The Festy Season

12/4/2010

I woke up this morning (at 6am, yuck!) and was stuck wondering what makes some people so hideously festy at Christmas? Is it the tight-asses who don't want to part with their money to buy someone they love a thoughtful gift? Is it the bean counters among us who've already calculated how many months they'll have to pay weekly installments on the credit card? And if it isn't the monetary worries, is it those people who think wearing a silly hat or costume at Christmas is dorky? stupid? or just plain dumb? For those of us who aren't in it for the religious reasons (I've got nothing against you, I'm just a good 'ol fence sitter) do you love Christmas or hate it? I happen to lurve it! Right down to the last decoration on the tree, to seeing my beautiful kid's smiling faces, to spending time with both of my families, relaxing, laughing, drinking. I love Christmas! In Australia we don't have anything really besides Easter and even then most people go away or live for four days in chocolate induced comas.

So I work nights in a large retail store (small department store for my American friends) and we get red t-shirts to wear instead of the standard and they say Santa's Little Helper on them. Of course I'm going to wear an elf hat! I am the helper of the jolly fat man! This Thursday marks the start of a dress up week where we have to dress like toys so fairies, Toy Story, Bananas in Pajamas, etc. Last time we did it, I went as Bob The Builder's Wendy and as stupid as I looked (and I looked really, really, really stupid) it was a great laugh. This time I'm thinking about going as a fairy and dancing around the store for five hours, handing out candy canes to the kids. Why? I know I look stupid, I know the teenagers are tittering (not that they'd know the meaning of the word) but who cares? The kids eat it right up and that's what Christmas is about for me. Keeping the dream alive so I can use the threat of 'Santa doesn't visit naughty girls'. So I can put a smile on a kids face and a lolly in their mouth so mum can finish doing her last minute pick ups without all the screaming and yelling. This is why I wait all year for only two days off. It's why I start shopping in February and want to put the tree up before it's December.

It's because inside all of us, if you look really hard, a child still lingers and he or she just wants to have fun...

The question is, are you festy? or do you like to go all out and have fun? Are you in it for the religion, the kids, the presents? I want to know

6 Comments

Teresa Morgan link

12/4/2010 05:27:13 am

I'm not sure what you mean by festy - is it an Australian slang word for festive?

We are a family that don't go mad on each other but we do like giving presents. No point getting yourself hugely in debt. I don't really 'work' (9 hours in my local corner shop doesn't count as a proper job lol!) so I can't afford to buy my hubby an iPad etc. But we always get little bits for each other.

Definitely it's for the kids, and now that I have them, I want to make it special.

Christmas has always been a huge thing. My family never put the decorations up too early though. We ALWAYS have a real tree for a start - and a big one! But as a kid, my dad would always go big on the decorations in the house, so I try to do the same for mine.

(I can't understand those that put the decorations up early December, even November - then rip them down Boxing Day? There are 12 days to Christmas!)

I wouldn't say we are ultra religious or anything... I'm not a big believer in 'religion' - to me it just causes war. But I am big on Christmas, and do like the idea of celebrating the birth of Jesus and all that Christmas is about. A time for thinking of others, giving presents, family sharing time together, relaxing. Celebrating the end of a year.

12/4/2010 05:28:48 am

Oh and I forgot to say - I've always loved fancy dress! Got to be done. The people who snigger don't realise how much more attention you get, and how fun it is. We used to go out in fancy dress a lot - now it's the kids that do the dressing up! lol!

Nas link

12/4/2010 05:41:19 pm

Hi, definitely not a religious thing with us, but more like enjoying the holidays and having fun! Sharing of gifts even small items make it more enjoyable.
I remember in big departmental stores in Sydney, all the staff dressed up and the girls even had christmas themed earings and brooches. Same thing happening our way now. It's all in the spirit of christmas. And I think it's the thought that counts.

Bronwyn link

12/4/2010 06:33:24 pm

Thanks for the comments Ladies =) So we're all for the dress ups? I'll try to get a picture and post it for you.

To be honest, I think these moments we can take to act like children or relive our childhood or even make our kids smile is enough reason to do it. When I told my girls I would dress up as a pink fairy, they were both wearing the biggest smiles!

Teresa, festy is kind of slang but it is used more for something that is gross. If we say (very meanly) that a person is festy, it's not a good thing. I also like to use the word to describe bah humbug sort of people at Christmas. Think I can get the definition into the dictionary as a Scrooge?...

Thanks again for dropping by! I hope your Christmas's are everything you wish for and more!

Rob Tilley

12/12/2010 10:48:13 am

The best bits of Christmas;
1. Family,
2. Grand Children, especially watching them unwrap gifts,
3. Giving and receiving gifts,
4. Days off in glorious weather,
5. Rob's Tom Turkey,
6. Bron's gravy,
7. Good, (very good) wine,
8. South Australian Cherries,
9. Fresh South Australian seafood, especially the King Prawns,
10. Boxing Day Test,
11. Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start,
12. The cleansing of the New Year and the promise of better days ahead.

That's a fair list for a start isn't it?

As for your comment that we all have an inner child looking to have fun, Ralph Waldo Emerson said;
"To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood."

Rob.

12/12/2010 10:59:44 am

Nicely said, Rob!!

The Festy Season

Leave a Reply.

Disclaimer

Archives

Categories