Saturday, December 13, 2008

Cherished Traditions


Tonight we went to downtown Ogden to see the lights. The Christmas Village is growing and is a whole lot bigger with more displays than when I was little. It was fun to see the whole thing through my 4-year-old's eyes. As we drove down the hill and all the lights came into view, he said, "I'm so glad we're going to Christmas Town!" He even got to ride the train around the block.

Then we went to my parents' house and had Norwegian pancakes and the annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Well, by then it was a little late and we just saw the first part where Clark takes his family out to find the perfect Christmas tree. And it's just as well, because we'd have had to skip parts for the kids- you're better off watching the t.v. version if you have young-uns- but it was fun because it's a tradition, and as wacky as some traditions get through the years, they're still comfortable. They're still home.

We have a few holiday movies that are must-sees. A Christmas Story is number one on the list, despite the fact that my daughters aren't really fans. (Boggles the mind. How can you not like that movie?) My parents and husband and I enjoy It's a Wonderful Life, but my siblings and children hate that one, too. My dad has a tradition of stashing himself away in a vacant room on Christmas day and watching it by himself. My youngest sister found out he did that and was all kinds of distraught, thinking it was tragic that my poor dad watches that sad movie all alone on Christmas day. (Like he's in there sobbing into his bowl of popcorn, "Oh, no, George Bailey, no! You have so much to live for!") In reality, my dad is so glad to get away for some much-needed alone time that he's kicking his heels in unabashed glee.

My kids and I love Elf. That's already become a Christmas movie tradition for us, and I also like The Grinch, both animated and Jim Carrey. Then there are the old- time kids shows, like Rudolph, (which used to give me nightmares and make me throw up as a kid, what with the scary Abominable Snowman and all), Frosty the Snowman, and the 70s cartoon, Twas the Night Before Christmas. (There's a certain person of some significance in my stake who resembles Joshua Trundle, but I won't say who).

Such good stuff, and all the more fun because there are a few select weeks during the year when it's acceptable to watch them. Perhaps that's why I love them so much. They herald in the season for me, and they're a treat. Now all I need is a James Bond Christmas Special. Ah, then life would be complete. :-)

5 comments:

Amy said...

We also love Elf. It is tradition at our house also. I have a secret crush on Will Ferrell. Well not so secret anymore. ha ha

David G. Woolley said...

Elf? Are both of you kidding? Spaghetti noddles and candy is not a funny scene! Doesn't Will and his inocent goofyness get just a little annoying after ten minutes? By the middle of Elf I'm ready to huck a chair at the television. Its obnoxious. Its stupid humor. Its obvious. Its pedestrian. Its numbing. And its got as much Christmas Spirit as a rock.

I know a good Christmas rehab place you can go, get detoxed from your pop culture fix and where you learn the mantra, "Hi, my name is Nancy Allen and I've been off pop culture Christmas junk for two Decembers." Next.

TRIBE'S said...

I love Christmas traditions no matter what they are. If it's an excuse to be with family, I love it.

Jewels said...

David sure is dishing it out for you isn't he? I'm not ashamed to say that we love Elf in our house. "Buddy cares about everyone. I like to whisper too. What's a Christmas Gram? I want one." I could go on and on because we actually watched it again today, so it is fresh in my mind. We also enjoy Polar Express, Eme watches it just about everyday.

Nancy Campbell Allen said...

Dave, you are a humor elitist! I just about fell on the floor the first time I saw Elf and he says, "You don't smell like Santa. You smell like beef and cheese."

Truly, you know what you're getting with Will Farrell and you have to adjust your humor setting accordingly. As opposed to, say, Clue, which I also love.

I'm going to send you to a center for the humor deprived. "Hi. My name is Dave and I'm a humor snob." "Hello, Dave."

And to Amy, Lyd and Jewels, I'm glad we're all on the same page! "Baby, it's cold outside..." (And man, is it!)