Last year Paul had the idea to do 12 days of Christmas for each other. It was really fun but a little exhausting to look for really good presents 12 days in a row. This year we talked about doing something similiar but doing a small gift exchange with an advent calendar. I was hanging out with my friend Rachel and she was telling me how she and her husband do an advent calendar where they do some sort of Christmasy activity every night. I thought that was an excellent idea, so I’ve been trying to come up with some ideas for us to mix with our present exchange. Here are the ideas I have so far, I need more ideas so please list any ideas you might have in the comment section: {Emily helped me with a lot of these.}
1. Going Ice Skating at the Embarcadero
2. Go to Union Square to see the big tree
3. Not So Silent Night {not Christmas oriented but awesome}
4. Grease Sing Along at the Castro Theatre {not Christmas oriented but awesome}
5. Handel’s Messiah Sing Along
6. Watch It’s a Wonderful Life
7. Go to the Oakland Temple to see the Nativity
8. Kiss under the Mistletoe
9. Make Thick Hot Chocolate and Homemade Marshmallows
10. Host a Christmas Sweater Party
11. Attend the Nutcracker
12. Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
13. Make pomanders {kissing balls}
14. Donate canned goods
15. Give neighbors a present
16. Put up a wreath
17. Make a popcorn garland
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
Because music is such a part of life at our house, I think it would be fun to create a special Christmas playlist that gets played every year when you decorate the tree. This could be something that ends up carrying on for many generations.
Keep in mind that not every song needs to be a Christmas song. When my parents were first married they were really poor and couldn’t afford to buy Christmas records to play. So they opted to listen to my dad’s albums which included Hank Williams, Sons of the Pioneers and Johnny Cash. The songs became tradition after a few years and my sister and I still think of Christmas when we hear “Tumblin’ Tumbleweed”.
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
we did this every year growing up…and last year Mark and I gave it a try. It’s so much fun…I have a list somewhere with 40 or 50 ideas. I will try to find it and send it over to you.
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
I found this in a city guide:
Holiday Festival: Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Cow Palace Exhibition Hall, 2600 Geneva Ave at Santos St., San Francisco CA; Tel. 415.392.4400. Sat and Sun, Nov 29-Dec 30, 11am-8pm, Admission $16-$6
Impress your high school english teacher by visiting the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, where visitors are encouraged to dress as literary characters from Charles Dickens’ novels. Visitors can sample an assortment of Christmas delicacies, holiday spirits and drink. Entertainers will also be on hand costumed as characters from the pages of A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities. If you have Great Expectations, you won’t be disappointed as you weave your way through this Dickens Christmas Fair while celebrating the late author. (Sonja Pecavar)
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
or this. I’m on a roll. If you google San Francisco Christmas Activities, all sorts of things pop up.
http://www.presidio.gov/calendar/holiday.htm
liz s
November 30, 2006
what about making and decorating christmas cookies?
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
Rob and I have been burning one of the beeswax candles each night. It’s turning into a little holiday event 🙂
Anonymous
November 30, 2006
Invite a couple of friends over and read “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” or children’s Christmas books.
Anonymous
December 1, 2006
I would love to know what is involved in a Christmas Sweater Party. Does everyone wear one? Everyone gets one?
Kathryn
November 22, 2007
You absolutely have to go see Tom & Jerry’s (not the cartoon – two guys) house on 21st Street between Church and Sanchez. I’m not sure when it starts, but I’m pretty sure it runs for a few weeks. One of my favorite parts of a San Francisco Christmas! (I’ll actually be mentioning it on Snippet & Ink sometime soon.)