I was tagged by the creator of this tag, Julie, at her blog, The Moonlight Wanderer. Huzzah for seasonal tags!! Jolly holidays to you, Julie!!
Guidelines:
- Acknowledge who tagged you
- Answer the questions
- Tag friends & notify them
- Fill out this form to have your blog challenge post spotlighted on The Moonlight Wanderer’s December Newsletter! (Optional)
- Have fun!
Questions:
- What are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? And what’s something new that you want to try this month?
- What’s your favorite Christmas recipe, food, or drink?
- Every Christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. But if you could have the perfect Christmas, what would the day look like for you?
- What are some of your favorite winter activities? (e.g. caroling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)
- Do you decorate? How?
- What is your favorite Christmas song or hymn? Why is it your favorite?
- What’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this Christmas? And what’s your favorite gift to give others?
- Describe some of your favorite Christmas memories. 🙂
- What is your favorite Christmas-y book? Movie?
- List ten words to that encapsulate the feel of Christmas for you.
- In your own words, what is the meaning of Christmas?
What are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? And what’s something new that you want to try this month?
We always decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. We used to read an advent book at lunch, but it’s become a lot harder to get us all in the same place these days, what with jobs and schedules and such nonsense. We always open gifts on Christmas Eve, ring bells for the Salvation Army, sign Christmas cards, participate in the Christmas services, and make caramel popcorn 😊
This year…I don’t know. I don’t like change or new things. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HERE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
What’s your favorite Christmas recipe, food, or drink?
My darling mother makes the most delicious caramel popcorn that has ever graced our dark planet. Also these delightful snowball surprise cookies that are covered in powdered sugar and have a spice drop in the center (hence the surprise) They double as an Easter cookie, because they’re like the tomb which had a surprise in it…though the absence of a body is not the same type of surprise as a red spice drop or jelly bean (the green ones are better).
Every Christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. But if you could have the perfect Christmas, what would the day look like for you?
We would stay in our beds PAST SEVEN *world explodes* *screaming from my early-bird family* *plaintive meowing from the cat who insists on being let out of the dunge-er, basement at 5:30 each morning* *sirens in the distance*
There would, of course, be a bit of snow out. But not on our driveway, naturally.
We would have a homemade bread of sorts for breakfast (butter horns, cinnamon rolls, you get the picture). It would be delicious. We would clean up and settle in our living room to read the Christmas account for perspective. Then!! We would sort all our gifts and open them in order of age and then we would just sit there with each other delighting over our gifts together.
What are some of your favorite winter activities? (e.g. caroling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)
I really enjoy…sitting in my bed, it’s snowing outside, and reading a nice Christmas book. I just read a good one, mayhaps I’ll tell you about it in another post.
But also just hanging out with my friends/fam.
Do you decorate? How?
Yes!! I have an extremely miniature tree on my dresser (it has one [1] string of lights, mini ornaments, and a lil star), a nativity on my bookshelf, and an odd collection of Christmas/winter paintings above my bed. I’ve also made a festive house out of perler beads, that’s on a different shelf (why yes, I have three bookshelves in my room).
What is your favorite Christmas song or hymn? Why is it your favorite?
This song. Is gold. It’s just…so relatable. Like, I have no idea what to get you, but I’m going to try really hard bc you’re my favorite person.
Not to mention it’s just Owl City and what’s not to love *shrugs*
Also, Sol says you have to listen to it, and who are we to disobey Sol.
What’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this Christmas? And what’s your favorite gift to give others?
I wish for…THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M LION!!! Honestly just a lot of books, which is ridiculous since I always ask for books and I need to rearrange my shelves so I have space again.
I like giving…books lol. I’m so exciting.
Describe some of your favorite Christmas memories. 🙂
Once upon a time, Ava was ten. Ava was going to be in the church Christmas play for the first time!! Ava’s two besties’ mothers were in charge of the play and so she knew it would be amazing. She was right. Ava got to play a sassy cook named Cookie who made beetle juice and goat brains over rice and some really good bread. No cookies though. The play was called Wise Guys and Starry Skies, and though Ava and her friends went on to be part of many other Christmas plays in years to come, that first year was always their favorite. They recall it fondly, likely through rose-coloured glasses. No play will ever top that one *sighs nostalgically*
What is your favorite Christmas-y book? Movie?
As for books, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is really, really good. It’s an attempt to look at the account of Christmas through unfamiliar eyes. How bizarre is it, really, that they couldn’t find any other place for a pregnant woman than in a barn??
My family really likes this movie called Arthur Christmas. It’s a multi-generational battle over the title of Santa and what Santa is really supposed to be. It’s hilarious.
List ten words to that encapsulate the feel of Christmas for you.
- Cozy
- Snow
- Cheer
- Family
- Pine
- Hot Cocoa
- Joy
- Light
- Love
- Giving
In your own words, what is the meaning of Christmas?
Christmas is about Jesus. It’s about God sending his only Son to save us, in the most humble way possible. It’s about love for others, because we have been so loved. It’s about giving, because we have been given so much more than we can fathom or understand. It’s about light, the light we were given that first Christmas day to light up our dark world forevermore.
Taggees
*consults original post to see who has been tagged already*
Oh wow, Julie tagged like, sixteen bloggers. Is there anyone left for me?? *sobs*
Journey needs a tag, ofc, regardless of whether or not she has already been tagged.
And that means Issabelle needs one as well. Can’t separate the inseperable, now can we.
Hannah Ruth Johnson has been particularly cheery of late with her Christmas story contest. Tag for you!!
Shekinahhhh!!! And then also Luca.
That’s five, surely ’tis sufficient. If you want to do it, please have at it, my friends.
Coda
Go forth, my taggees. Spread the Christmas cheeer!! Leave no blogger untagged!! God bless us, every one!!!
Always,
Ava 🎄⛪
Discover more from Always Ava
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
21 Responses
🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmaaasss!🎵 All these tags delight me. In fact I was tagged for another Christmas thing. Ought I just cram them into one gigantic Christmassy post? 😏 Perhaps this would be rather overwhelming. Maybe I ought to spread them out. Beetle juice and goat brains? How delicious. OWL CITYYY!! (There is no thing as too many scarves, Adam, don’t be absurd.) Haha, that is a great song though. We loves it. Just go with a book, Adam, she shall love this, I promise.
Anyhow, your answers are delightful, as usual. I shall have to consider them deeply briefly. A happy Christmas season to you! *Tips hat*
🎶Eeeeverywhere you loooook🎶 I have so many tags, it’s hilarious. YES ALL THE CHRISTMAS, THE MORE CHRISTMAS THE MERRIER!!!! People who are overwhelmed by Christmas spirit can read it in small doses. They’ll be fine.
Adam really should have gone with a book. Everyone loves books!! Except my younger brother *weeps* Get him a scarf, I suppose.
A Very Merry Christmas to you as well!! *nods and tightens scarf*
🎶 There’s a tag in the grand WordPress, the sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the. . . Ads on free plans?🎵 I think I’ve lost it. This is true. And then I only have to make one graphic instead of two. . . (My laziness is kicking in, save me!) My followers seem a cheery bunch. Would do them well.
He really should have. Poor overwhelmed chap. 😆 NOO! Don’t worry, he’ll come around. My younger brother was the same way until he read. . . The hunger games, I believe was what really got him started. Now he reads all the time, we can’t pry him away. 😅 It’s splendid. He can have a scarf for now I suppose.
Why thank you, my friend. *Tightens Italian scarf and offers snowdrop surprise cookies that do not, in fact, have corpses in them thank goodness*
Merry Christmas to all and goodnight…
Christmas really is the best. I truly cannot explain how much I love Christmas. The warmth, the nostalgia, the laughter, the joy, the way it always feels like I’m just being wrapped in this warm blanket made of golden light in the middle of winter… (And yes, that was indeed fairly specific. XD)
To be honest, I’m a bit in shock that it’s already 2025 and Christmas has rolled around again. I’m mainly in shock with how much I’ve changed/how much my life has changed…. Friendships have changed and grown, doors have shut and opened…
Christmas really is a very nostalgic time.
I love all your answers!!! And yesss Owl City fans uniteeee!!!!!!! And indeed. I am with Journey. NO ONE can have too many scarves!!!! I don’t have a single scarf. (Yes, yes, cue horrible shocks. We just wrap ourselves up in lots and lots of jackets. Well, at least, that’s just what my family does.) This year, actually, I shall be dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. *grins* Thailand is basically the land of eternal summer.
Ach, speaking of decorations, I’ve yet to do much decorations…….
THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST FIX SOON.
And bahahahaaa I am tagged!!!!!!!!!!! XD Just for the fun of talking about myself in the first person, Isabelle Lydia Knight gladly accepts this tag and is most excited to do this tag.
A most Merry Almost Christmas and a Happy Holidays to you, Ava!!! ^^ Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and also that you get lots of books for Christmas! 😀
Christmas is just such a special time of year. Like, we get a whole month to have sparkly things in our houses and trees and go about giving others gifts and wearing funny outfits and YES IT’S LIKE A HUG!!! But it is by no means a warm blanket. ‘Tis cold here, my friend.
It always astonishes me how quickly time passes. Wasn’t it Christmas just a couple months ago?? So much has changed and yet so much is just the same. Life is weird.
I’ve entered my second hyper-obsessed Owl City phase. It’s glorious. I have a delightful green scarf, but now kind of wish it was red like Quincy’s. It wouldn’t go with my hair as nicely, but…the price you pay. Imagine wearing a t-shirt and shorts in December *rolls eyes* It’s about to be below zero degrees Fahrenheit here!! IT’S COLD TAKE ME TO THAILAND, THE LAND OF SUMMER AND SUN.
Ava Marie Ridley is over the moon to have shared the Christmas joy with yet another individual (especially since said individual is in a non-snowy, non-cold area of the world). A Merry Almost Christmas to you as well!! May you get all you wish for, and more that you didn’t know you desired.
It is!!! Just… so so wonderful. And just… so warm and wonderful. And lol. XDDD I know!!! It’s FREEZING back in China!!!! ❄🌨 No snow, sadly, but still freezing. But that is very much what Christmas feels like to me. A warm hug and a blanket during the freezing winter!
I know right?!?!?! It’s absolutely crazy. So much has changed!!! I’ve grown in ways that… well, shock me, and just… (shakes head, bewildered) I remember last Christmas clear as day.
Oooh that’s amazing!!! I wish I had a scarf. Alas, I do not, and I typically just bundle meself up in many, many jackets. And true true. Alas. Twould be cool to have a red scarf like Quincy’s. And yessss Owl City!!!! I love his music so much!!! (One of my favorites is Gold!!)
Hehehehee yes. XDD We have lovely warm summers here!!! All lovely and warm and not too hot… And you can wear dresses and sunglasses and head to the beach… And have ice cream! Lots of ice cream!!! (magically opens a portal and whisks you away to Thailand where we sit on the beach, reading all day. XD)
Indeed! Isabelle Lydia Knight is most grateful that Ava Marie Ridley has shared the Christmas joy with both her and several other individuals. Isabelle wishes it were cold and snowy here, because she is most unused to the summer warmth of Thailand, at least during the Christmas season.
Thanks Ava!!! May you have a most splendid Christmas as well!!!!!!
i love this!!! it’s really christmassy and sweet! ✨✨
Thank you so much!! 😊
What a delightful post!
Only asking for books is so relatable! 😂 (That’s literally the only thing I asked for this year…books…especially Emma M. Lion!)
Oh my gosh, I LOVE “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”!!! It’s such a sweet, beautiful story! (Did you know there’s a movie now? My family and I watched it, and we loved it! It’s so beautiful! We laughed and cried. Several times. *sighs dreamily*)
Ooh! Arthur Christmas! My family is a big fan of that movie! We watch it nearly every Christmastime! 🙂
Okay, but that play name is absolutely amazing. “Wise Guys and Starry Skies”??? this is a play I wish I had seen! (especially considering Cookie’s concoctions.)
Hope you’re having a wonderful December!
Thank you 😊
I also have stickers and cds and journaling supplies and such on my list, but I want books most of all. I’m such a bookworm lol. WE MUST HAVE EMMA M LION!!!!
Yes!! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is beautiful. We watched the movie in theatre last year, then I’ve watched it twice this year too (and read the book. Suffice it to say that despite its beauty, I have had quite enough of it).
Wise Guys and Starry Skies *sighs nostalgically* It was about the wise men; we were going to find the baby Jesus. I was the Wise Guys’ cook, naturally. I was a showstopper, I assure you. We thought we were all so cool. Looking back, we were such small children. We knew nothing. But it was a great time lol.
It’s been pretty all right thus far!! Wishing the same for you!!
The play truly does sound delightful!😊
And ahh, yes. Sometimes one can read a story a few too many times!😅
Thank you!
Oooh, thanks for the tag! This is such a fun one! I can’t wait to do it!
A pleasure!! And thank you!! I hope you enjoy it.
Lovely post, my dear! I too always ask for books for the holidays, but alas my family think I need other things as well to survive?? Don’t they know you only need books?!
I have never heard “Humbug”, but it’s now saved to listen to later!
All you family traditions sound so cozy and delightful!
Happy Holidays!
Why, thank you!! Truly, the people who say we’re hard to shop for must not know where to purchase books. It’s not that hard (as long as they follow the list I’ve made for such purposes).
Few have heard of Humbug, but I’m doing my best to enlighten the masses.
A very merry Christmas to you and yours!!
Does your family also jokingly refer to the basement as the dungeon?? I definitely thought that was just my family and that made me happy to read. (Also the cat meowing plaintively because it’s 4:45 A.M. and she couldn’t POSSIBLY wait another 30 or 40 minutes to wake you up, OH NO, so relatable.)
Your Christmas decorations sound lovely. I have binge-read all your posts on <em>The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion</em>, quotes especially, and now I also would like <em>The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion</em> for Christmas (what have you done).
Lastly, isn’t <em>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</em> so good??? It’s just…like…beautiful. I’ve seen two movies of it, too: one when I was a kid (I remember liking it) and one that I think they made just a year or two ago (I liked that one too, it definitely captured the spirit of the book, except I had Issues with the final, epilogue-ish scene). I honestly get the first movie version I saw and the book mixed up…but I know both really Hit Me.
Haha, yes we do!!! It’s extremely unfinished, so the title fits. Splendid to find someone else with the same eccentricities!! That cat *shakes head* She is such the dramatic one. She hasn’t wrecked our tree or torn up any gifts thus far, so we’re not doing half bad with the whole indoor-cat thing.
Hmm, are you the reason for all the views on my Emma posts from the last week?? I’m always so curious when I get views from unconventional locations or old posts suddenly pass up new ones in weekly views. I’m so glad to have ensnared you though 😊 I would be delighted for you to meet Emma.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever lives up to its lofty name. It not only has a beautiful message, but the filming itself is gorgeous (I’ve recently realized I’ve gotten increasingly nerdy about filming and animation. Case in point: I commented that at the very least the animation for the upcoming Toy Story 5 will be gorgeous…). I don’t think I’ve seen the older one, but the new one is incredibly accurate, despite a few deviations (but such are movie adaptations of books).
Thank you so much for this tag! I’ll get to work on it right away.
Also, Humbug is… very fun 😉