Here's my favorite Christmas Carol:
One place I've always wanted to go to for Christmas. Rockefeller Center NYC:
My favorite Christmas Poem:
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMASby Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
This year more than other years I have realized how many traditions the Herndon Family has. Its crazy! Let me just tell you about what my passed two days have looked like. First, it is important to know we have a schedule for everything. Yesterday my mom worked in the morning and the rest of my family went out on the town while I was asleep. When I woke up I rummaged around the house and waited for everyone to come home.
When my sisters got home we played a game of Blockus. Of which I lost badly... I will say it was the first time I hadn't won in the couple years we've been playing, and since I haven't lost (I also won UNO). Board games are a big part of our family, anytime we're together we always play some sort of game. It is always very competitive even if no one admits to it. But back to Christmas! After the games and my mom got home we went over the schedule and set off for our first candlelight service from 6-6:45. After the candlelight service we went and looked at Christmas lights and actually got on the news, while the adults came home and started the fondu. When we got home we ate Fondu and prepared to open our stockings. Before stockings my mom read us The Night Before Christmas both of which are normally saved for Christmas morning but this year Santa came early since my mom had to work at 7am this morning.
After stockings we sat around for a little bit and then got ready to go to the 11pm candlelight service at Westminster (my favorite tradition). We got home around 12:30 and I started wrapping my presents. One rule of in the Herndon household is that all presents must be under the tree in time for the first person who wakes up will be able to see them. Most presents are snuck downstairs in the middle of the night at different times, so when we wake up on Christmas Morning it is truly a sight to be seen!
On Christmas morning usually start with stockings, not the case this year. And then we have brunch, always with eggs benedict and usually sticky rolls. This year we just had brunch when we all woke up and then played games. When My mom gets home we will eat a big dinner and then open presents.
Traditions are so fun! I enjoy my families traditions and look forward to someday having my own. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you feel loved today!
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