Friday, December 05, 2008

Sunday Scribblings--Tradition

I'm not a big fan of traditions. My family doesn't seem to have very many (well, we did just initiate the mandatory potluck soup supper garage party a few years ago, but that's not particularly sentimental). One Christmas tradition I actually don't mind is watching the 1951 Christmas Carol movie. Actually, I believe the movie is called Scrooge. I'm always impressed by older movies that don't lose their luster with time.

Another Christmastime favorite of mine is It's a Wonderful Life. I think lots of people probably feel as hopeless as George Bailey on Christmas Eve. Especially those who have to cook big meals (refer back to the previous paragraph about the soup potluck). Shopping and holiday "cheer" can get the better of us, and that's probably why I get such a kick out of this overly sentimentalized movie that, according to my nature, I shouldn't even like.

I guess some traditions are okay. But you won't find me fooling around with any Yule log or hanging wreaths or anything like that. Oh, and one last note: a tradition I wish my family would adopt is wrapping my gifts in old newspaper. Since I have this aversion to tearing "pretty paper," and since I'm frugal about such things, I'd prefer to reuse the newspaper and then recycle it, rather than pay money for wrapping paper that just gets tossed in a landfill. But, just as I don't have a problem with other people eating meat, I don't have a problem with others buying and using wrapping paper :)

For more traditional scribblings, click here

14 comments:

Kiah-Monique said...

I feel the same way about wrapping paper. My mom doesn't even bother wrapping my gifts anymore!

Alisa Callos said...

I'm all about recycling also. Newspaper is great!

Alisa Callos said...

I'm all about recycling also. Newspaper is great!

Unknown said...

I don't buy wrapping paper either! I prefer newspaper, and when my children were younger, I used their artwork as wrapping paper. I also like unusual bows - yarn, used ribbon, pinecones, etc.

Great post!

"Sunshine" said...

Bobbi-very cool. I especially like the yarn and pinecones :)

Blondie said...

I agree that sometimes the holidays can be TOO MUCH, so simple is better. I admit that I love pretty packaging, but with all of the emphasis on recycling, I'm thinking about switching to rolls of plain brown paper (previously used to wrap boxes before mailing). We'll dress them up with fancy ribbons and baubles, all of which can be saved and re-used, and the paper can go in the recycle bin! Gift bags also serve the same purpose, as you can re-use them (but only for grown-ups because kids will "peek"!)

GuacAttac said...

We use the comics from the Sunday paper occassionally... it's fun!

SSQuo said...

I like pretty wrapping paper, but hate people or me tearing it up! Enjoyed your post, very easy reading.

Lilibeth said...

Well, we do the wreath thing, and the wrapping gift thing, although we use gift bags almost exclusively. Then we save them all and return them the next year with new presents, so that's kind of recycling.

*~sis~* said...

good idea on the comics and newpaper...:)

Rambler said...

hmm may be sometime soon we will go a step further and not wrap the gift at all..saving the paper all together

Laura Jayne said...

I like the idea of newspaper as wrapping paper, but only the funny pages. Too much sadness on the front.

Patois42 said...

Sunday comics are the best. That's what all of our gifts are now wrapped in. A great tradition.

Anonymous said...

I like It's a Wonderful Life as well. We used to watch it every year, but now have scaled back. We don't send cards or exchange gifts -- except for the children. The magic is still there for the little ones. For the rest of us, we share food and lots of hugs.