Great challenge and one that leaves so many options.  I'm not decorating or putting up a tree this year... I don't have the motivation for it ... but I'm sure there are other things that I can relate to besides the commercial and glitzy side of things.

The grandkids have me on a technicality - LOL... I will have to put the tree up despite also lacking motivation.... but I agree PJ - there are so many other things that can relate!

Thank you for this challenge Carin.

I believe i will be sharing Christmas captures from Robertson in the Western Cape as we ill be there on Christmas day in the company of my Brother In Law,his wife and kids and my Mothere in law as well as Grand Ma will be there as well.

God Bless.

A vast topic, Carin! Personally. For years, I avoided being in the house in those days (my mother died the day of 'Epiphany and my father the day after Christmas, being the last or remained in the house I thought there was no two without three) . Then, over time I started a family and I started to enjoy the festivities, even if I am a little tiristezza in those days. But I will try to post something.

Good day and again congratulations on the birth!

Thanks for your message, dear Carin.
And again, congratulations on the birth of Mieke, which is a Dutch name as well. (One of my sisters in law has this name ;-)).

About the challenge, I very much endorse the words of MrsLubner.
And I'll see what I can do.

Yes, I can understand Christmas has sad memories for you, friend Mario.
Hopefully the joy will be greater.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas time.
Mies :)

Thanks 1000, Mies, I will try to make something beautiful about it. A big hug from my Tuscany.

Wonderful challenge, Caren!
I don't particularly like Christmas... since I have been divorced (it's now spent a lifetime), Christmas has been for me a day of aches and pains... my children went with his father to make ski in the Alps and I remained alone.
Even now that they are now grown and married,  they spend the night with his father (now has become their tradition) and the next day was spent with the parents of their wives. Sometimes even I go home of parents of a daughter in law... but it's not the same thing as having all the children together. I celebrate December 26 with my children and grandchildren.
I don't do more than the Christmas tree because my Meniere not let me, but I put the lights around the railing of the staircase that leads up into the attic! And the gifts I put them in a basket under the stairs!
I love the colours and flowers of Christmas... I have no pictures yet, maybe I'll try some of last year!

Good challenge to all!  :-)

Mi dispiace che tu abbia perso i genitori in questi giorni! E' naturale che non è semplice festeggiare, il ricordo riaffiora prepotentemente alla mente!

Ma a volte, bisogna lasciare dietro le spalle la tristezza per far felice i figli... loro hanno diritto ad un Natale sereno!

Picture undoubtedly festive! Good day, Tara and happy new week!

Immagine senza dubbio festosa ! Buona giornata , Tara e felice nuova settimana!

Awww Tara - Thank you for opening the floor! The most photographed paino in the world and the festive lights reflected on the shiny surface is just gorgeous!

Well done Hun!

Congratulations Tara for opening this challenge with a stunning capture.

God Bless.

WOW,
what a GLOW
and splendid
SHOW ;-)

A very beautiful shot, Tara!

Thanks!  :)  I'll try to come up with another one.  Of course they wont be new photos, since the holiday is at the END of the month, but hey ... what I've got, you can have!  :)

Fantastic image, Tara! Wonderful reflections! :-) 

Christmas has so many meanings to different people and to get an image which is truly definitive of my Christmas spirit will be difficult but I will try.  This will be a very small even at our home but with a traditional dinner at my wonderful wife's mother's home.

I am somewhat depressed this Christmas season because of lack of employment since last 31 December.   I will try to cook for the festive dinner and that is an incentive to smile in joy...joy if my cooking is successful!!!! Joy and fun for the others if I am a total disfunctional cook...but will serve it anyway and make them smile! I intend on baking a grand and delicious cake but might serve a frisbee. : )

I try to have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ this time of the year and avoid the frenzy of shopping and greed.  If I shop for gifts, it is for giving and happiness in that and not the greed and commercial push to have the popular thing of the season.

There will be photos but I am not certain what.   Could our three cats come through the main room as Astroologer Wise Men from the East I would get that photo.  They will not wear costumes or walk neatly together...and have interest only in wrapping paper and bows as toys of the day.

I will have to look into my heart 3 times and try to get a photo of that feeling or memory of Christmas.

Tom.

I love the silver ornaments!

Stunning capture Tara.

God Bless.

Thanks!

I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts about Christmas.  I've long suspected it isn't a universally loved time of the year, and it's good to be with people who are willing to say so.  Let me contribute my story as well ...

For most of my life I've very strongly disliked Christmas.  The "buy buy buy" advertisements on the radio, Christmas songs and decorations everywhere, heavy traffic in the "mall town" I live in, the obligation to buy gifts ... the whole thing has always left me cold, and annoyed as all get-out.  Even as a child I didn't enjoy it much.  As a non-religious person and a low-impact consumer, this is not my favorite season.

Although it was a difficult and stressful process, over the years I've backed out, declined to participate, and done as little as possible, excising "obligation" from my life.  I've never decorated my own home for the holidays.  I send no cards, don't have people over, and only attend parties as necessary.  Many years ago the adults in my family agreed to stop buying gifts for each other, and as my nieces and nephews turned 18, I stopped buying gifts for them as well.  I told them all, "You're on my 'adult' list now that you're grown up, and that means no more presents."  They're all thrilled to be adults at that age, so it was a pretty easy transition.

These days I'm a comfortable non-participant.  We go to see my family for the holidays, but it's just a nice family gathering with no pressure.   Those gatherings (three this year) satisfy Bill's love of the season, so my lack of interest doesn't interfere with his enjoyment.

Bill and I talk about what to get our grandkids (he has children and grandchildren from his first marriage, and I'm fortunate enough to have full grandma privs!), but he does the ordering and the buying.  I function solely as a consultant.  :P

So now I feel quite happy posting holiday pictures to the Forum thread!  I can participate in small ways without getting my knickers in a twist. 

Life is good!

The silver glow on the picture have textures of Christmas-balls, it's a lovely capture Tara.

With interest I read your words, with respect to the Christmas spirit.
I am very touched by that.

Karel and I are just alone together, but not lonely ;-)
I have accepted, we can not have contact with our family or our children or grandchildren.
I am in a sense, celebrating the peace that I received about how my life has expired.

I listen to the Christmas cantata of Johann Sebastian Bach, and I enjoy the organ music playing by Karel.
Music is a passion of us, it touches me very deeply emotionally.

In our hearts there is peace.
Peace which is so important to be connected with it, especially during Christmas to remember.

It's not that easy to express in English, sorry for my limitations therein.

Wishing you all a blessed Chrismas-time, whether you are 'believers' or not  ;-)

Jacomina (Mies)
but in the first place: dochtersions :))

Rum and Red Wine Punch, that is always prepared with burning sugar during the Christmas party at our fraternity house.

I have to confess that I never drink something of this because it tasts sooooooooo delicious but causes such a bad, bad headache next morning - LOL!

I hope you will like this picture, captured it last Saturday.

;-)

Bernie

I'm SO glad this has rum in it, Bernie!  I don't like rum, so I won't be tempted to drink too much of it and wake up with a headache!  :)  Hope the party was a good one! 

Stunning capture Bernie.

God Bless.

The silver ornament photo is magnificent, auntiek!

Thank you!  :)

The party was memorable ... it was the first time any of us tasted cranberry brie.  Oh man, is that good!  I got the recipe for my brother, and he still makes it for me from time to time.  Delish!

All the new picture are son personal.

Superb challenge!

I will now have to walk to the city of Heidelberg and be on the hunt for some new pictures - LOL!

See what I will capture because the town is full of Japanese tourists because of the Christmas markets.

Keep on shooting! ... but only with cameras! ;-)

Bernie

Stunning uploads Tom and Tara.

I am already enjoying the wonderful uploads of this challenge.

God Bless.

You see one of Heidelberg's Christmas Markets seen from the Mainstreet (Hauptstrasse). The view goes to the University Square with a building at left called the Old University.

I hope you will like this picture!

;-)

Bernie

Stunning capture Bernie.

God Bless.

It warms my heart so very much because you see here my mother and my boyfriend together. Mum arranges the bouquet of flowers we brought her with us.  I have captured this picture already Christmas Evening 2002 when we were at home in Hamburg.

I hope you will like this picture as well.

BTW: My Mum and Holger use to gang up against me - LOL!

;-)

Bernie

Stunning capture Bernie.

God Bless.

Splendid photos, Bernie, Tom and Tara!  :-)

It's nice to see your mom and Holger, Bernie!  That's what the holidays are all about for me ... family and friends.  A beautiful shot!

I love your idea of the basket, Maria.  So festive!  :)

Thanks, Tara! :-)

Wonderful upload for this challenge Maria.

God Bless.

Thanks for sharing those beautiful photo's Tom, Bernie, Tara and Maria.
I love them.

The basket you made, Maria is really wonderful, with such a warm atmosphere;
in spreading its beautiful light.

Many thanks, Jacomina! :-)

Gosh - for some reason I haven't received ebots for this thread!

Excellent uploads ALL. Thank you for sharing what Christmas means to you!

Most beautiful scene Maria! I also hate Christmas shopping!

Quote - Most beautiful scene Maria! I also hate Christmas shopping!

many thanks, Carin! :-)

I think that Christmas shopping is disliked by almost all... yet we plunge ever in that huge crowd... who knows why!

Here is Kayla decorating the Christmas tree!

What sweetness! Kayla is very beautiful, Carin! Congratulations! :-) 

Stunning upload Maria.

Carin.

I agree.

This year i will be with a big family and as a bonus in the Western Cape which I never visited before.

God Bless.

That's a beautiful tree scene, Maria ... I love the single color.  It's lovely!

And Carin ... SO fun to see Kayla helping with your tree!  :)

Such an adorable photo you've uploaded here, dear Carin.
Thanks for sharing.

The white lights in your photos are so well chosen, dear Maria..
It provides a peaceful atmosphere, so without all 'the shoppers' ;-).