Holidays...

So while leaving a comment on my friends post, that I admit was getting way too detailed (my comment, not her post!), I thought of an idea for a post. And even if no one cares, maybe my posterity one day will. These are the order of my favorite holidays. Side note: I'm not big into traditions on holidays, (although I have plenty), but I much prefer traditions on random days.

1. Easter: I love the simplicity of the holiday, yet the richness of the meaning. I love seeing my tulips and daffodils in my garden and understanding the realness and truthfulness of the resurrection. I also LOOVVVEEE Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs.
2. Thanksgiving: I do love my extended family TONS (they all know it too!), but like I told them last night, it isn't all about the company...it is so about the FOOD! Homemade everything-rolls, dressing, gravy, potatoes, pies, etc. I didn't even celebrate my "first thanksgiving" until I was 14 years old. However, I do remember as a child the occasional year, when "a Thursday" would roll around and my mother would be teary eyed and weepy. She would mention something about "Thanksgiving in America" and I would have no idea what it meant. Really, though I love that Thanksgiving are about food and family and truly giving thanks. No gifts, no surprises, no commercialism. Just food, family, thankful hearts and love in abundance. (And family, don't worry-I think I enjoy your company as much as the food.)P.S. I don't agree with people when they say Thanksgiving gets ignored in the commercialism of Christmas, I think they go hand-in-hand together (even though Christmas is further down on my list...)
2. July 4th-Which actually is a tie with Thanksgiving for 2nd favorite holiday. It is probably pretty self-explanatory after reading my last post. But who doesn't love to remember our freedoms and see flags waving, anthems sung and of course play in my Mandatory Annual 4th July Water Baseball BBQ.
4. Christmas-I like the month of December and love Christmas Eve, however, I actually don't like Christmas Day. I agree with my friend Becky (who is the reason for this post!), it isn't that I don't love celebrating the Savior's birth, I do. I don't like what the world has turned Christmas into.
The following are all tied for last place.
St. Patrick's Day-WE AREN'T IRISH-WHY SHOULD WE FEEL LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO WEAR GREEN. I lived in England for 14 years (duh-mentioned before), my very best friend across the street was part of a very Irish family. And guess what? Even they didn't celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Occasionally, there would be the odd St. Patrick's card on their mantle-but none of this leprechaun and wearing green nonsense! Although, my kids do love Nana's green dinner.
Valentine's Day-I love my husband. He loves me. We don't need a special day to have our love remembered. And why in the world do we have to celebrate IT IN SCHOOLS!!?? PATHETIC. However, I do LOVE my mother's nice formal Valentine's Dinner (for kids too)-we celebrate "family love" not "romantic love."
Halloween-Another holiday, that I didn't grow up with. I never went Trick or Treating until I was 14!(14 is such a familiar age...) Again, WHY WASTE A DAY CELEBRATING IT IN SCHOOL?! Heaven forbid, in what is considered a Christian nation, we can't even mention Christ's birth or death at school, but let's by all means celebrate Halloween and Valentine's day. (FYI-I tried bribing my kids this year that they could skip school the day of the parade/parties. They don't want to!)
OK-I'll get off my soap box now. Happy Holidays, as we head into the "holiday season" and I say that now because on Saturday morning, "Christmas" will be playing on the radio (which I actually don't mind) and marketed even more heavily in the stores. Happy Holidays.....