I have been avoiding this thread because I have not yet found my Christmas spirit. Also I cannot pick out any single favorite thing about Christmas.

Mole, Animaterra, I take my glasses off to watch the tree as well. I hadn't considered a connection to my youth. I just enjoy the bright fuzzy blur of the lights and shiny ornaments. There are nights when I just like to sit up reading next to the tree keeping it company, feeling the energy of the season settle in on me and fill me with the spirit.

Matt, you are right, everything is my favorite.

In our family Thanksgiving is the date for the Christmas music to come out of its hidey-hole. The quintessential Christmas album in our family is The Twelfth Month Of The Year by The Kingston Trio. This gem has a number of regular carols but also includes Riu Riu Chiu, Scarlet Ribbons, and Three Jolly Coachmen.

The gentle harassment of the children is near and dear to my heart. It begins with the purchase of the first present and "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, I know something you don't know!" The piece de resistance is the efforts made to sleep in on Christmas morning followed by an insistence on having breakfast or at least a cup of coffee and some of the traditional pull apart cinnamon bread.

Spaw, it was no secret to me that you are an old softy. It is standard procedure for softies to hide behind a curmudgeon exterior. You'll find that's true for most, right Kendall?

BTW, LMAO about the chestnut story Spaw.