Our Holiday Calendar has gone askew. Some time before Halloween, we took a trip to Costco and the Christmas Decorations were in full force.
Nothing like seeing THIS before Halloween!
The “Holiday” décor was of better consumer placement than the Halloween candy and costumes were. It was quite disturbing for me.
And it brought memories of a childhood back to mind.
Halloween was that stretch of time where you thought about your “store bought” costume with the plastic mask that made you sweat and for some other reason gave you the gift of a constant drool. I’m thinking swallowing your saliva kept you hydrated as you roamed the neighborhood for hours in search of the house with the “good” candy.
I love the realistic “Baby Jane” application of the lipstick on this mask. I had this very one and can attest that there was a ton of sweat and drool within an hour of wearing this.
Then there was the delight of trading candy with siblings and friends and all those great autumn activities such as jumping into piles of raked leaves and closing your eyes to enjoy the wafting scent of burning leaves.
And the actual “smock” costume that you could wear OVER your outwear just made Halloween’s Trick or Treating experience epic!
Immediately following the Hallowed Eve, the planning for Thanksgiving began.
And no matter how many times, mine eyes have seen the glory of Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want”, my personal Thanksgivings have been more like “Wishful Freedom from Stress”
Now, my mother was into total convenience and having five children to take care of didn’t help matters. She always had our Thanksgiving dinner “catered” by the deli up the street— “Bernie’s”. Bernie was our Thanksgiving chef. And to this day, I cannot stand turkey. For some reason, Bernie’s turkey had a horrific aftertaste. It didn’t taste homemade to me.
My mother opted for a catered-from-Bernie’s-deli Thanksgiving feast that looked NOTHING like this. It was all served in plastic containers.
Regardless, Thanksgiving was still a time for a great family meal. Except for those years when my dad had to report to the New York City Police Department as he worked on a rotating schedule.
But..the greatest thing about Thanksgiving was watching the parade. The spectacular floats. The marching bands. The celebrity hosts. And most of all, at the end of the parade, the arrival of the man—Santa Claus!
There were some great memories on the Upper West Side of NYC watching the Thanksgiving parade and standing outside in the cold freezing our asses off!
From Spiderman (and I must say that I’m impressed with my photographic talent, it was my Nikkormat camera and not a phone)…..
….to Ronald McDonald, we had a blast!
The official commencement of The Christmas Season was the arrival of Santa, sitting in his sleigh being wheeled through New York City streets, waving to the children both standing in the frigid cold and in the comfort of their toasty homes.
Now THIS was the start of Christmas Season!
The Santa. Last float of the Thanksgiving Parade. The official start of the Christmas season. I love old school…
Prior to his arrival, there were no Hallmark Christmas movies—especially in July.
Oops! I doth believe that the only Homegrown Christmas Lori Loughlin might be celebrating this year will be the one in the Big House!
There were no decorations or lights showcased from the neighbors’ homes and lawns.
Seriously folks, I would love to live next to this house.
The retail establishments kept the goods in the stock rooms until the arrival of the bearded man in the red suit!
It was an event!
Things have changed for sure!
My oldest son Jake with Wall Street Santa in 1984. I was working at the now-defunct Morgan Guaranty Trust company–I loved my job and I loved the perks. Each year the company held a Christmas party for the children of employees. It was incredible. Look at the way Jake is admiring Santa!
Although we celebrate Christmas on the 25th, we now lead up to that date so far in advance.
Christmas 1989. Roman still talks about this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mask to this day. Ahhhh the simple gifts that Santa brings…
Oona with her favorite doll she named Oats. And I still have Oats packed away! I’m in a state of shock that my horrible mothering lack of skills allowed my daughter to eat chocolate so early on Christmas morning and I never even bothered to wipe her face!
December 25th, best day of the year and within hours it’s gone….
As Bonaparte and I were driving through downtown Phoenixville last Tuesday evening to my WW studio session (don’t judge—I can’t drive at night due to my lack of vision), I noticed an unusual sight. Christmas wreaths were hung from the downtown lampposts. It was both equal parts horrifying and delightful.
Horrifying because it was barely a week after Halloween and delighted because I’m looking forward to all things Christmas.
Not gonna lie. I’ve been listening to Christmas music in the car. That Vince Guaraldi—right??
Bonaparte is quite concerned that I’m listening to this so far ahead of the start of the Season!
Friday morning before work, I stopped at Walmart because I wanted a bag of carrots to munch on. I ended up with a couple of Christmas decorations for the house.
Yes. I did. And I’m not ashamed either!
So, what’s my train of thought on this rush for the most wonderful time of the year?
I’m embracing it. Fully. And hoping that man and womankind put aside feelings of hatred toward others and for at least a month start to behave in a more respectful manner. I want values to be exercised.
Come along with me as I show you a bit of the Christmas cheer in downtown Phoenixville.
Come on. Hop in my car and take a drive to downtown Phoenixville, PA!
The wreaths are all placed atop the lamp posts! What’s this? We could DONATE a wreath???? Why did I not know this? Atypica60 would LOVE to donate a wreath and to see her name displayed!!
The Pub in Phoenixville is in full-tilt Santa Boogie!
He just asked me what I wanted! I told him a winning Powerball ticket!
Frosty is inching his way into the scene…
This is making me so utterly happy and warm and fuzzy inside!
The greens have been hung…
And the lights are up. Oh lordy, I’m so excited that I need a Depends!
I love downtown Phoenixville!
And a Very Merry to you!
Hope you enjoyed the pre-season fun!!!
And I did manage to get a little bit of the holidays into the house!
The little plaid tree. It’s so cute!
What a pretty main street! I grew up in the southern hemisphere so Christmas was summer holidays – if it was your turn for a new bike that year – that is when you got it. Coming to Scotland I really liked the progression of things -and the dark made it atmospheric Halloween/guising, Guy Fawkes, St Andrews day, Christmas, New Years day (BIG in Scotland), Up helly aa, Burns night… there is a lovely progression which is sadly being erased by the shops full of tat itching to grab our money – but I am resistant (I am very resistant in my old age), I feel we are being short changed and not getting the full enjoyment of any of them with the head long rush to Christmas and bypassing everything else. So, in the mean time I am celebrating my own festivals – starting this weekend with Flannelettemas – yup, you heard me the night when it is finally cold enough to have flannelette bedding – bliss! 🙂 I guess, what matters to me is we celebrate the goodness in people and enjoy the changes over the year and stop being caught in a whirlwind where we notice nothing happy flannelettemas by the way!!!
Juliet. I dig the concept of flanelettemas and think I will celebrate along. A couple of years ago the kids and I decided that rather than spend money on gifts, we would just spend it on good food and doing things like going to a movie together or a pub. Now that they are all in their thirties, their presence is the greatest gift! XOXOXOXO
That is exactly what I love to hear – the celebration of the people we love. Now to find other celebrations in the run up to Christmas – this is an endurance feat, we need to train!!!
A Charlie Brown Christmas–best Christmas album ever. It’s pretty much on continuous loop through December. 🙂
KB. I discovered another great Christmas Album. Anthony Pasquarosa. OMG. I was bowled over. It’s guitar. No singing but this guy plays the guitar so beautifully. It’s very ethereal and unique. I’ve been listening to it through Amazon Music and cannot get enough! XOXOXO
1977. I saw the Village People in the parade from my position at Columbus Circle. YMCA forever!
WHAT!!??? Anne. I’m jealous!! Do you realize we were both in the city during that same year???? XOXOXO
Delightful, Catherine! You brought me back in time. Such great memories of Christmas past!
Thanks Molly! Isn’t it fun to be brought back in time every now and then? XOXOXOXO
Love this! You are getting me into the mood!
Yayy!!!! We need to be in that Christmas and Holiday mood a bit early this year! XOXOXOXO
I wore that same mask! I think there’s a picture of me wearing it. Guilty, I brought Christmas decorations yesterday too and started planning our family get together couple of weeks ago. Guess we’ll skip right over Thanksgiving to the fun stuff.
LOL! Cathe. Those masks were painful–weren’t they??? I’m listening to the music right now! XXOXOXO
Great post, brought a lot of memories back.
Thank you! I’ll tel you, it brought back a ton of memories when I was going through the old photos! Where does the time go??????? XOXOXOXO
I wonder the same thing.
Love your camel coat! Would you mind sharing where it’s from?
Hi Pamm. It’s a blazer from J. Crew! It’s the Regent Blazer. Isn’t it lovely??? XOXOXOXO
You’re absolutely right. The world certainly needs the Christmas spirit earlier than usual this year. Thank you for the tour.
Jean, you are most welcome for that little tour. And man oh man we DO need the Christmas spirit early!! XOXOXOXO
That’s a very nice looking downtown street.
I’m one of those people who ignores Christmas until right after Thanksgiving. I don’t mind the wearing of plaid though. And white lights all through the Season Of Darkness are fine. 🙂 But no decorations up until the day after Turkey Day. Also, last year my husband and I both had simultaneous epiphanies – neither of us is really all that fond of turkey. This will be the first year we don’t do a turkey and I think it’s sort of exciting!!! I do want to try your cranberry sauce recipe too!!
Kristi. My husband despises Turkey. To the point that when we have had Turkey day at home, I’ve cooked pheasant or cornish hen. Now we spend it in Paris! It’s sooooooooooooooooo much fun to not eat Turkey on Thanksgiving. No dry meat. No overload of flour-filled gravy. It’s nice. Yeah. The cranberry sauce turned out so well. Get that squeeze ginger paste because it packs a whollop and it’s just so delicious! XOXOXOXO
I remember watching the parade on my parents black and white tv a few times. It was so fun to see even in black and white! Yes that parade started the Christmas/Holiday season and The Rose Parade here in CA. ended the Holiday season. From the day after Halloween to the 1st of January is my favorite time of year.
Hi Susan! Mine too! I forgot about the Rose Parade. OMG. I used to LOVE that parade as well! Happy Holidays!!! XXOXOXOXO
Love the magic of the holidays…no matter when they start(!) Thanksgiving and then onward to Christmas with The Parade kicking off the main event…love it all! …with a P.S…as much as I love Thanksgiving, this year we’ll be in Canada…whoops!…didn’t plan that one too well. 🙂
Whoa! Jean. Have a great Thanksgiving in Canada! I’ll be in France–most likely having snails and steak tartare!!! XOOXOXO