I was thinking that my family has certain articles of faith. Things we believe that make us who we are. We believe:
In real whipped cream, not Cool Whip. Life is too short to not lick the beaters. And if you are asked to, consider it an honor.
That though Elvis was a giant of music, Bob Wills is still the King.
That there’s always room for one more at the table.
You can never be too close to the fireworks display.
If you play a practical joke on someone else, you’re not allowed to get mad when they do it back to you. But don’t let that stop you.
Holiday crackers are part of any Christmas dinner or New Years brunch. And anyone who refuses to put on the paper crown, even for a minute or two, is suspect. We suspect that you don’t know how to have a good time.
No matter how bad things are, we will make it better.
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11 comments:
My fam does not do holiday crackers - but I'm with you on the "not wearing the paper crown" - some folks take them selves WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. Lighten up, wear it, you'll live.
I think wearing that silly crown really is an act of faith. No one will make fun of you. I promise. We're all doing it to. It's one of those things that let's you make that leap from any other day to holiday. You have to open your soul up to have fun.
Have to ask: what's a "holiday cracker"?
This is an English thing my family picked up about 20 years ago. They're these foil wrapped tubes. You hold one end, and your friend holds the other, then you tug. And there's little gizmo that snaps like an old pop gun (hence the name "cracker"). The cracker breaks open, and inside are, traditionally, a toy, a riddle and a tissue paper crown. The toys are usually something like plastic yo-yos or tiny packs of cards. The riddle is invariably a very bad pun. And the tissue paper crown is put on while you eat Christmas dinner. The first year, Mom brought them back from a trip to England. But since then, we've picked them up at World Market or Marshalls or some other discount store. It really wouldn't be Christmas without them.
Thanks---glad I asked. I'll bet some of the ones who won't wear the crown are the very ones who put on the silliest of "hats" on their heads on New Year's Eve!
We've only done the crackers thing once and I do believe everyone wore the paper crown.
Of course, my grandma or aunt started this tradition (not just for holidays) where she gives each of us $2 (used to be $1), we draw names, and then we all head up to CVS (used to be People's) and buy the person whose name we have something silly with the $2. One year, my brother spent $1 on nail clippers and bought himself a candy bar with the rest.
I don't sit too close to the fireworks because I attended an event where one family's blanket caught on fire. I think I was 6 or 7 and I still remember it. Several years ago when I acted as an event marshal at another fireworks event, I got soot in my eyes because I was too close. No thanks!
We've done Dirty Santa with a $10 limit, but the $2 limit would definitely put some skin in the game.
The last 4th that we got to sit next to the back fence, we got a hail of ash and fairly large bits of the fireworks shell. We were lauging our butts off as glowing bits of paper game falling down. Awesome! We're a little strange.
I'm with Ang - I'll take the LONG view ofthe fireworks, thanks.
Love that $2 limit - If CVS sold them - every on my list would get lottery tix.
Bwak-bwak! Chicken!!
And I'd sneak off to the $1 store and get everybody some awesome socks. I get my Gold Toe socks at the dollar store. The BEST.
This wasn't even a "dirty santa" game - we did this whenever we were bored at my grandma's. Whoever was there would pile into the car and head off to CVS for the $2 game.
One year, my grandma drove us kids all over MoCo getting the free sundaes that Roy Rogers was offering to kids. We drove around until we had enough for everyone! I think we had to hit 3 stores to have enough. Grandma loves to save a buck or two.
My grandma too! We used to all go down to the Thrifty Drug when they had ten cent cones in the summer, and we could have TWO scoops. Heaven.
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