the bubble, dome, or viewing accommodations where I could see the northern lights from bed. Imagine having some hot chocolate, maybe with some peppermint schnapps mixed in, and gazing out at the sky and the scenery while warm and toasty under some warm blankets.

Northern lights in a dark sky
Northern lights in Finnish Lapland. (Image: Lucas Marcomini)

If I stayed near Rovaniemi, I’d go to Santa Claus Village, too. However, I would forgo sitting on Santa’s lap. I couldn’t lie to him and tell him I was nice when I was actually kind of naughty, heh.

It’s funny, but if anyone had asked me 10 years ago where I’d want to spend the holidays, it would have been someplace warm, possibly tropical, with lots of interesting and colorful birds flying around, but ever since I got into listening to Poets of the Fall in 2014, I’ve been fascinated with Finland. I’ve never been there, but I’ve been dying to go for about five or six years now and I was so very sad to have to cancel my Thanksgiving trip to Helsinki.

The country itself looks absolutely gorgeous, with lots of forest to lose oneself in, and I love cold weather and snow. But beyond that, it just seems like the Finnish people have their priorities straight on education, health care, equity and equality, and the environment. Plus, I’m all for a certain amount of introversion and personal space, being introverted and one who cherishes time alone.

Maybe I’ll be able to go in 2024.

P.S. “Hyvää vuodenvaihdetta!” is the equivalent of “season’s greetings!”