Holiday activities?

[madmonkeygirl]

We used to drive around Candy Cane lane looking at all the lights.

[Not Afraid]

We have a annual parade in my neighborhood. I missed it the last 3 years, but i may make it a point to see it this year. It's a whole 3 blocks away!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Around town, we try to catch a holiday chorale or concert when we can. There are several of them around town, at various churches and spaces.

We're thinking of trying the Griffith Park Light Festival this year (Tom hasn't been before) which is a drive-through past lots of lights. Go early in the month, though - it gets super-crazy.

There's an outdoor skating rink at Pershing square - you could do a downtown one-two punch and also see Las Posadas on Olvera Street

Originally Posted by olvera-street.com

December 16th - 24th, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

This beautiful presentation of the nine day journey of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem is depicted each evening with singing and a candlelight procession.
Live entertainment!

This nine night presentation of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is portrayed with singing, ballet folklorico entertainment, a candlelight procession on Olvera Street and a children’s piñata breaking each evening

Free! Champurado, Pan Dulce, Hot Punch and Plenty of Candy!!!

Entertainment and Pinata Breaking 6:30 PM
Procession from 7:30 PM - 8:15 PM
For more information about these events
contact: 213) 625-5045

As for holiday traditions, we have lots of those.

We have a very specific order for Christmas morning. We open stockings - and stockings only - before breakfast. Presents aren't allowed until after.

We have a "pickle prize" tradition, where we hide a pickle-shaped ornament on the tree and the first one to find it gets a prize.

We eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve (if we're with his side of the family.)

We eat homemade butterscotch rolls (I've made them for some of you!) on Christmas Eve morning (if we're with my side of the family.)

We watch Rudolph, Charlie Brown, Frosty, and (only the original animated) Grinch while decorating.

My side of the family often strings real cranberries and popcorn to hang on the tree. (The cats go nuts, though.)

Both sides of the family do holiday tamale nights (we recommend ordering from http://www.cornmaidenfoods.com/ - lots of yummy, but the goat cheese and the green corn with sweet corn are the best!)

And both sides of the family do a holiday mini golf outing.

Wow, it seems our family traditions are starting to blend together! Must mean we're making our mark on each other's family.

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

We're thinking of trying the Griffith Park Light Festival this year (Tom hasn't been before) which is a drive-through past lots of lights. Go early in the month, though - it gets super-crazy.

Do they let you walk through? We have one of those here and we usually plan a night to run through it, but walking works too. They let pedestrians in earlier than the cars.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Tonight is the last day of walk-through, actually... (we were going to go last Sunday but we didn't realize it was walk-through and didn't dress warmly enough!)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I've been waiting maybe 6 months to post this. Eric Idle on Christmas. Audio, language NSFW.

Heehee.

Actually I love this time of year. Hitting the park has gotten me in the mood, and I get to pass through downtown Orange each day, where the streets are decked out, old school style.

Keeping up with family events will keep me busy, and I have to get the Alaska package out tomorrow, even though I'm not even half done with the shopping, never mind wrapping etc.

Can't wait for New Year's - a deep tradition for us, to be sure.

Bundle up and have a cup.

ETA: Link fixed....or not working now

[madmonkeygirl]

My family used to open presents from Santa on Xmas morning when we were little. Then we waited til after our family meal to open presents from eachother. We would take turns opening presents or pick one a piece and open one going around the room. Now that we're older we usually sleep in on Xmas morning and have breakfast then get dressed (some of us go to Church or else Midnight mass not sure this year what i want to do yet) and then i usually open my presents from my friends who ship my presents to me (we exchange gifts via mailing them out as early as we can to get there in time or try to.) then once family comes over and we have our holiday meal we gather round and take turns opening gifts.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm thinking about getting some surgery for the Holidays - but that's just me.

I think for us it's all about New Years Eve. As our families have dispersed Christmas has become less and less something we celebrate in the traditional sense. I do like going to the park during this season, so I hope we get a couple park visits in before the year is out

[lashbear]

We always have a home-made Boiled Xmas Pud, and a Homemade Christmas Cake.

The tree resplendantly lit to over-kill with hundreds of C7's is also a must. Thank God we bought zillions while we were there in '02 ...

Oh, and if someone could get us some Flicker-flame bulbs to fit C7 sockets at the after-Xmas sales (I assume lights etc are cheaper then?), we would be eternally grateful, and we would be happy to despatch funds as required. It's not a tree without some flickering flames in 100-degree heat on an Aussie Christmas Day.

[madmonkeygirl]

Our Holiday tradition of going to the park on New Years Eve from opening to closing. It is fun to play "line to nowhere" and just ride rides and enjoy the day for what it is saying goodbye to the old year and hello to the new year.