12 Questions ! Please go to her Blog for other participants.
1. Christmas is .... phheeww ! (at least now, a few years ago it was very nice)
2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past?
Getting gifts as a child. Later to see the joy of my son's face.
3 years old in 1976, he got a pram to walk around his guinea pig !
and 2 years later at 5 you can see the Christmas crip behind
3. Was Santa ever good to you?
Santa was never good to me for the good reason that he didn't show up on Christmas. In Germany it is Baby Jesus, Christ child, (Christkind) who flys through the open window and brings gifts which are then under the tree. I have never seen little Jesus although I always ran to the open window to look for him before I was looking what was under the tree.
4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both?
Only on Christmas Eve never on the 25th.
5. Is there something you make each and every year? Each year on Christmas we have a "Fondue Bourguignonne (deep-fat fondue). We do that now for many years. It's so nice to sit around the table and dip the cubes of raw meat in the sizzling oil and then in different sauces. It is served with a salad. No cooking to do !
In 1983 the fondue
6. What is your favorite five[5] Christmas songs ? I don't have any. I like "Gingle Bells" but usually I get an overdose of Christmas songs before Christmas eve ! You hear them the whole day around everywhere, during shopping, on the streets, in the radio etc. etc.
7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days? Of course ! Mr. Gattino is Italian and we had to mingle the traditions of both countries. He never had a Christmas tree it was unknown in Italy when he was a child and I never had a native scene. He has a beautiful handmade one he got when he was 3 years old. If you put it up properly it would take the size of a double bed. So we squeeze it a little under the tree.
a little view on the crip, I couldn't find more recent pictures.
8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. [whether it's across town or across country] Last year we escaped to Egypt at the red sea and had Christmas in sunshine and heat, just like the Australians. It was wonderful ! Our son travelled through Vietnam at this time and spend Christmas over there. We didn't want to celebrate alone and it had been a very good idea. Christmas eve was in a beautifully decorated Restaurant, with a big Christmas tree a Santa Claus and during supper wonderful shows ! We enjoyed it very much. I never had spent Christmas that way.
Christmas in Egypt
9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day? Years ago I wore a long dress and the men dark suits for Christmas Eve. Now I wear a cocktail outfit and the men a suit.
Christmas eve in 1984, our son has got new jeans otherwise he would have worn a suit too.
10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap? Just my son, here in Belgium, but it was on Dec 6, Santa Claus day.
11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year? The usual stuff
it will probably look like this. Over the years the tree has become smaller and the decoration more colorful !
12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas?
In Belgium nobody decorates his garden for Christmas like in the States (in other European countries neither) What we do is putting lights around the windows, hedges and trees (a fir tree if you have) and sometimes a lightened deer. Some people put a father Christmas hanging out of the windows.
Gattina! Gattina!! This is superb. You did a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteAll the wonderful photos, and all the memories. And I learned a lot of culture.
A great job my friend.
[If I can find time I'll add a list of those who are playing. Right now, you could look in my comments the last two days. Sorry, I just never thought of links ---I didn't know how many would take part.]
You get high marks for this job of work you did!!! I loved it....all of it.
PS --I just did an update from my comments regarding the meme for Christmas --and on the meme blog page scroll down to links of those who left comments that they're doing the meme.
ReplyDeleteWould ya LOOK at that picture of YOUNG Gattina!!! WWWWWOW! You were - and ARE still - ADORABLE!!! Young you reminds me a little bit of Sandy Duncan... you probably don't know her. She was a pixie of a woman who actually played PETER PAN once!
ReplyDeleteGattina, I so enjoyed your meme. We used to do fondues in the 80's, but haven't kept it up. What a good idea to have one on Christmas Eve, they're so much fun to do. I enjoyed seeing the then and now photos!
ReplyDeleteGattina, I've made beef fondue (your beef bourginnonne (sp?) It was popoular back in the 60s and I loved it. Lovely old pix with fond memories I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my meme.
You're a lot of fun! My daughter also strolls her guinea pig! Today I'll tell her it's an old Belgian custom!
ReplyDeleteHi Gattina I enjoyed reading your answers to Anni's Christmas meme. Isn't it a good idea. Mine's on my post, too.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you.
I enjoyed reading your meme! I did one too, it is fun!
ReplyDeleteThe ways other countries celebrate is very interesting.
Katherine
I really enjoyed reading your meme. It is so neat to see how other cultures celebrate Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of Jesus bring gifts rather than Santa Clause! We don't have Santa visit our house. I was just too heart broken when I found out as a child. :(