What is your favorite Christmas (or traditional) memory?

There are only 2 Christmas that’s standing out in my mind and those are my first Christmas in the U.S. and Christmas 2023. I’m torn between which to pick as my favorite.

My first Christmas in the US might as well had been my first Christmas ever since people only celebrate Christmas in China for the commercial aspect of things. There’s no family get-together, no ham, no gift exchanges, and definitely no sitting by the fireplace watching It’s a Wonderful Life. That Christmas will forever have a special place in my memory.

Christmas 2023 was definitely another special Christmas as I got to spend it alone at the Grand Canyon. What could be better than that? I arrived at the Grand Canyon early that morning before the crowds and got to enjoy the quiet. By the time I got out of the park to return to the hotel, the line to get in was stretched back by at least a mile.

Do you think merchandise is sold too early for these celebrations?

My local Walmart began selling Christmas decorations about 2 weeks after Labor Day, around mid-September. That was way too early especially it was still so hot outside that it felt like fall would never come, let alone winter. Seeing Christmas decorations in mid-September also caused some anxiety because it made me feel like the year is already over.

Do you decorate your house with ribbons, streamers, tinsel etc?

I decided not to pull the Christmas tree out of the box this year since I’m pretty sure I’m the one who has to put it up and take it down and frankly, I don’t have the time and energy to do such thing. For the sake of holiday spirits (or at least, trying to spark my holiday spirit), I hung lights around the windows and the outside stairway railing. I also hung a wreath on the door.

So far, I’m still not feeling the holiday spirit.

What is your least favorite Christmas song?

I think Christmas music begins playing on local radios around mid-November. I wouldn’t know, I no longer listen to the radio. I listen to the music on my phone whenever I’m in the car. I used to be very into Christmas music. After all, these are happy music but not when it’s played over and over, year after year. Every song becomes the same and boring.

I can only name 2 favorites off the top of my head – Carol of the Bells and Christmas Cannon performed by the Trans-Siberia Orchestra. I like that variation of the Pachelbel I used to play all the time on my keyboard. I would say the others are my least favorites but unless there’s an interesting variation, I’m not interested in listening.

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