I have mixed feelings about memes. Some are great, some are inane. I’ve gotten quite a few through e-mail, and I’ve forwarded some on. They’re a great way to learn more about close friends, or people I’ve been wanting to get to know better. They’re also a fun way to share a bit about oneself.

Today, in the spirit of the season, I’ve imported this Christmas meme from a blog I read daily, Funny the World. So– a hat tip to Bev for providing the fodder for today’s post, and here’s a little bit about how I view the season…

[Caveat: If you are younger than about 12-13, I’d stop reading RIGHT NOW and go find something else to do, or your faith will be severely tested!]

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I like both. When I was growing up, we had eggnog the week or two before Christmas, right before bedtime, when we’d read Christmas stories. Nowadays I’m more likely to drink hot chocolate or spiced (or mulled!) cider.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa always brought gifts wrapped in white tissue, with red ribbon, and flecked with colored glitter, with the words “For Mr. Sandman, From Santa” written out in script akin to a Cyrillic style font. Santa was very skilled in calligraphy, and still is.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored– the white ones never do much for me. I’ve always preferred the traditional colored lights, tho I do admit I enjoy those lights you can set to blink fast, slow, or on an alternating track. They’re kind of fun to look at!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? As a child, Mr. Sandman’s home always had mistletoe hanging in the doorway. As an adult, Mr. Sandman has Mrs. Sandman, who has no problem with finding an excuse to be kissed. Mrs. Sandman probably wouldn’t be too cool with Mr. Sandman kissing their guests or visitors, so Mr. Sandman hasn’t bothered to indulge in homage to the druidic past.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Anywhere between the day after Thanksgiving and the second full week of December. The first Sunday of Advent was traditionally when Mr. Sandman’s family put their decorations up, but this year, Mr. Sandman spent his weekend being a good househusband, cleaning, dusting, mopping, and then hauling a box of decorations and ornaments from storage. The home is now good to go.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Julekage, a Norwegian Christmas fruit bread that is somewhat similar to the Italian panettone. Since Mr. Sandman is partially of Norwegian heritage, this is a rich (and delicious!) family tradition Mr. Sandman enjoys.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? There’s nothing that stands out by itself, but I’ve always enjoyed the time right after all the decorations are put up. It’s always so festive. I also like seeing Christmas lights around the neighborhood. It’s always so dreary right after Christmas, when everything gets taken down. The walls look so bare, and everyone’s yards aren’t quite as magic anymore…

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Mr. Sandman saw a hidden gift which he assumed was for a sibling, and thought nothing more of it. Imagine his chagrin on Christmas morning when he saw that particular gift was from Santa. Visions of sugarplums went BANG!, and a cherished part of childhood evaporated.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, one gift traditionally is opened on Christmas Eve. We still do this even now.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Without rhyme or reason. An angel graces the top, then the lights, then German-style ornaments. I’ve never been into tinsel and shiny balls, or commercial ornaments such as Disney characters, Coca-Cola balloons, and the like.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Snow? What snow? With the exception of three years in childhood and extended periods as an adult, Mr. Sandman has never lived in places with snow. However, he loves it from around right before Thanksgiving until January 2. After that, NO SNOW. Roll on, springtime!

12. Can you ice skate? Never have, never will.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No… all my gifts are favorites, because they come/came from people who love me. However, if YOU send me a gift, it’ll be my favorite, until I get something from another one of you. Tens and twenties are special favorites of mine.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? The general spirit of the season– that feeling of “magic” in the air. It’s never been about the gifts (well, at least not for years now!); for me it’s more about the feeling of cheer and goodwill.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Um… yes, I’m one of those people. I love fruitcake (if done properly!).

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? As much as I may grumble about it, putting up the decorations, because once that’s done, Christmas is here.

17. What tops your tree? An angel one of the in-laws sent us. While I’d eventually like to find a more traditional-looking angel, this one has served us well for the past few years, and will continue to be on top for some time to come.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving– I try to carefully consider what people might *really* enjoy, and there’s usually too many things I’d like to give. In past years, our checkbook has kept us frugal, but hopefully in the years to come, we’ll expand our giving with increased donations to charities and the like. One place I’d like to spend a little money at is Heifer International, where you can donate an animal to a community in another country/on another continent, and help reduce hunger and improve people’s lives. Actually, looking over their site, we could probably start doing that this year…

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? As a deaf person, this might seem like an oxymoron. But I *do* enjoy Christmas music, and especially like seeing ASL versions. Two favorites are “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and “Silent Night.”

20. Candy canes? I used to love them as a child, but these days, it’s all about fruitcake, pies, and other goodies.

21. Favorite Christmas movie? There are three shows/movies that are mandatory viewing this time of year: “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (the animated one– no Jim Carrey allowed in this house!), and “Miracle on 34th Street” (the 1947 version– there was absolutely no need to remake what was already a perfect film). If you haven’t seen this last one, run, do not walk, and rent/buy it. There’s a reason Edmund Gwenn won the Oscar for his role.

22. What do you leave for Santa? The traditional offering was always homemade cookies and milk. Mr. Sandman is a Santa-in-training, awaiting the day he can fully adopt the role. In this guise, he definitely likes homemade cookies and milk.

[It seems to me there should be 24, or 25 of these. But there aren’t. As for the more jaded among you, there’s 12 shopping days left. What are you waiting for?? Send me an e-mail and I’ll send back my address, so that your gift to me can become my Favorite Gift, at least until the *next* Favorite Gift arrives in the mail. Get hopping.]