Christmas meme

I found this meme over at Suze's.

Egg nog or hot chocolate?
OOh...eggnog with dark rum!

Does Father Christmas wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Wrapped but beside the stockings.

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
Red on the tree. Multicolour on the house and bushes.

Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope

When do you put up your decorations?
This year we started on Dec. 1st because I was having a family Xmas gift exchange on the 3rd. It is usually sometime during the first week of December but there is no official date.

What's your favourite Christmas dish?
The Christmas turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams on a pineapple slice.

Favourite Christmas memory as a child?
Listening to A Child's Christmas in Wales (see last post)

When and how did you learn the truth about Father Christmas?
Do not remember. We always got prezzies from Santa even though we knew he was fictional.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
When I was a child I think that we did open one present on the eve. I remember doing it sometimes but I can't remember if it was always. I have allowed my children to open a present on Christmas eve if it seemed like the only thing that would calm them down.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
This year red lights and Santa decorations along with some that the children have made in the past.

Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love it on Christmas Morning. Other than that I can take it or leave it although I prefer the look of snow to the grey slush we usually end up with here.

Can you ice skate?
Yes but I haven't in many, many years.

Do you remember your favourite gift?
No, actually. That surprises me! We always got something that my Mom sewed for us and something that we probably asked for along with a few other small things but nothing that ever was extremely memorable. As an adult my DH got me knitting lessons one year and they changed my life!

What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Family and the idea of a day of peace.

What's your favourite Christmas dessert?
Plum pudding with hard sauce! Also love Nanaimo Bars and Shortbread cookies !

What's your favourite Christmas tradition?
Listening to Christmas music. But, I always loved a tradition that one of my cousin's family had. That was always leaving cookies and milk out for Santa on the eve. On Christmas morning there would be nothing but crumbs left, the milk all gone and a wisp of Santa's beard that got caught on the fireplace screen.

What tops your tree?
A lit angel.

Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
Oh, both!

What's your favourite Christmas song?
Drummer Boy. Silent Night. Handel's Messiah, the whole thing!

Candy canes?
They are ok but not my favorite!

Now... I must get back to knitting!