unikorento (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unikorento) wrote2011-12-09 06:09 pm
unikorento) wrote2011-12-09 06:09 pm
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OMG, feline_scribe! I just checked my inbox and found your Christmas present. THANK YOU. *glomp!hug* This is so awesome!
It's a Christmas Meme! \o/ Hooray!
1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate, absolutely. Sister and I spike ours with this mint liqueur, and it's delicious.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Silly meme! Santa doesn't wrap presents! His tontut do that. And then Santa knocks on the door on the 24th and brings them to you. If you're a kid anyway, nowadays Santa is represented by myself and sister wearing fake beards and putting the wrapped presents under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both are fine, as long as there's no blinking going on. White is a bit prettier, maybe, but coloured can be really nice too if there isn't too much.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nah, we don't do that up here.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Technically, I don't do much decorating. We don't really decorate here at the apartment, and at the house, sister and mom take care of most of that aspect by the time I get there. Usually I just get to light a lot of candles on the 23rd.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Macaroni casserole! (What, it's a Christmas dish in my family.) And karjalanpiirakka with egg-butter.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Many, many, many. But I can't pick a clear favourite. We do a big fuss over Christmas, and I can't remember ever having one that was less than fabulous.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't remember. I don't think there was ever a moment of realisation followed by disappointment, it was pretty gradual. I do remember the first time brother took me Christmas shopping with him (we bought a pair of slippers for our grandma), and I think that was when I started figuring it out. I was very proud that I was being included in the top secret Christmas shopping process.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Of course. We open all of them on Christmas Eve. It's only you foreigners that get your days all wrong :P
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Sister and me and brother do it on the 23rd, usually assisted by the "kids" of our family friends who always visit on that day. We're supposed to have the tree ready by the time they come, but that almost never happens. Being late with it is almost a tradition in itself. The decoration as a mix of everything. Some are old, old things from my grandmother's era, some are recent that sister has bought (despite being told not to) over the years.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Right now, after trudging home through a snow storm, I'm inclined to say it is the devil's work. But, okay. I love snow for Christmas and New Year, and I love that it brings some light. I do hate the cold though.
12. Can you ice skate?
I could as a child, but I doubt I still can. If I have anything to say about it, I'll live out my life without ever having to put on a pair of skates again. *has traumas from elementary school*
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I have many. Off the top of my head, though, I'd say Naxu. I'd been begging that we get another dog for years, and one Christmas, mom and (severely asthmatic) brother walked in carrying a little black puppy wrapped in a white blanket. His words were "You can keep him as long as you don't name him something dumb like 'Peni'". (Pronounced "penny" for you anglophones, only with a non-aspirated 'p.') I took this to heart, and so the dog was named *clears throat* "Nikolaus,
eli Naxu Äxällä ja Maalta." He lived to be 16 years old, and was a good friend.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
ALL THE THINGS. Family, I guess. Dad calms down for a few days, and stops trying to be everywhere at once. Brother consequently chooses us over any other engagement, including Counter Strike. Mom finishes the tonne of books she's been hoarding all year, and presents them to us whether we're listening or not. We isolate ourselves in our house, and engage in such bone deep relaxation, it rivals that of cats.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Brunberg's mint chocolate "pillows". Nomnomnom.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Three day long Trivial Pursuit tournament, starting on the 25th. \o/ Or, any board game. We play a lot of board games during Christmas. Carcassone has been a standing favourite for a few years now.
17. What tops your tree?
A star, grandma made it, I think.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
I love presents! I know we're supposed to be all adult and indifferent and stuff, but you guys, I love getting gifts. I love knowing someone thought of me and got me something. Yes, even if they were obliged to. Still. They still thought "what would Jutta like?". And I love giving gifts too - but giving gifts to adults is a little sad sometimes. I know it's stupid, but I have trouble distinguishing between "indifference towards the tradition of gift giving" and "rejection of you personally, and the thought you put into this gift".
19. Candy Canes?
Again with the foreigner thing. Candy canes have nothing to do with Christmas, I don't get where you get this stuff.
20. Favourite Christmas movie?
I'm not sure if I have a favourite Christmas movie. I might not be a Christmas movie person. I like "The Snowman", they show that on Christmas Eve morning. (And Nightmare Before Christmas. Does that count?)
21. Saddest Christmas song?
Finnish Christmas songs aren't known for being particularly up-beat, but the one that makes me bawl like a baby is Konsta Jylhän joululaulu. It's about a boy visiting his dead mother's grave on Christmas. I swear, letting kids listen to that is just cruel.
22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED. My songs, let me show you them! If you have better things to do than click on youtube links, will you at least listen to the last one? Please? It's so pretty. The others are pretty too, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the aesthetics of them are a pretty culture bound. If I'm wrong, I'd so totally love to hear it.
Sylvian joululaulu, performed by Tapio Rautavaara. <3
Varpunen jouluaamuna, performed by Vesa-Matti Loiri. BEST VERSION EVER.
Tonttu, performed by Rajaton.
feline_scribe! I just checked my inbox and found your Christmas present. THANK YOU. *glomp!hug* This is so awesome! It's a Christmas Meme! \o/ Hooray!
1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate, absolutely. Sister and I spike ours with this mint liqueur, and it's delicious.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Silly meme! Santa doesn't wrap presents! His tontut do that. And then Santa knocks on the door on the 24th and brings them to you. If you're a kid anyway, nowadays Santa is represented by myself and sister wearing fake beards and putting the wrapped presents under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both are fine, as long as there's no blinking going on. White is a bit prettier, maybe, but coloured can be really nice too if there isn't too much.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nah, we don't do that up here.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Technically, I don't do much decorating. We don't really decorate here at the apartment, and at the house, sister and mom take care of most of that aspect by the time I get there. Usually I just get to light a lot of candles on the 23rd.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Macaroni casserole! (What, it's a Christmas dish in my family.) And karjalanpiirakka with egg-butter.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Many, many, many. But I can't pick a clear favourite. We do a big fuss over Christmas, and I can't remember ever having one that was less than fabulous.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't remember. I don't think there was ever a moment of realisation followed by disappointment, it was pretty gradual. I do remember the first time brother took me Christmas shopping with him (we bought a pair of slippers for our grandma), and I think that was when I started figuring it out. I was very proud that I was being included in the top secret Christmas shopping process.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Of course. We open all of them on Christmas Eve. It's only you foreigners that get your days all wrong :P
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Sister and me and brother do it on the 23rd, usually assisted by the "kids" of our family friends who always visit on that day. We're supposed to have the tree ready by the time they come, but that almost never happens. Being late with it is almost a tradition in itself. The decoration as a mix of everything. Some are old, old things from my grandmother's era, some are recent that sister has bought (despite being told not to) over the years.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Right now, after trudging home through a snow storm, I'm inclined to say it is the devil's work. But, okay. I love snow for Christmas and New Year, and I love that it brings some light. I do hate the cold though.
12. Can you ice skate?
I could as a child, but I doubt I still can. If I have anything to say about it, I'll live out my life without ever having to put on a pair of skates again. *has traumas from elementary school*
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I have many. Off the top of my head, though, I'd say Naxu. I'd been begging that we get another dog for years, and one Christmas, mom and (severely asthmatic) brother walked in carrying a little black puppy wrapped in a white blanket. His words were "You can keep him as long as you don't name him something dumb like 'Peni'". (Pronounced "penny" for you anglophones, only with a non-aspirated 'p.') I took this to heart, and so the dog was named *clears throat* "Nikolaus,
eli Naxu Äxällä ja Maalta." He lived to be 16 years old, and was a good friend.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
ALL THE THINGS. Family, I guess. Dad calms down for a few days, and stops trying to be everywhere at once. Brother consequently chooses us over any other engagement, including Counter Strike. Mom finishes the tonne of books she's been hoarding all year, and presents them to us whether we're listening or not. We isolate ourselves in our house, and engage in such bone deep relaxation, it rivals that of cats.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Brunberg's mint chocolate "pillows". Nomnomnom.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Three day long Trivial Pursuit tournament, starting on the 25th. \o/ Or, any board game. We play a lot of board games during Christmas. Carcassone has been a standing favourite for a few years now.
17. What tops your tree?
A star, grandma made it, I think.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
I love presents! I know we're supposed to be all adult and indifferent and stuff, but you guys, I love getting gifts. I love knowing someone thought of me and got me something. Yes, even if they were obliged to. Still. They still thought "what would Jutta like?". And I love giving gifts too - but giving gifts to adults is a little sad sometimes. I know it's stupid, but I have trouble distinguishing between "indifference towards the tradition of gift giving" and "rejection of you personally, and the thought you put into this gift".
19. Candy Canes?
Again with the foreigner thing. Candy canes have nothing to do with Christmas, I don't get where you get this stuff.
20. Favourite Christmas movie?
I'm not sure if I have a favourite Christmas movie. I might not be a Christmas movie person. I like "The Snowman", they show that on Christmas Eve morning. (And Nightmare Before Christmas. Does that count?)
21. Saddest Christmas song?
Finnish Christmas songs aren't known for being particularly up-beat, but the one that makes me bawl like a baby is Konsta Jylhän joululaulu. It's about a boy visiting his dead mother's grave on Christmas. I swear, letting kids listen to that is just cruel.
22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED. My songs, let me show you them! If you have better things to do than click on youtube links, will you at least listen to the last one? Please? It's so pretty. The others are pretty too, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the aesthetics of them are a pretty culture bound. If I'm wrong, I'd so totally love to hear it.
Sylvian joululaulu, performed by Tapio Rautavaara. <3
Varpunen jouluaamuna, performed by Vesa-Matti Loiri. BEST VERSION EVER.
Tonttu, performed by Rajaton.
no subject
(Sorry for the late comment, I'm ridiculously behind on DW at the moment... )
I forgot about the Nightmare Before Christmas... I love that movie! :-D
You know, as much as I love giving gifts, and I plan to greatly enjoy watching others opening their gifts on Christmas morning; I am kind of feeling a bit present greedy this year! I can't wait to see what others have given me, as I didn't really write any sort of "wish list". Should be interesting to see what they came up with, with no guidance from me! LOL.